Dugout Discussion

Injured Antonio fails fitness test as West Ham face bottom-of-the-table Blades

Michail Antonio (£6.6m) misses out through injury as West Ham United take on bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United this evening.

Kick-off in east London is at 18:00 GMT.

“Fatigue” was cited as the reason for the striker’s withdrawal in the goalless draw with Fulham in Gameweek 23 and subsequent absence in the FA Cup fifth round last Tuesday.

But another hamstring problem has put paid to Antonio’s involvement tonight, with David Moyes saying ahead of kick-off:

Angelo Ogbonna (£4.9m) is another injury-related absentee but Issa Diop (£4.3m) is fine to feature despite sustaining a knock to the head last week.

Tomas Soucek (£5.4m) is available for selection this evening, of course, after the Football Association swiftly overturned his red card at Craven Cottage.

Initially ‘red-flagged’ in Fantasy Premier League, the Czech midfielder was sold in considerable numbers in the hours after his dismissal.

Over 370,000 FPL managers offloaded Soucek, making him the most-sold midfielder of Gameweek 24.

Antonio also lost a similar number of owners in the run-up to Saturday’s deadline.

Enda Stevens (£5.0m) and Ben Osborn (£4.7m) return for Sheffield United, with Max Lowe (£4.3m) dropping to the bench and John Fleck (£5.6m) missing out through injury.

Chris Wilder said of Fleck ahead of kick-off:

John, unfortunately, was taken ill on Saturday night, early Sunday morning, so he’s just having tests back in Sheffield. He didn’t make the trip down with us.


West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell, Coufal, Soucek, Rice, Johnson, Lingard, Lanzini, Bowen.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Basham, Egan, Ampadu, Bogle, Lundstram, Norwood, Osborn, Stevens, McGoldrick, Sharp.

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973 Comments Post a Comment
  1. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    LOL flying tackle

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

    SHU determined to give them a pen today

  3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Soucek looking interested

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

      Be just my luck after selling him this week (although it was for Gundogan C)

  4. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cresswell penalty please

  5. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Probably going to bring Ings in for DCL, leaves the following..

    Martinez Areola
    Dallas Cancelo Stones Shaw Lowton
    Salah Bruno Son Gundo Maddison
    Bamford Ings Antonio

    Who to bench is the next question, currently on...
    Areola Stones Lowton Antonio

  6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lingard and rice fighting over the ball

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

      Rice pulled rank

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rice taking

  8. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What on Earth was that tackle lol.

  9. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    JLingz v Rice...Rice wins

  10. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wellp, looks like I'll be rocking a 451 formation this week. Coufal coming in for Antonio.

  11. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Basham by name, Bashem' by nature

  12. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Captain steps up

  13. mattyb09
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Trying to settle a debate...

    Is Kane a "good" passer?

    1. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

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

      Yes

    3. CrouchDown
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      One of the best in the world

    4. MissouriMarten
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Does that settle it?

    5. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Were you debating with yourself?

    6. mattyb09
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Out of 5 of us...2 said no, 3 said yes

    7. Tinkermania
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's subjective. If you asked the question last season or the season before, the answer would be different. I am shocked by the number of assists this season. Could be something to do with Mourinoh. I will say yes based on this season alone. Mind you Son can usually get to a bad pass too as he is quick.

      1. mattyb09
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Assists are more due to your partnership. Son's goal scoring rate is insanely high whenever he has a little space.

    8. Mr. Bean
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      69% pass completion
      72% pass completion opponent's half
      71% pass completion final third

      1. Mr. Bean
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        32 chances created (top among forwards)
        12 big chances created (top among forwards)

    9. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's not just that his % pass rate is OK (maybe not as high as others) but he has fantastic vision for a pure striker. Some of his defence splitting passes are inspired. Yes, he's a good passer of a football.

  14. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How can you give a penalty away like that. Much better to just let Lingard through on goal...

  15. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    LINGARD ASSIST!!!

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

      Rice G

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bad goal for defensive BPS.

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

      Cresswell will find a way to get his obligatory 3

    2. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      SHU defenders were on baps anyway.

  17. Releasebreaks
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any reason to not feel seek? Here Justin, Dias, Mee, Antonio

    Feeling like hard work throw out of window

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wut?

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Had DCL Justin Antonio Dias - got pushed into WC

      The rest would have got me 90 plus after a minus 4

  18. dogtanion
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lingard assist !

  19. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Big Willy owners robbed by Moyes

  20. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wish Lingard had taken it!

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rice interesting option on penalties actually come to think of it

    1. Bounce
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      lol desperation

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

        Ignore me, I thought he was classified as a defender...

    2. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think that's their first pen all season

  22. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope, Johnstone
    Cancelo, Stones, Digne, Coufal, Lowton
    Salah, Son, Bruno, Soucek, Raphinha
    Richarlison, Bamford, Antonio

    What to do here?

    Son + Antonio --> Kane + Gundo for a -4?

  23. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rice is on pens?! Didn’t see that coming

  24. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    People own the wrong West Ham DM...

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      For one penalty a season?

  25. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rice G
    Lingard A

    Its all gone Football Manager 2025...

  26. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it confirm Mee will not play against Fulham >

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

      Yes Dyche confirmed it. Concussion protocol.

  27. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A senseless goal and assist for FPL

  28. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Solid pen by Rice

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Soucek is useless. Czech beanpole never does anything when I play him

    1. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Early doors, mate! What for it...

  30. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Fair play to OR37 with Lingardinho - takes them over 100 points
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/964041/event/24/