Dugout Discussion

Bamford, Bale, Aguero and Forster on the bench for Gameweek 38 matches

Patrick Bamford is on the Leeds bench for their Gameweek 38 meeting with West Bromwich Albion.

Ahead of facing the Premier League worst defence this season, Marcelo Bielsa’s number-one forward was the most-bought player for the final round of matches.

But the Leeds boss has taken the return of Leeds fans to a home top-flight game for 17 years to offer farewell starts to Gaetano Berardi and Pablo Hernandez.

The latter starts at number 10, pushing Rodrigo into Bamford’s centre-forward berth with Raphinha and Jack Harrison on the flanks of what appears to be a 3-3-3-1 formation.

As promised, Kiko Casilla starts in goal ahead of Illan Meslier while Fantasy favourite Stuart Dallas keeps his place on the right-hand side of Leeds’ second bank of three.

Ryan Mason’s two alterations are both at the back, with Matt Doherty and Davinson Sanchez in for Japhet Tanganga and Eric Dier.

Gareth Bale is benched again.

If Sergio Aguero is to sign off his Manchester City Premier League career with a goal, he will have to do it from the bench where he is named alongside Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres.

Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden appear to be either side of Gabriel Jesus while Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne look set for slightly deeper midfield roles.

Liverpool are as to be expected with Diogo Jota only fit enough for a bench role and Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah either side of Roberto Firmino in the front-three.

Crystal Palace have opted for a more robust set-up than their usual 4-4-2 set-up in what appears to be a 4-3-3 system featuring Cheikhou Kouyate, Jairo Riedewald and James McCarthy protecting a back-four of Tyrick Mitchell, James Tomkins, Gary Cahill and Joel Ward.

David Moyes has made two changes to the West Ham United side that beat West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

Lukasz Fabianski has passed a late fitness test on a knee injury and replaces Darren Randolph between the posts, while Jarrod Bowen comes in for Said Benrahma down the right flank.

Southampton make five alterations to the team beaten by Leeds United in Gameweek 37.

The return of Danny Ings to the starting XI is the headline news, with Ibrahima Diallo, Nathan Redmond, Takumi Minamino and Jan Bednarek also recalled.

Alex McCarthy keeps his place, with Fraser Forster only along the substitutes.

The injured Che Adams misses out, with Oriol Romeu back on the bench after three months out.

Moussa Djenepo, Theo Walcott, Nathan Tella and Jack Stephens make way.

Dean Smith has named an unchanged team, with Jack Grealish handed another start.

There’s only one tweak to Thomas Tuchel’s line-up, with the injured N’Golo Kante replaced by Mateo Kovacic.

The fit-again Kai Havertz has to make do with a place on the bench.

Arsenal have made two changes to the side that won 3-1 at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka are back in midfield, with Mohamed Elneny and Bukayo Saka dropped.

Brighton also make a pair of alterations.

Lewis Dunk and Leandro Trossard start, with the injured Danny Welbeck and the benched Steven Alzate missing out.

Martin Dubravka, Joe Willock and Allan Saint-Maximin are deemed fit to start for Newcastle, with Sean Longstaff in for the injured Joelinton the only change that Steve Bruce has made.

Alphonse Areola, Mario Lemina and Harrison Reed make way from Scott Parker’s first XI, with Marek Rodak, Kenny Tete and Josh Onomah brought into the fold.

Burnley are in 4-5-1 for their trip toSheffield United, featuring Chris Wood as a lone centre-forward. Ben Mee and Nick Pope both miss out due to injury, replaced by Will Norris and Jimmy Dunne.

As expected, Manchester United are heavily rotated for Gameweek 38. Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are on the bench but Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani are all absent.

Gameweek 38 Line-ups

Arsenal XI: Leno, Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Ødegaard, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Sánchez, White, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Jahanbakhsh, Groß, Bissouma, Trossard, Moder, Mac Allister.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Hause, McGinn, Nakamba, Grealish, Traore, El Ghazi, Watkins.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Rudiger, Silva, Azpilicueta, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount, Werner, Pulisic.

Fulham XI: Rodak, Tete, Ream, Adarabioyo, Bryan, Anguissa, Onomah, Cavaleiro, Carvalho, Lookman, De Cordova-Reid.

Newcastle United XI: Dubravka, Krafth, Fernandez, Dummett, Murphy, Willock, S Longstaff, Shelvey, Ritchie, Almiron, Saint-Maximin.

