Dugout Discussion

Johnstone absent for West Brom after positive Covid-19 test as Boly returns for Wolves

West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) misses the Baggies’ first DGW19 fixture following a positive Covid-19 test.

Ahead of the Black Country derby at Molineux, Sam Allardyce explained:

Covid has kept out Sam [Johnstone] and Matt Phillips for us, as well as one or two other Under-23s that would probably have been in the squad.

Grady [Diangana] pulled or tweaked a hamstring, so we had to make a change there.

Asked by BT Sport what he has been trying to fix in training, Allardyce responded:

I’ve tried to fix the fact that we’ve got to stop conceding goals that are avoidable. Our concentration levels sometimes lapse, in split seconds and moments. It only takes the opposition a few seconds to exploit that. That is the focus when we’re out of possession.

In possession, it’s really about trying to get more quality in the final third. Create more chances in open play, which has been extremely difficult for us.

Wolves boss Nuno, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, said of his side’s recent leaky displays:

“We (have) made big mistakes, especially in defence. We must be compact and from there can grow positives. “We have to go back to our main foundation; a clean sheet.”

The Portuguese manager has duly reverted to a tried-and-tested back three. Nuno revealed in the embargoed section of his media offering that Willy Boly (£5.4m) would start for West Brom’s visit.

Boly is joined by Conor Coady (£4.9m) and Romain Saiss (£5.1m), while the Wolves teamsheet suggests that Pedro Neto (£6.0m) will operate at left wing-back.

The winger was a doubt for this afternoon’s kick-off, as was Adama Traoré (£6.1m). The latter also starts the match in a front two alongside Fabio Silva (£5.2m).

“Adama didn’t play the last game, he had a problem. He is better, so he is ready to go. Boly had an injury for some while and [now] he’s good.” – Nuno

Daniel Podence (£5.4m) remains sidelined, along with Jonny (£5.4m) and Marcal (£4.8m).

“Let’s see. We have Adama and Boly coming and joining (training). Let’s see how they are for tomorrow. We still have Daniel out. We have work to do. Jonny, Podence, Marcal are out.” – Nuno speaking on Friday

Wolves XI: Patricio; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Neto, Neves, Dendoncker, Semedo; Moutinho; Fabio Silva, A Traoré.

West Bromwich Albion XI: Button; Gibbs, Bartley, Ajayi, O’Shea; Snodgrass, Livermore, Sawyers; Grosicki, C Robinson, M Pereira.

1,347 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HTL
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Johnstone or not we're still going to get sucker punched by Allardyce-ball

    1. hueycho
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No ones got johnstone so its cool

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

    Fat **** Sam couldn't have said something?

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I don't think he's allowed.

    2. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      look up the reason why Villa did not say anything

  3. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    UPDATED!!!

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

      about time.

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

    Would you look at that, my team actually looks decent for next week

  5. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    At least this is a positive news to Johnstone's owner.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What?

      1. Vlekz
          3 years, 2 months ago

          "positive news"

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

          Tested positive. I think he tried to be funny

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Smashed it.

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

      Hovered over the bench boost button for days, with Johnstone as my 2nd goalie. So glad I decided not to press it.

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

      I feel like an FPL FFS Superhero full of patience with WC, FH, BB, and TC left. I was never an FPL patient manager.

      What is your chip status?

      1. sunzip14
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Same. All intact

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

        All intact except BB

      3. Il Capitano
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        WC BB TC

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

        Time to change username then?
        FH gone

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

          Yeah, changing it now

      5. LegendMoon
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Snap but dropped 100, 000 places last week, back to 190,000 what’s your rank?

      6. Nanoelektronicar
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Hate chips, FH and TC already out of way. I wish I could have saved FH for 29, but it had to go last week.

      7. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Same, looking at most of my leagues there's only one or two others in the same spot ignoring ghost teams. Leader in one of them has now used all his chips and I'm currently 14 behind so I'm feeling decent about it

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

        Same.

      9. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        All in tact as well. I'm generally patient although I do like taking hits.

      10. Supertrooper
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Using BB this week, getting it over with with Forster/Bamford/Holding and Wilson on the bench

    4. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Good thing I did not BB. Have Johnstone sub.

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Some were considering hit for him, hopefully didn't go ahead with that

        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I took a hit, but replaced a non playing 2nd keeper

      2. Il Capitano
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Started Johnstone, McCarthy off the bench so would only be boosting 3 players, kind of glad I held off

    5. Lukakuna
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rate my team predicts 115 points with no chips played. Just gotta laugh at that

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

        Why is that surprising? You’re probably scheduled to get twice as many starts as a normal game week.

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

      Everyone has done Antonio in besides me lol. F***!

      1. Podge
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ah fudge

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

        Antonio was a risky pick, limited minutes at best, limps off injured at worst. He normally takes a bit of time to find form as well, Bamford>Antonio was a bad move imo if people did that

        1. Podge
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          20 points incoming 🙂

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

            probably tbh thats normally how fantasy goes

        2. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Agreed

      3. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I got him in, but it feels like a major risk.

      4. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Could still be risky but nearly 10 per cent is crazy. I was thinking of it for a while as I punted a while back on Wood which did nothing so said I'd punt on Antonio here but can't say it's not a bit frustrating he's not exactly a big differential now

    7. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sou(c)ek, feels good!!! 😆

      1. Vlekz
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Wowza. Good luck

        • Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          This is bait

        • Danno - Emre Canada
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Kudos, good luck

        • Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Good luck, could really work out honestly

      2. Leonard hatred
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Johnson missing out is bad, Button playing really well and keeping his place is probably worse.

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

        Bloke at top of my mini league did son to Aubameyang this week. Most random transfer ever!!

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Proper head scratcher.

