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. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Swapped Allison for Sam Johnston just before the deadline...but thankfully also brought Button in instead of BPF!! 😀

  2. Kane and Ablett
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Typical Big Sam withholding the Johnstone news until after the FPL deadline....still at least I won’t be distracted by BB and FH again this season

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

      I beg and I beg but the big man still withholding the johnstone 🙁

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        The thought of Big Fat Sam taking his Johnstone out is enough to hurl...

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

          That's right, Sam, keep it in 😉

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

      Typical?.......no obligation to reveal player names

  3. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dedoncker looking decent

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

    which keeper would you keep (pardon the pun )

    a pope
    b areola

    thanks

    1. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Pope

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

        thanks hippo. just noticed fulham have 2 extra games so might keep areola. cheers anyway 🙂

    2. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Pope if you don't need the extra money, Areola if you do.

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

        thanks.

  5. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lovely, I've gone points ahead of my rival Magnus! He's TCed Mo and has a great team so it's scary.

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

    Bald Johnstone getting save points...

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

    Dendoncker TC Button this week

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

    Hi guys,

    Who comes in for Martinez if he doesn't play, Steer or Heaton?

  9. Samwise
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    what's the chance of southampton's game being called off? or Mccarthay not playing?

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

      Former none

      Latter very little

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

      🙁

  10. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    17 mins in and Button on 3 saves already.

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

      Played Meslier over him, rookie mistake

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

        I ain’t a rookie and it caught me out. Also stuck with Meslier’s one game later.

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

        Please be sarcasm

    2. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      As a Johnston owner don't need hear updates like this thank you

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

      Then it's inevitable he conceeds then

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

    Jimenez is injured...
    Traore didn't get the memo.

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

      Not watching but are wolves still trying the same tedious tactic of crossing the ball?

      Nuno is so 1 dimensional

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

        Yup, Traore keeps wipping them in when there's no one there.

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

          *whipping

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

        His best player is injured. They sold their next best attacking player. Their attack is limited. What tactics would you suggest?

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

          Id change the formation and go 2 up top. It might not work but what theyre doing atm isnt working either

          Trying the same thing over and over agaain when its clearly not working isnt the answer surely

          1. GreennRed
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Worth a try but it surprises me that some coaches still underestimate Allardyce's ability to coach a team into dogged defending and counter attack. He's not won anything but scraped a lot of teams away from the trapdoor and still, statistically, England's best manager 😉

  12. Ninja Škrtel
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I captained Soucek and if he gives a big haul i guess you can call it....

    The Saucek Redemption.

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

      Good team name

      1. Ninja Škrtel
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        yeah that's my team name for next season.

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

      Quality 🙂

  13. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FFS played Bench Boost and took a hit for Johnstone to give me 2 playing keepers. Thought worst case was break even. Aargh.

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

      Did the same. Couldn’t believe my luck when I saw the line ups. Just going from bad to worse this season. Suffered postponements a fair bit of postponements post deadlines as well

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

      And it was Button I got rid of.

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

        thats just rough

  14. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Like many I had transferred in Johnstone and did the BB.
    Luck is just going from bad to worse.
    Martinez the other keeper.
    Will be hard to recover from this in my ML.

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

      Playing BB during peak corona of the football season and it not paying off isnt down to luck

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

        People said that last week about me playing wild card.

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

          Did u play BB this week?

          I dont see how playing wc was a bad idea as its not just a 1 week thing

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

            I did that too.

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

        A starting keeper, the teams best player this season not starting with no indication beforehand that he wouldn’t.. that is unlucky.

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

      Especially with Button playing so well in this match.

  15. Sif
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Button starts?!
    Sorry late to the party. Would have played the BB if this was known in advance.

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

      You mean you would have pressed the button?

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

        [clap clap clap]

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

      Yes Button starts. Many p*ssed gaffers me included.

    3. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same mate, same.... *sigh*

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

    Button 11 pointer incoming

  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    well done pereira triple cappers

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I sold him for Foden. Them's the breaks

  18. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Should I have known Button was going to start!? Damn just bad luck surely but one player in my team I was unhappy with this week was Meslier and Button is sat on my bench! Great

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

      You shouldn't. Post deadline

  19. kennethrhcp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Johnstone had covid long?

    Make the 2and game?

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

      Possibility yes

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

      1and2and3and1and2and3and

      The Covid Waltz

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

        Haha

    3. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeh, that's being suggested.

      With 2 surprise covid cases in the first game, I wonder how many similarly unpleasant surprises we're in for this long GW.

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

        scary prospect !!

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

        Shur something was bound to go wrong

    4. PlayPercentage
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not if Button keeps a clean sheet.

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

        Trie

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

          True

  20. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mcarthy snd Vardy start tonight ?

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

      Vardy, surely.
      McCarthy, probably.

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

      My guess is yes

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I hope so as just bought in Vardy for a hit !!!

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

          Me too

  21. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Fabio Silva looks like young David Luiz

  22. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just in. Finally some luck in this nightmare season. Looking like a haul from Johnstone if WestB keep CS. So happy I BB.

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

      But button on the sheet

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

        Delete team....

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

      🙁

  23. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Played BB so hope Johnstone only misses today

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

      gl

  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Button looking like prime neuer

  25. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Really ? Johnstone really mate ....

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

    Why did Wolves buy Silva if they are just gonna cross pointless long balls to him?

  27. Mane Mane Mane
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My luck this season ha been so bad, played bench boost and brought in Johnstone for a hit or be

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

      very bad luck

  28. V-2 Schneiderlin
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    ‘a friend’ of mine, on a FH went with Johnstone and a non playing (4m) keeper to save money - stoopid

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

      why stupid ?

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

    Just to 100% confirm. Is the yellow card cut off, at game week 19, or once a club has played 19 games?

    1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Once the club has played 19

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

        It makes the most sense. Thought as much

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

      club played 19

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

        Thanks bud. Seems obvious.

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

      Halfway through, so after this game

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

        Cheers

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

    It seems like I'm the only one that not only hasn't taken a hit this week but didn't do any transfers at all. With the current situation, it feels good to have 2 free transfers in my pocket for next gameweek.

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

      Fair play. I took only -4, see so many of my rivals at -8 and -12. I also didn't use any chips this week and feel like one of the only ones!

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

      same here 🙂 only now I struggle to decide what to do with my transfer...