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. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Damn it Dallas why CS lost last minute

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      See that goal...Philips could handle easy pass

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Because Philips is an idiot

    3. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Cost me my ML

  2. Fudgy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Level on points with my ML rival

    1. SAUCY SALAH
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      :O

      Come on Fudgy, what are the differentials???

      1. Fudgy
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I've done less transfers

      2. Fudgy
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        U gotta see click my link and team

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You're ahead on transfers then 😮

  3. Ady87
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Think I’ve won my ML, not a particularly impressive one, top 5 inside 60k OR, nice cash pot though. Unless Willock gets 2 in injury time that is.

  4. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Azpi red

    1. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That has probably won me my ML.

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Son subbed

  6. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Can Leicester equalise?

  7. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Son off

  8. Chalobah's Witness
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Tuchel is such a .... totally undeserved for them to enter the CL

    1. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He has been poor today, but his performances since Lampard got sacked suggest they should be in the CL.

    2. I'm out of name ideas
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Every position in the league is deserved.

    3. George Sillett
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Why is it ?

    4. ivantys
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Beaten Liverpool, City and Leicester, and Lampard was in charge for like half a season.

  9. not_astarte
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I have nothing to say.........

  10. WVA
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Haaaa tell me I'm not cursed, Son today....

    1. George Sillett
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It's all in your imagination.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        This.

        All 11 players won't return every week!!

    2. not_astarte
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You don't say.....

  11. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    TOON finish season 12th. Great work Steve Bruce

    1. Planet Jo
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      +1

  12. Planet Jo
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    That idiot Phillips just lost me 12 pts.

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Why robson kanu whyyyy???

  14. Hulk Smash
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Rival has killed me by getting in Mane 🙁

    1. WVA
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Same, the most obvious move paying off again, incredibly lucky, don't think he's scored two in a very very long term

  15. Jack Burton
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Last couple of gameweeks have been brutal Greenwood instead of Willock then chickened out of Shaw to Phillips then Bruno to Mane, then my last 50/50 was mount instead of Pepe dropped out of 10000k sigh

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I am killing it. inFan Team this gw with mane

  17. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Azpi Mendy and Dallas

    I hate FPL

    1. not_astarte
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It's over

  18. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Robbo CS banked

  19. Botman and Robben
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Remind me not to get Everton players next season.

  20. _Ninja_
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bale goal

  21. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    OMG bale.

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Oh MY god

  22. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Soy boy assist

  23. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    About 80 points and Aguero (c) success so got to be happy. Missed out on top 100k and lost mini league by 4 points.

    See you next year

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It’s been a dreadful season

  24. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bale G

  25. JONALDINHO
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Robbo 8 pointer. Soothing the pain of not having Mane

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It’s soothing nothing and you know it

  26. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea CL confirmed CL

  27. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I think most neutral football fans are really sorry for Leicester. Deserved better.

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I am a neutral and not sorry for them. They did this to themselves tbh. Besides, EL suits them better as CL would be a huge load on them

      1. KAALI_DAAL
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        True. They suit well to Europa.

    2. Zladan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      They didn’t deserve it if they didn’t get the points for it.

      Chelsea Liverpool United City all better this season.

  28. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    2-4 Tottenham Hotspur!!!!

  29. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    BALLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hate him

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Came good.

      Like Sergio.

  30. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Trying to catch 42 points in my ML.

    My rival has Schmeichel OG and Azpi RC in his team haha

    I'm gonna get about 72 points to his 44 or something. Suprisingly close! Come on Aguero!