Team News

How rotation has affected Premier League clubs involved in Europe so far

Yesterday we published an article looking at the forthcoming fixture schedules of the Premier League clubs involved in European competition.

In this latest piece, we will study how the seven managers in question have handled rotation in the previous block of four Gameweeks.

From Gameweeks 5-8, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers were competing on three fronts (the Premier League, the EFL Cup and the Champions League/Europa League) and playing twice a week, every week – a situation that will continue until the next international break for all of those clubs bar Spurs.

As we mentioned in the first article, managers have handled the fixture congestion differently.

Where Nuno Espirito Santo and Pep Guardiola have rung the changes, Jurgen Klopp has kept a relatively settled side.

The club-by-club breakdown below analyses rotation in greater detail, paying particular attention to the involvement of key FPL assets.

You can read how Messrs Klopp, Guardiola, Emery and Pochettino handled rotation last season in an article we previously wrote in September.

Manchester City

CL = Champions League. EFL = EFL Cup.
Green = started the game. Yellow = came off the bench. Red = unused sub/not in squad.

Ignoring Ilkay Gundogan (£5.2m) and Rodri (£5.5m), two City midfielders who have been the least productive from an offensive perspective and who have been largely avoided by the Fantasy community, Guardiola has regularly rotated his attack-minded assets since the September international break.

Raheem Sterling (£12.1m), Sergio Aguero (£12.2m), Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m), Kevin De Bruyne (£10.0m), David Silva (£7.6m) and Bernardo Silva (£7.9m) haven’t started more than two successive matches over this period and the same was true of Riyad Mahrez (£8.7m) until Gameweek 8 – although the Algerian winger didn’t even last an hour of that defeat to Wolves.

Rodri is the only one of City’s midfielders or forwards to start all four league matches from Gameweeks 5-8 – a sign of things to come, perhaps, in the next month and beyond.

At the back, Guardiola has obviously had his hands tied when it comes to playing Nicolas Otamendi (£5.6m) regularly but John Stones (£5.3m) ought to return after the international break and offer the City boss another option at centre-half.

Kyle Walker (£6.0m) continues to be an ever-present in the league this season but Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.4m) is feeling the heat on the opposite side, with three others players having deputised in that position in league or cup over the past month.

Liverpool

CL = Champions League. EFL = EFL Cup.
Green = started the game. Yellow = came off the bench. Red = unused sub/not in squad.

The situation is far more serene at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp has kept a very settled side up front and at the back, with the EFL Cup match against MK Dons used to hand his first-choice players a breather.

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m), Sadio Mane (£11.7m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m), Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) started every Premier League and Champions League match from Gameweeks 5-8, while Roberto Firmino‘s (£9.6m) benching in Gameweek 5 was more to do with his late return from international duty with Brazil – a problem Firmino won’t have in Gameweek 9.

Even in central midfield, where Klopp more frequently chops and changes, Fabinho (£5.5m) has started all six Premier League and Champions League games and Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.4m) has only been benched for one of them.

Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures may not be great but the Reds’ assets look less likely to fall victim to rotation than, say, City’s players.

Chelsea

CL = Champions League. EFL = EFL Cup.
Green = started the game. Yellow = came off the bench. Red = unused sub/not in squad.

Despite the bloated squad he has at his disposal and the plethora of midfield options available, Frank Lampard has adopted an almost Klopp-esque attitude to his team selections in the Premier League and Champions League.

Mason Mount (£6.8m), Tammy Abraham (£7.7m), Willian (£7.0m), Fikayo Tomori (£4.7m), Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m) and Jorginho (£5.1m) started all matches bar the EFL Cup win over Grimsby Town between the September and October international breaks.

N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) may have done likewise had he been fully fit, while it remains to be seen if Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.9m) becomes as ‘nailed’ a starter as Mount now the young winger has recovered from injury.

The glass-half-full mentality would of course be that, with all these minutes to their names already, a rest can’t be too far away for the likes of Mount and Abraham.

