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. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So apparently Johnstone was close to playing this game, has been back in training. Should be fine for Tuesday

    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. The Pesci challenge
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This, so I expect button to play both games

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

      thanks

  2. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I sold Button to get Johnstone for my bench boost.

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

      I kept Buttin and played BB.

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Well done mate

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

          I don't know if I'll get punished for profiting from someone's illness.
          In my defense, I had no idea.

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

      Brutal.

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

      This game is 90% luck.

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        BB during this high covid levels was always a risk

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

        99.9999% *...

    4. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Unlucky

    5. Booked4Dissent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Harsh. Unlucky mate. I was going to get Johnstone for a hit and play BB. Lucky I didn’t.

  3. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cup opponent TC KDB well that’s me gone

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

      Same here although I (standard) captained KDB and our teams are really different apart from 3 players so it'll be an interesting matchup

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

    Top 10k Captaincy Stats:

    DE BRUYNE 47.66%
    SALAH 35.59%
    FERNANDES 7.18%
    VARDY 3.09%
    KANE 1.34%
    ANTONIO 0.85%
    SON 0.74%

    Top 10k EO and Owned By stats:
    SALAH 120.22% 79.21%
    DE BRUYNE 115.11% 58.58%
    FERNANDES 102.22% 94.24%
    BAMFORD 73.03% 84.74%
    SOUCEK 62.28% 62.11%
    SON 54.94% 55.11%
    JUSTIN 47.84% 48.89%
    KANE 44.86% 43.75%
    MARTÍNEZ 42.79% 45.15%
    COUFAL 42.75% 42.98%
    ANTONIO 40.45% 39.58%
    VARDY 34.06% 30.68%
    GREALISH 33.09% 33.38%
    DALLAS 30.71% 50.88%
    STONES 30.64% 30.70%
    CANCELO 26.95% 26.83%
    CRESSWELL 26.65% 26.12%
    DIAS 25.12% 25.06%
    MCCARTHY 22.91% 47.55%
    ROBERTSON 22.53% 22.46%
    WILSON 19.13% 20.16%
    CHILWELL 17.77% 17.88%
    WATKINS 15.17% 15.91%
    JOHNSTONE 14.77% 17.09%

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

      Thanks Classix, very helpful

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

        Cheers

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

      No KdB is scary lol

      1. The Pesci challenge
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It will be with button in goal

    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why does everyone have Johnstone? Pre covid why?

      1. CRAZY TRAIN
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I bought him in as part of my BB plans a few weeks back, but then C Taylor went and got injured and my BB plans crumbled. Fortunately picked Mendy as my first choice keeper

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

        I already had triple Leeds and triple West Ham so Meslier and Fabianski weren't options, and he was the only other cheap GK with tolerable DGW fixtures apart from McCarthy.

      3. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sat on my bench ready for BB. Not sure why people find this so hard to believe 😀

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

      The amount of people overlooking Sterling really surprises me

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

        Yeab cuz he is such an overpriced fpl asset...apart from his act in the last game hah

    5. CABAYE4
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks - KDB clearly the main threat as a non-owner but EO not as high as could have been

  5. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My workmates are all getting Button points 🙂

  6. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just confirming, every team that reaches the FA Cup QF has a DGW 26, correct?

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

      That the general assumption, but it's far from granted.

  7. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I played Johnstone over Martinez over covid fears lol

    1. notlob legin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Me too !!!

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

        Think we luck out here and get Martinez for a double or will Johnstone turn up next game to ruin it?

        1. notlob legin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          From what I've read Johnstone is 50/50 for the next game

          1. notlob legin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            But we still don't know if Martinez was affected

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

              Then worst case scenario is 0

              1. notlob legin
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                LOL - I'm sure others will have similar problems. GL for the week

        2. The Pesci challenge
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Surely it depends when he had his test back as it’s 10 days after the test so he should miss it?

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

    Fingers crossed KDB still gets a DGW with Covid in the WBA camp.

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

      City don't play wba in the double

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

      That's GW 20.

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

      They play Palace and Villa though?

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

      KDB playing Palace and Villa

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

      Sorry, I clicked ahead a GW.

  9. Mr. Funny Name
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Johnstone and furlong here f*cken hell

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

    Cup opponent wildcarded and captained Soucek. Huge respect.

    1. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ha!

