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

    Yep would be Raphinha wouldn’t it

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

    What a miss Williams. Miss of the season

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Dreadful attempt

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

      Plum Central and High and wide...

  3. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Go on Raph (C)!

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

      No

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

    Siiiick plenty goals and none for my players.

    Of course this is the game Vardy finally returns lol

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

      Scratch that cheers Raph at least

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

    Werner is terible!!!!!

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

      Misses the ball when there is sitter instead of scoring

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      You sound surprised

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        😀

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

      He'll be good next season. First season jitters...

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

      *Weiner

  6. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    The differentials scoring so far - KDB, Vardy, Rodrigo, Elanga, Jesus

    No Salah, Mane, Kane, Iheanacho, etc.

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Absolutely none of my players involved in anything, same as rest of season then

  7. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Palace can sod off.

  8. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Reeve Williams free header big miss

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

    How come Werner is that bad ?

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

    Williams 😆

  11. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Fofail

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

    wtf is that William, should never play football idiot

  13. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Fofana injured.

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

    Liverpool down to 5th as it stands.

  15. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    KDB and Rodrigo transfers doing me proud

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

      Could of told the rest of us

    2. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Well done

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

    I don't get it why Kane doesn't want the Golden booth

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Keep his price down.

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        In real life. Not FPL.

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

      His mind is somewhere else

    3. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He will win enough at city. He isn't worried

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

    KDB haul - surely not many active teams still have him though

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

      Like 0.6% EO

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

      I advised a person away from him on here two days ago. He said he had a feeling De Bruyne would play a big part today. I hope he didn’t listen to me and went with his/her instinct !

  18. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Only 5 goals in 10 games what an absolute joke

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

    Mané setting up Salah again. What is this madness?

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

    As it stands, no CL for Liverpool?

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Knew I should have gone Vardy!

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

    fofana offf

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

      Good for Kane I guess

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

        not sure,mendy is decent

  23. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    KDB (C) was that differential to replace Bruno and win ML...How many made it?

    1. Call Me Old Fashioned
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not me. Wasn't expecting him to play with UCL coming up

  24. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Southampton already 2 BIG BIG chances missed

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

    Newcastle Goal

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

      7 goals in a row for Willock only been done 10 times apparently...

  26. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Salah big chance missed.

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

    Salah selfish, Mane was free for an easy tap in

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

    Please be Willock. Please be Willock...

  29. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Salah big miss

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

    OMG Willock