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. Rochdale_Cowboy
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What a story, 1 month out then a goal and an assist against their fiercest rivals..... Its like a script from BOLYWOOD

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

      Very good

    2. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      After giving away the pen...

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

      Aw yeah

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

    Out of darkness cometh light out of Sandwell cometh shite.

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

      Hahaha I did my teacher training in Sandwell

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

        I feel for you.

    2. GREEN JUMPERS
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Once got off at the Sandwell and Dudley train station on my way to Dudley. Nowhere near bloody Dudley.

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

    So it looks like Salah (C) let alone TC is a differential in my MLs

    Salah TC get me some points!!

  4. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    As we can see Johnstone absence is not very dramatic

    ..

  5. Bennyboy1907
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ozil welcome to fenerbahce

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

      Is that a fact? Best for everyone involved. So long Ozil, shame it ended this way.

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

        Yeah

      2. Party time
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah, one of the best to wear an Arsenal shirt. It’s a shame some arsenal fans do not recognise that as well.

          Too bad it ended that way but he is going to a place where he will be well appreciated

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

        Good player, wrong fit. What's his weekly btw - anywhere near 350k?

      4. Bennyboy1907
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He’s gettin around 5 mil euro a year idk how much weekly

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

        His debut away to Sunderland feels like it was yesterday.. the deadline day we signed him won’t be topped in terms of excitement for a signing. Shall miss him.

        1. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I remember that game away at Sunderland. Assist to Giroud I think.

            That deadline day transfer was the best imo

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

        Wow... WBA are woefully bad, how Liverpool didn't destroy them is beyond me.

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

          Drew with Man City too

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

            Yeah forgot about that, when Bilic got fired straight after. Such a weird team.

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

              not weird they can spoil the game and thats all they are good for if they have no desire to play or attempt to win they can hold out but as soon as they have to actually attempt to play they get spanked, useless team should not be in this league

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

                Yeah good description of them tbf.

      7. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Boly will outscore many DGWers

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

          Easily. Not a hot take.

        2. Cilly Bonnolly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Could have used that information this morning.

        3. Yes Ndidi
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          You say that now.....

      8. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Rival buys Fabio Silva on WC, who has 1 attacking return all season. Scores immediately.

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

          Rival has Silva and C Robinson

        2. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Classic, best part will be be only got him as an autopick while short on funds

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

            That’s utterly nuts.

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

              Nuts is his middle name

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

                Fábio Daniel Nuts Soares Silva?

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

          Cup rival must have been desperate to stay the cup - played BB with Martin, Joelinton, Kilman and Brewster

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

            Brewster master class incoming

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

          as a Johnstone owner, i don't think i want him to play against West Ham now!

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

            He won't

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

          Johnstone being out might actually save us some points.

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

            Only if Button goes negative...

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

            Not necessarily. Johnstone is a great keeper and makes lots of saves. They may even not have conceded many of at all had he been playing.

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

          Please start flappy

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

            who's flappy

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

              Flappyhandski

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

                ahh! ty

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

            Flappy-handski?

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

              Yep - loves the soviets

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

            2 really nice fixtures. Best dgw of the season for a team in form

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

          PSA - refreshing the 'updating' screen after the game has updated does not load the updating screen. Keep up with the times, ya'll.

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

          Hahaha, whilst you all scrambled for dgw'ers I got Wily Boly

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

            Lies

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

              Let the pain out

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

                LOUD NOISES!

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

                Luck or skill - i.e. planned? Congrats btw!

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

                  Its lies of course

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

                    oh ffs 🙂

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

              🙂 hahaa

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

            Well done

        9. Bench-Life
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Allardyce drinking pints of wine at half-time

        10. EWH2020
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Feels like my whole season hinges on whether KDB explodes. I haven't even picked him.

          My whole ML has him as TC

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

          “Traore has got afterburners” such an Alan Partridge esque sports commentator

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

            Foot like a traction engine

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

              Liquid football!

          2. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            that…was a goal

          3. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            and

            liquid football

            of course

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

          Boly Wolves best defender last season, glad he's back and firing. Should never have been dropped by Nuno

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

            Was he dropped or just injured?

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

              Wolves fixtures ropey for quite a while but will bring in at least one defender around GW30

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

              Oh my bad, must have been thinking of the other defenders

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

            Never dropped

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

          My cup opponent has Salah third on bench.

          Okay this will be an easy one.

          Onto round 4!

