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. Hooky
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cross the ball in on the ground Wolves. It's not rocket science

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

    Can't wait to see what other surprises this gameweek has in store for us.

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

      Be amazed if more players don't miss out due to Covid. Of course we won't know until team line-ups announced. Throw in a bit of Pep rotation too!

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

    Snodgrass will be a very good signing for WBA.

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

      indeed, on the pitch and off it too

    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes.

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

      Promising young talent

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

        Haha

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

    Which three to play next week:

    1. Stones (wba)
    2. Cresswell (cpl)
    3. Mitchell (WHU)
    4. Dallas (new)
    5. Justin (Eve)

    Currently have them in that order...

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

      Id play Dallas ahead of Mitchell

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

        Yeah, probably will, just wanted a player at home, rather than all away...

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

          home and away only mean something to pool and united.

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

            Yeah, true and when supporters are allowed in the grounds 😀

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

            And Australians.

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

      Dallas instead of Mitchell for me.

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

        Cheers...

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You are unrelenting!

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

        GW19 is over in my mind.....gotta get on with the next one 😉

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          That inspired me to look at my team too for 20. Looks good. Bruno C most probably.
          1, 2 and 4 there btw!

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

            Yeah C also on Bruno....

  5. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dare say there will be those who transferred button out for a hit for bench boost.

    1. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I might have been one of them but decided not to use BB. Now he is just languishing on my bench behind McCarthy. 😆

      1. Surfeit of Lampteys
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Vandelay Industries haha

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

    Guys with -12 with no bb or tc and transferring out Kane son raise your hands...

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

      Here. kane and Son to KDB and Vardy (Mcginn and Struijk on the bench to facilitate KDB in)

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

      Hello, that would be me, sir!
      For Mo & Vardy mainly...

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

        And to prevent selling Kane I was about to transfer Fabio Silva... twice... didn’t pull the trigger... guess what! He’s just scored too.

  7. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Oh man, that’s annoying for Johnstone owners, went areola on bb but was looking at the score thinking wish I went Johnstone

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

      I’m consoling myself with the thought that at least I never took a hit to get him as many did, some for Button

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

      Was looking at areola... Then I realised he was a bit of a tit... I'll fetch my coat

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

    Big Sam getting closer to perfecting his bus.

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

    What’s with the Martinez rumours? Is this just on the basis of Villa previous coronavirus outbreak? If so there’s seemingly no basis that he’ll miss the game.

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

    Grosicky, that's a name from the past

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

    Feels like I'm one of the only ones who didn't use a chip this week! Literally all my rivals and anyone in any leagues im in has used either BB or TC. But neither made sense for me, considering how split the cap is between KDB and Salah shows me how it wasn't clear and obvious who the best cap option was, let alone using TC. Need to tick all the boxes and plenty more opportunities. But who else is chipless this week?!

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

      Not only this week. All chips still available here

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

      No chip, no hit this week. Was close to BB but opted to hold

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

      no chip used. but minus 4

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

        Same

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

      One here. Planned bit for possible BB but Leeds game cancellation and other covid news made me to save all chips.

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

      Glad to hear it! Just hoping I keep pace this week and having those chips still in my pocket should pay back in the future

  12. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I want your opinion on whether Mo will be rested vs BUR(H)

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

      Liverpool have had a week off, he won't be rested.

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

      Doesn’t make a difference now. No way to know either.

  13. 1895Reds
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Probably asked loads of times already so apologies but if Johnstone tested positive before the cup game, does he have a chance of playing Tuesday?

  14. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Typical Johnstone on BB, out due to Covid.... Button 10 pts confirmed now just to frustrate Johnstone owners further!

  15. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I'm not going to mock Johnstone owners. Feel like FPL is gonna troll some more before this gameweek is through so don't want karma to bite me in the butt

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

      why would you mock in the first place ?

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

        Plenty already have

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

      I will gladly mock Johnstone owners. Waiting until after you are in the clear yourself is a cowardly move.

      1. Vlekz
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Less cowardly than not linking that team

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

        What do you want the Fpl Nobel peace prize? I'm laughing my co k off at them, and I'll take what ever karma is coming my way!

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

          Hope you don't gave R James - I had to decide between Johnstone+Chilwell or Schmeichel+James - went with the latter

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

      Callum Robinson is going to outscore Antonio, Wilson and Watkins isn't he?

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

        yep

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

      Sam needs a bigger mask

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

        He must be lying - his lips are moving 🙂

    5. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Loads of ML rivals have burned second WC now all for this week. Happy that I've only taken a -4 and well set for the next few weeks now

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

        What's the point margin from top?

        1. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Just over 50

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

            That's doable with good transfers & chip play

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

      I would laugh if West Brom get a clean sheet without Johnstone. Lol

    7. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Nuno is another fraud

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

          Finally ready for my first FEAST this season

          1. Party time
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Yeah, We will feast tonight

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

            Hes the biggest in the PL next to Playmo man Arteta

            1. Party time
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Absolutely. So conservative, he got no balls , always relying on counter. So annoying

          3. Shark Team
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Magnus TC Salah makes me more confident

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

            i know its very early days but do you think its a good idea to start bringing players from teams who have extra fixtures? I could do lowton to a fulham defender for exemple? Have 2 fts so happy to do the move

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

              The whole long-term planning thing isn't going well. Could be a whole load of frogs in a box in a few weeks

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

            Perspective ! Folk just need to accept there are huge slices of luck and bad luck. In the context of a pandemic when folk are passing away, just be thankful football is carrying on and we all have a good distracting game to play !

          6. Blue&White85
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            By 5pm a lot of people will know whether their bench boost has been a success or not.

            I’ve got 3 Leeds on my bench as I’m sure many do.

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

              Part of it

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

            OMG Silva

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

            Johnstone would have saved that

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

            omg silva

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

            Johnstone owners rejoice!

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

            Button CS gone

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

            boly assist