However, the risk of the occasional breather is different to the week-in, week-out uncertainty that we experience with, for example, certain Manchester City assets.

Tottenham Hotspur

CL = Champions League. EFL = EFL Cup.
Green = started the game. Yellow = came off the bench. Red = unused sub/not in squad.

Harry Kane (£10.9m) is, as he has been for several seasons under Mauricio Pochettino, as close to a sure-fire starter as any of the premium options Fantasy managers can call upon.

He and Son Heung-min (£9.8m) have started all four league games between the two international breaks, with the cup matches used to hand the strike pair a breather.

The centre-half pairing of Toby Alderweireld (£5.5m) and Jan Vertonghen (£5.3m) have remained unchanged in the Premier League and Champions League, although the concession of ten goals in Spurs’ last two matches may threaten the duopoly in that position.

Elsewhere there has been a degree of rotation, which is unsurprising given the options Mauricio Pochettino has at his disposal in midfield especially.

Dele Alli (£8.4m) has been used exclusively in the cups, while Lucas Moura (£7.1m) has not started a league match since Gameweek 3 as Son and Kane continue to be trusted by their boss.

Manchester United

EL = Europa League. EFL = EFL Cup.
Green = started the game. Yellow = came off the bench. Red = unused sub/not in squad.

Most of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team changes in the Premier League have been enforced by injury this season, with Europa League involvement having little effect.

Daniel James (£6.1m), Harry Maguire (£5.4m) and Marcus Rashford (£8.4m) are among seven United players to be ever-presents in the league from Gameweeks 5-8 and the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m), Victor Lindelof (£5.4m) and Paul Pogba (£8.4m) would surely have joined them had injury not blighted them recently.

Backup players or academy graduates such as Mason Greenwood (£4.4m), Angel Gomes (£4.8m) and Fred (£5.3m) have instead been used on the continent, with Solskjaer’s priority evidently the Premier League at present.

Arsenal

EL = Europa League. EFL = EFL Cup.
Green = started the game. Yellow = came off the bench. Red = unused sub/not in squad.

Much of what we’ve written about Solskjaer and Manchester United could also apply to Unai Emery at Arsenal.

The Gunners’ boss had a reputation for rotation last season but what is perhaps forgotten is that he treated the Europa League group stages as an opportunity to blood youth products and reserve players, only really naming stronger starting XIs once the competition entered the knockout rounds.

Much the same is happening this season, give or take the odd appearance from the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m).

Eight players started in every league match from Gameweeks 5-8, with the changes that were made either being due to form – Callum Chambers (£4.4m) in for Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£5.0m) at right-back – or tactics – the shifting between a 4-4-2 diamond, a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 necessitating the need for a winger and/or ‘number ten’ – rather than due to Europa League-led fatigue.

Rob Holding (£4.5m), Hector Bellerin (£5.4m) and Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) have been building up their match fitness in the EFL Cup and Europa League after spells on the sidelines so these players will likely be challenging for a league start soon.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

EL = Europa League. EFL = EFL Cup. Intl = International break.
Green = started the game. Yellow = came off the bench. Red = unused sub/not in squad.

Wolves are a slightly special case in that their European campaign began even before the domestic season had kicked off.

The takeaway message so far is that Raul Jimenez (£7.1m), much as he was last season when making 36 out of a possible 38 starts, looks to be the most secure route into the Wolves attack.

The Mexican striker, who won’t be representing his country in the October international break, is one of just three Wolves players to be ever-present starters in the Premier League so far: the others being Conor Coady (£5.0m) and Rui Patricio (£5.1m).

Willy Boly (£5.0m) would almost certainly have been likewise had he not been suspended for Gameweek 5.

As we saw in Gameweek 8, the likes of Jonny (£5.4m) and Matt Doherty (£6.0m) are no longer the reliable options we could count on last season.

Diogo Jota (£6.1m) was being handled carefully even before he picked up this current toe injury, meanwhile.

