Dugout Discussion

Rodríguez returns on Everton bench as West Ham recall Coufal

Everton and West Ham’s matchday squads are beginning to edge closer to full-strength as of their Gameweek 17 teamsheets.

James Rodríguez (£7.7m) returns for the first time since Gameweek 11 although is only fit enough for a place on the Toffees’ bench.

For now, Bernard (£5.8m) occupies his slot on the right-hand side of Everton’s attacking midfield, joined there by Gylfi Sigurdsson (£6.8m) and Richarlison (£7.8m).

How long until Rodríguez will be ready to start games regularly again remains unclear but Fantasy managers will certainly have him on their radars.

However, anyone invested in Michael Keane (£5.1m) will be disappointed by Carlo Ancelotti’s team selection in Gameweek 17, with the centre-back named on the bench for the first time this season.

Mason Holgate (£4.8m) tucks inside from his recent right-back role to staff the heart of the defence with Yerry Mina (£5.6m) with Seamus Coleman (£4.8m) making his first start since Gameweek 8.

It is a similar story with West Ham who, once again, feature Michail Antonio (£6.2m) on the bench, which makes for a seventh successive start for Sebastien Haller (£6.1m), but suggests they could be back to full-strength soon.

Fantasy managers will certainly have their eye on that situation, especially with West Ham’s appealing fixtures in Double Gameweek 19, where they host Burnley and West Bromwich Albion.

David Moyes has recalled Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m) to the line-up, having rested him against Southampton but Issa Diop (£4.3m) and Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m) remain out of the starting XI, Craig Dawson (£4.5m) impressing enough in his Gameweek 16 audition to keep his place.

Everton XI: Pickford; Godfrey, Mina, Holgate, Coleman; Doucouré, T Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Dawson, Coufal; Rice, Soucek; Benrahma, Fornals, Bowen; Haller.

1,770 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    omg

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

    Bloody Soucek first on my bench haha

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

      When will I learn.

      Cresswell assist?

  3. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I'm so happy

  4. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Don't say offside please

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

      I was thinking the same. Have Cresswell and Soucek in my first 11 but there was no celebration from me when that goal went in as I was thinking it's bound to be offside but he was actually miles on. Probably the best FPL moment of the season for me. Cresswell was on my bench 10 mins before the deadline and decided to start him and bench Adams.

  5. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cresswell assist?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yay

  6. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Of course my bench gets points this week

  7. Cousin Greg
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek the man

  8. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek first on my bench 🙁

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

    TOMAAAAAASSSSSSSS

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

    Soucek delivers again!

  11. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sooooooucek

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

    Cresswell assist

  13. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek, you hero!

  14. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cresser and Soucek double up strikes again! You beauty!!!!!

  15. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Since I sold Soucek and my rivals started playing him every week he scores all the time

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

    Soucek G
    Cresswell A

  17. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Fellow DCL owners, are you sticking with him for the BGW?

  18. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    IF you dont own Soucek you absolutely dont understand FPL. Just retire if you dont have him.

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

      100%

  19. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Everton goal now please !

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Get that clean sheet gone!

  20. Aleksei
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    what happened to Fabianski?

    1. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Injured in warm up

    2. Fpl stress
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Injured in warmup!

  21. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pleaseee Cresswell assist?!

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

    Coufal G needed now and we’re laughing

  23. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Shouldn't have benched Soucek, sorry for doubting you king

  24. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Let’s goooo 🙂

  25. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Absolute legend

  26. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Screw you Thomas, always when on the bench

  27. Mweene
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek and Coufal on my bench, obviously.

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

    Looks essential as a 5th mid

  29. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Soucek is a legend!

    1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Souckek is this year's Lundstrum?

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Lol. Lord Soucek. Like the sound of it.

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

    Tom Davies... absolute muck.