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

            Do you realise what you’ve just done?

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

              I'm stupid. I looked at the cup opponent of an other player in my ML, thinking his opponent was mine.

              Lmao.

              Karma it is.

              But still my cup opponent team is a mess.

              Onto round 4 anyway!

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

            Link?
            Did he play bb

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

              He did not!

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

            My cup rival has TC Rashford. BOLD! Haha

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

          Not doing Wood to Antonio looking really bad right now

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

            Why ?

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

              Button in goal for West Brom. He's horrendous

          2. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Bit early to say, I'd say

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

            Why wouldn't you do that

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

              It was for a -4 and my hits always back fire

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

            Would make sense for Moyes to rest Antonio for the WBA match

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

              I doubt it but one can hope as a non owner

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

            It's OK, Moyes knows that he can rest Antonio against this sh*te.

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

          Laca to Werner next week ? Chelsea got a decent little run

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

            See how he gets on this DGW need confidence to stop snatching at chances

          2. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            As a team, maybe, let's see how they do this week
            Werner, probably not

        16. beetlejuice
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Can anyone share the link for Professional Watch or something that one fella is posting every game week?
          Thanks

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

            Its a comment

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

              If you pick "rating" over date on this article you'll find it.

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

                thanks a lot, i was not aware of that feature!

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

          Jammy Johnstone owners getting saved from minus points

          1. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Full gamut of emotions in the few hours I've owned Johnstone. Addictive stuff.

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

          All KDB cappers in my ML, except me! This is scary.

          1. aleksaa2
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            you went with Salah?

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

              Yes!

              1. aleksaa2
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                It's a coin toss, you're fine.

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

                  Hopefully!

          2. EWH2020
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Everyone in my ML has TC KDB I don't even own.

            If KDB does anything I'm dead

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

              Wow! That can get ugly. Who is your captain?

              1. EWH2020
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Salah

        19. No Kane No Gain
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Definitely not a saiss assist?!

          (Refreshing page constantly waiting for 3 extra points)

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

          Little concerned on not having Soucek or Antonio on FH now

          Hopefully Coufal and Cresswell assist all the goals

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

            I have Soucek and Antonio, but I wouldn’t worry if I didn’t own. West Ham will probably only score 2 or 3 max over the two fixtures.

          2. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Soucek is ultimately the answer to all FPL questions

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

              What about life questions? The deeper meaning of the world around us?

              Perplexing.

              1. Fulchester's New Centr…
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Those too. Even ethical questions: "What would Soucek do?"

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

            Defence is where its at, although I have had Soucek from GW1. Double defence for my BB this week.

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

              Hope you're right, a double CS would be an absolute dream.

        21. Tiki-Taka
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Waking up with regret and not using TC this week (still have BB and WC). Will there be other good double opportunities to use both BB and TC?

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

            There will be other opportunities

          2. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            There will be other doubles. Will they be good? Who can say.

            1. Tiki-Taka
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              yep, kind of rolling the dice on a future DGW. just had a gut feeling not to TC this week, will see how it plays out

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

            Should be plenty more DGWs

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

            Yes

          5. Tiki-Taka
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            appreciate the reassurance guys! pretty happy with my XI this week so hoping it can keep some kind of pace

          6. thegaffer82
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Wait for the KDB resting, continued Salah blanks and Bruno getting a yellow card against Pool. Then you will know!

            1. Tiki-Taka
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              this honestly sums up my logic at not using it, ended up (C) Salah. unsure of KDB rest and city are picking up pts but still don't look anything like last few years (right now), and yeah I didn't want to risk Salah with current Liverpool form and a potentially tough United game

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

            Think there will be plenty of opportunities with the amount of postponements already. DGW 26 should be pretty good too.

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

          Cresswell captainers rejoicing, his set pieces should fall straight on to Soucek's head

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

            Feeling really good about fab, coufal souceck triple up so it’ll probably be a disaster

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

          Did saiss get a touch for bolys goal?

          Likely to be given or not? Hard to see on the angle I saw.

        24. thegaffer82
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Can I just get an idea from the community of how my gameweek is going so far...

          Is 0pts from 0 players any good at this stage? Is a DGW fail yet?

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

            Season over. See you in 21/22.

          2. aleksaa2
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            I have Justin Salah (C) and Vardy
            my cup rival has Kane KDB (C) and Taa
            What do you reckon?

            1. thegaffer82
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Honestly feck knows!