Dugout Discussion

Traoré benched again as Aston Villa start two strikers against Wolves

Adama Traoré (£5.8m) finds himself on the Wolves bench for the second tie in three matches since the Premier League restart.

Nuno Espirito Santo has gone with a 3-5-2 formation for the tip to Aston Villa, the same system used for the last away match at West Ham.

For that Gameweek 30+ encounter, the Wolves manager used Traoré as an impact substitute, to good effect, and it appears that will be his plan again today.

Raúl Jiménez (£8.3m) owners and captainers will be pleased to see the Mexican in the starting line-up although may be a little disappointed by Traoré’s benching.

The two players form the most productive pairing in the Premier League this season, seven of Jiménez’s goals coming from Traoré assists.

Diogo Jota (£6.3m) gets his third successive start since the restart, joining Jiménez in the front-two.

Leander Dendoncker (£4.4m) is the man coming in for Traoré, sitting in a three-man central-midfield unit alongside Ruben Neves (£5.2m) and Joao Moutinho (£5.4m).

Meanwhile, popular Wolves defenders Matt Doherty (£6.4m) and Romain Saïss (£4.6m) both keep their starts once again.

They will have to handle a new-look Aston Villa attack this afternoon, with Dean Smith making the decision to go with a front-pairing of his own.

Rather than choose between Keinan Davis (£4.3m) and Mbwana Samatta (£5.6m), the Villa manager has started them together, supported by Jack Grealish (£6.4m) in what appears to be a central role.

Smith’s decision to go with a more conversative back-four has produced improved defensive showings since the restart, so he hands starts to Matt Targett (£4.4m), Tyrone Mings (£4.4m), Kortney Hause (£4.4m) and Ezri Konsa (£4.3m) once again.

Despite the tweaks to the front-three, Smith keeps faith in a three-man screening for the defence, deploying Marvelous Nakamba (£4.4m), Douglas Luiz (£4.4m) and Conor Hourihane (£5.7m) in central midfield.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-1-2): Nyland; Targett, Hause, Mings, Konsa; Nakamba, D Luiz, Hourihane; Grealish; Davis, Samatta.

Wolves XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Doherty; D Jota, Jiménez.

1,481 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Think it’s Triple Captain Salah time

    That AVL fixture is just too enticing

    Cue Klopp benching/bringing on for last 2 mins just in time to miss a pen

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I already TC Salah in GW24 for 48 points

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nice - think he got 1G 1A that DGW...

        Could see him getting that in the first 20 mins vs AVL *IF* big Jurgen gives him a start....

        And the problem is that’s by no means a certainty - but hopefully they let him keep going for the golden boot

  2. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jimenez rested for Arsenal game....

  3. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Two capt fails in a row.
    Ah, the sweet scent of familiarity comes wafting back.

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Same here

    2. scarlet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Same here. It is good to see some things haven't changed following restart...

  4. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    At least Jimi got the assist in BTFantasyPL

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      How many bonus ?

  5. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Martial (c) is now an even better differential should it work

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      ... should it work

      1. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        It better work.

    2. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      That seems a week late unfortunately.

    3. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes man

  6. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    JIminez subbed off

  7. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Another captain fail 🙁

  8. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jiminez fail, but at least Doh And Pat make it look respectable. Cue the inevitable last minute villa goal

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

    Long week incoming for Jimenez (c)

  10. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    The only thing that is "explosive" about Jimi is the rage of his cappers. 😛

    1. evilfish
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'm not raging, I fully expecty my (C) to blank.

      1. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Anything over 2/3 points is a bonus

  11. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Gonna be so hard to get captain hauls these last few weeks. Fine margins, Bruno last week over Martial a great example, really tempted to go for differentials now

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Just don’t be a sheep

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Alternatively just captain one of Mo or KdB and just play around with VC for rotation

    3. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Went with pulisic ...let's see how it works

  12. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Hopefully the dullard casuals will regret capping Jimmy

  13. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone know any alternative hobbies other than FPL?

    1. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      philately

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Virtual fpl

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        What is that?

    3. Party time
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Stare at paint dry

    4. Louis Van Gaalstones
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I just cannot get a captain pick right

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Don’t be a sheep

        1. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          This

    5. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Captain w@nked yet again with Jimi. Now all I need is a jammy goal from Villa to deny Saiss and Doherty their CSs...

    6. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Don't worry Jimenez captainers, I've captained Auba so he'll blank as well.

      1. Greek Freak
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Also I've transferred in Martial so you don't have to worry about him going off either.

      2. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Appreciate the support

    7. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Oh dear my Jimi capt didn’t go well

    8. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Spawny casual Jimi non owners massively bailed out. I've had it with this season

      1. Kroos Kontrol
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        In what sense? He's barely threatened today.

        In the previous two games, he's take until 70 minutes to score a header - he can't keep scoring every week (esp when it's only 1 goal, that he gets in 2-3 chances).

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

          1 goal average over last period means owners deserve a least a goal. Statistics and all that...

          1. Kellz86
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            "deserved" or "due" a goal is the most overused nonsense in voetbal

      2. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Unluckyyyyyyyyyy

    9. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Swapped captaincy from Jimi to rashford this morning. Phew!

      1. Lukakwho
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        You were the same guy that was bricking it before. Well played

      2. You've got red on you.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I did the opposite 🙁

    10. Reg83
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      What a big captain failure! Useless Jimenez. Didn't want to captain him but not much other options. Maybe should have c rashford

    11. yer old da
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Jimenez was a hopeless captain pick this week - tried to warn you all last night but you wouldn’t listen.

      Ohhh Bruno Fernandes, ohhh Bruno Fernandes

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Bruno probably just as bad. Brighton look great

    12. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Fail. GW Over. See you all next round

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        See you on the next page mate

        1. SuperMane Returns
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          🙂 🙂 🙂

    13. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Dreadful lunch time kick off isn't a myth!!!

      1. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        To captain

      2. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        It is, capped Kane for 2 hattricks I think at this time

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          That was Christmas 2018/2019. He is rubbish now

        2. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          This.

    14. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      C Salah ahead of Jimmy maybe is not too bad as i thought

    15. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It is only worth captaining players from Man City and Liverpool because they are the only two teams who consistently score loads of goals.

      Yes, Leicester went on a hot streak early on, but those types of streaks are few and far between.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Chelsea had their run too and United may be on one now. Not that clear cut

        But check how you’d do with either perma cap Mo or KdB this season

    16. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      The postman failed to deliver... haha

      1. SuperMane Returns
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I paid for recorded delivery too. I want my money back.

    17. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      How long until we get the regulatory Villa party popper goal?

      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Pooper

    18. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Kane captainers unite 😎

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        o/

      2. Differentiator
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        ohhh yeahhhhhhhh! Hatty coming

        1. HashAttack
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Lets hope SHU v ARS goes to extra time tomorrow

    19. Kroos Kontrol
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Slept through the deadline, was scared when I woke up at half-time and Fernandes was still my captain. Will take it now haha

      1. DD
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I actually chose Bruno as captain. Seems it's quite the differential captain choice this gw.

    20. SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      DONK MOTM

      1. The Reptile
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        2nd on my bench... Kiko 1st so even if Nketiah doesn't play I miss out