Dugout Discussion

Rodríguez returns on Everton bench as West Ham recall Coufal

Everton and West Ham’s matchday squads are beginning to edge closer to full-strength as of their Gameweek 17 teamsheets.

James Rodríguez (£7.7m) returns for the first time since Gameweek 11 although is only fit enough for a place on the Toffees’ bench.

For now, Bernard (£5.8m) occupies his slot on the right-hand side of Everton’s attacking midfield, joined there by Gylfi Sigurdsson (£6.8m) and Richarlison (£7.8m).

How long until Rodríguez will be ready to start games regularly again remains unclear but Fantasy managers will certainly have him on their radars.

However, anyone invested in Michael Keane (£5.1m) will be disappointed by Carlo Ancelotti’s team selection in Gameweek 17, with the centre-back named on the bench for the first time this season.

Mason Holgate (£4.8m) tucks inside from his recent right-back role to staff the heart of the defence with Yerry Mina (£5.6m) with Seamus Coleman (£4.8m) making his first start since Gameweek 8.

It is a similar story with West Ham who, once again, feature Michail Antonio (£6.2m) on the bench, which makes for a seventh successive start for Sebastien Haller (£6.1m), but suggests they could be back to full-strength soon.

Fantasy managers will certainly have their eye on that situation, especially with West Ham’s appealing fixtures in Double Gameweek 19, where they host Burnley and West Bromwich Albion.

David Moyes has recalled Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m) to the line-up, having rested him against Southampton but Issa Diop (£4.3m) and Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m) remain out of the starting XI, Craig Dawson (£4.5m) impressing enough in his Gameweek 16 audition to keep his place.

Everton XI: Pickford; Godfrey, Mina, Holgate, Coleman; Doucouré, T Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Dawson, Coufal; Rice, Soucek; Benrahma, Fornals, Bowen; Haller.

1,770 Comments Post a Comment
  1. turd ferguson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Activated free hit immediately so I dont have to stare at my BB GW19 team for a week. Feels great 🙂

    1. MikeS
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Feels great until games get cancelled yer

    2. Pacer.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Why on Earth didn't you just wait and not look at your team

      1. turd ferguson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        boring thats why

        1. Pacer.
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          But you can open your team and do exactly the same thing without pressing confirm

          1. turd ferguson
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            price rises tho

            1. Pacer.
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              It's all a total mess. Price rises are virtually insignificant to doing well this year. Next time do some star jumps for the dopamine

    3. turd ferguson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Speaking of which...thoughts?

      de gea
      Maguire Dias Holding
      Grealish Bruno Neto Sterling KDB
      Kane WIlson

      Subs: meh, Konsa, Brewster, Mitchell

      1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Too much United.
        Rather Holding in for Maguire or Leno instead of DDG.
        Son probably better than Sterling, but I guess that is part of the FH appeal.

        1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          oh, did not see you have Holding

      2. Pep bites Kun
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Missing Kun

        1. thewakka
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Unfit and unmotivated at his best this season

          1. Pep bites Kun
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Not match-sharp to be sure and it usually takes a few games with managed mins (fixtures are ripe). Why unmotivated?

            1. thewakka
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Contract expire

              1. Pep bites Kun
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 10 months ago

                Ah really? Good info, wasn't aware. Still needs to sell himself on the pitch though?

    4. Niho992
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Casual move.

    5. Predator
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Fingers crossed boy

  2. Igz08
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Wonder if doing Konsa -> Stones is too risky rn with all the city covid absences ?

    1. Releasebreaks
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      shot in the dark

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

    DCL and KDB are my big differentials, probably why they haven't done anything for so long!

  4. Niho992
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    No chance that Everton will score

  5. Ze_Austin
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Scout Picks now at the bottom of the site? Is this deliberate?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      One off due to only 1 forward.

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

      Looks very dodgy on mobile.

    3. Elfozzie 42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Hey folks, apologies for this.
      Was the first time we'd run this formation I think and had a slight tech challenge, will be addressed for next week.

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Wow on the ball there! Conspiracy theories on the rise 😉

    4. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Where they belong

  6. Caleb's Kitties
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Currently only dias fernandes kane son DCL in my team playing 18.

    Any reason not to activate FH now to catch a few price changes? Saiss rashford on my wish list.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Next gameweek deadline is 11 days away. Could be game/league postponements announced at any point up until then. Would devalue/waste the chip in that case.

      That's all pretty unlikely, but that's the risk.

