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. pavlev
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    just realised the stupidity of VC robbo when salah captain.

    1. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, I've been careful never to C and VC from the same fixture this season.

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

      Deffo one lesson for this year

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

      Don't worry. Liverpool match is getting postponed.

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        How u know . Source ?

    4. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I learned that tip many years ago. I always stick to it.

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

        This. Got c and vc from same team and the game got post poned due to wheather. Learned my lesson then

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

      Been burnt before on that so I am very careful now

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

      Mark has Salah C Mane VC, doubt it will be postponed though.

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

      I'm always cautious during winter actually.

  2. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Get used to it. With what's going on nationally, I'm surprised professional football is continuing. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the PL was suspended for much or even all of January. Better that than having to muddle along with missing games, rescheduling them, etc.

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

      Agree to disagree
      With 200k a week most of people would

      1. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        The support staff aren't on 200k you cretin

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

          I don’t fancy abuse here Doc
          But thanks for comment

          1. Dr Van Nostrand
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Then don't be a callous numpty perhaps 😉

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

      Agreed. FPL always involves luck. But not pot luck.

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

        There's always been pot luck when the weather has postponed matches in different parts of the country.

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

          Yeah. I mean you can pause season if covid is affecting multiple games rather than persevere. You cant pause a season because rain is forecast in Manchester.

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

      Maybe the Euros will get cancelled

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

      No real chance of a suspension, only isolated cases happening in my opinion. City should be reprimanded for not having a secure bubble.

    5. Fudge
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Doubt it, they have the best testing systems available and by suspending an already shortened season it would have huge knock-on effects to the Euros and competition worldwide.

      That being said, obviously if the COVID situation worsens going forward then anything is possible. A suspension just seems like a last resort.

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

      Easy to ride this wave out and get the vaccines soon.

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

    KDB to Mane and chillwell to someone for a -4?

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

    Any idea when we’ll know if City will play next GW?

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

      Doesn't sound good.

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

      More interesting is to know whether there are other cancellations atm

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

      Wont keep my hopes high for that one.

    4. Seanigula
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If you ask every 5 minutes it will surely happen today

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

      depends if they have to close their training facilities, who is infected etc., looks doubtful though that they will play as it’s not far away time wise

    6. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Unlikely imo. There is likely to be more cases in the coming days. Might be like Newcastle.

  5. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If only I pulled the trigger on KDB and DCL to Mane and Adams(-4). I’m FH18 but decided to wait a week to do it for free. FML

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

      Mane might not play as well

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

        Would make me feel a lot better

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

      You can't feel frustrated by that. No one predicted this 24 hours ago.

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

    LMS safety score currently -3

    In trouble being on -4

    A few autosubs this GW.

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

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

      out this week for sure...

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

      Zero here! Safe.

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

      I am at 0.

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

      Haha, excellent.

    5. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      -4 but 11 to go. Calm.

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

      Smashing it with my 9 so far after barely escaping last week with 43 points

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

    WC anyone?

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

      Just do yours

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

    Pulisic looks lively. Will deliver

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

    This potential dumpster fire of a GW is also the qualifier for the cup right?

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

      I was thinking exactly that. Yes it is.

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

      Does anyone care about the FPL Cup?

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

        An extra chance to be disappointed each week, what's not to hate?

      2. Joey Tribbiani
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        yes

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

      obviously. Dead teams always win during the cup qualifier GW

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

      Correct

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

    Chelsea lads looking happy. They are gonna win today.

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

    Coufal and Stephens coming in for Dias and Salah.. could have been worse...

    1. Sherif halawa
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Salah? Pool match off too?

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

        could be off.not confirmed yet..

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

          No chance

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

    Odoi haul incoming. So frustrated i choosed Perez ahead of him as Maddison placeholder

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

    With Covid surprise here and there, is it time to avoid double up from a team?

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

      Silly question

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

        Why so?

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

      Not really - I avoided having any City players by going with double Liverpool. I suppose it depends on how risky you want to be.

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

        Yeah probably risks are carried evenly by most managers

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

      Triple up maybe would have in back of mind, but double up def not

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

        Yeah just crossed my mind

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

      Doubles are okay but triple ups are dangerous

  14. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Will Lewis play this week? Not that he's going to get anything...

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

      Against liverpool? If there was a 4th bench seat I could hide him on I would

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

        He'll probably autosub from third on my bench and I fully expect negativ points.

  15. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Debated on who to bring in, Bellerin or Cancelo for a couple of days and kept KDB, best bet on Bellerin to score now

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

    So it seems...

  17. asdf_1
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kdb, stones, cancelo, dcl out
    Beat that.

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

      Many with 5 or 6, dont be smug

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

    Looks like my Gameweek has come down to you, Olivier Giroud....

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

    @CPFC
    Tyrick Mitchell vs. Leicester:

    Tackles: 3
    Interceptions: 3
    Clearances: 4
    Headers won: 3
    Dribble success: 100%

    A great return to the starting XI for TM

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

      Hero

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

      This dude picked the perfect GW to come back into the Palace starting XI

  20. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I'd take 6 saves and max 3 goals conceded for Martinez

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

    2 points is a blessing this week, don't need much more Grealish

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

      He will score and Chilwell will assist Giroud

  22. Trippier Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any early news on which MCI players have tested positive?

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

      Talk it was Cancelo, Ederson and Torres

  23. G-Whizz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    C'mon Grealish!

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

    Why didn't Mark say this was going to happen? Going to unsubscribe from Black Box.

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

      😆

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

      He did but it was in the secret members section.

  25. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What going on with Salah?

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

      ?

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

      Rumors LFC-NEW might be cancelled, on the assumption that the city players may have been infectious when they faced newcastle.

      Covid testing tomorrow will tell.

      1. The Frenchie
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Ok thank you

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

    Any news on Liverpool Newcastle and City Chelsea game?

  27. acidicleo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Luckily I dont have any city or Everton..
    But feel bad those owners...
    It is no fun this season...Luck takes over whatever impact planning had..

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

      Just take it

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

      Such GW should be made null and void in FPL..

      1. One Wheels Enough
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        WOULD A WEATHER POSTPONEMENT ALSO MEAN THE SAME...

  28. HellasLEAF
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    This probably a dumb question but would City/Everton players you start just lock in for a 0 or would get swapped out for first bench option..

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

      Swapped out

    2. One Wheels Enough
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      no yes

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

    Samuel luckhurst on Twitter...Man U Burnley in 18 potentially

    #mufc waiting to hear back from the Premier League on why their postponed fixture at Burnley has not been allocated a date yet. Both clubs have a free midweek the week beginning January 11.

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

      Please! Brings me up to 11 for BGW18

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

      Awesome for non WC owners

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

      Don't think this is new news, but fingers crossed
      However Ben has been saying the longer it goes without confirmation of the new date, the less likely it is looking for GW18

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

        I know but sounds like potentially something happening (or Man U want to happen) if they’re sounding out journalists about it

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

      Has this not on the cards for a while now?

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

      If that happens, I'm doing James -> Taylor

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

      Sounds like PL forgot all about it

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

    If Grealish get YC he will be suspended right?

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

      Yes

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

      Yup

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

      if that happens, my dont-sell-grealish bucket will burst