Dugout Discussion

Pogba on the bench as United and Watford name unchanged starting XIs

The first of two Premier League matches to take place on Sunday kicks off at 14:00 GMT, with Manchester United the visitors to Watford.

Both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nigel Pearson have named unchanged starting XIs from the sides that lined up in Gameweek 17.

There is a surprise returnee among the substitutes, however, as Paul Pogba (£8.4m) makes the United matchday squad for the first time since the end of September.

Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) is also on the bench for the visitors, as Anthony Martial (£7.7m) once again leads the line in front of an attacking midfield trio of Marcus Rashford (£9.1m), Daniel James (£6.2m) and Jesse Lingard (£6.3m).

Rashford was the most-bought Fantasy Premier League forward of Gameweek 18, with just under 290,000 managers drafting the United striker into their teams.

The England international was also the second-most-popular captaincy option this weekend, having been handed the armband by over 800,000 FPL bosses.

Rashford has only blanked twice since a ‘two-pointer’ in Gameweek 8.

Both he and Martial were on target when these two sides last met in March.

Adam Masina (£4.3m) and Roberto Pereyra (£5.6m) are both fit to return for the Hornets but only make the bench.

Troy Deeney (£6.2m) gets his fourth straight start up front following his recent return from a long-term injury.

Interested is limited in Pearson’s troops from a Fantasy perspective: not one of Watford’s players is owned by more than 2% of FPL bosses.

The Hornets have only scored in one of their last five home fixtures, with that solitary strike coming from the penalty spot against Chelsea.

United are without a clean sheet in 12 Premier League matches, however.

Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenía, Hughes, Capoue, Sarr, Doucouré, Deulofeu, Deeney.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, James, Lingard, Rashford, Martial.


1,381 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Hurrikane only 1 hour away from current location, get good protection behind those sofa suites lads

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      At my place, Son is about to rise

    2. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      As long as his Son involved

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

      It will be Alli right

    4. Dog and Fox
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      the son always shines on tv

  2. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Poobag brings the best out of Martial. Martial seems to respect him so he actually increases his effort when Pogba is on the pitch.

    1. Wally banter
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Please do not buy me into this trap again... im tired of falling for this utd attacker martial the ultimate player bs

  3. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    United really turning on the gears now. Looking a real outfit.

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Martial looking much more dangerous out wide.

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Not really

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Biased

  4. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Must have been the Grandmaster chess Xmas party on Friday.

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      He gets drunk a lot!

  5. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Manu goal imminent

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      More chance of Emanuel Petit scoring before Man Utd ever will.

  6. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Lundstram(C) against Watford at home is tempting.

  7. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rule #17 of FPL
    - Never own an American player

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Except Dempsey!

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Clint Dempsey says Hi

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      lol he is a one off, exception to the rule

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Howard was good

    5. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Landon Donovan

    6. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Except Clint Dempsey!

      1. teneighty
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Damn, I'm slow...

    7. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      You must not have captained Dempsey in a DGW or for his single gameweek Hattie vs Newcastle. Happy days 😀

    8. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      *Switches off engine to Almirante bandwagon

      1. Pras (FPL)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Almiron*

    9. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Brian McBride

    10. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Joe Max Moore,Kasey Keller

      1. King Carlos
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Keller's a legend

  8. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Any update from Yank Revolution on Pulisic being a Ballon D’or contender like he was after the Burnley game?

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      As long as Messi is alive nobody is a contender

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Reckon Messi will keep winning it after he retires?

        1. Licky
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          If his name was left on the ballot he probably would.

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Keep exaggerating, idiot. He still has 5 g and 3 a...more output than you ever expected from him before the season started.

  9. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Chipping practice for the lads on Tuesday

  10. danlynch13
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Was thinking about Grealish, could McGinns injury see him move backwards a bit in the formation?

  11. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    We should start with these players next game, bar Mata...

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yep, must buy a new mid as well to replace Fred, too many mistakes

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Martial goal would be amazing now, only 3mins left though.

  12. Elfozzie 42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Every time I make deadline day changes its a disaster.
    This week I shipped Mount & Abraham to get Rashford (and el Ghazi makeweight as I couldn't quite make Grealish) and then moved captaincy off Ings onto Rashford.

    Will I learn the lesson?

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Never mate, never.

    2. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      never

    3. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Doesn’t look like

    4. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Never

  13. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Super Sarr!

  14. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    (C) next gw?

    A. Graelish (NOR)
    B. Mousset (WAT)
    C. Son (BHA)
    D. Abraham (SOU)

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Calma Calma

    2. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      C

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mousset

  15. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Why do Watford have Bitcoin symbols on their sleeves?

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Satoshi sponsored them

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Nakamoto knows

    2. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Money laundering?
      No idea

    3. Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Because that’s how the players get paid

    4. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      answer is £££

  16. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ings owners had the last laugh this game week

    1. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      They had the first laugh.
      Lol at Man Utd

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Son, Alli, Kane and Abraham still to play

    3. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Have Ings but I hope Cantwell owners have the last laugh...when Pulisic stay on bench

  17. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Why did I remove Jiminez for Rashford?

    Why?

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I did Jimenez to Tammy ...

    2. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I did the same move. Silly casual move, oh well

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Rashford was essential

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      No idea

    5. BrutalLogiC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      DId same, classic stats over eye test 2 games ago.

  18. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Both Rashford and Martial's best position is left inside forward, we really need a striker.

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Buy Haaland and sell Martial to ensure his minutes

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I think if we do sign Haaland then he'll be undisputed first choice striker, wouldn't come otherwise.

  19. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Hows rashford played?

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Almost scored

    2. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Terrible. Their whole team played badly

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      World class

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Utd not good in general, Rash included.

  20. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Manure from Rashford(c) today, lovelY

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

      Low block teams and all that. The next few fixtures aren’t good for them either.

  21. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Judging from this and the last game, Nigel Pearson will keep Watford up.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      yea they looked not bad vs Pool I thought

  22. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford SOT.

  23. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford close

  24. KOKAK
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    MU should try changing their manager every week! 😀

  25. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford close

  26. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Loving this as a Rashford non-owner.

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Very disrespectful to owners

      1. KOKAK
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Are you "hurt", puppy!

  27. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford close

    Great ball by Martial

  28. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    How the f**k Maguire costs 80 mil.?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Scored against Panama.

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      English and young...stupid really

  29. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Has Shaw been on the mince pies again? Coming up to his peak and looking sluggish

  30. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    60 with kane(c) Son Aureir to go

    Spurs 4-0 to take me to 100

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I would take 3-3 as SonC, Alli & Tammy owner 😉