Dugout Discussion

Jiménez and Jota lead two-man Wolves front-line as Traoré named on bench

Nuno Espirito Santo has gone with the same 3-5-2 formation used in their last Premier League match as they prepare to face West Ham.

That means starts in the front-line for Raúl Jiménez (£8.1m) and Diogo Jota (£6.4m) at the London Stadium.

However, the reduced number of wide options in the 3-5-2 system has resigned Adama Traoré (£5.7m) to the substitutes’ bench.

Matt Doherty (£6.3m) provides the width on the right, while Jonny (£5.4m) flanks the midfield on the other side.

Meanwhile, West Ham are without Angelo Ogbonna (£4.5m) and first-choice centre-forward Sebastien Haller (£6.8m).

That could be good news for those invested in the Wolves defence, Doherty and Romain Saïss (£4.6m) the most popular in that department, owned by 9.2% and 4.0% respectively.

That said, Michail Antonio (£6.9m), who has been asked to spearhead the attack, is likely to be a physical handful.

He is supported by an attacking midfield of Felipe Anderson (£6.6m), Pablo Fornals (£6.0m) and Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m).

Tomas Soucek (£4.9m) is back in the frame the Hammers, paired in central midfield with Mark Noble (£5.0m).

Elsewhere, Ogbonna’s injury means Declan Rice (£4.7m) drops into central defence.

West Ham United XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Cresswell, Rice, Diop, Ngakia; Soucek, Noble; Anderson, Fornals, Bowen; Antonio.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Doherty; D Jota, Jiménez.

845 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Go on Doherty!

  2. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Lol Arsenal.

  3. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Generally speaking, what range of points would you generally expect and be content to get from a bench boost? As opposed to being either disappointed or very pleased.

    1. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Hard to say because the transfers were planned with that in mind. I’d want at least 15. Leno and Eddie got me 9 so far.

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I'm on 29 at the moment with all 4 to play again

      1. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        that's not an answer to the question, it's just bragging

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          I'd probably brag too though in that position

        2. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          It's not bragging, point is that it's impossible to answer. There are no 'bench points' on a bench boost. You build a BB for 15 players.

    3. Hairy Potter
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      For this BB, I would be content with 10 points from my bench as didn't go overboard on cash or DGW players. Currently have 9 with 2 players left.

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        If I had had a WC left, it would have been 16 points as I would have gone for 4 DGW players.

    4. onceuponatyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I mean, it kind of depends if you put your weakest players on the bench. If some smartass has KDB .etc on their bench, gonna warp results.

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I'm thinking of a fair bench boost where people count the players they genuinely wouldn't have picked.

    5. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      20 points for me, i.e. equivalent to four DGW players all playing twice, and one of them at least doing something.

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I would guess the overwhelming majority of bench boosts fall short of that, mind.

        Anyone know if there is an actual stat from previous years of the average return from BB in the top 10k or whatever?

        1. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          I think they do, yes - although I'm pretty sure I had 22 points or something two years ago. This year has been the first one where the BB has really worked.

    6. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      BB is typically used in the biggest DGWs, with all 4 subs expected to play two matches each. That adds up to 16 base points, and I use that to judge my score whenever I use the chip

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I'm currently on 21 with 2 Blades defenders to come. The points I've already bagged are giving me a healthy lead in my weekly cash league.

    7. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Everyone plays (8) plus one attacking and one defensive return (8) then 1 point from save points / clean sheets / bonus =17

      So I’m on 9 with Doherty and Abraham to play. I’d be ‘happy’ with 17 from here and ecstatic with 21+

    8. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      16.

      2 appearances from each player x 2 pts for each appearance. Less than 16 from your benched players is a disappointment IMO

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        That's assuming everyone on your bench plays twice, which isn't necessarily the case.

        1. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          And that would be disappointing. Happens a lot, but still disappointing. Hence why I set the same benchmark of 16 + one return for 'satisfactory'.

