Dugout Discussion
18 October 2025 445 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The first of seven Premier League matches on Saturday is Nottingham Forest v Chelsea at the City Ground.

Kick-off in the Gameweek 8 curtain-raiser is at 12:30pm BST.

TEAM NEWS

It’s chaos when it comes to the teamsheets, with benchings, surprise starters and no-shows on either side.

Heading into the Gameweek 8 deadline, the big team news question concerned which, if any, of Chelsea’s three injury doubts, namely Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, would be fit for this match.

One starts, one is a substitute and one misses out – but unfortunately for many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, the one starting is the lesser-owned Neto.

Caicedo takes his place among the substitutes for the Blues, while there’s no Enzo in the visitors’ squad at all.

All in all, Enzo Maresca has made three changes from Gameweek 7

Benoit Badiashile is out until December with a muscle injury, so he makes way from the side along with Enzo and Caicedo.

In come Andrey Santos, Romeo Lavia and, back from suspension, Trevoh Chalobah.

Tosin Adarabioyo is fit again but has to settle for a place on the bench, alongside the likes of Estevao and ยฃ4.3m forward Marc Guiu.

Joao Pedro, rested over the international break, leads the line.

As for Forest, Ange Postecoglou makes five changes from the defeat to Newcastle United.

It’s quite a conservative-looking line-up, with a five-man defence and no wingers.

Chris Wood, who had a knee niggle over the break, drops to the bench this afternoon.

Jair Cunha, Ryan Yates, Dan Ndoye and Nicolo Savona are also moved out of the side.

Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz all return after recent injuries, while Ibrahim Sangareย gets a recall.

The most surprising starter of the game is Wood’s replacement. It’s not Igor Jesus, nor is it the absent Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Instead, forgotten man Taiwo Awoniyi gets the nod. The striker hasn’t kicked a ball in 2025/26, last featuring in a Premier League matchday squad back in Gameweek 1.

LINE-UPS

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, Williams, Douglas Luiz, Sangare, Anderson, Zinchenko, Gibbs-White, Awoniyi.

Subs:ย John, Hudson-Odoi, Wood, Ndoye, Domรญnguez, Igor Jesus, Yates, Jair Cunha, Savona.

Chelsea XI:ย Sanchez, James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella, Gusto, Lavia, Pedro Neto, Andrey Santos, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.

Subs:ย Jorgensen, Tosin, Hato, Caicedo, Gittens, George, Guiu, Estevao, Buonanotte.


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  1. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    Trevoh Chalobah first on the bench.

    6 points from 1, BB off to a reasonable start.

  2. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    Not owning Pedro is the biggest rank gainer available in this entire game

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      25 days, 7 hours ago

      o/

    2. FerFuchsAke
      • 7 Years
      25 days, 7 hours ago

      I’d definitely be more smug about not owning him if I didn’t have Gvardiol on a BB

  3. Totalfootball
    • 8 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    Atleast jpedro has a *(star) next to his name .

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      25 days, 7 hours ago

      He is a star indeed

  4. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    James anyone? ๐Ÿ˜‰

  5. Qaiss
    • 9 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    Postecoglou August 2023 - November 2023 was certainly something, found out after that

    1. Qaiss
      • 9 Years
      25 days, 7 hours ago

      Still like him for when he tried to win the game against Man City when every Tottenham fan wanted to lose

  6. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    Chalobah over James on WC.

  7. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    Ain't much but honest work from Chalobah. Gone missing in the defcons though.

  8. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    Is Reece James going to get attacking return before his next injury? That might be the question.

  9. Cruyff's Eleven
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    25 days, 7 hours ago

    Could be worse - coudda triple captained Gusto

  10. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Ange better stick around somehow till the Bournemouth game. Triple Bou and Semenyo (c) is waiting for him.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      25 days, 6 hours ago

      Aaaand it's gone

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        25 days, 6 hours ago

        lol rip

    2. Strike me a Gakpose
      • 12 Years
      25 days, 6 hours ago

      lol

  11. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Well that was awful as someone who held Tosin and started him
    Might switch him to James or Acheampong

  12. Totalfootball
    • 8 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Would you do van de ven to acheampon

  13. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Acheampong ain't nailed lads.

  14. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Ange makes a lot of money getting sacked

  15. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Jesus Ange sacked already.

  16. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Has Ange done his presser?

  17. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    whats his pay off ???

  18. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Joao Pedro. Keep or Sell? Another case of Form vs Fixtures!

  19. Fat Frank
    • 8 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    Munoz to James on WC paying off….so far but no doubt Munoz at least scores.

    So attacking that guy it’s unreal

  20. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    25 days, 6 hours ago

    That's 3 absolute sitters Mateta has missed in the last 2 games. Effing useless. Never rated him.

  21. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    25 days, 2 hours ago

    What a horrible team Arsenal are. Average attack. They're just gonna grind out 1 and 2-0 wins with goals from set pieces. Horrible brand of football they play.