Dugout Discussion

Lack of festive rotation sees Bamford, Dallas, Taylor and Raphinha all start at Elland Road

Pascal Struijk (£3.9m) replaces an injured Liam Cooper (£4.4m) at the heart of Leeds United’s defence in an otherwise unchanged line-up from the side that lost 6-2 to Manchester United.

They face Burnley just two days before the festive chaos takes them to West Bromwich Albion, yet head coach Marcelo Bielsa has decided not to rotate popular FPL assets such as Patrick Bamford (£6.4m), Stuart Dallas (£4.7m), Mateusz Klich (£5.5m) and Raphinha (£5.4m).

Captain Cooper left proceedings at Old Trafford with an abdominal injury to worsen the defensive crisis that has seen Robin Koch (£4.4m) ruled out until March and Diego Llorente (£4.4m) suffer muscular problems, therefore moving Luke Ayling (£4.5m) into centre-back and restricting his attacking potential. Instead, Dallas has surged forward to score in their last two matches.

The Whites play an entertaining style of rock and roll football that has brought at least five goals in six of their 14 league matches this season. Only Liverpool have been involved in more goals than their 54, also ranking second to the champions for both goal attempts and xG (expected goals).

They have more shots inside the box than all others, yet defensively they are third worst for shots conceded and their xGC (expected goals conceded) is only ahead of West Brom.

Such statistics are encouraging for Bamford’s owners, as they suggest his fantastic return of nine goals and three assists is not a purple patch. The standout cheap striker, his 47 shots in the box is a league high. Bamford will face his former club, having made six appearances for Burnley during the 2016-17 season.

However, opposing him is Charlie Taylor (£4.5m), a man who started his career at Leeds and played 93 times at left-back before moving to Turf Moor. On many FPL managers’ radars right now after four clean sheets from seven matches, Taylor assisted Ashley Barnes’ (£6.0m) goal against Wolves last Monday.

Manager Sean Dyche has also resisted Christmas rotation, despite also having just one full day of rest before hosting Sheffield United. Their only changes from the 2-1 win over Wolves remove two players that received knocks that night – Dwight McNeil (£5.7m) and Robbie Brady (£5.0m). In their place comes Josh Benson (£4.5m) and the out-of-position Erik Pieters (£4.3m).

Burnley are unbeaten in four matches, picking up momentum as they attempt to escape a relegation fight. Underlying stats are still poor, with the fewest goal attempts in the league (117), fewest on target (36) and third fewest set piece attempts. They rely on Nick Pope (£5.4m) and Chris Wood (£6.2m) to step up and haul them up the table.

Leeds United XI: Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Struijk, Alioski; Phillips, Klich; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison; Bamford

Burnley XI: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Westwood, Brownhill, Pieters, Benson; Wood, Barnes

FPLMarc Newcastle fan that spends far too much time thinking about FPL.

1,326 Comments Post a Comment
  1. enrico.palazzo
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    That is a horrid decision

  2. zon
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    What a joke. VAR not utilized like it should

  3. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    As Meslier owner I can say that definitely was a right decision by the referee

    1. _Ninja_
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      You're prob right, as a Dallas owner here.

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      This

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

      100% 😆

    4. Zimo
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      😆

    5. Gobigorgohome
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      As a Dallas owner I agree with you 100% 😉

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

    Goodness gracious, need the leeds cleanie wiped.

  5. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 10 months ago

      How did they not even review that? Doesn't make any sense

      1. enrico.palazzo
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Actual joke hey

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Ref blew the whistle.

        1. The Polymath
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          This

        2. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Ahhh

      3. krzys
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Absolutely shocking decision there

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

        Bam Bam score another please

      5. Team Bobcat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        May be worth bench boosting this lot next week. They may not be together much longer but thisis my bench.

        Mendy Greenwood Watkins Saka

        Has to happen right!

        1. Team Bobcat
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Sorry Mendy starts. Martinez in the bench

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

          No

        3. STEP rOVERS
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Yup get it out the way

      6. manu4life99
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Who scores highest (considering Vardy v likely to be rested vs cpl)

        A) Kane (FUL, LEE) -4pts
        B) Vardy (cpl, new)

        1. Gobigorgohome
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Kane surely

        2. Shineonme
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Kane

      7. FDMS All Starz
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Who is Leeds normal LB? Is alioski nailed in that position? Very attacking and very cheap, could be a bargain for the DGW

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 15 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Ayling

          1. Zimo
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            No he's RB

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 15 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Yep, my mistake.

        2. Zimo
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Dallas

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

          Dallas is main LB
          Ayling main RB

          when everyone fit

          1. FDMS All Starz
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Who isn’t fit right now? Any chance alioski keeps his place till after the dgw? Doesn’t Dallas sometimes play in midfield?

            1. Ze_Austin
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Koch and Cooper are the Injured Leeds CBs

            2. Gobigorgohome
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              both main CBs Koch and Cooper unfit

              so Ayling playing CB
              so Dallas playing RB

      8. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Gotta find the circus that breeds Premier League referees

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          The United Kingdom, you are part of it

          1. Ze_Austin
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            I'm a Nigerian living in Nigeria

            A worse circus, to be fair

      9. Twisted Saltergater
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Southgate at Elland Road today. Rumoured to be watching Wood and Barnes.

