Dugout Discussion

Rodgers’ quotes on Perez and Maddison absences as Antonio misses out

There are notable absences on either side as high-flying West Ham United and Leicester City meet in east London this afternoon.

Kick off at the London Stadium is at 14:05 BST.

The non-availability of Michail Antonio (£6.6m) had been heavily signposted in David Moyes’ pre-match press conference, with the striker missing as expected today.

His place in the Hammers’ attack is taken by Jarrod Bowen (£5.9m), with the hosts otherwise unchanged from the 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and still without the sidelined Declan Rice (£4.7m).

As for Leicester, Brendan Rodgers has made two changes to the side that started last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City.

Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) and Dennis Praet (£5.2m) are recalled, with Marc Albrighton(£5.2m) and Ayoze Perez (£6.0m) making way.

Perez isn’t in the matchday squad and neither is James Maddison (£7.2m), with unconfirmed rumours alleging that the pair – along with Hamza Choudhury (£4.6m) – are absent for disciplinary reasons.

Rodgers poured more fuel onto that fire ahead of kick-off when guaranteeing their availability for next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final:

They’re not available for this game, but after this game, they’ll be fine. They’ll join the group next week and be ready for next week’s semi-final.

Two of the three most-bought players of Gameweek 31 feature in this match, with Jesse Lingard (£6.4m) and Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.9m) both heavily transferred in ahead of Friday’s deadline.


West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell, Soucek, Noble, Fornals, Lingard, Masuaku, Bowen.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Amartey, Evans, Fofana, Pereira, Tielemans, Ndidi, Castagne, Praet, Iheanacho, Vardy.


GAMEWEEK 31 SO FAR…

Nick Pope (£5.5m) was absent from the Burnley squad on Sunday as the Clarets made it six matches without a clean sheet when succumbing to a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.

Sean Dyche said of the England international:

We don’t think it’s too serious. He’s just not made today.

The partnership between budget forwards Chris Wood (£6.3m) and Matej Vydra (£4.8m) continues to reap points in Fantasy Premier League, with the former assisting the latter for the game’s opener.

Wood has five FPL attacking returns in his last four outings, with Vydra registering three goals and an assist in his five most-recent appearances.

Newcastle were, as they so often have been without their first-choice attack, ineffective until the second-half introduction of the fit-again Callum Wilson (£6.5m) and Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m).

It was the Frenchman who turned the game on its head, first teeing up wing-back Jacob Murphy (£4.9m) for the equaliser before grabbing the winner with a fine solo goal.

1,144 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jessie Lingard has turned into an absolute freak

  2. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What a Jesse !

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

    I wonder if Southgate will drive over to Tottenham to watch that game too.

  4. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lingard the new FPL Gundo

  5. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Coufal, Dallas, Watkins....

    All gone on WC 🙁

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes, I think you an I are just two of many who did this in their WC ... the rough with the smooth ...

  6. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lingard is the biggest hack in football. Absolute joke

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Is this Roy Keane?

  7. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gotta swallow my pride and get Lingardinho

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Boat sailed long ago

      1. Neo-Viper
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I tend to disagree. Hammers still playing good without Anto and Declan and Liggu firing all cylinders!!

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          A lucky goal that goes in 1 time out of 20... wouldn’t call that good

          1. Neo-Viper
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Did you see the goal? a proper built up that! Won't call it lucky, far from it!

  8. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Why is this fraud Mike (every foul is a yellow card) Dean still being allowed to officiate games?

  9. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Has Vardy touched the ball yet?

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Probably not 🙁

  10. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Coufal and Cresswell are like TAA and Robbo.. Pick one and the other gets attacking returns and vice versa.

    1. dansmusen
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sold Coufal and got Creswell when the tid turned of course

  11. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jlingz with 7G 4A in 9 games from 3.90 XG

    Oooof

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      *3.90 XGI

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      And that’s why I’ll never bring the coward in

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Son-esque

  12. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    These shots have to stop going in at some stage 😀

  13. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Since owning Creswell he went from top scoring defender to worst I reckon.

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      This, swapped for Coufal ouch

    2. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same....

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      🙂

      Got him in for a hit from Digne who I also got for a hit. It's another binary score this week of course

      1-0-1-?

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        At this stage Id gladly take a 1!

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

      Well cheers for that.

  14. Superflymonk
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Feels good owning Lingard. Sorry for saying this will end in 0-0. (shameless anti jinx worked brilliantly)

  15. Parsnips
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best 6.0 and under defender to buy?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Rudiger, Phillips.

    2. MrZ
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Alonso.
      If used properly can get you bench points.

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lingz 8 weeks ago

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Do you want Cresswell? Happy just to give him to you

  16. Party time
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lingard!!! 😆

    • Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      two fringe players and both on form
      Lingz 1 Nacho 0

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I’d like a 2-2 FT

    • FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Coufal Dallas Bamford Watkins Martinez

      to

      Fofana Alonso Mendy Brewster Sterling

      What a wildcard 🙁

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

        Basically anyone on wild card has had an awful week. I stopped playing a while ago and my team is beating pretty much anyone on wold card and I’ve only had 3 players play.

        1. dansmusen
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Not true. Three guys chasing me on WC and they all got Trent and Lingard in

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

            Well yeah. Anyone who has wild carded would obviously have those two. But it’s all the Watkins and Dallas transfers out. Shame about your ML but I am not privy to your ongoings. I refer to all the wildcards I’ve seen references on this site.

      2. jwong23
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Unlucky

    • TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bench has more points than my entire team =[

    • JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Brilliant west ham performance with and xg of 0.04

    • Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Coufal was through on goal but his pace caught up with him

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lingard shot but DIDNT score OMG

    • mgilbert86
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Should we be benching Gundo if not selling now? Chance of second half sub really a problem if he doesnt start

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Why hold whilst Champions League and cups play out?

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Mount or Jesse or Pulisic all strong options.

    • Mweene
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sold Cresswell for Coufal because of him moving into the back 3.

      Him and Lingard propelling me back into the top 1k

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Ok

    • Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      OR #6 actually captained Lingard! Fair play

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He's been the obvious pick for a while i thought for double points.

    • Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      For those watching, is the Nacho looking appetizing?

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        More involved than Vardy

    • Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’m bringing him in so sorry I’m advance

    • @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Fair to say Vardy as we knew him is finished?

        1. Digital-Real
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          will still get 10 goals in the league for another season or two

      • JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Let me guess. Lingard had 1 chance all game and he scores because of a ricochet or poor goalkeeping. The lad has destroyed my hopes of a top 10k finish never mind top 5k.

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          You've got 1 free transfer each week, you can change your mind and team.

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

          What’s your reason for not having him though? Just seems bizarre.

          1. JONALDINHO
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Had Antonio and didn’t fancy a double up considering how much he was overperforming and didn’t want to sell Raph.

      • Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nacho has regressed already!!

        1. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I think this is probably my fault for bringing him in ... my stinky jinx has probably ended the lad ...