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. FantasyHero
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Gundo, Bruno, maguire -> willock, kdb, Dallas
    So far so good

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

      Nice moves

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

      Thanks

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Wow! Well played

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

      great!

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

      Well wel played

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

    Liverpool need Jota asap

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      For Mane, hopefully

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

        No

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

    Robertson smh

  4. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Willock G, ML rival strikes first. Crazy that Kane and Son have been my differentials recently and ranked my rank.

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tanked.

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

    Rival brings in Willock, scores four in a row, loses me my mini league...

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      See above lol

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

      Good manager picks a good fantasy player. News at 10.

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

      Yep, same, casuals win again

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

    I think it's fair Liverpool to miss top 4 and Chelsea and Leicester to make it

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

      Chelsea will draw and both pool and Leicester will win

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      That would be great

  7. Gearoid
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Too late to join the Willock bandwagon!!!

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

    I think Vardy is my most hated player this season

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

      Soucek*

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

    Burnley concedes

  10. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    So GW38 is the worst week to bench boost

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

      Yep

    2. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Why?

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

        Very low chance of CS

    3. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      One thing you can usually be certain about on the last day is the uncertainty.

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

    Mcgoldrickkk scenes

  12. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I really couldn't care less about Martin Bashir but the fact that the BBC don't bother to actually update their 'as it stands' table is enough for me to stop paying a licence fee.

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

      Their live coverage page of a game is terrible as well.

      Goal is scored.
      ...
      ...
      ...
      10 minutes later
      BBC: Goal

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

      It's working for me?

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

    Ward Prouse to Willock already done with my FT!

  14. Mighty Banana
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Despite a 70point lead in my ML, I'm still bricking it.

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

      You need to leave

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

      Relax 30 is hardly achievable at the mo

  15. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Makes me miss the Saturday three o'clockers this.

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Same

  16. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Martinez masterclass to salvage Bamford-gate fiasco

  17. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    JOE WILLOCK - WHAT A BARGAIN!

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

    Cmon.... players

  19. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    30mins, no points 🙂

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

      BEt you have 10

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

    West Ham blowing bubbles...

    Goal.

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

      Please be Ant man

      1. Sam (Team Sam)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Fornals

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

    Should have started Martinez

  22. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pep needs to play Kun, what a send off being able to feast on this tragic Everton side.

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

      He will.

      Half time??

      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Fingers crossed.

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

    Willock 13m next season

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

    Bring Jota in for Firmino, shift Salah central

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

    Hammers goal

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

      JLingz ??

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Pablo formals?

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

    Come on Fudgy!!

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

    FFS who got the West Ham goal?

    1. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Fornals

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

      Fornals

  28. dansmusen
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Elanga is born in the same city as Zlatan...just sayin

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

    Who assisted that fornals goal ?

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

    Dammit, needed Lingard or Antonio on that...