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. Sinichi
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Maybe we should have covid transfers. The game relies on luck it you can't legislate for covid players when all the clubs are so clock and dagger with it. Seems unfair that other s can change thier teams for double game weeks create by the cluster that is Covid.

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

      Don’t be silly.

    2. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Nah, got to deal with it and adapt.

      1. NejiHyuuga01
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I planned my team for this year with strong bench to cope withthe situation . A bit unfair towards me dont you think?

        1. BIG TONES
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Don't get me wrong, would be super annoying to be a MCI/EVE owner this week, but all of a sudden giving out free transfers for one canned game is a slippery slope. Maybe if a whole GW was cancelled. Remember we have always had weather cancellations as well.

          1. NejiHyuuga01
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            We are on the same page. Just fail reply to you instead of post

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

      They should leave it as it is IMO, as they do with most other bouts of unpredictability and bad luck. We don't get free transfers when muscle injuries or weather-based postponements ruin our teams, but we find a way to deal with it, and luck will always play a huge part regardless of whether we get extra transfers.

      A free wildcard if there's another reset would be a good idea though.

    4. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      This is fantasy. The other is real and costs millions and unfortunately, peoples jobs. In that vain, does it seem lucky in any sense?

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

      Yeah you are all probably right. To difficult to administer. But it gives an advantage to others who can pick transfer off for a future double game week. Would be better if when rearranged the points are attributed to this one.

      I'm just frustrated....was a toss up to tfer out vardy and kdb this week. Didn't do it. Vardy I can take.

      I'm not so much saying for this game week but if the squad has to isolate for 10 days that's 3 games..... Covid outbreak is surely different to a normal injury or benching. Must have been simmering for a while. Hopefully they are all safe and make speedy recoveries.

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

    I'm a villa fan so I am NOT bringing Al-ghazi in.

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

      what do you reckon will happen when Barkley's back

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

    Werner on & broken

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

    Best 5.0 under defender?

    1. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Is Justin still until 5? Cbf checking

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

      Bednarek, Coufal, Taylor

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

    Are PL footballers gonna get vaccines ahead of high risk people and front line workers in UK?

    1. alastair
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No

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

      They pay good money for them elsewhere. They don’t take them away from anyone.

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

        That's a yes. Just wondering. They were getting tests when front line workers couldn't get tested. Most of the money is from the broadcasters who would lose out without games.

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          No. No vaccines available outside nhs

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

            Hopefully existing vaccines will protect all against this new strain. New Years Eve will be a mad one not just welcome for the new year but a loud shout to be glad to see the back of 2020.

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

      the clubs buy privately

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

      They're not risking those kinds of assets with experimental medicines!!!

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

        Stop spreading BS

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

          I don't know which bit is meant to be BS.

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

            Experimental medicines. What possible evidence do you have to say it?

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

              RNA vaccines havent been tested for long term effects on humans.

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

              Erm... It's a new type of vaccine which hasn't even gone through phase IV trials?

        2. BIG TONES
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Everyone is entitled to their own opinion without discrimination or bias. We won't know who is truly correct until enough time passes to assess effectiveness. Until then, we must respect each other's decisions to take or not take. Just my 2p.

    5. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      They won't be taking them. Any idea how much money are invested in these players? Any side effects will potentially cost the clubs a lot of points via on-field performance and hence revenue.

    6. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Vaccines are not ideal for healthy people .. they just protect you somehow(not100%) for some months only ... Only people with chronic illness or very old or dealing with lots of patients should take it ... Either than that not necessary at all

    7. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I highly doubt PL footballers will be taking a Covid vaccine. Which would say it all really.

      Nor should any young, fit and healthy young adult for that matter. IMO.

      1. BIG TONES
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Agree. I'm by no means anti vaccinations, but feel the jab is far more risky than trusting my own immune system. As for the 'don't kill granny' narrative, when the vulnerable are vaccinated, they should in theory have nothing to worry about. At that stage, let us crack on with life.

  6. RWB_1991
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bamford now 1st choice Leeds' pen taker?

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

      That's how I read the comments.

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yup

    3. Party time
        3 years, 3 months ago

        No. Still Klich

        1. Party time
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Don’t you think they will alternate?

            1. Party time
                3 years, 3 months ago

                You tell me

                1. Royal5
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  Bamford confirmed he'll take them til he miss.

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

                    No he didn’t

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

                    Bamford didnt confirm he is taking them in the slightest, the chinese whispers on this place are amazing. People legit making things up.
                    He said they used to alternate last season when one of them missed, he also said he wasnt even expecting to get the pen as last time Klich missed he retook and scored. But Klich gave it to him this time.
                    Where in his quote did he say he is on them now?
                    Its neither confirmed nor denied that Klich is still on pens

                    1. Bram
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 14 Years
                      3 years, 3 months ago

                      He said they alternated - it was not in the past tense of only being a last season thing. It is a totally reasonable inference that he is now on them until he misses as the current taker.

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

                  Bamford said so postmatch interview - they alternate and swap when one misses

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

            Yep

          • Bram
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Until he misses one, yes

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

            Bamford said in an post match interview he was on them last season and he’s on them now.

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

          Best 5.1 midfielder with a DGW? Or just go with Saka?

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

            Martinelli

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

              Soucek

          2. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Soucek by miles

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

              Sorry, should have mentioned, already have Soucek!

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

            Poor options. Pointless if it’s for bench boost.

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

          Werner actually playing CF 😮

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

          Havertz is a huge flop

          1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Just passed the ball to an opponent.

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

          Chill A Werner G coming up...

