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. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    When you use your BB and your one gk is out is brutal.

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

      Bb with 1 gk is silly

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

        Especially if it’s a West Brom keeper.

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

        Your one it doesn't mean your only one.

        1. FantasyTony
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          It does mate

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

      Could be worse... worse probably still to come. Don’t let it stress you lol it’s only a game and probs 3-6 points. Chill mate

      1. fish&chips
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Who's out?

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Johnstone

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

        Yes I bb do help my -12 out of this mess. Too much planning

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why would you BB when Johnstone isn't playing?

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

        I don’t reckon he knew that ha

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

        Yeah let's kick him when he's down, way to go Fr3d

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

        idiot?

        1. Scots Gooner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Think he's trying to be funny.

          Hilarious isn't he?

    4. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      BB is the most useless of the WCs. I don't think it's anything to worry about.

    5. Puyol Pants Up
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      https://twitter.com/SteveMadeley78/status/1350409156440670208

      Johnstone has had Covid for a while, was close to playing today. Probably plays next game

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

        So that would screw those who went with Johnstone over (say) Martinez.

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

        cheers

  2. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Forgot to move VC off kane to bruno. TC on KDB.

    Please no freak accident / COVID etc to put Kevin out of both

  3. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    In hindsight this was the best week to BB. No rotation

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

      This Johnstone news is exactly why I didn’t

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

        You reckon covid won't exist later in the season then?

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

          It will exist, but it will be less of a factor in a couple of months than it is now. Aside from the general trend in society, about half the players will have immunity at this rate. Anyway, I’m very happy that Johnstone is firmly on my bench today. Just hope it was the right call to play my TC instead (KDB)

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

          won't be as bad as it will be over this period.

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

            Ok, what gw is covid-free?

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

    No kdb in my squad 🙂 how much money do I put on a brace in both games?

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

      I TC him bro lol

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Blank confirmed?

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

          Very likely. All my TC's fail.

    2. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He'll score 1 and 4 if you do that

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

      They're going to rip Villa a new a***hole.

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

      I wouldn't worry much, I own him but he's been awful in front of goal apart from his tap in recently.

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

      True. Maybe £2 on an assist and goal in each game

  5. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My cup opponent used his wildcard this gw. Bloody typical. My bad luck this season shows no signs of abating.

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

      I got knocked out first round and I got a monster score too

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

      You're still in it and WC doesn't really mean anything for sure, look at how a lot of FH teams went last week with the consensus that Newcastle would beat SU and Arsenal would beat Palace

  6. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My ML rival has TC Bruno. Hope he gets a yellow vs Liverpool now

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

    What do mean you sold Son and Kane just before they play the team that is bottom of the league?

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

      Kane and Son Xpts 90 surely less than other options Xpts 180.
      So it makes complete sense

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

      Sheffield are bottom but they don’t concede many goals.

  8. EffPeeEll
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Adama Traore 11/10 to have at least one shot on target.

    Seems reasonable-Double ya bubble.

  9. Drogo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    6 fixtures lost (Adams, Raphinha, McCarthy, Bamford, Dallas, Johnson) and the gameweek hasnt even started. Just call off the season.

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

      And 5 of those were confirmed off before the deadline....so?

      1. Drogo
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes, and 3 gameweeks AFTER I used my wildcard specifically for this gameweek. Call it off.

  10. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cou opponent capped Soucek. Kudos for the balls!

    He also benched Kane and started both Dallas and Bamford. That one I cannot really understand.

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

      He probably set his team before the Leeds fixture got cancelled.

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

        Ah, of course, that makes sense.

  11. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    53k rank jump before a ball is kicked.
    All down hill from here then.

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

      No hits for you?

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

        Nope, played wc last week.

        Just did dier to Cresswell.
        Was planning wilson to Antonio, but the extra newcastle game decided to stick with him.

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

      60k red for me. Season over...

  12. davies
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Assuming nothing drastic happens, would you do Coufal/Brewster > Stones/Davis for -4 or for free next week?

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

      Ignore transfer plans there are so many games left to play and cup games too. just log off

  13. Puyol Pants Up
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So apparently Johnstone might be back next game, guess it's not all doom and gloom for us Johnstone bench boosters?

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I would've probably gone Johnstone too had I not had the $ for Fab.

  14. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    likely Wolves set up in a 4atb, no?

  15. MIDIMAN2010
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    GL all

  16. Blzbobuk
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My goalie luck is not going well. Fabian ski injury in warmup and now Johnstone COVID on BB. Best to laugh it off was only hoping for 4-5 points from him anyway.

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

      GK's shouldn't be doing those moguls during warm-up

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Downhill or cross-country?

