Dugout Discussion

Chilwell and James start for Chelsea after Lampard’s “doubtful” comments

Ben Chilwell (£6.1m) and Reece James (£5.2m) both start for Chelsea despite Frank Lampard’s pessimistic prognosis in his pre-match press conference.

The former Derby County manager labelled each first-choice full-back as “doubtful” for the Gameweek 15 meeting with Arsenal and the following game.

However, it now looks as if those comments could be considered as ‘mind games’ by the sceptics among us as Lampard is able to name a strong XI.

The team sheet will be of significant frustration to those who sold Chilwell and James, the former the most shipped-out Fantasy asset for Gameweek 15.

Timo Werner (£9.3m) and Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) line-up either side of Tammy Abraham (£7.2m) while Olivier Giroud (£6.7m) sits on the bench.

In the opposite dugout is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m) back from his calf problem as a substitute for Arsenal.

To match Cheslea’s 4-3-3 system, Mikel Arteta has gone with a back-four consisting of Kieran Tierney (£5.3m), Pablo Mari (£4.4m), Rob Holding (£4.4m) and Hector Bellerín (£5.1m).

Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) has overcome the issue that forced him off against Manchester City to start on the flanks of attacking midfield, Bukayo Saka (£5.1m) on the opposite side and Alexandre Lacazette (£8.2m) up-front.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Tierney, Mari, Holding, Bellerín; Elneny, Xhaka; Martinelli, Smith Rowe, Saka; Lacazette.

Chelsea XI: E Mendy; Chilwell, T Silva, Zouma, R James; Mount, Kanté, Kovacic; Werner, Abraham, Pulisic.

1,930 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Why not use Giroud?

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

      We win when Tammy plays

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

    I'm not gonna lie - this was the best first half in months.

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

      3 kids have made such a difference. No fear and actual belief.

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      And the worst

    3. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Think the 3 youngsters behind the striker really gave the team a lot more energy.

      Got to give these guys a chance more often and drop the overpaid passengers.

      Its not as if we've anything to play for at this point. Give these guys as much gametime as possible.

    4. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Because goals?

  3. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bellerin denies a Pulisic goal

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hudson done more in a minute than Werner did

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

      He is natural wknge, Werner isn't

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

        The fact still stand

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

      Meandering down the wing.

    3. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Werner is like a ruler - can operate on straight lines only

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

        in*

  5. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Didn't watch the first half, how was Werner today?

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

      As usual

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

      Consistent.

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Auba like

  6. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    When did Grealish receive a yellow card... after the match?

    And how come Mccarthy saves suddenly disappeared?

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Apparently in the 45th minute

    2. SEXY SON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Someone has hacked the system

    3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think the FPL tower toss pots just make it up as they go along now

      Like Mcarthy save points. Take it down from 3 to 1 just for the craic.

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

    Tuchel to replace lampard are latest rumours

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Fake news

    2. Amsterhammer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Is it your rumour started just now?

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Arteta more likely. Would be a great move

  8. SEXY SON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is a manager allowed to voluntarily take a player off without subbing?

    Like say you’re 4-0 up and you’ve used all 3 subs but you want to give one of your star players a breather, can you take them off and voluntarily play with 10?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes.

      1. SEXY SON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Interesting to know, thanks

    2. Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Would have to feign an injury to make it happen.

      Would be unsporting and bring the integrity of the game in doubt.

    3. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No manager would ever do that

      1. SEXY SON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Probably not, but with heavy fixture scheduling you never know

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

          At the elite level you wouldn't take that chance. 4 goals have been scored in less than 10mins before

      2. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Won't happen unless someone is injured and can't continue. That's the only way.

    4. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Why won't that be allowed?

      McTominay came off in the game vs Leeds for the last few minutes after all subs were done.

      1. SEXY SON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Ah ok, I think I was more referring to if said player wasn’t actually injured or shown any injury

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

    Chelseas kids last season were better, agree?

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

      Yep for sure. Bought a load of crap

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No. Kepa was crap. Defence was crap. Mendy and Silva have been a significant improvement. Ziyech is an improvement on Willian.

