Dugout Discussion

Pogba and Maguire lead list of unexpected Gameweek 1 starters

Paul Pogba (£8.0m) heads up a number of players who have made an unexpected appearance in Gameweek 1 of Fantasy Premier League.

It was thought to be unlikely that the French World Cup winner would feature against Leicester in the first match of 2018/19, as a result of his exploits in Russia, but he captains Manchester United at Old Trafford.

However, the biggest surprise starter of the night from a Fantasy perspective is Harry Maguire (£5.5m), who will sit next to Wes Morgan (£4.5m) at the heart of the Leicester defence. That comes after suggestions from manager Claude Puel that he was a serious doubt to play after going deep into the World Cup with England.

Despite the suggestions he would miss out, Maguire was still picked in 17 percent of FPL squads. His contribution tonight could end up unexpectedly making a big difference to the Fantasy landscape of Gameweek 1.

James Maddison (£6.5m) passed a fitness test to start in the number 10 role Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) was considered ready enough only for the bench. But even that is an unexpected role for the England man, and he could be in the frame for a start against Wolves next week.

Also on the bench tonight is Romelu Lukaku (£11.0m) while Marcus Rashford (£7.0m) leads the Manchester United attacking line. Alexis Sánchez (£10.5m) has not been given the centre-forwards role that was expected, or at least, that is what the team-sheet suggest. He may well take up that position after all with Rashford also able to operate out-wide.

Fantasy managers who had banked on World Cup semi-finalists not returning to full action for a few weeks may be hoping these team-sheets don’t set the tone for Gameweek 1.

MANCHESTER UNITED XI (4-3-3): De Gea; Shaw, Lindelof, Bailly, Darmian; Fred, Pogba, A Pereira; Sánchez, Rashford, Mata.

LEICESTER CITY XI (4-2-3-1): Schmeicheln; Chilwell, Maguire, Morgan, Amartey; Silva, Nidda; Gray, Maddison, R Pereira; Iheanacho.

3,287 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    TM?

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Seems to have gone, along with GW Captaincy Hot topic...

      🙁

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        You must have missed it Fred, I'm sure I saw a Captain Sensible article...

        1. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Not the article, the HT that is usually posted a few hours before deadline.

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      *First

    3. toerag
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      epic fail... same as my team selection

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        RIP

    4. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      @Epic
      Have similar(ish) squads GL fellow Ironman.

  2. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Can't believe I fell for this leaked line up:
    https://twitter.com/SamanthaQuek/status/1027973178742648832

  3. TooDifficuIt
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    game is being updated again!

  4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Worth an 8 point hit for Salah, Bilva, Alexis > Pogba, KDB, Maddison?

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      yes but do it now

      1. Udo
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Don't lose the opportunity before the rise, that kind a way?

    2. United10
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      is this a joke?

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        No. Maddison good vakue there and Pogba won't play deep

    3. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Only if your triple captaining Maddison.

  5. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    OMG Pogba

  6. Udo
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    What do people think about that R Pereira fellow?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      essential

    2. Y26 Royal
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I've got him but on the bench for this week.

    3. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      1 to monitor today

  7. Seamy
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    No Preamble?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Have another look.

      1. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Where?

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          To the mirror

  8. United10
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    When will fantasy league update? 😀

    1. lifes a pitch
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Its working for me now

      1. United10
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        just updated, thanks

    2. Planet Head
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      It's on and off

  9. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Ryan
    Mendy TAA Doherty
    Salah KDB Richarlison Jota
    Aguero Firmino King

    Landed like this... I think

  10. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Wow 11% own Rashford

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Reckon there are a lot of teams targeting an OR1 with a Trip Captain Sanchez

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        ive never got close to OR1, well I tell a lie was OR2 a few years back

      2. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Some got 3 Utd, 3 Leicester and used TC Chip aswell

    2. Midlands Saint73
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Casuals, they've all got Kane, Trippier and Pickford too

  11. Planet Head
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Just noticed that my team url has changed. Does that happen every year?

    1. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  12. Kazza_
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Hi Mark/Joe/David,

    Some really good content this year i love what you guys keep doing.

    One thing was suggested about the new videos being made available to download or offline as not all can stream it and its good for commutes to work to have it download - will this be possible please?

    Thanks in advance,
    A long timer

    1. Planet Head
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      And please update your individual team urls 🙂

    2. Kazza_
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      a easy download section would be awsome

  13. Crazy Joe
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Yes got to get that 1966 mention in, well done old man.

