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

    I think it's Liverpools fault Sheff Utd go down !!

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      ?

    2. jesus jesus
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Needed someone to put ball in net and Pool sold them a dud !!

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

      If 20mil Brewster scores 10-15 goals this season they stay up.
      Just needed somebody to stick the ball in the net.

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        10-15 is optimistic

        Maybe 6-8 goals is realistic

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

      It's Liverpool's fault that Wilder hasn't a clue what to do with a decent striker?

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

        Sheff Utd to quick to jump in and buy him - a lot less than 20mil could have got them a top class striker.

  2. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Coufal please hit one

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Of the Shef players?

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

    Soucek sighting!

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Don't give me false hope

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

    Not watching - do SHU look like they think they can score?

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They certainly think they can. Whether or not it's a reasonable belief is open to interpretation.

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

        Haha thanks PR

    2. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They actually had a few chances in the box but they are not good enough to beat Fabianski.

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

    Benching Coufal made a little bearable by his miss

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

      You're not getting him off the bench for Antonio?

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

        Sold Antonio for Ings 🙂

    2. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you bench Coufal against one of the worst attacking teams in the history of football, why do you even own him?

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

        Lowton, Stones, Digne as my back three. But he's coming in for Antonio so . . .

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

        Hahaha your comment is spot on and hilarious 🙂

  6. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Jagielka has literally been playing since i started warching football and im in my mid 20s!

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

      Mark Noble too

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

      Probably had his COVID vaccine already!

    3. Towsor44
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I played against him at school (I'm in my thirties 🙂 )

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

        Was he any good? Always curious how doo these defenders actually were in their school days

        1. Towsor44
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Very, but he played right wing for school! We got thrashed 5-1 by his school in a final one year and I remember having to try marking him. All the really good players at school always played up front.

  7. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Overlooking Creswell and Justin have ruined me this season. Just always delivering

  8. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What do we do with Westham assets going forward.

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

      Gotta buy them all

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

      Selling all three after tonight's disappointment. Maybe even this week and it might be for -8 if I decide to use bb.

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

      Depends what you are doing for GW29. If you're free hitting, sell.

    4. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio will be sold this week. Soucek might follow for Raphinha to come in.

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

      Keeping Cresswell only

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

      Virtually guaranteed next week:

      Goal - ANTONIO
      Assist - SOUCEK

      West Ham 1 - 0 Spurs (5 mins)

      #WHUTOT #FPL

      1. Party time
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Then Antonio will celebrate with his willy

      2. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I'm selling on a WC. Soucek is the only one I'd consider keeping.

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

        Own Antonio Soucek Coufal and probably selling the first two for Leeds players. Prefer Raphinha over Dallas

    7. Better luck next year
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Any news on Gundo? Is he ready for tomorrow?

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

        Ready for the bench sure

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

        No news but the consensus here is that he's unlikely to feature

      3. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pep doing his press conference right now

      4. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Has he been spotted training?

      5. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Calm down. Game isn't on until Wednesday. Nothing you can do for this GW

      6. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Might be ready for Wednesday.

    8. JJO
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This SHU team isnt even a top10 championship team

    9. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Got to love having Soucek on your bench and he blanks

    10. Party time
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cresswell grab a goal

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

          More worried about Sheff scoring

      • Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Goodbye Anontio and Soucek, it's been good at times, frustrating at others.

        1. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Soucek much more frustrating than Antonio

          1. Dirty Harry
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Pretty sure I benched his hauls haha

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

            You'd don't get Bruno for 5.4. He starts, he frequently delivers. Not bad at that price

      • IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Alonso has established himself as first choice under Tuchel. The ultimate differential currently. Let’s go son!

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

          Steady, he didn't start last GW. But I do hope you're right.

          1. WE GO FOR IT
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He's certainly not nailed but if he keeps playing 3atb, Alonso is more suited and will be preferred more ofthen than not.

          2. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Started in the Cup and 2/3 prem fixtures. Chilwell confined to the bench for all but 1 of those matches

            1. IRBOX ⚽
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              There will be rotation but like I said, he is first choice

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

          As I said before, if Tuchel is successful at Chelsea and Alonso becomes a key contributor in that then it ain't going to look good for Lampard

      • Camino Aleatorio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I Still hate Coufal and still hate Antonio

        That will never change

      • MissouriMarten
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Karen Carney doesn't half drone on. Zzzzzzzzz.

      • Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Play Cresswell (TOT) next week? Or bench? 😉

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

          NBNC

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

          Playing

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

            Damn Kaptain, I am bringing in Kane for the London's derby 😆

      • Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Coufal ruined my day:(

      • SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Only just realised Kepa is in goal. Glad I don't own Chelsea defence now.

        1. Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Alonso says hi

      • Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        All this fuss about Coufal, must watch the highlights. I know he hit the bar last week.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          missed a sitter this wk

        2. MagicMessi
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Missed a complete sitter this week

      • Kay317
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cresswell second sub with no chance of coming on is upsetting.

        1. Patson Dabaka
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          How did you not play him at home to Sheffield?

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

            haha this

          2. Kay317
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Scored 94 without him so far. Bamford first sub. Just had a massive bench headache. Played Shaw, Cancelo and Lowton at the back and then couldn't decide whether to play him over grealish or not...in hindsight I should have. Sticking him second on bench was panic from seeing so many say they thought bamford would do the business against arsenal.

            1. Ginkapo FPL
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Feck off. No need for that set up

        2. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          what ?

          SECOND ??

      • Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Kepa an option for a BB GW26?

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

          United & Liverpool, no?

        2. Dirty Harry
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Nothing is an option at Chelsea. Changes like the wind

      • Party time
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Coufal is a poor man’s Cresswell

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

            This.

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

            But cheap.

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

            Pricing is correct then.

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

            Reminds me of KWP

        • Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          At least Cresswell covers that silly Martinez Haul

          Now i can forget about it

        • FER FUSCH AKE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          FT yet?

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

          Cresswell 36
          Rice 33
          Diop 32

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

            BAPs update

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

            Shocking that Flappy isn't there!

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

              True!

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

              If his name was Emi he’d have all 3!

          3. djman102
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He's on 31. One more save puts him in I think.

        • King Carlos
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          "Asst" to Rice's goal?

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

            JLingz

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

            Lingard

            1. King Carlos
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Cheers! The Leg'!

        • JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Why didn’t Lampard play Hudson-Odoi? Genuinely one of Chelsea’s best players. He was always trying to play the other youngsters but never him

          1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Lack of experience?

        • Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Any chance Rudiger makes amend for the own goal and treat us with a brace and cleanie? He has done that before you know.

        • Reddonkeyham 42
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Pope

          Lowton, Stones, Dallas
          Raphina, Gündogan, Fernandes, Salah,
          DCL, Bamford, Antonio

          Marrinez, Forden, Robertson, coufal

          £4.5m itb TC and wildcard left

          Was planning Antonio out for Kane, but now priced out by 0.1. So maybe just Ings? And then dcl to Watkins?

          As always appreciate responses.