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. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell to Robbo went well, then..

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

      Yes me too haha

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

        There's still the dgw to come, hopefully he'll smash it then

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

      6 points for Grealish over the 2 games. Robbo could still double that against Newcastle alone.

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

      Uh Robbo yet to play

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

    Martinez haul again

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

      It was a very good run and nobody expected CS here anyways.

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

    I have grealish and watkins and feels like 1 villa too many.

    Early days but Thoughts on grealish to rashford ?

    Thanks

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Rashford or Pulisic for me

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

        Avoid Pulisic, he’s made of glass

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

      Watkins out ; non existent again today

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

        Difficult game. Almost assist. He is cheap remember.

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

          Watkins is so cheap though....

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

    Grealish is such an overrated pick. 5/7 blanks since I bought him. Thank you, next.

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

      Sounds like you're just bad a selecting players at the right time

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

        Or that nobody can tell the future, there’s always that as well

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

        nice Grav 🙂

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

          Likewise

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

      Hauls every 3rd game
      Pretty easy

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

      Booted him out after West Brom 🙂

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

      He only delivered against Liverpool and that is it

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

        you obviously didn't own him when they played saints then

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

      Son only got 5 more pts in that period yet is over 2m more

    6. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hauls every 3rd game. G+A coming against a vulnerable and makeshift United defense.

    7. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      yes El Ghazi is the man now for villa.. or watkins.. grealish plays well but no FPL points

  5. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I hate FPL

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

    Lampard withdrawing Giroud is the proof of him being inexperienced manager..

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

      Or Giroud being old and about to be sent off

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

        How old are Ibra and CR7?

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

          Are you comparing Giroud to Ibra and CR7?
          I think any argument is lost with such comparisons

  7. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Looks like this is the week I get disqualified from LMS.

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

    Why people hate Lampard? He is only English manager leading a top team no?

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

      Does he get props for being English?

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

      Because he grew up priviliged I guess. Not working class.

    3. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Feel High IQ Frank didn't earn the Chelsea job. He wasn't great as Derby manager.

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

        Harsh - Derby were much better under Frank than they have been since

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

      And the only reason he has the job is that hes English. Hes awful

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Yet more anti English nonsense from yourself.

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

      He’s learning on the job and doing a hell of a lot better than Arteta

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

      Just not a classy guy for me. Chelsea and West Ham both pretty horrible fan bases in general, the players tend to go the same way if there long enough I guess!
      I’m a Liverpool fan, we’ve had a rivalry with them and so I’m probably biased though.
      Having said that I don’t mind OGS as a person at all, seems a decent guy so can separate football and non-football

  9. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Did Grealish (2), KDB (0) and DCL (0) to Raphinha, Son and Kane for a -4.

    SURELY that's got to be a big lucky profit.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hope not

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        That's not very Christmassy

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

      Raphinha and Son no shows and Kane RC incoming.....

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Ouch

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

      Spurs looking poor but got lucky nonetheless

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

      Amazing

    5. Chaps Before Baps
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Calculate the 2 bench players you would've got in place of KDB and DCL for accuracy.

  10. Davros
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Wow Chilwell. Almost assist, goal and CS. As a non owner I count myself v lucky there

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

      Grealish almost had a hatrick too

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

      Almost cs?

  11. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Come on KDB show me that keeping you for 1 more game was the right call !!!

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

      Who is subbing in for him?

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        🙂

        Brewster....

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

    Is Rhys Williams going to play from now on? Or Ben Johnson? Either would let me do bench boost without any hits

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

      Could be Fabinho or Phillips for Liv...or Matip returns

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

        Matip will be out awhile. Likely Rhys until a new CB is signed

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

      Rhys will play against Newcastle I expect. Klopp def won’t overplay him though, if Matip is out a while he’ll rotate him and Phillips I think. At 4m he could be a good short term option though if you need to save cash or have Neco Williams

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

      Philips will play against Newcastle, better in the air

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

    Wonder if FPL will price lock the Man City and Everton players. When the Villa Newcastle game got cancelled Grealish never fell despite being dead on predicted by the price change sites to do so (-108% on FPLstats).

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

      Covid price lock incoming.

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

      Hope so.

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

    Where is yellow card for Grealish!?