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

    Previous seasons I always piled up on double players, it normally meant ripping up my team to do so, losing big value. It normally always backfired tbh and single GW players I removed punished me
    Shame Leeds and Saints is off as I would have had 11, had to settle for 7 in the end, hope its enough 🙂

    Come on Leeds and Spurs, need some big scores!

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

      Same here, not ripping my team up this season, everytime I sell sgw players for dgw players they outscore them.

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

        Value is a big factor for me, for instance doing Bam>Antonio is just not a go. I had Bam early, and I really dont want to be buying him back for 6.6 in a week or two when Antonio inevitably needs removing (these are the kinda things I always did in the past and regretted).

        Leeds and Spurs have very nice fixtures this week, so finegrs crossed. They will make or break my GW

        GL

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

      Same here, got 7 double players + Kane/Son/Dallas and Bamford and with no hits taken have already gone up 25k places in the ranks.

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

        Same singles as me, im on an 8k red for my -4

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

      This time all the top teams and picks have DGW though. You're hardly "ripping up your team" by getting triple City, Man U, Chelsea etc with sprinklings of WHU and Leicester

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

        True this gw does have nice fixtures for good teams. But if your team isnt broken then it doesnt need fixing

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

          You are probably hammering your value in some places though

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

      Yeh this is why I only took a 4 point hit (and nearly took none) - in the end I sold Kane for Vardy for a hit because it's a reasonable move to make but also his fixtures post double are pretty good (whereas Spurs fixtures less so)

  18. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Gw20 captain?

    A. kdb
    B. Bruno

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

      A.

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

        Thx

  19. Puyol Pants Up
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    https://twitter.com/SteveMadeley78/status/1350409156440670208

    In case you guys haven't seen it, Johnstone potentially back next game

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Positive test must have been after the Tuesday game though, and after a positive test, you can't play for 10 days.

      1. Puyol Pants Up
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah but he was training no?

      2. Puyol Pants Up
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Johnstone hasn't played since the 3rd of Jan? If he was touch and go for today and wasn't in the squad in the fa cup we can safely assume he got Covid between the 4th-10th of Jan. The west ham game is on the 20th.

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

    30K green arrow after first update

  21. Parsnips
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Good luck to everyone in the dgw! Hope you have a good one.

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

    Profile name updated

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

      I should join you - riding chip free for the 19 GWs

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

      Thanks

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

      Why did you already spend all your chips. Poorly played

  23. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    The average hit this week is around 4 I guess?

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

      Hits flying about in the elite 64

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

      yes, 3 point something but close to 4

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Makes me feel a bit better with a -4!

  24. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cup opponent takes a -12 point hit, captain Salah + Vardy in there too.

      Me: WC, De Bruyne(C) + Vardy

      We march on!

    • EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Guess what people....I've had Button since GW 1 and I played the BB this GW 😆

      I don't know if this kind of luck in FPL is good or bad....

      1. Party time
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Good even though he might concede

          1. EmreCan Hustle
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Probably. But better than zero hopefully.

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

          Ha, nice work. Good chance of a clean sheet today too - good looking luck!

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

            *weird autocorrect, I meant good luck. Although good looking luck kinda works too

          2. EmreCan Hustle
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Thanks. Although not sure if I'll be punished for profiting from someone's illness 😛

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

        Just saw someone 6k OR that forgot to activate FH last week and ended up taking a -40!

        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/442774/event/18

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Oh dear...

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

          Ouch and anither 12 pt hit this gw. Has a very high rank,must be gutted. School boy error though

      3. leeboy104
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Me vs ML rival:

        James, Salah(c), Grealish & Bamford
        vs
        Lowton, KDB(c), Rashford, & Wilson -4

        What do you reckon?

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

        If you get upset about your BB this week, try to feel better by remembering the simple fact that my BB brought me only 6 poins in GW1.

        1. dubtom
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Why'd you do yourself like that

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

            Game week 1 is the only week you can WC and BB at the same time.

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

            As Brosstan says. I was set on a WC in GW2 to bring in triple Manc City and triple United. So I wouldn't have to carry the heavy bench. In fact, I could have a really heavy bench if I wanted, so I spread the cash out for what I thought was a great looking team. - Until just before the deadline, when I realised Arsmstrong wasn't playing and I suddenly had to redo the team without enough time to reconsider the strategy 😀

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

        At what point are transfer hits deducted from the overall score?

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

          After the first day of the new gameweek.

          1. dubtom
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            cheers

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

        So West Ham v West Brom on tuesday already in trouble ?

        1. R.C
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Why lol

        2. dubtom
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          If so, thank fpl gods I didn't buy Antonio

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

          Why cos of positive west brom covid? Fck hope not

        4. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Aren’t they playing today?