    2. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      One would hope they would cancel any chips played if the next game week gets entirely canceled? Do we have any clues from how they handled it last year?

      1. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        There was a free wildcard at the restart of the PL - however that was after a 3 month break not a week or two

  7. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    The adverts on BT Sport are absolutely tragic. What has happened to humanity

    1. I'm out of name ideas
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I gave up on humanity when Mr Blobby was Christmas number 1.

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      The pundits aren’t much better.

  8. PL Ball
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Don't forget James is on the bench.. could inject some life into this game.

    1. Pacer.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Better off injecting some cynanide

      1. PL Ball
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

  9. Pedram
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Feeling conflicted about having Martinez as keeper and Bruno as captain, rooting for Bruno but hoping for some points from Martinez.

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      martinez saves bruno penalty and bruno scores rebound

    2. Mr Arsenal
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      A penalty save would be amazing

    3. PL Ball
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Surely captain is always priority?

      Any Martinez points you get will be a bonus.

    4. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Same, a big Bruno haul is best outcome. Won't mind a Martinez 2 pointer if Bruno gets 10+ points

    5. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      You're overthinking it. Root for your captain. If Martinez gets save points, it's a bonus

  10. diesel001
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Games like this that make people appreciate Leeds playing an attacking style of football.

    1. El Presidente
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Defending well is an art

      1. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Art is meant to be interesting - this isn't

    2. fedolefan
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      But didn't you always maintain for seasons that teams getting promoted should just play long ball and route 1 football?

      1. diesel001
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I still do. Especially against better teams. But doesn't mean I can't enjoy watching those teams that do play attacking football. I ain't a Leeds fan so don't care if they stay up or go down.

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      +1 all day, every day

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Well i have 8 players currently for GW 18

    But 3 of them are mitchell brewster and Lewis

    Other 5 are Bruno, KDB, Son, Kane and Maguire

    FH Right?

    1. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Probably.

    2. Caleb's Kitties
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      For sure

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Can you make a decent team with -8?

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Not worth it

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Not sure I agree. May be better weeks to use FH seeing as we have more teams playing this one. Arsenal, City could be good buys with the fixtures ahead.

          1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Yes but they are two teams out of form.
            And this season is totally unpredictable - but for me - I would only be to field 5 players with my team. Of course I'm playing FH!

    4. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Saving mine. Have 6 players

    5. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      It’s really tough I’ve only 6 average players and keeping it is tempting.

    6. Clintymints
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Those 3 are essentially 1 Low scoring player

      Fh or -4

    7. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I would

    8. Mr. O'Connell
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Brewster gonna bang a hat trick that week

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Doubt it, but not putting it down 🙂

    9. Nightcrawler
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks all

    10. thegaffer82
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      You’ve got a core of good players... take a -4 maybe and save FH...

      Guaranteed between 1 and 2 points from Brewdog 🙂

  12. beso
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Dawson is a guaranteed starter now over Balbuena for DGW ?

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Wouldnt say guaranteed but as a Balbuena owner I am worried. Dawson going down in the 1st half may mean Balbuena gets at least 1 start in the DGW but not sure about 2 starts anymore

    2. istanbul05
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Far from guaranteed imo

  13. Budgies
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    How’s this for a FH team for next GW?

    Martinez, Steer
    Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Mina, Holgate
    Rashford, Bruno, Son, E Ghazi, Neto
    Kane, Wilson, Lacazette

  14. Clintymints
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Dcl or Coufal look like they’re up to much?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Not yet, another 15 minutes and it starts.

    2. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      dcl has been anonymous and coufal has been defensively sound and whipped in a good cross or two.

    3. Clintymints
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Maybe a Jrod would be nice

      Played DCL and benched Coufal oops

  15. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Fark, is Taylor dropping tonight? Really can’t afford that to happen

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Tark is a good replacement.

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

      Taylor (AVL) is predicted to.
      Taylor (BUR) is on -50 but falling fast.

      The former might be okay, but check back in a few hours. Definitely falls before the deadline though. No game till Sunday (if at all) doesn't help!

    3. Warby84
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      No the wrong Taylor...

      Taylor (Villa) -101.6
      Taylor (Burnley) -46

  16. fedolefan
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Thought i had no one from this game and it turns out i have Soucek. Ugh. Do something big guy.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Benched him so expect 2 goals.