          1. Party time
              3 years, 3 months ago

              😆

              You .... 😆

              Dammit

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

            Grealish is actually a bit rubbish isnt he

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

              Not rubbish. His role is to create havoc for others to exploit and he’s pretty damn good at that.

          3. Paqueta Rice
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Grealish has been kack since I got him. He will do nothing today.

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

              Auditions for a bigger club failed when people realized the laundry bills from cleaning his kit after mud rolling

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

            What a chance, Grealish mocking up the pass.

          5. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Oh my God Chilwell....

          6. Right In The Stanchion
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            McGinn is the best Scottish player since McCallister.

            1. alastair
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 3 months ago

              Andy Robertson methinks

              1. Right In The Stanchion
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 3 months ago

                Good shout. McGinn could play for Liverpool tbh.

                1. alastair
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  Only in the same way as Shaqiri

            2. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 3 months ago

              Says a lot about the quality of the other players.

            3. @persecuted_by_mods
                3 years, 3 months ago

                Robbo and Darren Fletcher surely

              • Bram
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 3 months ago

                Robbo says hi

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

                Barry Douglas would like a word

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

              Kante bailing out half our team toady.

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

                you mean as usual

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

              Hate to brag but I have 4 points

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

                Woah there buddy, put that schlong away.

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

                With 5 to go haha

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

                5 from 5 players here

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

                  Where can I subscribe to your Patreon?

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

                    Just have Only Fans

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

                      Love to see your team of tits. 😉

              4. Silecro
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 3 months ago

                5 from 3

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

              The hate for Grealish on this site is unbelievable.

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

                Not everyone understands football you know

              2. Pep Roulette
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 3 months ago

                This

              3. Party time
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  Just an overrated fella with tiny balls

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

                  because he's awful and lacks sportsmanship and fairplay.

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

                    Yup. Stop diving and complaining and I’ll pay attention to your talent

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

                Some guy here last week said he payed a Zambian witch to Salah blanking 5 weeks on a row ..... If he doesn't play this week that be the second week ... Scary stuff lol

                1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  You just made it up didn't you?

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

                    No I didn't I swear even that lad @Haz replied at him saying 5 goals I remember !!

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

                    No I saw the post he's referring to.

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

                      Right ?! Even you told him he misread the request 😀

                2. Pep Roulette
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  WTF

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

                    WHAT THE

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

                    5£ for God sake 😀

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

                      Would pay 10£ to reverse the jinx lolz

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

                  😀 😀 😀

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

                  It was the guys 1st and only ever post too

                  1. Party time
                      3 years, 3 months ago

                      African witch doctors are dangerous.

                      So glad I gave Bruno the Armband

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

                    What perfect timing. I just brought in Salah last week for a hit too. Nice to know a world class player's performance is solely dependent on witch doctor's whims in Zambia.

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

                      Just for fun mate he's my captain too 😀

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

                  Worst possible result as Mendy and Grealish owner

                  No CS for Mendy
                  No CS for Grealish
                  Av goal with no grealish involvement

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

                    Could be worse, Mendy could get sent off and Al Ghazi takes the pen

                6. Paqueta Rice
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  ElGhazi off, Grealish on pens?

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

                    Yes. If they get one 😉

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

                      Is he? Has he been their penalty taker before?

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

                  Now Grealish on Pens... comn Villa!!!

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

                    THIS

                8. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 3 months ago

                  Hahah these whiners on this forum, so many Grealish haters hahah

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

                    Very easy to hate sadly. Hopefully he cleans up his game with a bit of maturity.

                9. @persecuted_by_mods
                    3 years, 3 months ago

                    Wait so Bamford never said he was on penalties and we all believed one guy who posted it

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

                      He said they alternate when one of them misses one which is what happened

                      1. @persecuted_by_mods
                          3 years, 3 months ago

                          Yeah but that's less than half a story compared to what's just been explained

                      2. Paqueta Rice
                        • 3 Years
                        3 years, 3 months ago

                        Klich was on the pitch and didn’t take it

                        1. @persecuted_by_mods
                            3 years, 3 months ago

                            Figured that one out all on my own

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

                          Bam said this "I took them last year until I missed and then Klichy took them until he missed.

                          "He missed the other day but then he scored, so to be fair I thought it was still his job but he said it was mine today, so thanks."

                          This is not confirmation to me Bam is on pens, the key word here is "today" which to me implys this was a one off. But either way we dont know, people saying Bam is now on pens is not tconfirmed

                          1. @persecuted_by_mods
                              3 years, 3 months ago

                              Thanks, I'd say he probably is on them now based on that but yeah definitely not "bam confirmed he's on them"

                        3. Pep Roulette
                          • 6 Years
                          3 years, 3 months ago

                          Good attempt kid!

                        4. HonestBlatter
                          • 13 Years
                          3 years, 3 months ago

                          Ollie offering but Ramsey cannot bury

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

                          Was Watkins subbed off in the first minute?

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

                          You just know there will be a guy here at the end of the day with a post "36 from 4, i just hate this game, awful week again"

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

                            "99 does that beat the average"

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

                            I hope I'm getting 10 from 11 at this rate

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

                              i'm on the same trajectory, 5 from 3 currently

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

                              You've got 11 players? Lucky you 🙁

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

                          El Ghazi Off
                          Grealish On

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

                          Werner is not PL quality

                          1. Postman Ty
                            • 9 Years
                            3 years, 3 months ago

                            Second top scorer in Bundesliga last season, one of the highest goal+assist contributions in the world. Get over yourself.

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

                              All those goals in a farmers league

                              1. Postman Ty
                                • 9 Years
                                3 years, 3 months ago

                                I guess Champion's League and German national team don't count. Lewandowski is probably crap too right?