Nuno Espirito Santo hadn’t made a single change to his starting XI at this stage last season – not since Gameweeks 1 and 2 has he named an unaltered line-up this time around.

Adama Traore (£5.0m) has started the last five Premier League games in a row and his involvement in the Wolves starting XI doesn’t just rely on rotation with Doherty: Santo used a 3-4-3 at Palace and Watford with both players in the side, while Traore joined Jimenez up front in a 3-5-2 in the second half at the Etihad last Sunday – with successful results.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 8

1,215 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL FREAK
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope. Button.
    TAA. Aurier. Lundstram. Engels. Rico.
    Salah. Sterling. Mount. Cantwell. Dendocker.
    Aguero. Abraham. Pukki.

    0.3 in bnk..

    I am thinking that:
    TAA + Cantwell + Pukki > Lowton + KDB+ Conolly...??

    Good move..??

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Why on Earth ship out TAA? If you want to get KDB in I would do it for Sterling and updrade Cantwell.

  2. In a Rush
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I can’t decide what to do with this lot!
    Have 2 ft 0.2 Itb
    Ceballos has to go but not great options up to 5.7 don’t know who to sacrifice to upgrade him.
    I’m even thinking of downgrading sterling to upgrade Ceballos and maybe Haller or Pukki for a -4.

    Pope
    Taa Otamendi Söyüncü
    Salah sterling kdb Cantwell
    Pukki Haller Abraham

    McGovern lundstram fredricks Ceballos

    Any thoughts much appreciated cheers

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ceballos to McGinn then you can then have Cantwell on bench.

    2. rdpx
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Traore.

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Bandwagon...

        1. rdpx
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Get on it early

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            He either plays wing back, Winger (only in big games like the city one) or not at all. Not worth getting on, not even first choice with Europe

      2. In a Rush
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Ha yeah auto pick says Traore, he did play well vs city is he really a viable option though?

        1. rdpx
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          He's 5.0
          He scored 2 against MCI

          I suppose the answer to your question depends on your definition of "viable"

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            He’s 5m. He’s mainly a defender. He’s scored 3 goals in 36 games for wolves

          2. In a Rush
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I think the answer is no to that move I don’t think he is viable in terms of being nailed and reverse oop most of the time when he does play.

        2. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Would then save FT. Keep eye on when Djenepo will be back. At 5.2m and already has goals. Might be back by GW10.

          1. In a Rush
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Yes I do like djenepo nearly bought him before the injury. I don’t really want to burn a precious transfer!

            1. In a Rush
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Still none the wiser but thanks all for your feedback, I think I may toy with sterling ➡️ Maddison Ceballos ➡️ Mount and maybe Pukki ➡️ Wilson for a -4

              1. FOO FIGHTER
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Mount a top signing!

                1. In a Rush
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Ha nice see what you did there!

  3. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ceballos to McGinn. You can then have Cantwell on bench.

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Fail.

    2. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I presume that was a reply to me, cheers I’m .1 short of doing that move.

  4. Home Late From Age
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What do you think about this WC team:

    Ryan, Gazzaniga
    Arnold, Tomori, Rico, Lundstram, Kelly
    Sterling, KDB, Mount, Maddison, Saka
    C. Wilson, Abraham, Aubameyang

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Like it a lot.

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Gazza out, upgrade 1 defender

  5. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I’m looking at Pukki out this week for one of Wilson,Jimenez or Vardy this week.

    Pope
    VVD,Soyuncu,Otamendi
    Salah,Sterling,Yarmolenko,Mount
    Aubamayang,Pukki,Abraham

    Button,Cantwell,Lundstrum,Hanley 1FT 1.1m itb

    A)Exact funds for Pukki > Wilson.
    B)Vardy would have to be a -4. Probably Salah or Sterling > KDB to fund it.
    C)Jimenez would leave cash in the bank .

    1. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      If you could get Vardy for free, I would.

      Wilson is a perfectly adequate alternative though

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Wilson’s next 2 do look to hard to ignore.