      10. Canarinha
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        If there should be a rule change in the world of football it should be DONT OVERPROTECT KEEPERS. What a bs call.

      11. Tcheco
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Shocking refereeing

      12. boc610
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        barnes and burnley just got robbed at christmas

      13. Tcheco
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        How has VAR improved the game?

        1. diesel001
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Loads of offside goals no longer given. More RCs rightly being given.

          1. Gobigorgohome
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            agreed

          2. Tcheco
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            More like wrong offsides given. It just turned the interpretation of what an offside is into a complete joke

            1. diesel001
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Nope. Offside is a very black and white rule. All VAR has done is applied consistency to how the rule is applied. Having seen Hansen and Lawro moan about offsides not being given / being given when not offside on MotD in the 2000s literally every week then it is a massive improvement on offside calls.

          3. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            The red cards especially have been greatly improved. You can't get away with stuff any more. The offside thing is maddening sometimes. Bamford being offside for pointing being one of the stupidest ones.

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

            Prefer offside goals given to have to wait for every goal to be confirmed. It's just a game after all, not a murder case trial

        2. Gobigorgohome
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          massively 😉

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

            Obviously I don't own a Leeds defender

        3. boc610
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Var not the issue, it works fine in all the other big leagues, ifab and ellary and his gang of pedants are the problem

        4. Pukki Party
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          It has improved cup competitions where desicions in one game are important. In leagues it's useless as the calls will even out during 38 games, and ruins the excitement.

      14. OptimusBlack
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        When u have Burno and Bam Bam and you Captained KDB :/

      15. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Is it worth -8?

        Robbo to TAA
        Bowen to Soucek
        Son to Bruno

        1. Phlajo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          No

        2. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          No

        3. fridge
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Why Robbo to TAA, need the extra 0.1?

          1. Van der Faart
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Yes.

        4. Jimbo-Jones
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Absolutely would not be getting rid of Son with his fixtures.

          1. Van der Faart
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            I don't really want to but no Bruno has hurt badly last 2 weeks

      16. Maddamotha
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        The referee might misjudge it, fair enough, but thats why we have VAR to review it afterwards? Wtf they doing

        1. Gobigorgohome
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          not clear and obvious error

        2. diesel001
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Problem is ref blew the whistle too early. If the ref had let it go then they could have reviewed the 'goal'. Ref made a mistake.

          1. Maddamotha
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            System is flawed then. Makes no sense.

            1. diesel001
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Nah. The ref was wrong. That is human error. Not system error. Problem is when the ref blows the whistle, players can legitimately argue that they stopped playing and it was them stopping that led to the 'goal'.

      17. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Klich back row wasted shot

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

          Quickly followed by a bushy's blow.

      18. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Would you keep James as he's not 100% fitness and CHE looked gross?

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

        How does Raphinha look?

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

          No sideburns

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

            Goatee?

      20. No Salah
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Which one would you choose For next two Gw?

        A. KDB ( eve, che )
        B. Kane -8 ( ful, Leeds )

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Kane without hits ... otherwise KDB to Son?

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

          Kane, but change it at Leeds

      21. Jolly Good
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Bamford has pens now?

        40:1 for golden boot is tempting....

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 15 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          He’s the Leicester of strikers

      22. S.Kuqi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I would rather have offside goals, wrongly given cards, passion after scoring goals than this var crap.

        1. Gobigorgohome
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          huh

          1. S.Kuqi
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            It has killed the game

        2. Twisted Saltergater
          • 15 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Until it’s your team on the wrong end of a decision?

          1. S.Kuqi
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Lol no. I want to celebrate goals not wait 5 mins until lines are drawn.

            1. Dennis System
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              I don't think they're basing it on your personal preferences unfortunately

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

                God knows what they're basing it on

            2. Twisted Saltergater
              • 15 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              I do empathise. It definitely takes something away from the game.

        3. Homer21
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah right!

      23. Fudgy
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Chris wood gtfo out of my team

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Sell him cheaply to me

      24. Gobigorgohome
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I may not get Burnley assets at this rate

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 15 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Taylor at a time push

        2. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Taylor for CS potential SHU FUL and then forget it

      25. Twisted Saltergater
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Dallas with cowboy defending

        1. I'm out of name ideas
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          How long have you been sitting on that one?

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 15 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            3 mins 😀

            1. I'm out of name ideas
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              How did you hold out so long?

              1. Twisted Saltergater
                • 15 Years
                3 years, 10 months ago

                Waited til he had some defending to do. He actually did it very well lol.

                Tough crowd 🙂

      26. Fantasydreamer
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Start coufal or Soucek next week (against Southampton)?

        1. Gobigorgohome
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Souceknif VanVan still out

      27. DAZZ
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Do Burnley look like scoring? Wouldnt mind that CS being wiped

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Had a goal disallowed already.