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. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    And this is why you start Bale over Ali you clown Mason

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

      Spurs need a 3 at the back manager to take over (3-4-3). 3 at the back will secure the defence, but a wing-back system gets the best out of Doherty and Reguilon, while also allowing Son, Kane and Bale all to start.

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

        Good shout.

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

    Sold Bale for Mané hahahahaha don't care!

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

    OMG YES!!!

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

      Bale assisted himself off the post.

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

        Even better!

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

    Mane and Bale my differentials this week.

    I feel like that Randy Marsh at the computer gif.

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

      Luck

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

    15 years playing, second highest points total, second lowest finishing position...

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

      Wow. Just wow.

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

        Tough game nowadays with 7M plus playing.

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

          Game has lost all fun and integrity

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

            Slight overreaction?

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

          I should add my finishing position will be around the 150,000 mark so it's not terrible but just surprised by the points total in comparison.

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

    Fanteam team is killing with mane bale kane

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

    Sergio Aguero. Premier League legend.

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

      Wonderful scorer.

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

    GW1 Sheff Utd defender owners finally rewarded

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

      !!

      They came through eventually.

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

    Ffs Bale

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

    Bale too good for this tinpot club Spurs

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

    Bale going to steal some bonus?

  12. badgerboy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Come on refs blow them all up. End this nightmare season.

  13. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Son off?

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

      Slooowww connection about 10 mins ago

    2. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nope just not watching the game

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

    Kane wins GB

  15. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chickened out of captaining Bale this week. Damn.

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

      Yep

    2. dark91
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I chickened out of TC Mane 🙁

  16. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Dammit Leicester, could have been 5 English teams in the Champion's League.

  17. dark91
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Congratulations to Liverpool on getting a CL spot and so glad Salah didn't win that golden boot with all his selfishness

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

      Absolute clown player

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

        cost me ML ((

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

    Chilwell yellow

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

    *deletes FPL account*

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

    Nat Phillips will be part of the Liverpool squad next season and may have displaced Matip as 3rd choice defender.

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

      1. Virgil
      2. Gomez
      3. Konate
      4. Matip
      5. Phillips

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

    Would have won my ML if I’d sold Salah instead of Kane. Oh well.

    Cheers all. Over and out

  22. MMN
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    If I didn't do any transfers I would have won my mini-league. Jota Bale Son > Harrison Raph and Salah (C) lol

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

    Is that 1 bonus points for Bamford?

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

      Might decide my ML that

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

        Same. Well i think i won even with only 1 on transfers but i want to be sure

  24. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    57 all up. Crap season done.

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

    55pts at the end and red arrow because of Dallas conceding. 🙁

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

    Bale staying at Spurs is what's best for parties involved.

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Disagree

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

        Who isn't it good for? Madrid don't want him. Spurs need him. Bale needs to be playing instead of rotting on the bench.

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

      But Bale likes the golf courses in Madrid

  27. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Won my ML. Unbelievable scenes for those keeping up with it. Shirts off here.

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

    El Ghazi points! nice.

  29. Red Devil Swede
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    3rd overall wins it?!

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

      Yep

  30. Muchentuchel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    oh god is tuchel embarrassed, he should just be happy he got lucky instead of yelling at the referee

    1. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      * embarrassing