Leeds United XI: Casilla; Berardi, Cooper, Ayling; Alioski, K Phillips, Dallas; Harrison, Hernández, Raphinha; Rodrigo.

West Bromwich Albion XI: Johnstone; Bartley, Ajayi, O’Shea; C Townsend, Gallagher, Yokuslu, Maitland-Niles, Furlong; M Phillips; Robinson.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Thomas, Fofana, Soyuncu, Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Albrighton, Vardy, Iheanacho.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Doherty, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Winks, Alli, Kane, Son, Bergwijn.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Robertson, N Phillips, R Williams, Alexander-Arnold; Thiago, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Mané, Firmino, Salah.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; Mitchell, Tomkins, Cahill, J Ward; McCarthy, Riedewald, Kouyaté; Zaha, Ayew, Townsend.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Zinchenko, Stones, Dias, Walker; Mahrez, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Foden, Jesus, Sterling.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Godfrey, Keane, Holgate; Doucouré, T Davies, Allan; Sigurdsson; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale; Robinson, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Fleck, Norwood, Osborn, Baldock; Jebbison, McGoldrick.

Burnley XI: Norris; C Taylor, Dunne, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Cork, Westwood, Brownhill, Gudmundsson; Wood.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Bowen, Lingard, Fornals, Antonio.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Salisu, Diallo, Armstrong, Minamino, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Ings.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Boly; Aït-Nouri, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Semedo; F Silva, A Traoré.

Manchester United XI: D Henderson; Telles, Bailly, Tuanzebe, B Williams; Matic, van de Beek; D James, Mata, A Diallo; Elanga.

2,075 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Will United be fined for that team?

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Why should they? Aren’t they all registered players? Why should anyone but the manager get to decide who plays?

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Its not competitive

        1. Cilly Bonnolly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          And yet they’re one up.

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

      10 point deduction

    3. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      It is the law

    4. Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      In that case fine Arsenal.

      They field a useless 11 every week 🙂

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Are you high on drugs?

      Henderson
      Bailly
      Telles
      Van De Beek
      Matic
      Mata
      James
      Diallo
      Williams

      In transfer fees & valuations that’s about €200m’s worth

      Williams & Tuanzebe are prospects

      Jesus Christ

  2. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    “Last day can be mental!” I said. Nearly ten minutes gone and no goals in ten matches. 😆

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Mental

  3. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Being a Zaha owner is a painful vibe.

  4. Sharkytect
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Leeds goal!?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      It was disallowed.

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Who scored it ?

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Harrison goal disallowed

    3. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nope

  5. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    So happy that was disallowed! Phew

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Shush

  6. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is 11 points so far from 11 any good?

    1. Perthite
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Most would have 12

    2. Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Forget to choose a captain? 🙂

      1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Forgot Bamford benched

    3. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Plenty are on less, nobody's on more, that's all that matters.

      1. Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Captaincy notwithstanding

    4. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Better than 9

  7. Perthite
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Selected TC for my team this GW days ago yet it has mysteriously disappeared.

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      You didn’t confirm it then.

  8. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    When was the last GW all games ended 0-0?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      1900

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Never in a full card.

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

      Check the members area. Put your £12.50 to some use

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Never visited the members area 😆

  9. KEN YA DIG IT
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Has Chucky started complaining yet?

  10. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Hate having defensive double ups - can't believe Palace haven't scored yet

  11. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    10 mins 10 games 0 goals

    1. L'Aeroplanino
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      GW fail

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      *12mins

  12. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    All Bruno capers RIP

  13. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Salah with a poor touch

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      And Mané of all people putting him in 😆

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Typical, just typical

  14. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    At this rate I am happy that i went with the 433 formation

  15. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Zaha looks up for this one.

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I sold him and now he's playing through the middle

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    CSs everywhere

  17. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Salah dangerous chance

  18. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chelsea all attacking

  19. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Do something Salah!

  20. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Spurs will concede soon

  21. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    No Greenwood or Shaw hurts. Hope they at least don’t play any part so I can get Watkins and/or Coady from the bench

  22. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    A combined 120 minutes of football played so far & not even a goal FFS

  23. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Saints looking like scoring? Rival with double defense.

  24. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone watching Man City?

    4-3-3 according to SofaScore and Mahrez just crossed to Stones over the bar.

    He's not sitting deep is he?

  25. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who gonna score first Goal ?

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Leeds

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Plot twist: No one.

  26. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Which game gets the first goal?

  27. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best league in the world....

  28. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    No goals after 12 minutes is disappointing

  29. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Man City goal?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      no

  30. Podge
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    KDB goal