Dugout Discussion

New dad Coufal starts alongside Soucek and Cresswell, as Lamptey misses out for Brighton

Owners of Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m) will be delighted that the arrival of a new child has not stopped the Czech right-back from starting against Brighton and Hove Albion.

David Moyes has seemingly reverted to the wing-back system that was previously halted by Arthur Masuaku’s (£4.4m) knee surgery, with the cheap Ben Johnson (£3.9m) in his place.

Johnson for Pablo Fornals (£6.2m) is the only change from last week’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, as Michail Antonio (£6.2m) is still not back from the hamstring injury picked up against Aston Villa in Gameweek 10. Asked about his return, Moyes said he “can’t say exactly when. Hopefully it’ll not be too long.” Tomas Soucek (£5.1m), Aaron Cresswell (£5.3m) and Jarrod Bowen (£6.4m) all start.

The Hammers have not yet beaten Brighton in the Premier League, drawing the last three of their six meetings. Cresswell is well-owned, providing four assists and creating more chances than any other defender except Andrew Robertson (£7.3m), whilst Bowen ranks seventh for midfielder shots. The under-priced Soucek has already scored three times, adding to a trio from the second half of last season.

Brighton head coach Graham Potter has swapped two players from the disappointing 1-1 draw with Sheffield United. Out goes Joel Veltman (£4.3m) and Aaron Connolly (£5.3m); in comes Dan Burn (£4.3m) and the man who came off the bench to equalise, Danny Welbeck (£5.5m).

Injured Tariq Lamptey (£4.8m) has frustrated his ownership by playing just twice in six gameweeks, again missing out because of his hamstring. FPL managers will ditch the flying wing-back, especially as the relegation battlers’ defence continues to defy their strong underlying statistics, keeping only three clean sheets despite conceding the second fewest shots in the league.

In fact, no team’s conceded goals tally exceeds their xGC (expected goals conceded) by more than the Seagulls, letting in 22 goals despite an xGC of just 14.69.

However, the Seagulls travel quite well, as their last four league wins have all been away from home. The free transfer of Welbeck has been one of their few bright sparks of the season, bagging two goals and two assists since first starting in Gameweek 8.

Mathew Ryan’s (£4.4m) time in goal appears to be over, not making the bench as Robert Sanchez (£4.4m) is handed a third consecutive start. Potter has also favoured Leandro Trossard (£5.7m) over Pascal Gross (£5.8m).

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Johnson; Rice, Soucek, Noble; Bowen, Haller

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Sanchez; Dunk, Webster, White, Burn; Bissouma, Lallana, March; Trossard, Maupay, Welbeck

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

1,971 Comments Post a Comment
  1. KDB United
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Do we have a new Lord?

    Arise, Lord Soucek!

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

    Jammiest Goal of the season

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

      Blasphemy to speak of the Lord in such a manner. 20 lashes in the town square for you sir.

      1. Wicked Weapon
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        40 more like it for speaking such filth.

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

      Can taste the salt

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

      I so agree as an owner

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You wash out your dirty horeish mouth you

    5. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      It takes skill and anticipation to get hit in the face with the ball like that.

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

    In a dilemma who do I pick for my TC DGW 19, Raphina or Soucek?

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

    Soucek 3 baps

    GET INNNNNNN

  5. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Heading for 1st red arrow in 7 GWs huzzah! Time to nuke my team with a WC

  6. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Cresswell assist?

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

      Yeah

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

    Had Soucek in my team all week and then benched him for Raphinha instead when I saw the Scout Picks. Fuming!

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

      🙁

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

    Any chance I get Soucek off the bench for Kane or Son?

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

      Nah

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

      No.

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

        Damn, 2nd goal of his on the bench

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

    Coufal to Soucek header there.. would have broken the site.

  10. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Only casuals who didnt play during the Fellaini days would dare go without Soucek...

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

      This is pretty good

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      100%

      This is where tenure becomes an advantage

      Anyone who is anyone remembers the Tim Cahill & Maruouane Fellaini points conveyor belts of a mid table David Moyes team

    3. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      And as I recall, he doesn't get near the number of yellow cards Fellaini did.

  11. Wicked Weapon
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Might be a weird flex but I don't even care. I've had Bamford and Soucek in my team since start of the season.

