Dugout Discussion

Soucek and Wilson feature as West Ham host Newcastle

Tomas Soucek (£5.0m) starts for West Ham United amid concerns over his match fitness for Gameweek 1.

The player reportedly missed international duty with the Czech Republic on account of a quarantine period and missed some training too.

But the first chance David Moyes had to include the budget midfielder, he starts, against a Newcastle team that typically struggles to deal with the aerial threat of a player like Soucek.

They may also face a tough test competing with Michail Antonio (£6.5m) who has retained the centre-forward berth on the back of his exceptional Project Restart form.

That means Sebastien Haller (£6.5m) remains on the bench, where is joined by Ben Johnson (£4.0m), kept out of the team by Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m).

Callum Wilson (£6.5m) comes straight into the Newcastle team following his summer signing from Bournemouth.

He is paired with Andy Carroll (£5.5m) in a two-man strike-force while Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.5m) and Jeff Hendrick (£5.0m) are tasked with providing the width from midfield.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Soucek, Rice; Fornals, Noble, Bowen; Antonio.

Newcastle United XI: Darlow; Lewis, Lascelles, Fernández, Manquillo; Saint-Maximin, Shelvey, Hayden, Hendrick; Carroll, C Wilson.

Best players by position:

1,329 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Wanton Trader
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Did AZ end up going with Gabriel?

    Just trying to change the subject... 😆

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      No he changed it to Tierney

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Ouch.

  2. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Auba (WHU) or Salah (che) tough call,Salah could be better choice again.

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Auba(c) don’t overthink it

      1. JamTart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Martial is a possibility for me. See how West Ham look here

        1. THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Good option

    2. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Unless Milner starts

    3. Bob B
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Auba at home against weaker opposition, simple choice

    4. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Don't see it. Klopp will try to tighten things up after today imo, and even today Leeds saw more of the ball than Liverpool.

    5. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      All good but 9 shots today?

      Could easy score penalty too,Auba looks better but he gets few shots per game.

    6. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Depends if Kepa plays!

      1. Ser Davos
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Good point

    7. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      See how all the teams look first. Mine’s on Auba or Kane though.

    8. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Bruno for me

  3. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Did Lateriser go Salah-less?

    Happens to the the best..

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      He'll catch up in no time.

    2. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      It doesn't really happen to the best

    3. Yome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I read earlier that he got him

      1. Mr Arsenal
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        And prob even captained him!

      2. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        No, he didn't.

    4. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/55085/event/1

      Werner could still get a hattie though!

    5. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      yep

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

    It really doesn’t feel like we are only 3 games into the season 😀

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

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

        Didn’t realise how much I missed it

    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      True

  5. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Don't care much about Salah v Auba, but to watch the way Leeds play and Klopp getting scared was amazing!

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Honestly this result was more about Liverpool under-performing than Leeds over performing I think.

      I guess we'll find out next GW if that was the case.

      1. The Pesci challenge
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Agreed

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Agreed

      Leeds will put the frighteners on everyone this season. Bielsa is really a historic manager. He's changed how the game is played today - so influential.

  6. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Who looked a better option out of Ayling and Dallas for Leeds?
    Saw both had zero chances created and minimal xGI

    1. Bob B
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Ayling but there were so many top knots it might have been somebody else I was watching

  7. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    being a non Salah owner feels worse when you are a Mane owner, there's no doubt about it. Mane was extremely close to matching Salah last season (less minutes) but in a one off game anything can happen.

    It almost feels like you were right about the game (captaining Liverpool vs Leeds) but just got the 50/50 wrong.

    If you just got Havertz or Son or whatever instead of Salah then there isn't much to feel bad about - you obviously felt like Liverpool wouldn't do that well against Leeds and spent that money elsewhere. Mane captainers are the only real losers here imo lmao

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      saying that, two were pens so maybe Salah got lucky - either way the dejection is real 😀

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        They are the same price but Salah has penalties. Thats what made the Salah vs Mane decision easy in my opinion

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          if you look at their points last year penalties didn't really make a difference - pretty sure Salah had scored one more than Mane over two seasons before today - no chance I would have said it was an 'easy' decision had Mane outscored Salah today, just the way it goes

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            I made 3 teams on FanTeam btw, all 3 have Salah - so I'm not 'pocket talking' or whatever - just feels like the Official FPL dream is already over haha

        2. Visionaries
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          This.
          Both just as explosive but ones on pens.
          Easy to say with hindsight, but a no brainer

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            yeah I took a risk based on ownership on a 52/48 ish and it didn't work out, oh well

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Don't own any Liverpool attackers and have never been less bothered by someone I don't own getting a hat-trick.

      Knew the way I had set up meant a bad GW1 was likely. Whereas Mane owners were actually hoping for something.

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        yep basically, like I went cheap strikers instead of getting Werner - if Werner hauls I genuinely don't care, my decision. Feels a bit different when it's Mane vs Salah though - and I've got it the wrong way round quite a few times now

    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Mane (c)
      But I have ten other players so whatever

    4. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yep. And the reason you didn’t have salah was his next few games.
      If he hauls in them then it will really hurt.
      I didn’t have him or mane

    5. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Can understand the comment, but it simply wasn't a 50/50.

      Salah is/was a clear favourite to score more points

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        said above, it was a 52/48 ish - based on last season, was worth a punt

    6. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      This is why looking at FPL - and indeed anything - in a one week / game window is a nonsense.

      Mané could’ve quite easily got three. I almost went Salah to Mané at the last minute and then I couldn’t even remember if I capped Auba or Mo. Luckily it was the latter.

      This game is >50% luck. Especially single GWs.

