Dugout Discussion

Frank Lampard rotates Chelsea squad as Aston Villa visit Stamford Bridge

In a Gameweek where Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£8.0m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.7m) saw their fixture unexpectedly postponed, Frank Lampard has heaped misery on misery for Fantasy Premier League managers.

The Chelsea manager has made six changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Arsenal, omitting three of his club’s four-most popular Fantasy assets.

27.0% of managers own Kurt Zouma (£5.9m), not in the matchday squad for Gameweek 16 with Antonio Rüdiger (£4.5m) next to Andreas Christensen (£4.7m) at centre-back.

The 12.8%-owned Reece James (£5.2m) is also out of the squad, replaced at right-back by Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.6m), although Ben Chilwell (£6.1m) holds onto the left-back berth.

Further up the pitch, Timo Werner (£9.3m), still sat in 14.0% of squads, drops out of the starting XI, joining Kai Havertz (£8.2m) and Tammy Abraham (£7.2m) on the Chelsea bench.

That means a front-three of Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m), Olivier Giroud (£6.7m) and Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) going up against an Aston Villa defence forced to leave out Tyrone Mings (£5.4m) through suspension.

This is the first Premier League match that Dean Smith’s men will face without the centre-back this season, a first start together for Ezri Konsa (£4.7m) and Kortney Hause (£4.4m).

The rest of Aston Villa’s squad looks in good shape, especially compared to the second-string feel of Chelsea’s line-up.

The in-form Anwar El Ghazi (£5.7m) and Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) flank Jack Grealish (£7.8m) in the number 10 role while Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) starts up-front fresh from a hat-trick of assists against Crystal Palace.

Chelsea XI: E Mendy; Chilwell, Christensen, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta; Mount, Kanté, Jorginho; Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Pulisic.

Aston Villa XI: Martínez; Targett, Hause, Konsa, Cash; D Luiz, McGinn; El Ghazi, Grealish, B Traoré; Watkins.

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1,792 Comments Post a Comment
  1. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Covid is going to cause havoc - PL suspended until March.

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Can’t inflict further misery

  2. TKC07
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone knows how often PL teams do Covid tests for players?

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

      I'd assume at least every other day

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Every week

    3. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I believe it’s two days before the match yeah?

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

      I think it's twice a week now

    5. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I thought they were tested twice a week?

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

    Can Bissouma cover Salah?

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Easy if the game's off...

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

      Balbuena is covering KDB for me.

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

      Good chance of him outscoring Salah as there is talk that the Liverpool game could be in doubt

  4. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Pep playing ultimate roulette! All in on 0

  5. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How badly has your team been effected by the Everton City postponement ?

    It's Dias and DCL out, AWB and Bissouma in from bench for me.

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

      only dcl and was on my bench anyway, rest of my bench is James and Lamptey though

    2. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Got rid of all City/Eve on my WC

    3. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not bad at all then

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

      Stones and Sterling will not play for me, Mitchell and Justin coming in...

    5. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No KDB. Ampadu for him.

    6. A.J.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Just Dias with Coufal coming in.

      Sold KDB and DCL for Kane and Pulisic this morning for free.

    7. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Kevin only.

    8. beetlejuice
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      My entire bench . Cancelo DCL and Stones

    9. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Cancelo so Dallas gets the points

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

    Dean smith putting the 'paid athletes should be fit enough' theory to the test tonight

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

    Salah cappers, who’s your vice?

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

      Bruno

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

      brunoooo

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

      Son

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

      Bruno :/

    5. Lilac Breasted Roller
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Lovely Vardy 1 pter

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

      Kane

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

      SOn

    8. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bruno

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

      Kane

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

      Bruno

    11. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Kane

    12. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Sonaldinho!

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

      Kane

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

      Bruno

    15. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      KDB 😮
      Season over

    16. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bruno

    17. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Son

    18. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Just got in. Been out all day and off grid. What have I missed re Salah?!

    19. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Kane

  8. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Villa clean sheet PLEASE

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

    Any news on Maddison? Is he injured? Want to bring him for the next GW

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

      I think was just rested, like Castagne cos he's recently back from injury.