  14. Hardly Athletic
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Brought Pogba in at the last minute when I read he might start. Taking a risk with no forward above 7.0!

    DDG
    Mendy - TAA - Wan-Bissaka
    Salah - KDB - Mane - Pogba - Richarlison
    King - Mitrovic

    Subs: Hamer - Arnautovic - Bednarek - Peltier

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Mid-field of dreams

    2. Planet Head
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Arnie on the what now?

      1. toerag
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        oops a daisy

    3. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      THREE 4.0 defs and TAA who might be a rotation risk...yikes!

  15. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Unexpected my arse

    Teams can’t afford to drop early points

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Only when you have the likes of Luke Shaw to fill in.

    2. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Hence why I wanted Kane . Had him too.. but then I panicked and bought Aguero instead. Gonna be impossible to fit him in without unlimited transfers this I'd imagine

  16. gamesmad11
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Is anyone able to see their rival's team yet?

    1. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Nope

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yes.

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

      You can see them on the app

  17. jia you
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Excited for my team and my risky GW1 plays with King(C) and BB activated.
    Good luck to you all.

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      wtf?

    2. korbendallas82
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      BB i heard people like to pull gw1. The scoutcast mentioned King Captain.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        BOU score goals and they are playing what looks like a very poor side on paper, worth the punt!

    3. schlupptheweek
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      It's nice to see someone who goes for it!

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers mate, just hope it doesnt end in tears!

  18. No_Mo_Salah?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    No players tonight... hoping for something uninspiring!

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      1-1 with low ownership goalscorers, no assists and plenty of yellow cards handed out is what you want then.

  19. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Pity there was no preamble it is probably my favorite article on FFS.

    Is it just because it was a Friday evening kick off?

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      possibly but he is probably wanted all over the media shop

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Seems like Mark is done with this site unfortunately.

      1. Amsterhammer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Give it a GW or 2.

      2. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Really?

    3. Bunk Moreland
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I don't know but I agree with you, it was a weekly highlight on FFS. It seems like Mark has been overworked and is stepping down from a few of his responsibilities, this might be among them. Can't say I blame him, he's done tremendous work here.

      1. Amsterhammer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Well said

      2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        i think he will still have some loyalty to where it all began he is that type of guy

    4. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      He never did them for Friday kick offs last season.

    5. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Mark has retired from FFS.

  20. MindlessFreak2
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Marks team link? 🙂

  21. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Did Mark and Joe post their teams yet ?

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      they did youtube vids

  22. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Match predictions?

    2-0 United for me, dull game. Goals: Sanchez, Rashford. Assists: Fred x1.

    1. Bunk Moreland
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      0-0 the safe prediction.

    2. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I’d take that

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      we'll score - I'm playing Shaw

  23. Crazy Joe
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    When did he get those big glasses?

  24. Anonymous
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    If you want to see your rivals team, just navigate to the private league, open the network tab and inspect the last API call, check the response of that API and you will find your rivals id.

    1. Crazy Joe
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Or just wait a few hours.

    2. Bunk Moreland
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      ...what?

    3. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      En Anglais?

    4. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Or don't.

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      he talk like webber

      1. Crazy Joe
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        He is hackerman.

    6. MTPockets
        5 years, 8 months ago

        How many toothpicks?

    7. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A mate mentioned on our whats app group that he has used the BB chip dirty bleedin casual.

      1. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Fired mine off as well. Casual as fook.

      2. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        another dirty casual here!

    8. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Why can't we see our rivals team??

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        New change to FPL?

      2. El Matador
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        After scores update

      3. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        You can if you know their ID.

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Or use the app.

    9. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Kind of regretting Luiz over Bailly now, didn't give it much thought. So here's to hoping Leicester scores!

    10. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Pogba says "Bismillah"..

    11. FPLShaqiri
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Is the fpl site still updating for anyone else?

    12. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Hopefully Pogba, Fred, Andreas & Mata can help support Sanchez with a bit more quality today. This diminished Leicester team is there for the taking. Morgan has been crap the last couple of seasons.

      1. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Turns slower than a London bus.

      2. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        He's almost as slow as Jagielka

      3. Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Agreed, in fact the whole Leicester defence was pretty bad last season, can see a fair few goals for Man Utd.

      4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        sanchez hattrick