Dugout Discussion

Giroud benched as Willian and Pulisic start at Sheff Utd

Olivier Giroud (£6.7m) finds himself on the Chelsea bench for the Gameweek 35+ trip to Sheffield United.

That will be of huge frustration to his increasing ownership and those looking to him as a differential option.

The Frenchman had scored in each of his last two outings, both of which were starts, but will have to watch Tammy Abraham (£7.4m) lead the line from the sidelines today.

That arguably places a question mark over Giroud’s credentials for the Gameweek 36+ meeting with Norwich, which may have been on the radar for anyone considering a reshuffle of their Fantasy forward line.

Meanwhile, Willian (£7.3m) and Christian Pulisic (£7.3m) remain reliable starters, each one positioned either side of Abraham for the trip to Sheffield United.

The 13.7%-owned Mason Mount (£6.1m) retains his place in the side, making his fifth start from a possible six since the Premier League restart.

Meanwhile, John Lundstram (£4.6m) is on the bench for Sheffield United once again, Chris Wilder opting to keep his central midfield trio the same as Gameweek 34+.

That means further starts for Oliver Norwood (£4.7m), Sander Berge (£4.7m) and Ben Osborn (£4.7m).

David McGoldrick (£5.4m) comes back into the team following a fitness test, forcing Billy Sharp (£5.3m) back onto the bench.

Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): D Henderson; O’Connell, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Osborn, Norwood, Berge, Baldock; McBurnie, McGoldrick.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, R James; Mount, Jorginho, Barkley; Pulisic, Abraham, Willian.

1,411 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Think antonio will score more points than my team this week

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Very possible for me too.

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Comfortably

    3. DMP
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You think Haller might Play CF and António more wide?

    4. Dash444
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Anybody got him on their bench?

    5. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Same

  2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Giroud is a MAN and fraud Frank benches him, leaving a team of soft tissues to face the real MEN of Steel.
    Bunch of Muppets.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It’s odd. I would’ve thought Giroud would be perfect for playing vs Sheff Utd

      1. DandyDon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yes thought giroud today and Tammy against Norwich. Lamps has given himself a problem here

    2. thomashl
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ole licks his lips

  3. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sheffield going to be wheeling out competition winners in the second half to have a go at scoring vs Chelsea

  4. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Poor Lampard. Playing without a keeper in the Premier League

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Give it a rest ffs

    2. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You can give it a rest now, think everyone knows your feelings on it.

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

      He can play Caballero if he thinks Kepa is that bad.

      Lampard's stubbornness in playing his favourites is part of the problem. Mount, Barkley and Christensen should not be anywhere near the first team.

    4. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Is he playing without attackers too because you haven't scored

      • TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        And without a striker.

        Why does he persist with Abraham when Giroud was helping their play

      • Sid1891
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Kepa red card?

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Daniel wishes

            1. Now I'm Panicking
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Daniel red card?

              1. Sid1891
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Daniel wishes

      • Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Last Giroud benching was West Ham... Tammy will do well to see 60’.

      • Party time
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Chelsea looking clueless

        • Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Sharp on in 2nd half to put Chelsea to the sword

        • Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Abraham is another overrated english player like Sterling, Joshua King and Walcott

          1. Alnair
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            King is Norwegian...

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

              Lol

            2. Sid1891
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              True
              English only have Queen

            3. Niho992
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              King from Bournemouth YeS. But also one King play for United few years ago

              1. thomashl
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                He’s the same player...?

                1. Niho992
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  No chance !

              2. Twisted Saltergater
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                😆

              3. Grounderz
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                I understand you are desperate in defending yourself but at least get the facts right.

                1. Big boy Bowen
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  He means Andy King from Leicester...

                  1. Grounderz
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    He means Ledley King.

          2. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 8 months ago

              What do they all have in common

            • mgilbert86
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Sterling is a baller, not sure why you included him with those two and King is from Norway

              1. Twisted Saltergater
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                He knows...

                1. Brosstan
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  People falling for ancient bait. Props to him for combining the "King is English" with the "Sterling is rubbish" flavors though.

                  1. Twisted Saltergater
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    2 for 1

              2. Niho992
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                I didnt mean on Joshua King from Bournemouth. I think about one from United that played there few years ago.

                Sterling is overrated.

            • Rojo's Modern Life
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Idiot

            • DandyDon
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Don’t think you can say that based on his goal last week alone

            • jtreble
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Little know fact: King and Ole are from the same part of England. 🙂

          3. bench boost for every gamew…
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Mcgoldrick and mcburnie. First time two goalscorers in same game who,'s surname starts with MC since mcmanaman and mcarthur for wigan in 2013. Cool

            1. BobbyDoesNotLook
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Fun facts. Not even kidding.

              1. bench boost for every gamew…
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Optajoe

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

            My FH36 plan doesn't look good now. 🙁

          5. beric
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Lol @ chelsea

          6. Eat my goal!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Chelsea gifting Utd CL

            1. Siva Mohan
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              depends on Man City CAS verdict on Monday..

          7. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            How has Pulisic been?

