Dugout Discussion

Cooper return sees Struijk drop to Leeds bench for Yorkshire derby

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has made just one change to his side for the Gameweek 30 meeting with Sheffield United.

Captain Liam Cooper (£4.3m) returns to the starting XI for the first time since Gameweek 27, named alongside Diego Llorente (£4.4m) at centre-back.

With Kalvin Phillips (£4.9m) reestablished in midfield following a positive international break, there is no place in the team for Pascal Struijk (£4.0m).

The budget defender drops to the bench for the first time since Gameweek 14, having only missed the Gameweek 27 defeat at West Ham through injury.

That will be of some disappointment to Struijk’s 5.6% ownership considering Leeds’ latest opponents Sheffield United are the Premier League’s worst goal-scoring side on the road this season.

In 14 away matches, they have found the net just six times, working out at 0.4 per game.

Stuart Dallas (£5.1m) will be relishing this afternoon’s encounter though, considering more time on the bench for Mateusz Klich (£5.2m) should make for another outing at central midfield alongside Tyler Roberts (£4.6m).

The 13 goals conceded by Sheffield United in their last six matches has put some of the Fantasy focus on Raphinha (£5.7m) and Patrick Bamford (£6.7m) this afternoon.

They are the differential captains among the top 10,000 Fantasy managers for Gameweek 30, earning the backing of 3.6% and 3.2% at that level respectively.

Gameweek 30 Line-ups

Leeds United XI: Meslier; Alioski, Cooper, Llorente, Ayling; K Phillips; Harrison, Dallas, Roberts, Raphinha; Bamford.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale; Stevens, Jagielka, Bogle; Osborn, Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram, Baldock; McBurnie, McGoldrick.

Gameweek 30 so far…

West Bromwich Albion executed a shock win at Stamford Bridge in the lunch-time kick-off, making a mockery of recent claims about the Chelsea defence.

Matheus Pereira (£5.3m) and Callum Robinson (£5.2m) both found the net twice in a shock 5-2 win, Thomas Tuchel’s first Premier League defeat after a streak of two goals conceded in 10 matches.

The Baggies were helped by a sending off for Thiago Silva (£5.6m) in the first half but were arguably the better side throughout.

There was mixed emotions for those invested in Chelsea, whose line-ups are increasingly becoming as hard to predict as Manchester City’s.

Antonio Rüdiger (£4.7m) was benched for the second time in three Gameweeks and remained there for the duration while Mason Mount (£ was also among the substitutes, although the midfielder came on to grab a second-half goal.

While Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) beat the Tuchel Tombola as predicted, he ended the afternoon with just three points.

He did add plenty of attacking threat, hitting the post twice and coming away with an assist but he lost two points due to the number of goals Chelsea conceded.

Provisional bonus points

  • 3 – Matheus Pereira
  • 2 – Callum Robinson
  • 1 – Mbaye Diagne

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767 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Lads, do we expect Gundo and Cancelo to get bench cameos?

    1. MMN
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Gundo 50/50 for me but Cancelo unlikely I would have thought.

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Looks like I might need them!

    3. NIGHTHIKER - I Kane, I Shaw…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      I really hope Gundo doesn't come on, my bench replacement for him would be Mateus Pereira ...

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Pereira? Wow, nervous 120 minutes for you then

      2. DycheDycheBaby
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Omg. Best of luck to you

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Depending on how the game plays out.

      2-2 or 3-3?

  2. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    The pain is almost over

  3. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Raphinha to Salah or KDB?

  4. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Blow the whistle already

  5. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Koch replacement

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Cucumber.

  6. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Frustrating watch captaining Raphinha. He plays the right pass to his teammates almost every time.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Wow, losing a bonus point too. Ugh.

  7. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    I thought Sheffield have given up, but I overestimated Leeds.

  8. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    23 shots and only 2 goals, what is this sorcery

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      About right for Leeds.

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Is it finished?

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Done and dusted Dan

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Phew. That was painful to watch as a non-Leeds owner. Now bring on the games

  10. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    What was that

  11. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Entertaining, yet extremely painful watch with quadruple Leeds.

  12. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Raphinha will haul next week when the weak in faith will have binned. Been here so many times and seen it so many times.

    1. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Cool

  13. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Bought Rudiger this week to avoid only having 2 defenders and it’s still happened lol.
    Oh well I guess many in the same boat.

    Can’t wait to sell Cancelo next week!

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      forgot to mention -4 😉

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Yeah that as well and selling Pereira lol

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Cancelo upside against Leeds is huge. I think Mendy won't start that one.

  14. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Final Whistle done.

    Phew, this was a painful watch with having 0 Leeds in my team.

  15. Vamos Los Celeste
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    No more Sofa for today.
    0 from 0.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Just setting up behind mine. 17 from 5. None to come.

      1. Vamos Los Celeste
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Raph C Bam Dallas Alonso?

  16. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Congrats to Kane/Bruno cappers.

  17. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Gundo to come from the bench and score as Mount did?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      DCL?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        DCL: double-digit score for sure imo

  18. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    FT

  19. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    I think Raphinha just got knocked out of the bonus right at the end. Really annoying.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      1 pt makes that much of a difference?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        2 for me.

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Salt in the wound

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Captain Ramsdale may have been the call I guess - how many save points does he get for 7 saves?

  20. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Its been a frustrating watch for Raphinha cappers. It was looking so promising after his assist the way Leeds were playing but Leeds attacks really seemed to fizzle out after that. A pretty disappointing 5pt game.

  21. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Would you transfer Bamford out for iheanacho?

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      In a heartbeat.

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Just did it

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 22 days ago

        Injury/red card incoming

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Before 11 am!

    4. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Maybe. Or Laca because I have the extra cash

  22. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Raphinha owner but I love that last minute bap loss. Rival capped.

  23. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Right so does this mean 0 leeds players on WC this week then?

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Probably. Got to attack the fixtures.

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Well it's Raph or none , would like to see how they play next before leaving Raph out

  24. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Decent bench required this season because of the fixture schedule. Will be back to normal (hopefully) next season.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      That's not the sort of thing you can link before Spurs have even played.

  25. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    My mini league casual rivals who have done little planning and dont own any Leeds players really dodging a bullet. So annoying.

  26. FPL Alaska
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Ouch on the lost Raph BAP at the end there.

  27. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Rudiger and Cancelo starting for my team and Gundo and DIas are on my bench. Have Bale starting too.

    I really don't have a clue for what to cheer, such a roller coaster

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      Lucky to field 11 players this week mate

  28. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    Bamford Raphinha and Dallas for a total of 9 pts home at Sheffield. Well we, non Leeds owners did survive

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 22 days ago

      wd Dan

  29. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 22 days ago

    looks like Tuchel's winning coach of the month was just a jinx to the unbeaten ran.