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        yeah not gonna cry over it - just saying - annoying when people make out it was an easy decision though, if I had gone Salah (as I did in FanTeam) I wouldn't have been confident about him outscoring Mane, large amount of luck involved as you say

  8. elchilangles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    does anyone follow the strategy of quite a few hits in the first 3-4 weeks to up team value as much as possible?

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Team value is overrated

      1. El Magico5
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        This always 2 ft's away from making the move

    2. Dr Rabotnicki
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      A growing team value is great but it shouldn't be your target, it should be the added benefit of you targeting players who are going to get you the most points in the coming weeks. It's also important to bring in the players you've targeted before their price rises, that's the key to team value... http://www.fplstatistics.co.uk/Home/IndexAndroid2. An early transfer has always been fine in my books, players rarely get injured. Of course there's the added risk of covid but like injuries I think it'll be a rare occurrence as the season progresses.

  9. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    De Bruyne or Salah?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Salah

    2. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      KdB

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      See how Chelsea defence look first (and if they get a new Kepa!)

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

      Salah

    5. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Both

    6. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Both

  10. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    KDB or Sterling for the next few weeks? Surely pep won't rotate them in the first few weeks?

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      going to wait and see if Pep plays Rodri/Gundo/KDB or Rodri/KDB/(Foden or Bilva) against Wolves.

      If its the former, then KDB.

    2. Puntillimon
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Maybe aguero? But worried he may now be a part time twitch streamer. He always gets goals though

  11. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Last five minutes before deadline feels so good now.
    Opened the app to change captaincy from Salah to Auba but instead did Ings + KWP to Adams + Doherty and then just closed the app.

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nice one

    2. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I changed captaincy from auba to salah an hour before deadline

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Good

  12. El Magico5
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Wilson to match salah. Bookmark it.

    1. Bob B
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      1. Bob B
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Fingers crossed!

        1. El Magico5
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Is right willy.

  13. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I've already used my FT to do Mane to Salah. Was that a waste of a transfer?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Salah blanks vs Chelsea, sorry.

    2. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yes

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      A day early at least.

    4. Neevesy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yep. Chasing points. Mane could very well haul next week.

  14. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Mo looks more lethal with the haircut.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Read on her last weekend he needed to grow it out again to fight the decline.

  15. Visionaries
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Well this certainly puts a spanner in the works of my proposed transfer of Salah > Bruno.
    Auba > Bruno anyone?

  16. Chill, we'll call you
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    If all Salah's shots had been saved, he'd be on only two points, so definitely in a slump. Says everyone who doesn't have Salah (c).

  17. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Just finished my dinner to find Salah(c) hatty. Which was nice.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Looks like you both finished your dinner.

  18. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Who is still going to shift Salah out for a Man Utd player this gameweek?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      fools imo

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      all the stupid ones

    3. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      It'd be hard to. That was him at his very best, his all round game was sensational.

      Most chances crested and most dribbles.

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Exactly...lots had planned this. Very difficult to do now. Aubameyang has a good fixture too...could be some interesting choices for some people this week.

    4. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Pressers first.

    5. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I would.

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Assuming pressers indicate everything is okay and all that.

    6. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Bruno subbing in for Bissouma

  19. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Auba capper here. Should I delete my team, season over?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      *sigh*

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I thought you did irony

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Don't do stupidity.

    2. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      yes

  20. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Anybody considering WC already?

  21. Bank$y
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Salah won’t get two pens every day. Don’t panic.

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      And yet his second goal was amazing

  22. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I'm so glad I listened to Mark and Az on the FPL Blackbox video and just went against my urges to captain Auba, thank you both

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      🙄

    2. Az
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Happy to help!

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        You still targeting Palace defence? 😀

    3. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Haha

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      bit sad you couldnt make that decision on your own though 🙂

  23. Oooof
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Mo Salah - captain, my captain!

  24. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Come on Antonio, plz revive my game week!

  25. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I want only non Salah owners to answer to this and tell me what medicine to get about my sadness

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Fellow Salah non-owner but unfortunately, I'm as inept in pharmacy as I am in FPL 🙁

    2. chelseabrad
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      this isnt gw38

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Correct

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

      Best medicine is to get off here for a bit as it will be rammed down your throat for days

    4. curious_zombie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Wait 4 more gws and look how your alternate picks do vs salah+asm. cheers.

  26. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Taa is the one to sell.
    Not Mo.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Robbo much better atm.

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I will settle for vvd and save 1m

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          True, very dangerous.

        2. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Gutted that I ruined my 3 Red defence by taking VVD out. Doh!

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Let him find his feet.

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      How many teams do you think will attack Liverpool the way Leeds did?

      Genuine question.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        One. If Leeds played like that for 37 more games, they'll be Top 4. They won't, but they could finish Top 6.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          look like norwich of last season. lots of nice enablers in their team

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Norwich weren't managed by Bielsa

            Trouble with Leeds is that their attacks come from so many different angles and all the time - anyone could return.

            Get them an ace CF and he would be beyond gold. actually Bamford plays really well and makes the system work.

      2. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        no idea. Im more concerned Taa lost some corners/fks to Robbo and was not attacking as usual

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Feels all a bit like GW18 or whenever it was to me. Robbo and Vvd are fine options but a transfer seems hasty

    4. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Did seem to be less advanced today. Plus Robbo's corners were far more on point. One to keep an eye on.

  27. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I have decided to sell trent to get all 3 of salah debruyne bruno instead of just 2

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Wildcard?

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Haven't done it yet but pondering it 😛

  28. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    If Soucek scores or assists I may just keel over. Would be a great end to the day.

  29. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Captaining Auba instead of Salah, a 16 point mistake.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      13

    2. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      13

    3. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Can't argue with points though? At least you got a result.

  30. DRIZ ✅
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Go without Salah they said, pre season form is not great they said.

    Salah Cappers rejoice 🙂

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      🙂