Dugout Discussion
18 October 2025 808 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Five more Premier League games get underway at 3pm BST, with all three newly promoted clubs in action – so many Gameweek 8 Bench Boost outcomes ride on the next few hours.


TEAM NEWS

Starting with ‘El Boostico’ (rubbish), there’s one enforced change for Leeds United as Jack Harrison replaces the injured Noah Okafor.

Daniel James and Lucas Perri have recovered from injury but are only among the substitutes.

Scott Parker, meanwhile, makes three changes to his Burnley side, one of which is injury-related as Lyle Foster is absent with a dead leg.

Zian Flemming, Lesley Ugochukwu and Jacob Bruun Larsen come in, while Loum Tchaouna and Josh Laurent drop to the bench.

Jaiden Anthony is fit to start.

In another match that features a number of budget picks being ‘boosted’, Sunderland host Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 7%-owned Omar Alderete has recovered from injury and is joined in the starting XI by Chris Rigg and Dan Ballard, with Arthur Masuaku and Simon Adingra making way.

Wolves bring in Rodrigo Gomes and the fit-again Matt Doherty for the injured Hwang Hee-chan and the benched Jackson Tchatchoua.

There’s a surprise benching for Josko Gvardiol at the Etihad, which naturally comes a day after Pep Guardiola praised the Croatian’s powers of recovery.

Oscar Bobb is also demoted to substitute duty and Rodri misses out, with Nico Gonzalez, Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku handed recalls.

Omar Marmoush is on the bench after recovering from injury.

There are also three changes for Everton, who can’t call upon ineligible loanee Jack Grealish.

David Moyes brings in Carlos Alcaraz, Beto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry make way.

The absence of Evanlison, and a start for £4.5m forward Eli Kroupi, is the headline news from the Vitality. Evanilson misses out with a calf injury.

Alex Jimenez and Justin Kluivert also come in, with David Brooks injured and James Hill benched.

Crystal Palace are unchanged.

So too are Newcastle United for their trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, who bring in Georginio Rutter for the unavailable Brajan Gruda.

Kaoru Mitoma misses out again.

LINE-UPS

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Dunk, van Hecke, Kadioglu, Ayari, Gomez, Baleba, Minteh, Welbeck, Georginio.

Subs: Steele, Tzimas, Watson, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, De Cuyper, Coppola, Oriola.

Newcastle United XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon

Subs: Ramsdale, Schar, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Willock, Ramsey, Miley.


Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Ugochukwu, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Hartman, Bruun Larsen, Cullen, Florentino, Anthony, Flemming

Subs: Weiss, Edwards, Tchaouna, Ekdal, Pires, Broja, Mejbri, Laurent, Barnes.

Leeds United XI: Darlow, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Longstaff, Ampadu, Stach, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin, Harrison

Subs: Perri, James, Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Bornauw, Justin, Gruev.


Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Richards, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Pino, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Clyne, Devenny, Canvot, Lerma, Sosa, Hughes, Esse, Nketiah,

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Truffert, Senesi, Diakite, Scott, Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Kroupi.

Subs: Dennis, Araujo, Smith, Cook, Adli, Hill, Milosavljevic, Christie, Gannon-Doak.


Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Ake, O’Reilly, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Stones, Gvardiol, Lewis, Kovačić, Cherki, Silva, Bobb, Marmoush.

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, Beto.

Subs: Travers, King, Coleman, Aznou, Dibling, Rohl, Iroegbunam, McNeil, Barry.


Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Ballard, Alderete, Mukiele, Xhaka, Sadiki, Traore, Rigg, Le Fee, Isidor.

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Geertruida, Talbi, Brobbey, Mayenda, O’Nien, Adingra, Masuaku.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Johnstone, Doherty, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Munetsi, Trindade, J Gomes, Arias, Larsen, R Gomes.

Subs: Sa, Wolfe, Agbadou, Arokodare, Mosquera, T Gomes, Hoever, Lopez, Tchatchoua.


LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DC) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:

808 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Thanos
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Ange sacked

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Ruthless

    2. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Sad

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Ridiculous decision, thought they were unlucky today, definetly had the chances especially first half

      1. Gubby-Allen
        • 4 Years
        11 months, 7 days ago

        They were the better side today. A manager cannot be blamed for missing two sitters and giving a free header.

        Possibly the free kick but all teams are stupid enough to put walls up to help the attacking side. Then a shot that hits bar and post. They won games last season with 30% possession. That only lasts so long

    4. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      How much is the pay off?

      1. Dubem_FC
        • 10 Years
        11 months, 7 days ago

        Nothing or a body bag.

    5. Berkshire Hafaway-Line
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Big Ange Lostajobglu

      1. iFash@FPL
        • 2 Years
        11 months, 7 days ago

        🙂

    6. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Such a shame, should of given him longer

      1. a wat di rass
        • 6 Years
        11 months, 7 days ago

        it wouldn't have improved. Reckon they could go down now even with Dyche

    7. a wat di rass
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      lol

    8. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      The owner is a Greek clown.

    9. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      39 - Ange Postecoglou spent just 39 days in charge of Nottingham Forest, the shortest managerial reign of any permanent Premier League manager to leave a club during the season. Steps. #NFOCHE

      At least they spared him the press conference.

