Dugout Discussion

Injured James and Antonio miss out as Lampard benches Havertz and Giroud

The final Premier League fixture before Christmas is a London derby at Stamford Bridge.

Bringing Gameweek 14 to a close, Chelsea v West Ham United kicks off at 20:00 GMT.

The Blues will be without Reece James (£5.3m), with the widespread media reports that hinted at his possible, injury-enforced absence proving to be accurate.

The long-serving Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.6m) comes in at right-back and is one of three changes that Frank Lampard has made from Gameweek 13, with Jorginho (£4.8m) and Tammy Abraham (£8.2m) replacing the benched Kai Havertz (£8.2m) and Olivier Giroud (£6.7m).

Speaking of those last two changes ahead of kick-off, Lampard said:

It’s just a rotation and looking at different attributes of players against the opposition.

With Tammy, some energy in the team from the front. Oli’s been fantastic and can come in from the bench.

With Kai, similarly. I’ve got midfield players who are competing, I have to have a good level of competition. Nothing against Kai, he’s finding his feet and he will find his feet.

There is still no Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) in the Chelsea squad despite the Moroccan returning to training at the back-end of last week but another recent absentee, Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m), is on the bench.

West Ham have their own injury problems, with Michail Antonio (£6.2m) absent yet again because of a hamstring problem.

David Moyes said of the forward ahead of the match:

He’s getting closer but not ready for the game. He’s a big miss for us, undoubtedly, but hopefully, we’ll get him back soon.

Manuel Lanzini (£6.4m) misses out with a similar issue.

Fabian Balbuena (£4.5m) has recovered from a minor groin problem to start, at least, with the Paraguayan ousting Issa Diop (£4.3m) from the Hammers’ starting XI.

Mark Noble (£4.6m) also makes his first start in the Premier League since September as Moyes looks to bolster his midfield for this tricky away trip.

Said Benrahma (£6.0m) is the man to make way to accommodate the West Ham skipper.


Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Thiago Silva, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, Werner, Abraham, Pulisic.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Noble, Fornals, Haller.

Lessons learned from FPL Gameweek 14

1,979 Comments Post a Comment
  1. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    James + Chill to Robbo + Coufal for free?

    1. thetommy14
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep

    2. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes sir

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Absolutely

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

    Chilwell to Dias or maybe go for someone with DGW - Coufal?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Im going for Coufal, at least this forces my hand to go for him early.

    2. thetommy14
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Dias yes and Coufal or Dallas looks good too

  3. XABI 15
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Did anyone see if McNeil was injured badly? Taken off as a precaution?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Didn't see any contact/tackle.

  4. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Still cant believe Wolves conceded 2 to Burnley!

    1. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Right?? I just saw the final score and was pretty stunned. All those Neto transfers in, too... 🙁

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I fancy Spurs to get a couple at the weekend against them.

  5. Plant Based FPLer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Lampard was supposed to rest Chilwell for this one. Just play Emerson or Alonso for one game, at home too.

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Silly Frank.

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Clearly his fault

      1. Plant Based FPLer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        People get injured the most when they're tired and not concentrating. Gotcha.

  6. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Damn you chilwell 1 pointer!

    *Brag alert*

    Now I finish the gameweek with just 101 points.

    😛 😀

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

      Unlucky

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Better luck next time bro.

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

      Would rather no show and score a nice round 100

      1. KAALI_DAAL
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        93

      2. Black Knights
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        But then he’d have someone off his bench.

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

          Depends, some of us have James, Lamptey and Mitchell 🙂

  7. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    everyone post your rubbish scores

    me: 54 with Coufal and Souk in play, so that'll be 55 🙂

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

      69, captain choice and only 10 men cost me

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

        Seen lots of tonnes/near on tonnes so assuming this is average to bad

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

        Thats over 10k average

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

          Yes I saw that yesterday but I’ve still dropped a fair bit

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      61 with Soucek n Zouma

    3. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      86 with Coufal and Chilwell... Oh wait.

      1. 272MK
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        88 with Zouma to go. Oh wait. Sorry. Read it wrong. My bad people

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

      42. Luckily I finally had a defender play today (Chilwell).

    5. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      58-4 Mendy and Coufal left now

    6. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      52 with Bowen left

    7. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      70. Returns from 8 players, just my 3 spurs let me down (including captain Kane). Why did I move it off Bruno?!?!

    8. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      84

  8. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell you biscuit

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Favourite biscuit? BBQ shapes at the moment.

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Fox's at the moment

  9. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hopefully Walker rested in EFL cup. So I can transfer out Chilwell

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

    2 FTs and looking to build squad towards FH18 and BB19. Moves make sense?

    A) Lamptey > Dallas
    B) James > Coufal

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

      Or hold on B one week and do

      C) Barkley > Raphinia

  11. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Didn't see the Chilwell incident. Is he definitely out for a while ??

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No idea. He rolled his ankle. Could've done serious damage and be out for months or could be fine in a few days.

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

        Roll of the ankle has to be 2 weeks off I’d say

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

          At least

          1. martyhan
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Thanks doctor. Seriously some clowns on here. One anyway.

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

      Not definitely but could have strained some ligaments

    3. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      did not look good

      Can't see how he makes Arsenal match

    4. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      It was one of those where the toe stayed planted while the ankle rolled, seemed like it could be bad...

