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. Rassi
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    SEASON OVER!

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

      Was over for me a long time ago.

      Worst ever FPL season.

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

        Likewise. Lowest ever finish.

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

    Live FPL busted

  3. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Thank god the pain stops now.

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

    Next season if i play i am going huge hit in gw 38

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

      I took an 8 pointer today and it paid off massively

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

    Next season, playing TC chip early on against whichever team is playing the role of whipping boys. Leaving it this late never works.

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

    Who was following bps amongst all that goal action?!

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

    Kane deserved GB.

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

    67 pts. Is that above or below the average? Can’t access LiveFPL

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

      72 for me. Hoping it's enough to get me into the top 100K

  9. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    One last time.

    Aguero(c).

    Season, won.

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

      Congrats! Brought him, but not (c). Well done.

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

      Well played. But going with that strategy means boom or bust. As long as you can live with that emotional ride then it is fine.

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

      Nice pick and well done

    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I very nearly sold Kane for Aguero(c).

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

    Terrible overall but 104 points and won my ml on last day, Mane (c) done it

  11. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Captain Bale dragging me from 70k to 40k

  12. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Congrats to the Irish fella who I thinks got overall fpl title!

  13. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Glad to see the end of what has been an absolute disaster of a season for my FPL team. So nearly made up a 35 point gap in my ml, another Salah (c) goal or assist would have done it. Only fitting that my final 'return' of the campaign was an Azpi red card. We go again in August.

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

    Well that was emotional. Bale’s goals letting the guy behind me get close but hung onto 2nd in ML. So it was Mane cap, Pepe, Vardy and Aguero and all those worries about Bamford were misplaced.

    Hope you all got good results

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    So Aguero was a real option after all.

    Was contemplating it but did the boring DCL to Antonio move

    Sometimes it pays to be brave.

  16. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Yesss! Mane(C) made me country champion (NL) from 15 point behind!!

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Incredible, huge congratulations.

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

      Well done, congrats!

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

    Harrison on 5?

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

    Phat green arrow I hope

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

    Salah(c) didn't score but satisfied with 79.

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

    I just lost my mini league by 1 point, Henderson getting booked, Son not getting that assist and Nacho goal dissalowed today haha but I'm not unlucky.

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

      lost my ML thanks to Salah selfishness

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

      I lost by two points. The WBA goal cost it for me

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

      Unlucky bro, been one of those seasons

    4. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      When was Nacho goal disallowed?

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

    Thanks for everything all you lovely bunch feeling a bit deflated, but can't complain see you for the euros i expect. Logs Off

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

    Lost ML on the last day.

    Happy for a break from this silly game

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

      Unlucky pal, chin up

  23. R.C
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Phewwww Bruno is the King of FPL just by 2 points

  24. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Glad to finish with a positive. Mane(C).
    Hopefully enough to creep into 100k.

    See you next season guys!

  25. Halftime Lemon
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Baps about to lose me my ML.

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

    Everton finish 10th and Liverpool 3rd. How did that happen?

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

      Everton did an Everton

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

    About 70 points all out, chuffed!

  28. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bale my f*cking hero

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

    OR 3 won it all?

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

      yes. mane captain did it

  30. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Won my ML! Thank you everyone for your advices!