        Huge respect tbh. Fair play

      • Reg Grapes
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I planned for it and TCed him!

        1. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Wow 😆

            Respect!

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

          I can only fathom this for a few edge cases...

          - wanted two home games and didn't want LEI long term, and couldn't afford LIV?

          - wanted a captain the opponent would NEVER select, so there's as much different between the two teams as possible, given teams have been pretty similar in the last two weeks?

      • diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Big Sam only got one piece of his January transfer window plan in, being Snodgrass. Still missing the CB, DM, and FW. Although Snodgrass' set pieces to Ajayi will be interesting.

      • JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Combined top10k ownership of Trent and Robbo at 25% wow.

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

          Low ownership, points potential, DGW and big differential in my MLs. Couldn't get rid of Robbo this week for a hit, even if it meant no KDB

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

          Combined Stones Cancelo 6%

      • Dion D's Solo Shower
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I pressed the "Make transfers" button too late... Don't know why I stalled, I just kept fiddlin' around with the options.

        Wanted to do Tierney + Son + Adams --> Ogbonna + KdB + Antonio (-8)

        Ended up with Bruno as (C) as well.

        How much is this going to cost me?

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Well at least you gain an FT

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

          Your sanity

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

          You might very well earn a lot of points on that missed move

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

        ML rival TCd KDB and has no Salah, I Cd Salah and have no KDB. Feels quite exciting after 5 weeks of picking the same captain as each other

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

        No one watch that WBA game, dont do it to yourself, football starts at 1500

        1. Booked4Dissent
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Lol! 😀

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

        Anyone fancy a WBA upset?

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

          I hope they get destroyed for not disclosing the Johnstone news.

          1. Pep bites Kun
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            +1

            1. Booked4Dissent
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              +1

      • threeputt
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Only reason I didn't tc KdB is because of managed minutes or a complete rest in one of the 2, it was a close run thing but I figured there might be other oppos

        Sensible ?

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

          I did the same. Might be wrong, but the packed schedule along with the UK being around peak coronavirus just made me think now is not the time for chips.

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

            My eventual sentiments precisely

      • 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?

        1. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Even

          • F_Ivanovic
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            you've posted this twice...

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

          With Johnstone out with the Rona I have now lost interest in this game

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

          A. Wilson
          B. Bamford

          1. L'Aeroplanino
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Bam

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

            B, but Wilson is hugely underrated on here.

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

              I think its more he plays for Newcastle who play 9 at the back

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

                True, but that makes his goal involvement % and baps potential massive. Nobody seems to acknowledge that he's matching Bamford for points per game, and was ahead of him not long ago.

        4. L'Aeroplanino
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Assume Wolves will have overwhelming support here for this game.

          1. Pep bites Kun
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I wish Brom much success in the Championship

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

          Just my 2 cents on Johnstone, I think he plays next game.

          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. (You have to wait 10 days to play a game in the prem after testing positive in which he will qualify)

          The only way I'm wrong here is if he tested Positive AFTER the Fa cup game, but the chances of that are unlikely as I doubt he wouldn't have been left out all together from the squad if that was the case.

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

          Button save

        7. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            A lot of people benched Bamford this gw.

            That could bite their bum

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

              I played BB just for him

            2. Booked4Dissent
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              I benched Justin over Bamford. Was not the easiest decision and may regret.

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

            Button gets his first save...

          • boombaba
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            If you don’t need surgery on your team is getting players in from teams that have DGWs to come the best thing to do ?

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

              who has doubles coming and when?

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

                No idea when but could start from GW24 ...
                Many teams will have them

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

                  Gradually bring them in yea as long as good players and when fixtures indicate best time to do it.

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

                    Bare in mind though COVID screwing plans or fixtures being called off. Like what happened with Leeds and Saints. Best bet is to ensure you have two fts on the final week before the double so you can leave at least two moves until the last minute

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

                      True thanks

          • DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Bye Wolves cleanie

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

            Saiss 15-pointer is going to come one week late.

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

              Going to need goals and assists to do it then.

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

              Haha. Jinxed it, nice.

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

            Checked my ML only one KdB capper and one tripler (my daughter!). All sorts going on someone has Son on their bench, someone capped Soucek!

            Now it turns out Button is playing so I might have been able to play BB after all!

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

            Pereira goal