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

        We both benched Coufal for Taylor

  17. Salan
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Hope Soucek scores tonight.

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Join the club pal

    2. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      This. Assisted by Coufal

    3. thegaffer82
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I forgot to bench him (for Cancelo), so a goal or two would be lucky, but very welcome

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Slap on some lipstick and get down there.

  18. istanbul05
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Hey guys, planning to now hold my FH and BB chips... Any obvious flaws on my plan below?

    BGW18: TAA, Salah to Cancelo, KDB (-4) to give me 10 potential players if you included Lewis and Brewster...

    Martinez, Dias, Lewis, Bruno, Grealish, Son, Kane, Brewster.

    DGW19: Son & Kane to Salah, Vardy (-4) to give 12 DGW players.

    Martinez,
    Cancelo, Dias, Dallas, Coufal,
    Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Grealish, Soucek,
    Vardy, Bamford.

    Forster, Coufal/Soucek, Brewster, Lewis.

    Thanks!

  19. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Coufal second half goal needed to save my season...

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      why do i always imagine you as the brother of fudgy

      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        😛

      2. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Haha same here. Something sketchy going on behind the curtains.

  20. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Stuck in the grey area on whether or not to FH gw18...

    Would you play this team or FH?

    Martinez
    Dias Maguire Taylor*(if fit)
    Bruno Son Grealish
    DCL

    1. istanbul05
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      is that inc. any potential GW18 transfers? If not, I would save as you can get 2 more players for a -4...

    2. Clintymints
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I think 8 is the minimum you would want

    3. Jeapesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I’m in a similar boat

      Martinez
      Stones Holding
      Fernandes Bissouma Grealish
      DCL Kane

      Salah Robertson Justin Coufal Bamford Raphina

      Considering a -4 to get 10 involving Salah and Justin to KDB and Cancelo

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      FH

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

    Have DCL and Coufal scored yet!?

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Yes 3 each

    2. thegaffer82
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Let me check...

      No

  22. yalala
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    I was eating a sausage bean and cheese melt earlier and suddenly remembered my fpl password. That was a fun few days.

    Back to reality.. on FH, Kdb or Sterling?

  23. Salarrivederci
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    A -4 before BGW18 and then a -8 before DGW19 would give me these teams. Those -12 worth it to save FH for BGW29 😀 ?

    TAA, Salah & Balbuena out -> Dias, KDB + the best defender for BGW18 (max 7.4) 😀 (-4)

    BGW18 team:
    Martínez
    7.4, Dias, Mitchell
    KDB, Bruno, Rashford, Son, Grealish
    Brewster, Welbeck
    (Farrell, Robertson, Coufal, Bamford)

    Then 7.4 defender, Son & Welbeck -> Struijk or some other 3.9, Salah & Rodrigo (-8)

    DGW19 team:
    Martínez
    Robertson, Dias, Coufal
    Salah, KDB, Bruno, Rashford, Grealish
    Bamford, Rodrigo

    (Farrell, Struijk, Brewster, Mitchell)

    1. Salarrivederci
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Not the best BGW18 team ofc, but a strong DGW19 team imo.
      The upside is of cause the WC25, BB26 and FH29.

  24. Shark Team
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Any chance C.Taylor starts? Cause I have Coufal 1st sub

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Doubt it.

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

      Lots of us in this situation, don't think Taylor will play

  25. Bounce
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Can't wait for the United game to start so I can pray that my only player from that game (Bruno) gets 0 points because I didn't captain him!!! HOW IS THIS GAME EVEN FUN???

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      They should get rid of captain to make it better?

    2. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Praying is a bit extreme when he will only have the equivalent of ownership of 14%

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Bruno's effective ownership including captaincy is 73%, so if he scores well you will move up the OR.

      1. Black Knights
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        It’s over 100% at the top levels.

  26. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Lindelof a good pick for next gw?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Probably not. Isn’t he touch and go?

  27. EffPeeEll
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    William Hill offering 2/1 for Bruno to have a single shot on target. (was Even money)

    #PleasePrayForbruno

    ;(((

  28. have you seen cyan
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    wtf where the fck is Fabianski, soucek and dcl better score

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      injured in warmup

    2. thegaffer82
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Injured in warm up

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Typical, saw 0-0 and was like fab might get a haul here. Nope injured

  29. Nightcrawler
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Only one of the players on the pitch today played in 2006/07 premier league season

    And they cost just 3.5m in fpl

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Soucek?

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Nobel I guess.

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Dawson?

    4. Old Man
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Sounds like Noble but he's on the bench ..........?