Dugout Discussion
26 December 2021 830 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

Aston Villa v Chelsea follows the 3pm goal-fest and on paper, this should be a tighter affair than the four Gameweek 19 fixtures that have already been and gone.

Steven Gerrard’s troops have been defensively sound since the change in management at Villa Park, keeping clean sheets against Brighton and Hove Albion and Norwich City and producing creditable rearguard efforts against Manchester City and Liverpool.

No side has conceded fewer goals than the Blues this season, meanwhile, although they’ve banked only one clean sheet in their last six matches.

As for the team news, Thomas Tuchel makes two changes from the side that started the 0-0 draw at Wolves a week ago.

Jorginho and Callum Hudson-Odoi are recalled at the expense of the benched Hakim Ziyech and Cesar Azpilicueta, who join Romelu Lukaku among the substitutes.

Gerrard, who is missing this evening after a positive Covid-19 test of his own, also makes two changes to his last league line-up, which came 12 days ago.

Danny Ings and Morgan Sanson are promoted to the starting XI, with Ashley Young and John McGinn both absent.


Aston Villa XI:Β MartΓ­nez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, Sanson, Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins, Ings.

Subs:Β Steer, Traore, Tuanzebe, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Hause, Chukwuemeka, Davis, Iroegbunam

Chelsea XI:Β Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kante, Alonso, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic.

Subs:Β Arrizabalaga, Christensen, Kovacic, Lukaku, NΓ­guez, Barkley, Ziyech, Azpilicueta, Sarr

830 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. JariL
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Do you think we'll get the GW22 doubles confirmed before the next deadline?

    Would help us wildcarders a lot.

    1. Gearoid
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      WC seems very hard to plan now

      1. JariL
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, no idea what I should be doing with it...

    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not a hope seeing as the next deadline is in 2 days.

  2. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Need a rudiger towering header badly

    1. JariL
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      From Alonso corner. Yes please

    2. Plant Based FPLer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. Would keep me in cup most likely. Need James, Rudiger, Alonso to outscore Rashford by 25. Opponent FH'ed on me.

      Gl to u.

  3. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ok, so who's the winner FH-ers or non-FH-ers?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I have to say FH'ers having such good success with it today

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Damn, am on the losing side πŸ˜›

      2. DycheDycheBaby
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        If Ronaldo blanks, maybe non FH-ers who don't have him.

      3. WVA
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        How many points you on SS?

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Oh sorry didn't see this pal, on 57 I think with bonus, non FH team would of got around 42, but with no Ronaldo captain left to play and would of taken a hit with non FH team also

          1. WVA
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            No worries mate, great score, 53 here with James and Ron(C) to go, not played either FH yet.

    2. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Does depend on individual teams, I had 11 decent starters so was never going to FH

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        In general, I should say?

    3. Traction Engine Foot
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Free hitters for now, but you can't really judge it until the end of the season imo.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Of course, just for the time being ... future is still uncertain

      2. GENERATION X
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This is correct. But most FH-ers will have 3 Pool and City players they wont want to lose. Only needs a few hits to get in the doublers

    4. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Once I fudged my FH, then I’ll be able to say confidently that GW19 FHers won

    5. GoonerSteve
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think free hitters will have done well, lots of goalscorers.

      Having said that, my mate is on 50 so far from his and I'm on 49 so far from 1 transfer lol.

      So probably depends. Saka a godsend this week for me. As was that ESR goal off the bench.

    6. F4L
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      non FH-ers who didn't have to take a hit, or limited it to only 1

    7. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      So far FHers (unless you got screwed by the servers crashing).

      You'd expect FHers to do better in this GW though. The questions now are how Salah does against Leicester, how the players non-FHers brought in permanently do, how badly we're hit with postponements next GW and who is missing and what the people who still have that FH end up doing with it. 'Tis complicated and very team dependent.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        πŸ˜† so complex ... let's call it a draw then πŸ˜›

    8. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      FH-ers IMO, especially as they can now have Salah (c) next GW

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        That’s assuming they had him πŸ˜‰

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Fair enough, I think I'll FH next GW and Salah [C] πŸ˜›

      3. WVA
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        We can all have Salah captain next GW with a maximum of -4....

      4. teneighty
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Well so can I, a deadline misser.

    9. HashAttack
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Happy with my non-FH ... On 50 (62-12) with James, Ruddi and Ronaldo (c) left to play (Plus Broja 1st sub)

      Non-FH allowed me to get and keep Son and Ronaldo plus I now have 2 FHs to play later on

    10. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Too early to say as depends what those that saved their FH do with it.

  4. The Train Driver
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Need clarification of lack of Diassist....

    1. david31058
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Me too!

  5. Tinmen
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Laca and Bilva played full 90. Who’s the priority to ditch ?

    1. Moose™
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bilva? Laca kept ticking tbh

    2. Elfozzie 42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bilva going for me I think...3 games, 17 City goals, but only 5 points returned from an attacking player who was playing false nine today!

  6. DycheDycheBaby
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Rival with free hit activated is 30 points ahead with Ronaldo captain left. I have Alonso and Watkins left. Could be worse but Ronaldo hatty incoming lol

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not to bad

  7. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Reckon KDB starts vs. Brentford? (Opinions, of course)

    Had planned a straight swap back to Salah, but City were a mess and was surprised KDB got pulled off early

    1. david31058
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Absolutely, he was first off today. He's nailed

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I thought for sure he'd sit out Brentford, with Arsenal 3 days later

  8. Bruno Commando
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What is the incremental points that your FH team score over your existing team for the FH to be considered a success?