        1. CRO KLOPP
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Next 5

    2. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I had same decision and done Pukki -> Wilson and will be captaining Wilson

    3. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    4. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A for safe or B for the brave ones 🙂

  6. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What to do with the below team?

    A - Mina -> Pereira for free
    B - Mina + Ceballos -> Rico + Maddison -4
    C - Save FT
    D - Something else

    Ryan
    Mina - TAA - Otamendi - Tomori
    KDB - Sterling - Yarmolenko
    Wilson (c) - Auba - Abraham

    Adrian - Ceballos - Cantwell - Lundstram

    1FT, 0.8 ITB

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A for me.
      Everton are a big avoid.

    3. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A, nice team

  7. payetisgod
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hi all,

    best

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      George

      1. payetisgod
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        haha - just sending my regards

  8. Klein
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Watford looked better defensively last week. Good defensive manager who now got some weeks to work with the team, perhaps they will improve at the back as few more weeks go by?

    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Can't see how they can be considered when you can get Chelsea and Leicester defenders for a similar price or cheaper + Rico/Lundstram

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      they were awful last season and have the same players

    3. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      --> [||||straws||||]

  9. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who scores more this week, first to 3

    A) pukki
    B) jiminez

    1. payetisgod
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      If I transfer Pukki out for Tammy - then Pukki.

      Will let you know next week ha!

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukkiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  10. payetisgod
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Post fail above,

    Best 6m mid to get in as part of an 8point hit move?

    Yarm (concerned about underlying stats)
    Trossard (injury pending)
    CHO (would have Tammy and Mount)
    McGinn (not the best fixtures\)

    Thanks

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wouldn’t take an 8 point hit but mcginn

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      dont take 8pt hit

      1. payetisgod
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        thanks you both seem wise! in that case Wilson or tammy for pukki? leaning towards tammy

  11. TAB
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pukki -> C.Wilson
    or
    Haller -> C.Wilson

    1. TAB
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      My Team :

      Pope

      TAA Soy Ota

      KDB Sterling Salah Cantwell

      Pukki Haller Tammy

      Button Lundstram Lowton Guendouzi

    2. Sotamendi84
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      haller

    3. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Haller for me

    4. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki out

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        You have Cantwell already and Haller will do better imo

    5. MidTableFantasy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki, don't know why people are dumping Haller

  12. Sotamendi84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    mane or sterling on wc?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mane

    2. TAB
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling then mane GW12/13

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        This

    4. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mane

    5. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Both for me + Auba / KDB

  13. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would you go Pepe and Wickham to Maddison and Callum Wilson for a hit?

    1. Teddy Brewski
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah i would

    2. seewhyaxe
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      absolutely.

    3. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Solid moves even for a hit

    4. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      not for a hit

    5. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yup

    6. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hell yea

  14. HairlessGrealish
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What do you think, should I hit the wildcard?

    Current team:

    Pope-Heaton
    TAA-VvD-Otamendi-Rico-Lundy
    Salah-Sterling-Mount-KdB-Cantwell
    Pukki-Abraham-Greenwood

    WC template:
    Pope-Heaton
    TAA-Otamendi-Pereira-Rico-Lundy
    Maddison-KdB-Mount-Cantwell-Yarmolenko
    Aguero-Firmino-Abraham

    1. HairlessGrealish
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      In other words team A or B

      A) VvD, Sterling, Salah, Pukki, Greenwood
      B) Pereira, Maddison, Yarmolenko, Firmino, Aguero (+1,1m)

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        A

    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      If you ask me you are somewhere in the middle...you have a solid team, maybe just to cahnge forwards and WC draft is also not good enough, maybe even a downgrade to your current team. So dont do it

  15. tyron
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    as a dilva, and son owner i am worried about gw 9. dilva and pep apparently had a fall out and son minutes is always an issue after international break. i already did a transfer and will be doing one more for tammy. so i will be left hoping silva and son play. pressers will be vital

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Falling outs are a load of plop anyway. Dilva was obviously right as after he got taken off they conceded two and didn’t score

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I own both and I'm not worried. Silva has two weeks off and is the club captain. Son may be rotated but can't sell him before Watford at home so no point stressing about it.