    9. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Above 16 points is good on bb, i have 14 with all four having one game each left. Nyland, VVD, El gazi and lund. That could be 2 sub apps but 20 points should be possible.

    10. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Fun fact...my dog is called Sully

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        That was indeed a fun fact.

    11. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      100+

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Oh sorry lol :p I'd think around 20 or more is decent for the bench

  4. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    If Arsenal showed half of the fight during games as they did at full time they might win a game once in a while

  5. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Which combo?
    A) Robbo Saka
    B) Maguire Barnes

  6. Infamy, Infamy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Brighton Rock !!

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Dunk legend

  7. Essan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Who are Arsenal up again next? I need to load up on them on my WC 😀

    1. Essan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      against ....

  8. Vpan
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    a) DCL + Doherty

    or

    b) Abraham + Boly/Saiss + 0.5/0.7

    for WC?

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Abraham & Saiss

    2. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      A

  9. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Auba will be the first price change tonight

  10. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Who should I replace Leno with?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Martinez, only 4.2

  11. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Saka got to be a decent 4.4 bench option on WC

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      4.7

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Except the fact that he is not 4.4m

    3. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I'll prob get him on wc even at 4.7.. good value, wont be putting him in my starting 11

    4. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Got me 3 points this week lol

  12. Oi! Shadders!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    What has happened to David Moyes?

  13. Cynical
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Stick with Auba next week or nah?

    1. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I wouldn’t buy him for 7.2m in a SGW.

  14. pakornk
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    guys which is better?

    a. Son and Barnes

    or

    b. Richarlison and Maddison

    1. Sandesh_
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      A

    2. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      A

    3. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I’m on a

  15. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Best combo on free hit? Both Will start
    A) Saka Robbo
    B) Barnes Maguire

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      B

  16. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Maupay

    “Arsenal players got what they deserved”

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Sounds awful out of context. I'm sure the media will run with it.

  17. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    I've got Auba & Aguero which isn't going well so far, who should I get in for Auba?

    A) Rashford
    B) Vardy
    C) Kane

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      A

  18. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Arsenal are finished. I’m an Arsenal fan. No title challenge for 20 years I predict...

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Steady on lad lol

    2. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Bold

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Not finished. But needs a clear out.

      Have said many times this quote:

      "You do not rise to the level of your expectations, you fall to the level of your training"

      Arsenal's base level is low and hence they 'fall' to a low level. And that started with Wenger and continued with Emery. Unfortunately, a lot of the senior players are too old to change their ways and so need to go if Arsenal want to raise the base level of the youngsters.

      Football is like life. If you get into good habits then those habits become easy and you don't even know you are doing good things because it just becomes normal for you. But a lot of the Arsenal players have got bad habits and that is hard to change.

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Arsenes last year was pretty bad but to say arsenal were in a constant downfall is harsh imo

        Id actually say he did recover from the really fragile 2007-12 team. The 4 years after that were actually pretty decent with some silverware.

        Money has been terribly spent since his departure

    4. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Need a restart. Out with fortnite players in it for the money: like Auba, Pepe, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Laca, Ceballos. Build a new team with young players like Saka and Nktiah. You will be back soon.

    5. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Pol. Pool were just as bad 10 years ago

  19. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Looks like Watford and Brighton have enough about them to stay up.

    I think Villa & Bournemouth will join Norwich. Fraser really screwed Bournemouth over. West Ham surely have too much quality...

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Yep

    2. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Sadly, I agree!

  20. Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Only teams to have won less games this season than Arsenal are in the bottom 6.

    What has to change? Where do you start?

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      They need to actually buy some quality defenders. Severe under investment there.

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Arsenal have fallen far over the last 11 years (under Wenger and Emery). They are not a Top 6/7 club anymore. The following needs to change:

      1) Remove the toxic players (Luiz, Xhaka, Ozil and Lacazette)
      2) Sort out Auba's contract, but the assumption has to be that he won't sign an extension and he needs to go too
      3) Decide which players are going to form the basis of the first XI, I would say it should be Leno (GK), Bellerin (RB), Holding (RCB), Tierney (LB), Guendouzi (CM), Torreira (CM), Ceballos (CM) and Pepe (RW) and Saka (LW).
      4) Be less disrespectful of PL players when identifying transfer targets as PL experience is valuable.

