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. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Greenwood sighted

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

      Get Lingz off

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

      He's the only footballer in that team!

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

        You watching this match?

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

          Yep

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

        Harsh on James.

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

          He’s been hooked

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

          Having speed but needs more time to improve for decision making

          1. JustPark
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Can't blame him for others to slow to make a decision.

            1. JustPark
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              *too

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

    How will Magnus react ?

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

      By doing nothing

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

      I don’t care.

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

      Rage transfer him out

    4. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Why do you care so much?

    5. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Probably come on here and knock one out at all the fanboy comments about him.

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

        Pfff

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

    Can't laugh too much at Utd as Arsenal blew a 2-0 lead away to Watford earlier this season with some comical defending and gifts of goals

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      If they sack Ole then they will improve. At least we sacked Emery who caused a lot of the mess, Man United got a lucky win in Paris last season and gave a P.E teacher the full time job!!

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

        Keep him in charge until GW21 mind 😉

    2. CARROW ROAD
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      You think Utd will get a draw?

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

        Nope but they looked worse than this away to Sheffield Utd aswell and managed a epic comeback of sorts. Unlikely to happen today.

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

      I can actually laugh at both. One doesn’t not discount the other.

  4. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Have Watford got it in them to shut up shop now?

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

      Probably

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

    Any manager playing Lingard should get autofired...

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

      Autosub

  6. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    ole ole ole

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

      Out out out

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

    Where’s that AMEY Man United guy or girl, on here?!?! Are you there bud?!? Pretty sure you was saying it was a great point for Arsenal yesterday away to Everton, you’ll be lucky to get a point away to Watford today!

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      We wont get a point Haha.

    2. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Well, aren't we full of seasonal cheer.

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah we are. You should say that to all the fools on here who mock others for their picks and are constantly petty as well.

        1. Lev Yashin
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Well done you for taking the higher ground then.

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

            Skills

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

            No no no, well done to you! Man united fan by any chance? Chill out, as AMEY said yesterday, it’s all a laugh 😉

            1. Lev Yashin
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              FPL fan. As chill as they come.

              You, on the other hand...

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I'm a United fan, the level of comedy between both United and Arsenal is pretty much dead even, they blew a 2-0 to watford themselves...

      1. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Arsenal worse at defending though. Much more comical.

        1. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          And we are much better going forward. Also, are we worse at defending? You haven't kept a CS since GW5

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

      No Man U fan bought Rashford or Martial btw

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Haha I have both.. what a clown I am

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

          That’s the thing. I find the best FPL managers actually use fan forums and betting odds to make decisions. Most of us just do group think on here/Twitter.

  8. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Don't worry guys we got Ashley young to bring On

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

    Greenwood on
    James off

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

      Pogba needs to come on for Lingard ASAP too.

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

      That decision sums up United remove a creative player.

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

    Ole does not have a clue, the players cannot pass the ball properly

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

      The passing is shockingly bad. Higher pass completion in some non-league games.

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

        And the awareness of the impact of bad passes ... they seem to think it's alright to miss-pass and to make the team under pressure straight away! Outrageous ...

  11. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Next GW Rashford Bench Cantwell Play 🙂

  12. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Greenwood for James. Now lingard for Pogba then job done

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

    Ole use ur brain, start Greenwood. Its telling when you bring him on to try save a result, you rate him just scared to start a kid?

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

      He will start the next game IMO. Which is perfect timing for my FPL team.

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        He'll be starting next game... heard that for about 18 weeks straight now

      2. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Could have done with him starting this one so I wouldn't have had to play soy

  14. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pogba bandwagon incoming

  15. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Surprised to see Nearly 50% of top10k own Rashford.

    Was he a trap?

    1. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Of course

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

    Pogba in the shop window.

  17. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pogba warming up,thats good for Rash(C) + Martial

    Cmon

    1. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      You want JLingz to stay on?

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

        No

  18. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Did Emery find a new job yet?

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

      He has had a few clubs interested in him, doubt he will ever manage in England again do.

  19. Waynoo
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Lolutd

  20. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford may well score yet but this is exactly why I didn't get him in. United cant be trusted against lower league sides.

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

      This is good tactic from Man Utd to slide down the table and then everyone they play is no longer a lower league side.

      Ole is a genius.

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Ahaha wow, didn't think about that. Tactical masterclass.

  21. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    mAn UtD aRe In GoOd FoRm

    1. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Lol

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

      Haven’t lost a game in the prem since November 2nd

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        And are about to now to the bottom of the league...

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Best top 6 record in the league

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

      Yes they were.

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

    17 points vs Son, Alli, Aurier, Pulishit

    Who wins?

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I'd hope B but it'll be close

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

      You'll find out soon enough

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

      The 17 points

    4. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      17pts

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

      I think those guys will beat 17 points.

    6. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      40 60

  23. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Time to call Guaita up for the Spanish national team 🙂

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

      If only for the assists

  24. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Maddison + Digne

    or

    Alli + Rico?

    Have Son

  25. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford asked for yellow card. Next time?

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

      He deserved one tbh. Refs should show very little leniency towards that kind of reactions

  26. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ryan
    Lund aurier kely
    Kdb son mane grealish
    Vardy rash tamy
    (Buton - taa soy dendo)

    2 ft, 0.1 itb, ((gw20 WC)), which of these?
    A) taa buton out, bench ryan
    B) taa dendo out, bench rash
    C) rash buton out, bench ryan

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

    Pogba coming on

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

      Lingz Off

  28. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Before I signed him he was Rash-ferrari

    Now in my team he is just a Rash-ford

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

      Quite good

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

    Pogback and all that

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

    Yes Man Utd are bad but is there nothing to attribute Pearson?