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

            He’s in top 5k and was top 100 earlier in season!

            1. Studs Up
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Maybe he knows something? lol

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

              probably explains why he's no longer top 100

        2. ivantys
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          He gets a goal after every 5 games of blank so that's the game he scores.

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

            Haha he’ll bang a hatrick now I’ve posted this

        3. Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          He scored against Newcastle only last Saturday gone 😀

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

        100+ points here we go

      5. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ha. I now have 1 player at home in the whole squad.

        1. Fit of Pique
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Two here, Fernandes and Mitchell.

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

        'Professional' watch - hits galore!

        Fabio Borges: -12, Balbuena + Son + Kane + Raphinha to Dias + KDB + Antonio + Soucek, BB played, Salah (c)
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/440328/event/19

        Magnus Carlsen: -4, Lacazette + Reguilon to Antonio + TAA, TC Salah
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/76862/event/19

        Ville Ronka: -8, Saiss + Son + DCL to Robinson + Salah + Antonio, Salah (c)
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/617620/event/19

        Jay Egersdorff: -8, Grealish + DCL + Balbeuna to KDB + Decordova-Reid + Coufal, TC Salah
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/259780/event/19

        Mark Sutherns: -4, Mane + Wood to KDB + Antonio, BB played, Salah (c)
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/194/event/19

        Lateriser: -8, Ayling + Son + Kane to Douglas + Salah + Werner, Salah (c)
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/55085/event/19

        Jan Sienkiewicz: -4, Grealish + Son to Soucek + KDB, Rashford (c)
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/3904/event/19

        Darren Wiles: -12, KWP + Balbuena + Rashford + Kane to Stones + Dias + KDB + Antonio, BB played, KDB (c)
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1331101/event/19

        Ola Hovde (OR #1 for last 9 GWs): -4, McCarthy + Adams to Mendy + Antonio, TC KDB
        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/4865323/event/19

        GL all!

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

          Some amount of hits. -12 and -16 for BB defeats the purpose for me especially given the Covid situation

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

            My cup opponent took a -16
            They have taken now 172 points hits this season :s

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

          Yet here I am not doing wood to Antonio for a hit lol

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

          So many Salah captains. I kind of regret doing KDB now!

          1. Lukakuna
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Same here!

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

          + Key players to watch - top 10k EO:

          Salah 120%
          De Bruyne 115%
          Fernandes 102%
          Bamford 73%
          Soucek 62%
          Son 55%
          Justin 48%
          Kane 45%
          Martínez 43%
          Coufal 43%
          Antonio 40%
          Vardy 34%
          Grealish 33%
          Dallas 31%
          Stones 31%
          Cancelo 27%
          Cresswell 27%
          Dias 25%
          Mccarthy 23%
          Robertson 23%

          Overall 49% of the top 10k played no chip, 25% went BB, 16% went TC, 7% WC and 3% FH

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

          This is absolutely mad. Glad I'm on no hits this week. Just my free hit 😉

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

          KDB(c) not looking so good now.....

          1. Flair
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Darren Wiles did it. He's phenomenal.

        7. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          This is what the new fad of 'upside chasing' gets you. Hope it doesn't pay off! 😀

        8. The Red Devil
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          It's good to see the number one overall player for last 9 GWs took my TC tip 😛

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

          Wow. I did a -12 hit and bb to get it out of the way had 2 Southampton and 3 leeds. Dcl kane kept and raphinha to KDB Davis (villa) antonio and cancelled. Planned for the Boston leeds dgw. Want to take my best 11 forward. But did captain KDB though 🙁

          1. Crunchie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            KWP not kept sorry

            1. Crunchie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              And cancello damn autocorrect

        10. Forgetmeknot
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks for this. Looking (hoping) like Salah was vindicated as C choice

      7. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cup rival put the TC on Soucek!

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

          No offense to you but I hope it works out for him! What a pick

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

        Anything less than 150 points on BB is a massive season ending fail.

        1. Podge
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Obviously

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

        Real benching headache for next gw now 🙂

      10. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I dreamt I caught covid from my sister-in-law. Am I Johnstone? Does anyone know if Johnstone's had relations with his sister-in-law? Thanks

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

          Well he’s clearly good at catching stuff

      11. calstokesey97
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It’s pretty obvious we’re not playing a back 5.

        Saiss left back in a back 4

      12. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Will Johnstone be back for the next game against WHU?

        1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Don’t think so

        2. Uncle John from Jamaica
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Depends when he caught it but seems unlikely given not even on bench and its 72 hours until next game.

      13. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I guess thats Johnstone out of the game on Tuesday as well?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Short turnaround doesn’t look good

      14. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Anyone else have server error on fpl?

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

        Hoping for a big Leeds win, I suspect many benced or ditched them. They have Brighton after all, still a great fixture

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

        DE BRUYNE 115.11%
        FERNANDES 102.22%
        SALAH 120.22%

        Source Live FPL

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Owning both Salah and KDB sucks that you need the one you didn’t captain you blank

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

          Expected KDB to come out on top.

          1. Sanchit
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            He isn't though

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

          what a waste...

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

          Feel like Bruno will be a big fail

        5. Sanchit
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Overall or your rank tier?

      17. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Johnstone back for Tuesday game? Could help those loaded on West Ham options

      18. Plagued by indecision
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I don’t own Johnstone but would like to thank the two people who talked me out of using any chips this week. Best saved for the Spring when hopefully there is much less Covid flying around.

        1. Uncle John from Jamaica
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Maybe best to thank people once the game weeks is over we are 37 mins into a 15 match game week.

          had Johnstone on Free hit but covered him with Button so made no difference.

      19. mad_beer ✅
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I benched Button. Silly me.

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

        Team looks beautiful for next week as well. I feel top 100k is very close.