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        There was just zero need for Werner and havertz when they had CHO Mount RLC Barkley Ziyech (already bought)

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Havertz I never understood. Werner I got, because Abraham missed too many chances. But Werner hasn't lived up to expectations. It is hard to find a goalscorer though for the PL (other leagues are easier as Lukaku is proving at Inter).

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yep this has always been Chelsea’s downfall since mourinho days. KDB, Salah, Lukaku, Lamptey, RLC, CHO,

      So many young players not given the opportunity. Mount and James the only exceptions

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

    Werner owners deserve this - you need to correct your mistakes instead of sticking with them

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Are there that many owners left among active teams?

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

      Werner owners don’t log onto FPL anymore.

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

      Sorry forgot to write if any. But saw few in my ML last GW

    4. Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      What does a Werner owner look like?

    5. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      How about Watkins owners this week?

      1. Riverside Red
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Can't think of two worse strikers

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

          Bamford?

    6. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Only got rid of him last week. Holding both him and Foden for 10 weeks pretty much killed my season.

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

      Had toyed with bringing him back for the DGW but I think I'll look elsewhere

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

      Logic suggests that Lampard would actually play him as a striker ... at some point. Ziyech injury nixed that.

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

    Chelsea have now conceded just 2 goals less than arsenal this season

    Maybe arsenal not as bad defensively as people make them out to be or chelsea not as good at the back

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bad run of results from Arsenal

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Answer lies in the middle, Mendy/Chelsea def even with the run of clean sheets didn't totally convince me

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

        Don't think many are saying Arsenal are crap at the back.
        Gooners certainly complain more about lack of attacking cohesiveness.

      • diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        It's the first goal thing. Arsenal really struggle when they concede the first goal. They don't have a creative player to open up defensive teams when they are 1-0 down. And no, Ozil is not the answer.

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

      Patiently kept Chilwell and James in my team beliving in a quick return from injury. Laughing of all the idiots transfering them out before DGW19.......well, who is laughing now? NOT ME!

      1. R.C
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Hasn't kept a CS though

        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Read again

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

        did you consider some people are FH in 19 and so getting rid of Chelsea defenders was fine irrespective of whether they played or not?

    4. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Only Mendy was a good signing for Chelsea

      Chilwell second

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

        I think Mendy's been overrated. Had a few crazy moments that if it was Kepa more would be made out of it.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 4 months ago

            This

          • Utopsis
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Kepa had crazy moments every match. Mendy has been consistent with a few wobbles. Big difference.

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

        Manager should be a fpl position

        1. Gobigorgohome
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          wow this

        2. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Ole essential

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

          Yeah you pick a manager and if a sub he brings on scores a goal then you get points for that etc 😉

        4. Sim Simma
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          3 points for subs who score

        5. Yes Ndidi
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          There was a fantasy game in the '90s that did this (forget which one - maybe someone else remembers). You could also pick players out of the Scottish Premier as well, back in the days of Marco Negri, Brian Laudrup and the likes. Had Walter Smith as a set and forget manager - 3 points every week.

        6. St Pauli Walnuts
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Dean Smith set and forget.

      3. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Chelsea's cleanie bust a good sighting.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 4 months ago

            The real winners are Chelsea Def owners who already have them for doubles

            1. The Train Driver
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              A positive way looking at it

            2. Utopsis
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Not if one is simply FHing 19

        2. GOTHAM City F.C.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Will sterling start?

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

            Probably.

            1. GOTHAM City F.C.
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Cheers cap

        3. Jolly Good
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I know Chelsea def not looking great today. But if you had to get one on your WC - who would you get?
          Given james and Chilwell being managed .. is zouma best in terms of naildness/point potential?

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

            Zouma most nailed. Chilwell highest ceiling.

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

          Come oooonnn Chelsea!!!

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

          Eager to see the lineups

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

            Chilwell and James both start!

        6. Live Lad
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Thinking of getting Vardy. But will he play on Monday? To be rested?

        7. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Lampard is basically Arteta with inheritance tax.

        8. aborg
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Chelsea 2 goals under. Serves Lampard right for trolling everyone with the fitness of his defenders !

        9. Sim Simma
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Saka Wonder Goal

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

          OMG lol what a strange goal

        11. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          What a goal saka

        12. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          What a goal

        13. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Wow!

        14. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Saka G

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

          What. A. Goal

          Saka!!!

        16. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Haha 3-0