Dugout Discussion

Lampard rotates but key Chelsea assets all start

Chelsea’s key Fantasy assets all start against Bournemouth with Christian Pulisic (£7.4m) joining Tammy Abraham (£8.0m) in the front-three.

Meanwhile, Mason Mount (£6.6m) is also in the starting line-up but may well be sat in a central midfield trio alongside N’Golo Kanté (£5.0m) and Jorginho (£5.0m).

However, those who made a move for the differential Reece James (£5.0m) were left disappointed as he was named on the bench.

The exciting right-back has started four of the last five but is among the substitutes against Bournemouth.

The Cherries have gone with something relatively experimental in light of recent injuries.

Eddie Howe has opted for a 4-4-2 diamond system featuring Josh King (£6.1m) and Ryan Fraser (£6.9m) as the central strikers.

That sees Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.8m) return to the right of defence with Emerson Palmieri (£5.5m) starts on the left.

Meanwhile, Leicester have kept the exact same line-up rolled out in the 4-1 win at Aston Villa, hinting that Brendan Rodgers may continue using it after Gameweek 16.

The Foxes once again are laid out in a 4-3-1-2 system, with Dennis Praet (£5.3m) and Youri Tielemans (£6.6m) either side of Wilfred Ndidi (£5.0m) and James Maddison (£7.8m) behind Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) and Kelechi Iheancho (£5.7m).

Opponents Norwich include Todd Cantwell (£4.7m) in their starting line-up after he was benched in Gameweek 16.

Sheffield United name an unchanged side to face Aston Villa, Dean Smith hands rare starts to Kortney Hause (£4.4m) and Henri Lansbury (£4.4m).

After coming back into the team for the 5-0 defeat at Spurs, Matt Lowton (£4.4m) returns to the bench for Burnley.

Phil Bardsley (£4.3m) reclaims his right-back berth after an injury, while Ashley Barnes (£6.3m) and Ashley Westwood (£5.4m) return after missing out on Gameweek 16.

Chris Wood (£6.2m) has also shaken off the knock Sean Dyche revealed on Thursday to start up-front in the 4-4-2 system.

In light of recent injuries to Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.4m) and Jonjo Shelvey (£5.1m), Steve Bruce is somewhat limited in the team he can name at Turf Moor.

He has stuck with a five-man defence but looks to be deploying three central midfielders behind a front-pairing of Andy Carroll (£5.4m) and Joelinton (£5.6m), rather than sticking with a 5-4-1 formation.

Burnley XI: Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Bardsley; McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Hendrick; A Barnes, Wood.

Newcastle United XI: Dúbravka; Willems, Dummett, Schär, Fernández, Manquillo; Atsu, S Longstaff, Hayden; Joelinton, Carroll.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Emerson, Rüdiger, Zouma, Azpilicueta; Mount, Kanté, Jorginho; Pulisic, Abraham, Willian.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale; Rico, Mepham, Francis, Stacey; Lerma; Gosling, Billing; L Cook; J King, Fraser.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, R Pereira; Tielemans, Ndidi, Praet; Maddison; Iheanacho, Vardy.

Norwich City XI: Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Byram; Tettey, Trybull; Buendía, McLean, Cantwell; Pukki.

Sheffield Utd XI: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; Mousset, McGoldrick.

Aston Villa XI: Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Hause, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, Lansbury; El Ghazi, Wesley, Grealish.

1,988 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Vardy Goal?

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      shut up. Ban

  2. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Time to take Vardy off, too many 90 mins matches

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Needs more skittles vodka.

  3. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Salah and Mount to KdB and Martial for a hit ?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Interesting...why not a Spurs mid?

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I have Alli and Kane

    2. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Only if you have no bench to cover for Liverpool blank

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I dont. Tomori and Nakamba on the bench

  4. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Barnes having a bad game for Lei

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

      He literally always does I really don’t understand rodgers’ obsession

  5. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Puisic to Fleck no brainer!

  6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pukki almost

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Never even shot the ball!

  7. Dr. Agabuse
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea reslut means Lampard will chop and change for Spursgane

  8. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Has Grealish retaken that pen yet?

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      VAR still checking.....

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

        We’re both as unfunny as each other. That’s good to know.

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

      VAR check taking some time

  9. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Leicester titanic slowly sinking. Who wants off?

    1. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Leo and Kate.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m in the orchestra

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Some only just boarded?

  10. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Abraham to Rashford (C) for free?

    1. JohnBlack
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do it quick

  11. Arcticangel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is a penalty miss mean a penalty save for Henderson ?

    1. Klein
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope.

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

      Only if he saved it

    3. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      no

    4. the Penman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No, hit the bar.

    5. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Oh, didn't know it wasn't saved. Sorry. No.

  12. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Norwich misses an absolute sitter

    1. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      *shitter

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

    Salah cappers well done!

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks

    2. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      flukey second goal

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nah he was class today. Should have had 2 anyway. That formation suits him.

    3. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks

  14. Sailboats
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tammy and Maddison > Pukki and Fleck for -8?

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      fleck missing next game no

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yes misses week 18

    2. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Who did you already bring in?

  15. Bonita
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    The thing with Lamps is that he relies on first team players to do the job without giving them pressure. Tammy, Willian, and Pulisic know they are going to play every game without worrying. As a manager you have to keep that pressure and motivation. Dull Chelsea. They bagged the win before playing for it.

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rico warrior!

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Shame Robbo came off the bench.....

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

        Thisssss

  17. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Imagine Rico last on my bench while I play Pulisic + Soyuncu instead....

    And Vardy(c) yay

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rico last on bench was the right move though. They were playing Chelsea away.

  18. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kovacic almost

  19. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Booohooo ferkin hoooooo!!!

  20. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lol @ you all

  21. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Leicester fan non vardy capper

    Can we have a Leicester goal ... ideally no vardy involvement pls

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      oh dear

    2. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      plastic

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Harrogate?

    3. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Embarrassing.

  22. Dr. Agabuse
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Zimmermann chest

  23. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Was this || close to benching Pukki...

  24. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Vardy has got to go

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      lmao

  25. Dr. Agabuse
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sheffield banked?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not yet

  26. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    how is Rico/Bournemouth doing this?!!!!

  27. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    RICO CS

  28. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea what the actual f**k

  29. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth FT

  30. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What a win for Bournemouth.