Dugout Discussion

Holgate and Sidibe benched as Everton face Palace in Gameweek 26 opener

The first of ten Premier League matches in as many days takes place between Everton and Crystal Palace, with Gameweek 26 getting underway at Goodison Park at 12:30 GMT.

Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a blow to owners of Mason Holgate (£4.5m) and Djibril Sidibe (£5.4m), with both of those defenders only among the substitutes.

That is Holgate’s first benching since Gameweek 9, with the budget Fantasy Premier League asset losing his ever-present record under his new manager.

Michael Keane (£5.2m) and Seamus Coleman (£5.3m) come in at centre-half and right-back respectively, with Bernard (£6.4m) ousting Alex Iwobi (£5.6m) on the left flank.

Ancelotti’s other change is an enforced one, with Morgan Schneiderlin (£4.4m) replacing the suspended Fabian Delph (£5.3m).

Richarlison (£8.1m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.1m) again form a two-man strike force for the hosts.

Speaking of his line-up changes, Ancelotti said:

We need more of everything. More quality, more intensity, more pressure, more concentration. It’s not easy to pick the line-up but I want everyone to be involved and the players accept my decisions.

The Palace team news is nice and easy to digest, with the Eagles unchanged from their defeat to Sheffield United last weekend.

Martin Kelly (£4.3m), who lost his place to Joel Ward (£4.3m) in Gameweek 25 anyway, is absent with a minor calf injury.

Vicente Guaita (£5.0m) is between the posts again after his clanger against the Blades, with Roy Hodgson saying:

You don’t drop first-choice goalkeepers because they’ve made one mistake – it can happen to anyone. We’re very happy with him and very happy he’s playing today.

Palace are without a clean sheet since Gameweek 16, which is the longest barren streak in the top flight at present.


Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Walcott, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, McCarthy, McArthur, Zaha, Ayew, Benteke.

1,580 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    80 mph winds forecast for tomorrow

    Make sure your benches are nailed down

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I can't even get my 1st team out let alone a bench!

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      My sons Sunday league game in serious doubt then

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        united arent playing tomorrow are they...

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

    Need Sheffield U cs gone this weekend 🙂

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

      Already gone by storm

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Fingers crossed. Surely at most risk. City later

  3. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone know Salah EO this week in top 10k?

    1. Liber
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      164.49%

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Cripes. Captain on Kun

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

    DCL owners in absolute tears

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      ???

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

      why ?

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      silly risk to take with this post

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

        I expect people who are on here lurking 20 minutes before kickoff to be able to do a quick search and realize what I mean

    4. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      reported

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        For what? DCL hurt in warm up

        1. COLLIN QUANER
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Only a joke, duh

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

      Injured in warmup ?

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

      Went into the tunnel in warm up after receiving treatment...

    7. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      DCL plus Holgate owner here

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        ouch

  5. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Oh thought I VC KDB but I did Son. Oh well hopefully with Salah will not need vice to come in 🙂

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

    Is DCL actually hurt?

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      hello brosstan account number 2

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

      Hope so

    3. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      how ?

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

      is he injured ?

  7. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Early thoughts on next week
    A. Lund to VVD (allowing Martial to Son next)
    B. Martial to Mane (Lund to Fernández)

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      my rival has him vc with mane c

      this is a interesting turn of events especially with mane not guaranteed to play

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Richarlison up top, Sidibe right wing hopefully

    3. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      thanks mate !

    4. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Bring Holgate in and push Rich up

  8. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DC Hell

  9. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Vamos Guaitaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Need palace to score.
      Come on benteke

  10. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play one

    A. Hendo vs Brighton(H)
    B. Pope vs Bournemouth(H)

    Playing Stevens as well!

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Pope will prob just edge it. Brighton score better than Bou atm.

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers mate!

  11. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    “ Calvert Lewin getting some treatment to his foot it looks like in the warm up. Niasse coming out to warm up as precaution. Kean moving into starting group warmup”

    1. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Xcellent 😉

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      kean deserves a start to be fair

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Actually!

      2. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Richarlison & Kean upfront would be lethal!

  12. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DAmn it Holgate benched

  13. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    We love a bit of pre-match drama

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ha ha

  14. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DCL back out trying sprints now

  15. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Latest: "Back out with team doing some shooting, looks like he's giving it a go , we need him today hopefully he can get at least 60 mins"

  16. nolard
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Big defensive shuffle then as Lunds, Kelly and Holgate all go from safe to benched.

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Peo[ple were wildcarding before this. More coming now.

  17. DeathoftheParty
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Benteke up top... Nail that Digne CS in please.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      But I have Benteke TC... 🙁

  18. teddypicker
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    6.5 striker to replace DCL:

    A) Wood
    B) Deeney
    C) Other

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B atm but keep an eye on Jota (Wolves one) as he could be a steal if he links up well with Jiminez again.

  19. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mooy chomping at the bit from my bench if DCL is out.

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

    DCL back in warm up. Owners in tears too quickly

  21. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    interesting how people worry themselves over pre-match injuries.

    Why even stress about things out of ones control. If he's out then someone steps in from the bench. If the bench is crap then that's a problem created by yourself.

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Of course. FPL is the most non reactionary game in the world innit.

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

      Thats human nature really. Panic attack.

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

        Casual nature*

    3. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It's one of the longest gameweeks of the season and people are already asking about DCL replacements 😆

    4. PL Ball
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      True. But then why worry at all about anything ever?

      It's human nature. Let people worry as they wish 🙂

  22. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Likeliness of a Guaita cs? Very low, right?

    1. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      High because I benched him.
      Chose Ryan.

      Yes I know both my GKs are trash but I'm not planning to change them until I play a WC.

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Game starts in 10 minutes, just watch and see

  23. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Do you think that Karma exist ? 🙂

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Chris?

      1. Jebiga
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Wildcarders without DCL

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

      Nope

    3. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I will certainly feel calmer after a Salah hat trick...

    4. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I know at least 5 people named Karma around my circle. They definitely exist 😀

    5. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If so a piano would fall on Donald trump every day

  24. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What a dull day of footie. The only remote interest I have in the first game is hoping for a Ward injury...

  25. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    will be frustrating if DCL doesn't play as he is my differential in my mini leagues.

    Saiss first on bench isn't the best but isn't the worst.

  26. Jullepuu
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DCL and Sidibe to Jimenez and Lascelles (or someone up to 4.8mil) seems like the easiest moves I'll make in the whole season right?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Consider Boly too

      1. Jullepuu
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        For some reason I don't see many cleansheets when I look at their fixtures. Definitely an option still. Cheers

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

      Yep. Fixtures turn and the rage make it a perfect choice.

      1. Jullepuu
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Not going to make a rage transfer today. I will take the price drops to the chin lol

    3. SuperDan
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yup

      1. Jullepuu
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

  27. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Cranks ancient up PC. Logs in. Holgate benched. Hello Fernandez. Just another routine game week.

  28. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe.. what an absolutely awful transfer he has been.

    No doubt Everton will get finally get a CS today.

    1. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Have to hope for a Benteke header