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. BEEZUS
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    TAA or Robbo?

  2. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ohh yeahh FTs used

    Chilwell 1 James 0 Lamptey 0 Lewis 0 Neco 0

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I have Coufal over Neco, not much better...

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        And Mendy is my gk, sold Martinez for him (-4)...

      2. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        You have chance to match my Chilwell haul 😉

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

    Chilwell to Robbo it is then.

  4. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hit the WC tonight? Can’t last till 16 it doesn’t seem!

    McCarthy
    Chilwell**, James**, Lamptey**
    KDB, Bruno, Salah, Grealish, Cavaleiro**
    Bamford, DCL
    (4.0, Justin, Mitchell, Davis**)

  5. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Roughest week ever 🙁

    1. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      how rough?

      1. The Big Fella
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Roughest ever

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I have some pts... But sold Vardy and Targett for Kane and Lewis. Captained Kane instead of Bruno after Salah news. James, Lewis and Lamptey no show, Chilwell injured. Coufal and Mendy in this match.

  6. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I despair of this game sometimes. Charlie Taylor minutes away from a defensive haul before conceding and now Chilwell out of the game before 10 mins. Do one 2020!

  7. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How's this looking in preparation for DGW 19

    Grealish & DCL > Soucek/Klich & Vardy

    Martinez
    Chillwell* Cresswell* KWP*
    Salah* KDB Son Rashford* Soucek/Klich*
    Vardy* Bamford*

    8 DGW players
    FH gw18

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

    With Chilwell gone, go West Ham!

    Comn Coufal...!!!

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

    Rival has James and he getting Justin points, i have Chilwell. Fantastic

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

      Same

    2. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Good. Hope he beats you 🙂

    3. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I have both - and getting Mitchell points for Chilwell 🙁

  10. Gemma817
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hey guys. Really would appreciate some thoughts/criticisms on this strategy for GW 18 and 19.
    - Did Lamptey to Dallas this week. So no FT remaining rn. ITB: 0m

    Team now,
    Johnstone, 4m
    Dallas, Justin, TAA, (Dunne, Mitchel)
    KDB*, Salah, Mahrez*, Grealish*, (Burke)
    DCL*, Vardy, Bamford

    GW 16 - KDB to Bruno
    GW 17 - Grealish to Raphinha
    GW 18 - DCL to Antonio (Chip: Freehit)
    GW 19 - Mahrez to Mane

    --- ITB after these 4 transfer: .8m (sufficient to hedge against price rise/fall)

    Team for DWG 19
    Johnstone, 4m
    Dallas, Justin, TAA, (Dunne, Mitchel)
    Salah, Bruno, Mane, Raphinha, (Burke)
    Antonio, Bamford, Vardy
    Triple Captain: Salah

    thoughts on the idea and the transfers? Maybe not Mane maybe not Raphinha? Replace Justin? Chelsea players? Change Johnstone to another GK with a hit?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Key criticism - game going on.

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You can't make a transfer and use free hit in 18

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Or actually you can, but Antonio won't be in your team in 19

    3. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You can't use your free hit and make a permanent transfer in the same week (GW 18). If you used your FH you would be back to owning DCL in GW 19.

  11. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Double west ham defence went well.

    1. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Did you really expect a cleansheet

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes

    2. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      They were always going to concede this week, mate.

      But sorry about it.

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

    Soucek equaliser and Zouma winner to come.

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      This suits.

  13. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    GW from hell...

  14. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Soucek goal would be lovely.

  15. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell, James > TAA, Dias for free then... don’t mind if I do

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nice moves. I’ve only got 1FT so likely to WC now. Will pick those two up

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

      I have two free transfers as well, thinking Chilwell+James to Robbo+Dias.

  16. Neves say Neves
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Cavaleiro, Reece James and now Chilwell. At least im wildcarding in gw16

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Same! I’m going to WC this week now I think

      1. Neves say Neves
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        It’s my twin again! Hadn’t even thought about wildcarding this week, might be a smart move

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I am I think. GL Mate

  17. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell out, Robbo tempting, but I’m short on funds :/
    Son&Kane are priority for the gw16. Have to look somewhere else to find cash 🙁

  18. Esalman
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Didn't think I was gonna get 7 points from Taylor Chilwell Coufal when the former got an assist.

  19. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chillwell off, Cresswell concedes

    Not a great 5 mins.

  20. Maeki2
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chill chilwell be fine for next game

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nah mate. Looks like syndesmosis. Will be out 4-8 weeks

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

      It wasn’t that bad looking, but he could have stretched the ligaments

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

      Don’t really care, Chelsea ain’t keeping cleanies. Both gone from my team tonight along with James

  21. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Guess how long Chilwell will miss playing

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      4-8 weeks. Source: Ibrox

  22. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    James plus chill to Robo plus Coufal for free??

  23. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What happened to Chillwell, and why was Giroud benched?

    1. Esalman
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Chilwell got kicked in the heel. Giroud being rotated.

      1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        No, it was his ankle that twisted

        1. Esalman
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          That's more accurate, thanks.

  24. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Have not been following. What happened to Chilwell?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ankle

  25. JJO
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell + Balbuena with Dallas 1st on bench
    Fantasy gods could you just f off

  26. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell to Dias? Planning to FTs gw18 FH19

  27. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Oh well, 100 points out of reach then.

  28. Sam (Team Sam)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Did well at the weekend and went in to today's games on 79 points, with 3 players left to play.

    Charlie Taylor
    Reece James
    Ben Chilwell

    Thought I was on for 100 at one point!

  29. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Would you replace R James with

    a) Dallas
    b) Taylor
    c) keep James

  30. All For One
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What happened to Chiwell, any chance of playing next game?

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

      Mate he just came off how would we know?!

      1. All For One
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Lol was just asking why he was off?

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

      Rolled his ankle, couldn’t walk it off.

      Likely slim.

      1. All For One
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks Rainer

    3. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks like a rolled ankle, so depends how severe. He will no doubt be flagged which will mean fire sale.