  16. LM00091
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Got 2 FT and need a little adjusting...

    (3-4-3)
    Ryan / (Button)
    TAA, Ota, Periera (Kelly,Lund)
    McGinn,Salah,KDB,Mount (Cantwell)
    Aguero, Pukki, Abraham (c)

    Would you Sell

    A) Ota & Pukki >> Tomori & C.Wilson
    B) Ota & McGinn >> Tomori & Maddison
    C) Just Save

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    3. TAB
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  17. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Tempted to get in Kane on wc for a one week punt then shift to Kun the next Gw. Keeping money itb to do the transfer for free. Could work out?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      it could, but ideally you would want to safe a FT after WC and get into habit of having 2 FT's every week.

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yes, ideally. 2 fts could be gold specially if Salah or sterling start killing it. But Kane cap could also boost the OR with everyone else capping city or Chelsea players.

      2. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        This game is more and more agressive every year but ideally if I could I would always have 2ft with an option to do -4 if needed. 1 ft rarely helps that much. Better be patient than chasing points but still sometimes it is hard to just sit and wait...

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      £10.9 Kane is great value if he can start to score consistently + you get him as a differential which is wild considering his potential. You'd have to think Spurs will sort it out soon.

      Auba, Kane, Mane offer so much spare change over Sterling, Salah, Kun

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers, have them in my wc team. Kane for one gw then transfer out for Kun or Auba next gw. Not convinced yet but tempted by Kane.

        Pope
        Taa Söyüncü Rico
        Mane kdb Maddison mount
        Kane Wilson Tammy

        McGovern dunk lund dendo

        1.3m itb

  18. beetlejuice
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    On WC;

    A) 3-5-2 : Maddison + (Connoly/Ayew) + Defense ( 4.7 + 4.7 + Rico)
    B) 3-4-3 : Vardy + Dendoncker + Defense (4.5 + Kelly + Rico)

    Thanks

    1. TAB
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

  19. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Does Chelsea have got better players overall than manunited ?

    What is stopping Ole from asking his players to go for the goals rather than afraid of losing ?

    1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      They have better talent in every position except maybe CB.

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        And actually have remarkable squad depth. Just consider wingers and strikers. They have Pulisic, pedro, William, CHO, Tammy, bats, giroud and even mount and Barkley can play on the wing. High quality large squad, miles better

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yes they do but lampard is a better coach as well. No creativity at utd bar pogba so chances at a premium, more likely to score against the bigger teams catching them on the counter

      • The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Utd aren't playing overly negative football or anything, they just have no creativity and haven't got anyone able to finish the few chances that they do get.

        1. Overated Mou
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Lol
          Looks whos talking

      • RichardNixon
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yes they do, and the youth that is coming through at Chelsea is doing remarkably well. They are ready now. Abraham, Mount, Tomori, RLC, CHO. James look like he is also ready at 19, and give it a couple years and Ampadu will join the party, and probably Gilmour as well. Chelsea also has a winning mentality and culture. Europa League last year, FA Cup year before, League year before that. Azpilicueta, Pedro, Willian, Alonso, Rudiger, Kante, Giroud are all winners with the club.

        Man Utd are bang average. Pogba wants out, De Gea is a shadow of the player he used to be, and maybe the likes of Rashford and Martial are tier one players but outside of that there is very little quality and no depth. Lingard was playing up front a couple weeks ago when Rashford came off. They'll finish mid table I reckon, somewhere between seventh and tenth

      • RichardNixon
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        and there's also the element of pressure and expectation which leads to confidence and progress for young teams like both are. Chelsea has a free hit in a way by not being able to buy in the transfer market. Man Utd on the other hand will buy in January and those players will be under the pump. The poor form of Spurs and Utd is also helping Cheslea since the media is all over Pochetino and Soskjaer atm. Same with the players. There is an article about Alli and his loss of form on Sky atm, Erikson is being talked about in the same light, Pogba also cops it, Rashford of late. The focus and pressure is completely away from Chelsea atm, instead they are getting praise and the kids they are developing are getting called up to the English national side.