  10. Lilac Breasted Roller
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What are the early thoughts wrt James

    A) Just rested, nothing to worry about
    B) Start a fire sale

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

      A

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

    Any chance Burke play this GW? 😀

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

      Bloody well hope so

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Need him to! 3rd on bench, and already missing zouma, cancelo and dcl!

  12. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    2 points from Mitchell in the bag!

    Now need 2-3 from Brewster & Kilman. C'mon lads!

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

    Just woke up, what did I miss?

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Oh boy, you might want to sit down for this one...

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Oh TM... it’s chaos

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

      just palace vs lei match - lucky you it was boring anyway

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Chaos

    5. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      FFSCOUT just turned into an entire saltmine

    6. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nada. India making a comeback. Your Wallabies still struggling 😉

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Haha. He was buzzing last week.

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

        you guys learnt nothing from the first match? 😀
        Second innings still to go

        1. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I'm Saffa mate. Just a wind-up

    7. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      360 shopping days til Christmas.

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

      depends, how long you were asleep...a lot has happened this year

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

      Cheers all, sounds like GW17 WC needed.

    10. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Mitchell played 90

  14. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Early rough posts here:
    My pre-wildcard team scored much more than my GW16 wildcard team.

  15. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Even though Cancelo is infected. He can come back for GW18 by Jan 13 right?

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

      Well bare in mind that some would need a bit of time to recover

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      depends how long he stays infected and how serious it is

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

      No one knows

  16. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    0-0 martinez and chillwell lets go!

  17. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kane (c) this week

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

      He’s not looking great is he

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully the team listens to Jose and they don't park the bus

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      he is due ... and it’s Fulham

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

    This is the week Brewster get double digits!

    Then i woke up...

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

      oh how sweet that would be

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      2 x 1 pointers in a space of 1 week

    3. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Coffee cold, limp peen in hand...

    4. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Whole GW depends on this now.

  19. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Man City potential doubles in 24,26 and 27!! Easy triple up on defence

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

      If they are in the cl and fa cup it will be a nightmare

      Rotation, COVID, champions league, fa cup

      No thanks

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

        They'll play at least 1 match though out of the 2 and we lnow they keep clean sheets so a good shout

    2. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Could have done with a GW18 double.

  20. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    KDB was a differential against Kane in a lot of my MLs... ouch

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

    Lampard must really hate Emerson and Alonso.

  22. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Next week i am probably benching Cancelo and KDB. And since i am actually building for GW18 i have to get cheapies like Holding/Martinelli/Fabio Silva

    1. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Next week your auto sub will probably do that for you

  23. Fulchester's New Centr…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Just got in from walking the dog. Anything happened?

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

      I would take the dog out for a longer walk at 8 pm tonight

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You left a doodoo on the sidewalk. Go back...

  24. osceola31909
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Zouma and double City defense worked out well.

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

    The next FPL Blackbox is going to be so depressing.

    Feel for Mark.

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah. Down to 10 players

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      he has a decent bench because I think he is going for BB in 19

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

      He’s got a strong bench at least

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

      Did it actually work out worse for him though. I mean, I think he trashed his team anyway but has this really affected him worse for WCing

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

      Why? He only had 2 Man City defenders and Coufal is coming in for one of them. That's 10 players this game week.

    6. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Imagine if Liverpool gets called off as well, he'd be down to 7 men

    7. Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Feel for me. I have 3 City players out with only Stephens as cover.
      LOL

  26. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bad feeling that holding off getting Kane (keeping KDB) will hurt a lot this week

    1. Lilac Breasted Roller
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully Son provides enough cover.

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Hope so. Have him, VC for Salah. Would love 1-1, Spurs from Son G

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nothing you can do now and don’t think it was wrong decision at the time. I gave kdb one more week as well

  27. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    PVA probably lost his place now.

  28. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Apart from Walker and Jesus, who else is infected? Any news?

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

      Torres Ederson Cancelo and few more (rumour)

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

    Surely people who took out KDB and DCL had inside info

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Like my ML leader!

    2. A.J.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Kept Dias just so it didn't look too obvious.

    3. Pitch Perfect
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Would made those moves all day of 2FT!

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

      Yep. I had a dream saying any players for whom I use 3 letter acronyms must be rejected from my team. 😀

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

    James is a good.pick now for gw 19 ? Or any other def under 5.3 i have Robertson, dallass. Taylor and coufal