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. Big_Bear
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone else gone Deeney(c). Troy to deliver!

    1. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He shall make you happy

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

      Hopefully with Sarr assists.

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

    Traore coming on

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

    Jota 59mins as predicted.

  4. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jimenez goal imminent.

  5. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Adama is a complete tank.

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

    Traore is a good game changer, but not the best. Townsend is better.

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Lol

  7. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A real super Sunday tomorrow

  8. Bobby
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Sigh my captain choices are like kryptonite

  9. Mumble Pie
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Mon Traore !!! RIP these a new one

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

      I don't think he has come up against a player like Neil Taylor before

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jota doesn’t make 60.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ugh harsh

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      The ultimate FUto owners

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

    Jota 59 mins 30 secs

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      sigh....hes been terrible for me

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

    Missed the deadline...now have 2 x FTs, any ideas?

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Sell Targett

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not Jota

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

      The team is looking good from what I can see

  13. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jimi smash and grab needed

  14. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Why oh why did I bring jota into my team fail!

  15. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Watch Traore assist a Jiminez winner now that he’s come on. No idea why he keeps on getting benched

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

      He is a ball of fast twitch muscle. His endurance is lower than normal players but he is far more explosive. Get him on vs tired legs for 30 mins and watch the fireworks.

  16. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Back after a while. Hope everyone is doing well. It is great to have so much footy on TV these days!

    Was a bit irked with the whole free transfer debacle at the start (as my team was already I felt sorted for the next scheduled GW as I plan ahead all the time). So many teams being able to use their bench boost so much more effectively than normal.
    After the first week back my 'proud' rank of 8.556 (on for my first ever top 10k finish after being so close twice before) plummeted to 13,753 after the first week!!
    I was gloomy!

    But an 87 followed by a 102 with not chips played (only got free hit left) has seen me have renewed hope of challenging for the top 10k as my rank is now actually 6,310

    Navigating these next few weeks with FA Cup focussed teams..... is so hard. Liverpool rotation too?! What do I do!?

    Team is
    McCarthy, Nyland
    TAA, AWB, Boly, Lascelles, Mendy,
    Martial, Pulisic, Mane, KDB, Grealish
    Rashford, Jiminez, Ings

    All listed in secure-ness order. 1.2 ITB as well.

    GK needs addressed for next 3 gwks but who?..... and who to ditch first Mendy to Aurier? KDB/Grealish to Foden maybe? Ings to Pukki/Origi?!!

    Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Promise to reply to everyone who throws their penny's worth in

  17. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Martial or AWB for third ManU player? Already have Rash and Bruno

    1. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Awb spread the love

    2. Bourbon, Pot Still or Islay…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Id go DF
      I have Mart AWB and Rash (see above)

      Being a Pool fan, its odd wanting Utd players to do well!! (but in any year this year I can be comfortable with it!)

    3. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Martial

  18. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Wolves manager clearly doesn't have Jota in his FPL team

  19. Alnair
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    gtfo Jota

  20. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Early games are usually low scoring and didn’t Jimi score with one chance last week?

    Need that sneaky goal. Bring it on Traore!

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

    Dendonk goal

  22. TwiggsJameson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jotasl 1 point locked in.

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

    Den Donkey No!

  24. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Donker goal

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

    Dendonkey

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

    Badonkadonk GOAL

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

    Jota 1 point
    Hourihane 1 point

    Delicious

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

    Dendoncker G

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

    When you factor in the extra time in the first half, Jota made 60 minutes. Dont worry owners...

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

      😆 they can dream

  30. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Donkey G
    Jonny A

    Great Jimmy AA