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

    Werner I hate you

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

      Okay it was Azpi but still.

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

    Werner offside. At least something makes sense this GW.

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He wasn't offside. Azpi was.

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

    I can’t do this man. My nerves are shot. 😆

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

    Werner has Martinez

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

    Anyone else on 4 screens now.

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

    Werner must have had 5 or 6 disallowed for offside in the past month

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

      Learning that you have to be smarter to score goals in the PL than Bundesliga.

      1. Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Aye, they don't have offside in Germany.

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

    West Brom and Brighton goals would be lovely.

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

    Vardy still only scoring pens lol

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

      He's lolling and lolling!!

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

      Penardy!

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

      He is winning the pens though tbf.

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

        True

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

        by being a cheat and diving?

  9. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ali is rubbish, should have started Bale over him

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

      Mason is clueless

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

        TBF he knows it. Bit of a dead cat move

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

    Kun swansong

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

      Lovely. Hope he scores

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

    Pep has handled Foden’s development beautifully so far

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

      Could have left him on another 5 mins to experience a CS point

  12. Party time
      2 years, 10 months ago

      This gw was sent from hell tbh. Time to smoke it off

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

      How is Aguero supposed to get a hatrick if you don’t play him?

    • sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Rival probably wind unless Che scores so it would be nice if Werner for once in his bloody life scored a legitimate goal that stands!!

    • FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Aguero coming on!!!

    • djman102
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Aguero coming on finally!

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

      Southampton, Chelsea, Burnley, Everton goals needed

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

      Could any one of Trent, Dallas, Lingard, Raphina, Antonio or Wood just do something please!!

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

        Raph has an assist. Dallas/TAA CS

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

          Yeah but my opponent has Phillips and Leeds def so I need my ones to outscore them. Just 3 points between us

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

        About the time Wood comes off

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

      one last dance

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

      Come on Aguero...

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

        £35 million over 10 years play.

    • Jensen Luiz Coleman
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Salah (c) Bamford Antonio fail fail fail.

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

        Same

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

      Is Ferran coming on anytime soon?

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

      Will Torres even come on? Should have done the Bruno to Manè move

    • sminkypinky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kun on for who?

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

        mahrez

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

          Nice!

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

      Would love GI for Antonio Salah Lingard Trent Dallas Coady Aguero....

      Don’t own Aguero, but cmon big guy

    • Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bloody score Chelsea

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

        No

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

        Bring back Lamps

    • Bubz
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I despise pep with every fibre of my being. Put Torres on your absolute twonk

      1. MissouriMarten
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        This. Think I may avoid MCI altogether next season. So so annoying.

    • seewhyaxe
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Antonio no goal no love

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

        🙁

    • Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      What a nervy last 30 minutes!!!

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

        How is it?

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

      About 30 mins for Sergio. One last time.