      Under (3) there are some holes. So they need to identify players to fill those holes. I would suggest:

      1) Ryan Fraser (AM / W) - Available for free, has PL and international experience, has shown he is good enough to play in the PL
      2) Nathan Ake (LCB) - Another with PL and international experience who is improving (under VVD's guidance at international level)
      3) Odsonne Edouard (FW) - Edouard is a youngster high on confidence and used to winning and scoring goals.

      That is not a Top 4 team. But it is going to take time for Arsenal to get back into the Top 6 let alone the Top 4. What it does give is a team of players who are 25 and under (other than Leno) who can grow under Arteta. It is going to take 2/3 transfer windows at least to get to a squad that can cope with the demands of the Europa League and stay in the Top 6 in the PL.

      I'll repeat the quote from my post above:

      "You do not rise to the level of your expectations, you fall to the level of your training"

      Raise your base level, get into good habits and the rest will follow.

      1. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        They clearly need a vocal leader on the pitch as well. Someone all the other players respect who can get them going. For a while now when things run against them they all seem to drop in energy and become passive.

        1. badgerboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Ryan Fraser could be that guy.

      2. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Great response.

        I see very few fighters in that team - I like Luiz as a leader but I sometimes find he's someone that would rather shift the blame rather than stand up and fight. Who there will be a vocal leader? I really can't see anyone.

        I think even when you add a serious CB to the mix, the midfield in front of them feels all other the place, lots of talent but not seeing any indication that they're fitting into a particular system.

        Owners have to look at their fresh-faced manager and help him out here. All well and good having a Pepe Laca Auba front 3, if you have nothing behind they're useless. You're right though - they have a good start to build from with the youngsters they have coming through, but it's vital that they get them tied down (Saka) and given plenty of minutes to develop (Martinelli)

      3. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Good rational assessment.

    3. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Did you see any movement today from any of the players? I just saw one bit of class from Pepe. No midfield, defence is awful. Aubameyang probably will leave. Huge mess sadly.

  21. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Probably the same as alot on here.. but each game gets more and more depressing!
    Kun captain, auba, leno owner..
    The only good thing was my trip SHU defence.
    Jimi and Doh to save my gw, so for sure Jota and Saiss hauls incoming..

  22. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Leno injured, Auba blank, traore benched omg

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Good. Karma for your deleted post

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Karma for what? I wasnt watching the game, did not know it was a serious injury.

        Stop stalking me and get a life bro 😀

  23. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Chances for Reina starting vs Che?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Slim

  24. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    So Pepe scored a worldie...

    Still a good plan to do Pepe > Fernandes for free or can I hold a week?

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Absolutely!!!

    2. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Seems like stay very far away from Arsenal assets.

    3. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Bin him, he was awful.

  25. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    How many Leicester would you want a FH now we've seen both them and Brighton play

  26. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Maupay: "Arsenal need to learn humility and got what they deserved"

  27. Sailboats
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Same old Arsenal

  28. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Thoughts here on WC31

    Pope --- Martin
    Taa Doherty Kiko --- Lascelles Simpson
    Salah KDB Son Bruno -- Guendozi
    Jota Rashford DCL

    Some options
    A: Kiko + Rashford >> Aurier + Jimmy
    B: Doherty + Jota >> Saiss + Jimmy
    C: Son + Jota >> Sarr + Jimmy + 1.5m to upgrade Kiko and/or DCL

    1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      C is much better

  29. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Arsenal should buy Lewis Dunk for a start. Big ugly defender who just does his job.

  30. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Any update on whether Barnes picked up injury after ice pack applied to leg after being subbed, or just precautionary?