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

      It'll now be 0 yellow cards on dec 31st.

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

      Refs are banned from booking him

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

    What am I meant to do now the Everton game is cancelled?

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

      Watch a movie.

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

        Any tips?

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

          watch City of God or What we do in the Shadows, or No Country for Old Men

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

            Thanks not seen any of us, will have a look

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

              *any of those

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

          Ratatouille

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

    so no bap for Martinez finally then?

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

    over-all had 4.5 play with a 5.62 average? 😀
    5 from 1, yea!

  18. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Would have expected Chilwell higher up the Baps than Cash...

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

    Come on Everton !

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

    Green juhuuuuuu. Really important GW next weekb

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

      Tomorrow I meant

  21. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    So weird having 0 players from a whole day of football...

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

      chance of Burke playing??

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Unlikely

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

    Honestly considering Furlong for the DGW. Big Sam will inevitably steady the ship.

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

      Furlong without attacking threat under big sam not worth it

      Maybe ajayi if u want to go that route big sam will target set pieces surely

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

      Fancy explaining how accruing transfers would makes the game easier and is for bad managers who need a crutch?

      Start with explaining how a rule change that applies to all people benefits any one generic manager more than another

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

        Make your own thread if you want to discuss it. Pretty obvious why making the game easier is a crutch for bad managers.

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

          So you can't explain it then

          As I thought

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

            More transfers = less planning needed to avoid hits = less complexity = easier game = good for bad managers = good for you.

            Self-explanatory.

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

              Sorry Bross but that's total cack. If you want to argue from the point of complexity then by introducing more transfers you are introducing

              1. The opportunity to carry out what amounts to 3.5 additional wildcards a year, instead of incremental movements. Are you saying planning doesn't go into WCs?
              2. The opportunity to move for big fixture swings. Capitalise on games in hand or congested schedules at the drop of a hat
              3. The opportunity to couple accrued numbers of transfers with chips
              4. The opportunity to opt for a stronger squad that requires fewer if any weekly transfers but allows you to accrue transfers over a long period of time to take advantage of 1, 2 and 3

              Really the list goes on. Do you genuinely think accrued transfers makes this game LESS complex. Adding a new variable decreases complexity?

              It introduces a whole new approach (stronger squad) without punishing the manager for foundational planning

              You're wrong. As usual

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

      He can’t play 10 back every game. Oh wait.

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

    Zouma (city next)
    Matip (injured)
    Mitchell ( not nailed)
    Lewis (not nailed)
    Kdb (city)
    Brewster (not nailed)

    WC Tonight?

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

      Nah just take a couple of hits leading up to the DGW and you’ll be fine.

  24. baines is god
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    i'm losing hope in this season, too many double fixtures, it's so confusing now, games being cancelled with Covid.

    I had worked on getting a team ready for gw18, so 3 city players, spurs etc, then was going to FH for gw19, and save my wildcard for later. But now that plan has been screwed by this covid stuff, and i might need to wildcard now, but no idea who to go for in light of all this stuff. This stuff is ruining fantasy football

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

      You've moreorless described the mistake a lot of pros have made. They've leaned heavily towards careful planning, as in a normal season. It's not a normal season, it favours at times those with bigger, better squads. Those who don't double or triple, those who bank transfers, and those who use chips responsively.

      It's not ruining the game (it's certainly not making it better). It's asking managers to take a different approach. And there is MUCH saltiness amongst those who didn't. There's managers in my ML with strong squads and they are pi33,ing themselves, and why not

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Pros. Lol.

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

          For 'pros' just read people who input a lot of time. You know what I mean :-0

  25. C_G
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    7 from 3 today, is that below avg?

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Anything > 0 is above average 🙁

  26. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Guys grealish pp 7.0m sp 7.4m cp 7.8m do I loose 0.1m if he drops?

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

      Yes. Selling price 7.3

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

    when will we get second WC?

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

      Now

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

    Down to 10 playing, with autosubs - anyone worse? 🙂

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

      Well there's two people with 8 in my small mini league, so yes.

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I might be as I'm relying on Burke and Kilman

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

      10 is decent this week

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

      Same

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

    El Gazza

  30. bitars
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Do they test all players for covid before the games?

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

      I think, I could be wrong, Based on last I heard - twice per week aka: every 3/4 days