      Owner needs to own it.

      At least he got to tell him in Greek?!

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 months, 7 days ago

        21 mins after the final whistle

        He was probably doomed at 2 nil down when the owner sulked off

    10. Gubby-Allen
      • 4 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Piss poor guess from this fans singing sacked in the morning.

      Even if you allow 12 hours until morning, 5 minutes is about as far away as you could get from that

      1. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 months, 7 days ago

        They were singing "sacked in a minute" at the end

    11. SUPERMAN
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Bit of a joke really. But wasn’t he just saying he always wins a trophy? I guess he was wrong this time…

  2. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Decent start on bench boost, Chalobah 6 points

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Snap

      Who else have you got?

      If you manage to get 15 playing then that's all that can be asked of any virtual manager!!

      😉

  3. tucaoneo
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Time for JP to F off?
    1 shot, 0.04xG

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      That's better than his stats in the 3 games prior combined tbf

      No, that is not a joke.

  4. Amartey Partey
    • 7 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Mate

  5. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Was Pedro showing really poor? Couldn’t see the game. Time for him to go?

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Not before Sunderland at home

    2. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      He was poney

    3. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Much better after Guiu went up top

    4. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Should have gone weeks ago

    5. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Keep still

    6. Four Letter Wirtz
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Garnacho got taken off at halftime and the entire Chelsea attack became so much better...
      JP is essential to the team, he's still class, playing in that Bergkamp half-space

    7. mookie
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      0,04 xG this game
      0,03 xG in his previous 3 games

      A goal is just around the corner. Probably around GW 30 or so.

    8. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Thanks guys. Playing BB coming week…will think about what to do with him.

  6. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Think it’s time for J Pedro to go. Think it’s an easy swap to Bowen.

    Thoughts???

  7. Ballito
    • 3 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Ange needs to back to Aussie and buy a cattle farm with his millions!

  8. Mighty Duck
    • 2 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Dan Ballard's in start and ready for another 17-pointer. High five the other two happy owners.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Backed both him and Alderete to get a goal at 12/1 each

  9. Ausman
    • 3 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    BREAKING NEWS: Ange Postecoglou leaves Nottingham Forest
    Nottingham Forest announce the departure of Ange Postecoglou as head coach of the club. More to follow.

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      *pretends to be shocked*

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      18 minutes after the final whistle.

    3. Silecro
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      More to follow, dont know what's more to be said

  10. Brosstan
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Forest deserve to get relegated

  11. z13
    • 1 Year
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Chris Wood is very clinical, if he was playing Forest could have had two or three. Have to feel sympathy for Ange

    1. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      For failing to get anything out of their only good attacker?

    2. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Historically has been, not so much this season - he hadn't scored with his last 14 shots, with some proper missed sitters amongst those. GW1 was his last goal.

  12. a wat di rass
    • 6 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Captaincy taken off Semenyo for next week, then

    1. fedolefan
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Put it on Senesi if Dyche comes in.

  13. Mighty Duck
    • 2 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    This time the matest mate's the Nottingham's owner not Ange.

    1. a wat di rass
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      it's who he is mate

  14. iFash@FPL
    • 2 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Ange didn’t even try at all…
    Would have been better to still have him on for the Bournemouth match of next game week.

  15. el polako
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Wow I thought he was going to be sacked in the morning.
    Forrest owner have no respect for rules and clearly didn’t hear Chelsea fans.

    1. OverTinker
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Brutal world

    2. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Sacked at 2.45pm...you're getting sacked at 2.45pm

      Yeah doesn't have the same ring to it.

  16. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Did Ange even complete the post match press conference?

    1. a wat di rass
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      no

    2. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      No

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      He'll do that in his next position.

      Like the Spurs story in the pre match presser.

  17. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 15 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Not surprised

  18. Ballito
    • 3 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Which Manager will want the job with that crazy big fat Greek owner as a boss!

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Marinakis wants them to play like prime Barca

    2. The Night Trunker.
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Plate smashing Kebab shop manager.

    3. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Sam Allardyce

  19. Bobby Digital
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Eight players in this kickoff... Lets fn go!

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Have 7 ... Burnley and Sunderland cleanies needed

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 9 Years
        11 months, 7 days ago

        Yeah indeedy, BB active for me

  20. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Ange sacked....time to buy NFO defenders again

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Not unless they sign Dyche

    2. a wat di rass
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      I still have Sels, everything's coming up Millhouse!

    3. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Not yet

  21. el polako
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Looking forward to watching Palace vs Bournemouth

  22. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Semenyo yellow

    1. a wat di rass
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      -1 for everyone

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Season over

    3. fantasist
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Jaundice?

  23. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    KDH down

  24. RICICLE
    • 4 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Oh marvellous, just realised Gvardiol is benched, joke

  25. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Bournemouth goal...

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Kroupi G

  26. JBG
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Welp Palace CS already lost

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Groupie G

  27. Mr. O'Connell
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Kroupiiii

    1. The Night Trunker.
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 7 days ago

      Who?

  28. F4L
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    no assist?

  29. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    semenyo red card imminent

  30. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 7 days ago

    Pedro to Kroupi Jr done