    1. Duke Silver β˜‘
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      There's a few more layers to it than just the points difference.

      1. Duke Silver β˜‘
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        *immediate points difference

      2. Bruno Commando
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        True, like how the FH team fare on a different gameweek, and the permanent transfers made due to not FH-ing. This game is complex...

    2. Elfozzie 42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think you're looking at most chips to return you a good 8-10 points extra whether it's TC, BB or FH

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Oh I would expect more from FH given that I can literally cherry pick 15 players specifically for the GW. TC is very luck-based..

    3. Plant Based FPLer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Has to be compared with other FH opportunities.

    4. HashAttack
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      This week's gains seem negligible - going to be far better opportunities with blanks and DGWs later on

  9. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Can some of you get off live fpl for 30 seconds so I can check my rank

    1. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I don’t want to know - with 32 (-4), it’s not going to be pretty.
      Seeing people on here with 60-odd points πŸ™

      1. Pratik
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        top 10k avg is 44....Score averages here are biased towards people who do well and post.

    2. Duke Silver β˜‘
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Use FPL Gameweek as a backup,.

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        FPL GAMEWEEK works like a charm.

    3. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I had a peek - I'm in the Top 5K, with Dave, Dalot and CR7 (c) to come, Please don't get called off!

  10. Bonus magnet
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    At roughly what time does the Dias assist get added back

    1800 UK time or 1830?

  11. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Bilva/Watkins > Gray/Ronaldo (-4)? Feel like I need Ron as no other obvious captain next GW.

    1. DycheDycheBaby
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Son back to Salah captain? lol

      1. Do I Not Like Orange
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Think I'll stick with Son seeing as he got his rest tbh.

  12. TomSaints
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What would you be happy with as a FH score this week?

    Currently on 51 with Mount, James and Ronaldo to play.

    Normal team would have been on 30-35 (-4) with Ronaldo and James.

    How many ‘extra’ points do you need to get on FH to br a success?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I recon 25/30 is ok

      1. TomSaints
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I tend to have 30 as the magic number. But no logic or reason behind it

    2. GENERATION X
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Enough to beat the amount of hits to bring in doublers.

    3. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A better score than my non-FH side.

      I'd have 18 points with 4 to play. With my FH I have 52 with 3 United inc cap Ron to come. I'd call that a success.

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Massive success that

    4. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      25-30 better off seems about right, though it also depends on the state of the team you fall back into next GW.

      It could be that team is fine, in which case the FH looks even better. Or it could still be in tatters, in which case taking hits to make permanent changes would have provided benefits beyond this week.

  13. Atwood
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is there even the slightest chance Dalot doesn’t play?

    Got Tierney first on my bench.

    1. Duke Silver β˜‘
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Think Dalot is favourite now at RB

      1. Atwood
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Haha yeah I’m just grasping at straws. Such a bad benching.

        1. Duke Silver β˜‘
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          You never know with covid though. Nobody is safe!

  14. JONALDINHO
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Where’s Dias assist

    1. Duke Silver β˜‘
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      πŸ˜†

    2. Bada Bing
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It's apparently vanished into thin air. πŸ™

    3. HonestBlatter
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      RESTORED

  15. Duke Silver β˜‘
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hope Chelsea concede here but James to bag a goal.

  16. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    The problem with Bilva is I will sell him and he will score a hattrick against Brentford.

    1. Moose™
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      If you dont sell him, he wont start next match

  17. Napster03
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Best replacement for Raphinha?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Maddison

  18. GENERATION X
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Very odd with the City pens being shared out today. Annoyed as a Mahrez owner

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Surprised KdB didn’t take one, he’s their first choice I believe

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, hard to justify KDB’s price without penalties

  19. Bonus magnet
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Dear Fpl
    Please add my Dias assist back

    Regards,
    Concerned player

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Just seen it now

      Have a happy new year

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Good work!

    2. FPLShaqiri
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Oh yeah what happened? Error? Or did they decide it wasn't an assist?

  20. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Come on Ings

  21. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Chances Stones starts in the midweek?

  22. El Presidente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I think it's premature to talk about FH success/failure. CHE defense, a lot had double up and United to play yet. I think if CHE gets a clean sheet and CR7 doesn't score a lot it's gonna be pretty even...

  23. Moose™
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    James Watkins hattrick pls. Thanks

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Unlikely, but I'll take that happily πŸ˜›

  24. Wirtzel Gummidge
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Dias has his assist now everyone lol

  25. Flynny
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Too early to jump on dcl?

    Likely to start v Newcastle I think and 3 per cent owned....

    Can downgrade ronaldo to dcl and get salah (c) for Leicester perhaps....thanks

  26. Duke Silver β˜‘
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Dias has finally been awarded his assist. πŸ˜†

  27. AD2110
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is this the last time James has to avoid a yellow? Or that next game?

  28. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Early thoughts here please?

    For gw20 (6.7 itb):
    A) Pukki to (C)R7 - original plan
    B) Bilva to (S)alah

    1. Wirtzel Gummidge
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B.

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ha. Tx again mate

        1. Wirtzel Gummidge
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          No worries, annoyed Bernardo owner so judgement clouded a bit though πŸ™‚

  29. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    70% rank change without FH and CR7(C), Alonso and James to go.

  30. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    23 with Mount, Alonso and Watkins to play. Played it way too safe with no hits and no FH.

    1. Baron Penguin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      -131% rank change!

      1. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        -8 hit and 70% rank change πŸ˜€