  12. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any chance of Giroud coming on?

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

      Yeah

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

        Would bet on it.

  13. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Yeah, can't see Chelsea getting a CS here. Very sloppy.

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      That's ok as long as Zouma scores

  14. TOLV TUMS
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Okay, probably obvious question, please don't poke fun: Have Lamptey in my 3-4-3 (didn't play) and my first sub is Soucek, with KWP next. How does FPL handle this?

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

      You get KWP

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

      KWP you need three defenders

    3. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      KWP comes on mate.

      1. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks for these - I didn't know if Soucek somehow blocked that because of bench order.

    4. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks very much

    5. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      KWP comes in.

    6. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Defender will come first.

  15. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    James & Mahrez > Dallas & Son

    Or keep Mahrez this week

    1. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      it's a good long-term move. It's roulette with mahrez or just about anyone else on that team for any given gameweek

  16. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I can just afford to do Chilwell -> Robertson and Bamford -> Adams.

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

      Bamford has good fixtures and DGW I wouldn’t sell right now

  17. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Lads, Robbo or Trent?

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

      Robbo

    2. thetommy14
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Robbo

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Ta both

    3. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      stats say robbo and form also robbo eye test probably robbo as well

      I think I might still get Trent tho :joy:

  18. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Finished on 70. Definitely taking that, was well worried about this gameweek with multiple Southampton, Leicester and Leeds players in my team considering their fixtures. Justin’s 8 with no Son or Kane very much appreciated.

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

    Azpi not exactly covering himself in glory here... Been second best a lot at RB.

    That's good news as a James owner. And also Chilwell potentially being out.

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

      is there news on how long james is out ?

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

        No. But reading between the lines I think he's 50/50 for Arsenal and likely back for GW16.

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          It will be longer imo

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

          Probably depend if the knee is comfortable and if the fluid build up goes

  20. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Harrison or Raphina and why?

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Raphinha. Looks better on the eye test imo.

      1. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, this. I think he'll be dynamite against weaker opposition and he seems pretty nailed now that he's bedded in since the start

    2. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      All if chilwell out is this madness for -8 hit - chilwell, Son & Wilson to Cresswell (or another 5.2m), salah & 4.3m forward?!

  21. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Did Lampard say anything about Reece James? The commentator said he failed a late fitness test, which suggest he's not that injured..?

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Read an article that suggested that he only needs a couple of weeks with rest and no surgery.

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

      He's not that injured. I think he might miss the next game, but will probably feature in the one after. Although the fact they've probably lost Chilwell means he's more likely to play this weekend too...

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He either rests or plays and might need a surgery.

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

    If out for long, Chilwell to:
    A. Matip
    B. KWP

    Have Coufal, Taylor, Dallas & Lamptey

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A

  23. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Just when I thought this week couldn't get any worse....Chilwell off after 4 mins ://

    1. Goooo Rickie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      *9mins

  24. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Why is thay a foul?

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

      It wasn't, another dive that goes unpunished

  25. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    That should be a goal. Never a foul.

  26. Ini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Have we received any formal update on James? Own both James and Chillwell so looking for info on how to progress.

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

    If Chilwell out and James knee issue being managed does transferring in Dallas and Coufal good use of free transfers with DGW 19 in mind ?
    My defence is bit sparse!

    Martinez
    Chilwell * James* Dias Lewis Mitchell*

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

      Im in a pretty similar position
      Chilwell* Lamptey* Lewis* Coufal Mitchell*

      Pretty much lost my entire defence this week. Coufal and Dallas are good picks for you for sure, other options would saints or if u can afford Liverpool

      Im currently planning to get Trent or Robbo in for Chilwell and maybe Dallas or KWP for Lamptey for -4 this week.

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

        Thanks- could get Robertson but means Grealish to possibly Raphinha to fund

        1. Rinseboy
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          whats you gw18 and 19 plan? that should drive which defenders you go for?

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

            Absolutely - presently got 7 players in 18 ( 8 if count Mitchell)
            Martinez
            Dias Lewis Mitchell
            Grealish KDB
            Bamford Brewster

            Only 5 doublers in week 19
            Chilwell* James*
            Salah Bruno
            Bamford

            But Martinez Grealish Salah KDB Son Dias decent singles so don’t want to lose them and happy to play so at the moment no idea of best strategy- sort of between FH 18 or 19 or just hold chips back and play through them with decent 11. But in any scenario think Robertson and Raphinha or Coufal /Dallas good additions

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

          I would make that move fixtures swing in Raphinhas favor and he has the double as well, he is someone I am also looking at if I need funds but currently have Soucek so Its unlikely I end up making a move for him any time soon.

          He has been looking quite key to Leeds attack off late, could be a shrewd buy before the Dgw

  28. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Zouma goal incoming as we are all waiting for it

  29. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    102 all out
    My first SGW century of FPL

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

      Gz - milestone!

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

    Trent or Robbo in for Chilwell?

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Robbo for me.

    2. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      i am going for robbo

    3. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      TAA imo. Robbo will be the consensus due to better form but just think TAA has a higher ceiling, on more set pieces and is just more fun to own in general.

    4. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Robertson 100%