            1. TheDragon
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Chelsea’s best player but that’s not saying much

              For him to get any points need Tammy off and Giroud on

            2. wantsharptv
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Sadly not as good as Antonio

          8. Boxwoods
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            8 from 4 (with captain) any good?

            1. beric
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Average

            2. TheDragon
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Actually decent (not even really joking)

            3. wantsharptv
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Decent although I got 9 from Robertson alone

              1. saurabh.06
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                I got 52 from Antonio

                1. TheDragon
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Do you only post when you captain a player who scores 4 goals?

                  1. thomashl
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    Haha

                2. wantsharptv
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Only? I got 78 from him

                  1. saurabh.06
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    That's really great. Tc on Antonio. Very brave...

          9. Siva Mohan
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Reece, Barkley & Abraham >> Alonso, Kova & Giru .. need this after HT

            come on Frank..

          10. Hulk Smash
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            If you think your job sucks, just think there's probably someone at Chelsea whose job is to find a buyer for Kepa...

            1. el polako
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Offer him to one of Chinese clubs probably the best way to recover some of the money spend.

            2. TheDragon
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              The fact Kepa gets paid £200k a week to do a job that he is abysmal at is very upsetting

              1. Big boy Bowen
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Doubt he will for much longer

          11. gers23
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            At this point I don't even want Chelsea getting a penalty, as my rivals keeper will probably save it..

            1. BobbyDoesNotLook
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              This has been my feeling lately. I was pretty scared when Robbo fell on the side of the box against Burnley. Pope ps would have been just wat too much.

          12. Kodap
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Having an absolute shocker here, Pulisic.. PLEASE rescue my Saturday.

          13. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Honestly what Chelsea needs is Alonso on to double up on the Sheffield defenders. Chelsea attack is way too static right now.

          14. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            On the plus side, Norwich will make Chelsea look like world beaters on Tuesday.

            1. TheDragon
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Chelsea will probably make Norwich look like world beaters

              1. thomashl
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Farke will make Chelsea look like meat beaters

          15. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            West Ham:
            19 shots, 7 on target
            Liverpool:
            23 shots, 9 on target

            Salah and Mane: 2 points apiece
            Antonio: 26 points on his own

            This game lol

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

              Variance

              1. Big boy Bowen
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                It’s madness, imagine if at the beginning of today you were informed someone was going to score 4 in a game today.

                You’d go all out with Salah and Mane!

          16. el polako
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Fredericks on my bench scored more than all my playing guys today....
            Need a drink

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

              Lol

          17. mgilbert86
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Whoever is running chelsea is clueless, spending 100 of millions on attackers when the defense is not even close to challenging for titles

            1. Deulofail
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Maybe they will also spend money on defence

          18. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Need a Barkley G to wipe this Sheffield clean sheet

            1. BobbyDoesNotLook
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              That would be perfect and even realistic. Hendo og then again would be even better. 😉

          19. teddypicker
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Giroud hasn't had 90 mins all season, even if he starts vs Norwich he's getting subbed right?

            1. DandyDon
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Probably. I’d like to see both strikers play together

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

            Remember when McBurnie was the all the rage for that 3rd striker bench spot?

          21. Tsparkes10
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            This is amazing. Great football, not giving them any space at all 🙂

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

              Get Lundy, Freeman and Sharp on after 60+ mins to keep the intensity up. Chelsea not matching Sheffield's work rate. And Chelsea aren't *that* much better such that their skill compensates.

              1. Eze Really?
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Hand it to Wilder.

          22. Sid1891
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Pep to save my gw with Kdb Foden Mahrez starting
            Wishful thinking l know...

          23. Gentle_Turks
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Who's going to challenge Pool and City next season? Not Chelsea with their defence. UTD might, if they buy a world class goalkeeper.

            1. mgilbert86
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Utd if they get one or two more signings

            2. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              United. They're the only team that has a decent balance of offense and defense. Before it was just defense, but now with Pogba and Fernandes, they can unlock the bus parkers which makes them a threat.

              And they have a fantastic record in big games too. They did the double over City this season.

            3. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Is it Chelsea defense or is it trying to play 4 at the back and Full backs playing like wing backs. Yes they need A centre half. Christiensen can only play in a back 5. Rudiger a good player but has suffered due to Lampard tactics.

            4. Grounderz
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              The present Man Utd seems to be more than what people claim. With super consistency, they can challenge the title. My belief is that they can do it, even without any new signing in the next window.

            5. Sun Jihai
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Man Utd
              Check out the PL table if it had started when Bruno joined
              https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/formtabelle/wettbewerb/GB1?saison_id=2019&min=25&max=34

          24. ZakyJ
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Going through what I need to do for a good finish during this game:

            Presuming no injuries obviously

            Pope (Button*)
            TAA Robbo Boly (lascelles Robinson*)
            KDB Mahrez Bruno Martial Salah
            Jimi Greenwood Ings

            2ft 0itb & BB left

            Is Martinez playing ROS?

            Is Digne the best defender to get?

            Thinking Robbi and Robinson to Digne and Egan then Button to Martinez next week to prep for bench boost

            Any other thoughts or better player options, would like Ederson but can't get him and Digne.

            Cheers for any input