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

    What a way to end the season, I’m in ecstasy

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

      Ha well done mate, Aguero and Mane coming good

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

        I can’t get over Mane lol, as if but chuffed with Kun and Bamford

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

      Second half been great!

  2. djman102
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    YES, AGUEROOOOOO!!!!!!! (Sorry late to the party)

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

    Torres was a trap

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

      Yep.

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

    Aguero breaking Rooneys record

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

      Lovely.

      Which one?

      Goals scored.

      Thought he was gunning for Andy Cole with 2 more needed.

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

    Aguero you hero.

    Dammit I wish I punted on him now! Was genuinely considering it

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

    Aguero(c), best last day ever 😀

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

      Well done!!

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

      So happy

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

      Well done!!!

    4. djman102
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Well done!

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

      Noice!

  7. Planet Jo
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Wow - am on 104 pts, must be my best score of the season with maybe more to come?

    1. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      93 before bonus, on BB tho but subs have got the points in too for a change

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

      That’s the money!

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

    Southampton goal losing me my Coufal cleanie and mini league, got to love it

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

      Wiped.

      Dry your eyes!

  9. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mane capitano

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

    Up to 46 points as it stands with 13 mins to go...

  11. Bank$y
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone who bought and captained Aguero, take a bow. That’s true fantasy football.

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

      I was unhappy at 60 mins but loving Aguero captain now

    2. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Will sorely miss him in the league

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

      My VC.

      Got him at 1 30 pm.

      Should have done it.

  12. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chances of Greenwood not coming on?

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

      High

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

      I have him and El G, so a 89th min cap

  13. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mane EO ?

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

      Around 50%

  14. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Really wish I’d kept my armband on mane, went with Salah but should have gone for the punt!

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      At least you have him. I went Robbo here

  15. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Winks looking for a transfer to Chelsea?

  16. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Half sad I didn’t follow my gut and bring in aguero and C him but also half glad I didn’t so I can just sit back and enjoy him for his footballing abilities and not for FPL points one last time

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

    Salah should have squared to Mane again. that's why Kane will win the Golden boot

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

    Salah big miss, could have passed to Mane

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

    Everyone having a good gameweek except me lol

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

      Have had a mare here as well. Had a decent shout of top 10k. Now do well to stay top 20k.

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

    Salah FAIL

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

    Bamford GOAL???!!

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

      Again?

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

        Too much happening Haz.

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

        Spurs save Chelsea??

        2-3.

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

    Leicester heavily relied on Barnes, they've been rubbish since he got injured

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

      They won the cup. And are challenging too 4. Not sure rubbish is the word.

  23. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Have Mahrez, but don’t even care he came off. Especially because of who replaced him.

  24. Guru Mediation
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Dropping out of 10k on last day 🙁

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

      Yeah and me played it to safe

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

    Martinez yellow

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

      Lovely

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

      Doesn't want the record.

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

      Nooooo

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

    Did the same with David Silva on his final appearance but that didn't come off so glad to see Kun (c) has turned out pretty great.

  27. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Shaw no show means i get Ghazi from bench. Yeah!

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

    Dammit these YC are annoying.

    And ffs again Salah

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

    3 nil West Ham.

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

    Whu goal

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

      No Antonio as he's subbed lol

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Rice