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

      Having Bamford since GW1 is commendable. Very few picked him to start.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        The Villa game swung me

        He’s a pound shop Rudd van nistelrooy

        Sometimes get angry at how much value he offers

        1. Wicked Weapon
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I mainly got Bamford on the basis of how well he does for me in Football Manager lol

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

            You got him in GW2 like most of us for price rise

            1. Wicked Weapon
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 3 months ago

              Uhh no mate. I started my season in GW2 missed out on GW1 completely.

  12. Party time
      3 years, 3 months ago

      How have I ended up with webster in my team. FFS

    • JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Pts in last 4 games
      Soucek - 20
      KDB - 15

      Jammy Soucek owners at it again

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

        Soucek. What a player!

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

        Its not jammy when he's been in our starting 11. If theres teams who have benched and he came on as auto-sub then thats jammy and not much deserved

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

        That's really funny

      4. Weilong7
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Sad but true.. more than half the price cheaper as wwll

    • BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Why did Creswell get assist? Defender deflected it.

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

        Minor deflection which didn't change the direction of the ball.

    • b91jh
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Real FPL experts buy Mahrez as a Soucek autosub facilitator.

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

        thats a good combo tbf, bit pricey tho. Torres and Soucek maybe

    • FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Soucek is going to get 10 goals this year. For a 5m mid, thats a bargain, but only if you commit to playing him every week.

    • Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      To late to jump on the souceck wagon?

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

        Yeah, you don’t even need to jump on him tbh

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

        never. welcome aboard

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

        Juicy DGW fixtures coming up

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

        Yep, hes overpriced now

      5. Weilong7
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Don’t think so but don’t expect a goal every week either. I just got him in last gw

    • F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      The entire reason to own Soucek is that he's a value 4th mid that wills score points and can give you funds to spend elsewhere. Absolutely pointless to have him as a 5th mid and bench fodder most weeks - you don't deserve the bench points if you get them this way

      1. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Or you can just have a decent bench and play the players you think will score the most points.

      2. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Go for a walk, chief.

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

        He’s my 5th in a 3-5-2

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

        Yes indeed. Wise words.
        He's not Bruno, he won't score every week but look at the value you get!

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

        go to bed

      6. Saka_me_sideways
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        He’s not good enough to be a 4th imo... but yeah frustrating having him as a 5th.
        Never know this time of year mind, I’d rather have him coming on than Stephens for example.

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

      How in the beard of Zeus is Soucek on 3 bps?! Joke

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

        Shows the quality of this game...

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

        FPL BPS is extremely broken. It's gotten to the point where the less your player interacts with the ball but pops up with a goal out of nowhere the better for their baps.

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

          Indeed, it’s farcical

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

          This exactly is the way it is. At least for players that are average, maybe Bruno and KDB increase chance of bps by having the ball more (without counting returns).

      3. Simon69
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        How are you still complaining

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

          Because the system is a joke

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

        The baps should be way more transparent as well. Should be able to see exactly what gives players + and - points.

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

          Yep, instead it’s just a biased free for all

    • TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Cresswell assist in question or clean?

    • LewanGOALski
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Soucek should be considered as 4th MID with no doubt.
      Allows to squeeze both TAA & Robbo as well

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

        5th mid in a 3-5-2.

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

          I agree wit Camzy and have been climbing the ranks with this setup

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

        Better as 5th. Need 3 premiums and grealish

    • EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Soucek as my 4th mid has been the MVP for me this season.

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

        With all the blanks as well?

        1. EmreCan Hustle
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          At 5m you would expect a few blanks. But he has been an enabler who scores often.

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

        Soucek and KWP. Great combo for me.

        1. EmreCan Hustle
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Soucek and Dallas for me.

    • CroatianHammer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I think I am not wrong in saying that Souček will be Hammer of the Year... the man is going to be 7.5 next season.

    • Call Me Old Fashioned
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      May as well get soucek in on the WC

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

      Wish Coufal had just stayed at home now

    • Dele
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Does the Cresswell assist stand or will it get taken off him?

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        It’s official

    • Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A)Dias/James + DCL
      or
      B)Robbo + Che

      *fh18 bb19 is the plan

    • Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish > Soucek?

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

        yep

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

      Soucek confirms my BB in 19

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        How is he only 5.0... blatant price fixing, should have started at least 5.5 if not 6.0 and will be 6.5 if not 7.0 next year

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

          because he only played 1000 mins last season

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            5.0???

            You’re playing the game too long mate - tell me you thought 5.0 was a fair price

    • Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      chances of robbo and salah getting injured in the warm up? got soucek and dallas on the bench