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

    Pogba on

  2. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Maguire hamstrung

  3. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pogba on for lingard

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Only 60 mins late.

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

    POGBA !!!!!!!

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

    And they said there is no such thing as a new manager bounce.

    Spurs have had it.
    Watford are having it.
    Everton and Arsenal will have it.

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Its more a "get rid of the old manager bounce". Everton already had it. Arsenal are a shambles, Arteta wont turn anything around, the culture of the entire club is rotten.

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeh u do have to have players that can do something when they try. In arsenals case it makes no difference...

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

      What about Arsenal makes you think that? Seriously.

  6. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Never allow him into the team again. Lingard wouldn’t get in to most championship squads ffs

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Can't understand how he is still at United. He is just so out of his depth.

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Still young just needs more experience.

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

        So true

  7. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pogba on
    Lingaard off.

  8. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    There we go both my changes done. Martial and Rashford imminent haul

  9. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Big 6 term need to be redefined

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

      Big 5
      Done

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

    Best defender up to 5.2?

    Gazzaniga
    TAA Robbo Lord Soy XXX

    Thought on Otamendi?

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

      Thoughts*

    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Shite

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

        Could be a nice differential
        Any other suggestion mate?

        1. Hits from the Bong
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Rico. And keep the change. Great fixtures

          1. badgerboy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Except for the next one.

            1. Hits from the Bong
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              He gets a nice rest for the next one anyway

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

            He's the one I'm considering to move out x-) thanks though.

            1. Hits from the Bong
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Don’t then 🙂

    3. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aurier

      1. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sorry didn't see gazza

        Dunk

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

          Good option. Thanks.

    4. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Evans

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

        If they didn't have Liverpool next

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

    How are United losing to the worst team in the league when they have the best GK, RB & LW in the world?

    Along with the most expensive defender ever.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      City lost to norwich. Every dog has its day

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

        Woof

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Because they can’t string two passes together

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

      They own Henderson, yes 😉

    4. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Best GK can't catch.

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

    whats the better (questionable) move? Im doing one of them, dont worry about Greenwoods minutes it doesnt matter.

    Mane to Salah
    Rashford to Greenwood

    What will benefit more next week?

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Neither 🙂

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

        your dogs nose is broke, greenwood stinks of baps

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ?

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

      Bloody odd if you ask me.

  13. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How long is Kelly nailed for ? Thanks

  14. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Oh trashford

  15. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pogba is owned by 3%

    That’s more than 200K dead teams

    Blimey

    1. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Probably over 1 mil dead teams.

  16. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pogba, hopeful ...

  17. KOKAK
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Christmas gift to Watford!

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

    Pogba just interested in showboating on the pitch

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I disagree. He has brought some energy into United since his arrival.

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Shop window

  19. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    They do look better.

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

      Could they look worse?

      1. tm245
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Good point.

  20. KOKAK
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pogba plays for money...

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Who doesn’t?

      1. KOKAK
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He needs it more to change his hairdo every week

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Anybody not?

    3. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Others play for the love of it?

  21. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sarr should have made it 3-0

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Doucoure's I am offside signal was super cute.

  22. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How did this team beat Man City is beyond me

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

      Pep left space.

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Styles make fights (and football matches)

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

      Form goes out the window.

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

      How this team is the only team to take a point of Liverpool this season...

  23. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chalobah on for Doucoure

  24. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hendo+Lundy really paid off for the last 2 weeks but after Wat away they have some tough fixtures. So which GK should I reconsider?

    My def:
    Hendo Button
    Taa Kelly Lundy Soy Tomori

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

      Guaita is glaringly obvious.

  25. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mata coming on

  26. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ffs Rashford

  27. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mata incoming

  28. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    all i want for Xmas is a Rashford goal

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

    Rashford range

  30. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pogba great pass to Rashford, Rash could have done better but wins free in dangerous position