    3. Mackans
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thoughts on my WC team??

      Pope (McGovern)
      Trent Söyüncü Lundstram (Diop) (Kelly)
      Sterling Mané KDB Maddison Mount
      Wilson Abraham Connolly

      1. TAB
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Great

      2. Gooner Kebab
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        lovely

      3. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Is Sterling still necessary though?

      4. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Great but I would have Kun/Auba instead of double city mid. Bit thats just me.

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          *but

      5. payetisgod
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Would rather Kun over Sterling - especially for the two home fixtures even if hes hauled off at 60

    4. simong1
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      How does this team look on a WC??

      Pope, Button
      TAA, Soyuncu,Lundstram, Rico, Kelly
      Mane, KDB, Mount, Maddison, Cantwell
      Kun, Wilson,Abraham

      1. Gooner Kebab
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Nothing wrong here either!

      2. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Looks good. Same as mine, except I have dunk and dendo over cantwell and kelly.

      3. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Very good team. Gtg if you ask me

      4. payetisgod
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Jealous - if I still had my WC this is what I would've gone for! Got a plan to get Salah in should he go crazy?

    5. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      @ToddCantwell_10 has been forced to withdraw from the @England U21s squad with a hamstring strain.

      From Norwich twitter.

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Norwich party ended pretty soon. Oh well...

      2. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I will only believe it if it comes through the grapevine from a fan

      3. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Great. Flagland.

    6. sirmorbach
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lads, is it time for me to WC or save it for now?

      Heaton / 4.0
      TAA, VVD, Otamendi / Lundstram, Rico
      Salah, Sterling, Mount, Yarmolenko / Cantwell
      Vardy, Abraham, Pukki

      1. payetisgod
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Someone is fishing for compliments

      2. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Save definitely. Pukki VVD out for someone and you are gtg.

        1. sirmorbach
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Nice! Cheers, mate!

    7. The real slim shady
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Choose 3 on wildcard;
      1. Wilson
      2. Abraham
      3. Vardy
      4. Auba
      5. Kun

      Midfield Will be: Mount, Kdb/Sterling, Salah/Mané, xx and Fodder.

      1. payetisgod
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Wilson, Kun (no sterling), Tammy

      2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        125

      3. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Then 3,4,5

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Or 2,3,4 depending on who you want to double up (city or che)

      4. ritzyd
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Vardy, Auba, Abraham

    8. ritzyd
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A) Play Cantwell, bench Soyuncu (3-5-2)
      B) Play Soyuncu, bench Cantwell (4-4-2)

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Look 3 posts up^

        1. ritzyd
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Bugger!

      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Think cantwell is injured

    9. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cantwell and pukki to mount and Connolly ? For free

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I would. I've already done Pukki and Hayden to Connolly Maddison.

    10. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Has any team had this many injuries before so fast? Clocked up to ~20 injuries in just over 2 months. Norwich need some investigating here

    11. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Son only playing 60mins is nice 2 see.

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Nice

      2. Cto
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Saving him for Pyongyang

    12. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      At this rate I might just punt on Son for a week before getting KdB back in.

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        might even slap the g-string on him.

      2. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I will do this too if he is out for 1 more game. I need him back soon no one can fill the void like he can

      3. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        But you never took him out

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I will if I get Son.
          KdB->Son->Kdb

          I have t Ft's

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            *2

          2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Honestly wouldn't do this. Kdb could very well be ready to start. City would be doing everything to get him on the pitch because they look shite without him

            1. Christina.
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              yep, all depends on how he heals up

    13. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Becoming more and more tempted to Wildcard although saving would benefit me I have a few injuries and issues. Would have to ditch Sterling or Salah though or both though which I can’t bring myself to do and so many options to choose from.