Dugout Discussion

Fernandes starts at Brighton despite 120-minute FA Cup outing

Bruno Fernandes (£8.7m) has surprised Fantasy managers by starting for Manchester United’s trip to Brighton.

The Portuguese international played a full 120 minutes in an FA Cup win at Norwich on Saturday, suggesting that he might miss out on Gameweek 32+.

Despite having Andreas Pereira (£4.8m) and Juan Mata (£6.1m) on the bench, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed Fernandes for a fourth start in all competitions since the Premier League resumed.

In light of extra-time in the FA Cup, it will be interesting to see how long the midfielder is able to last at the Amex Stadium though.

Fernandes will also be under the microscope of eagle-eyed Fantasy managers still curious about how he will cope with Paul Pogba (£8.3m) in the side.

The Frenchman made his first league start since Gameweek 7 when Sheffield United were dispatched 3-0 at Old Trafford, arguably overshadowing Ferandnes in the process.

Therefore, it will be important analyse whether or not the same will be true on the road, especially considering this is the same XI that Solskjaer named against the Blades.

That means another Premier League start for Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) on the flanks of attacking midfield, Marcus Rashford (£9.1m) on the opposite flank and Anthony Martial (£8.2m) in the centre-forward position.

The out-of-position FPL midfielder scored 10 points the last time he faced Brighton and launched himself onto the Fantasy radar with a hat-trick in Gameweek 31+.

Manchester United may not have it too easy at Brighton though. Notorious tinkerman Graham Potter has gone for an ultra-conservative formation, featuring a back-five and a trio of midfielders screening the defence.

Dan Burn (£4.5m) tucks in alongside Lewis Dunk (£4.7m) and Shane Duffy (£4.8m) at centre-back while Tariq Lamptey (£4.0m), who impressed against Leicester, could be up against Rashford.

Dale Stephens (£4.4m), Yves Bissouma (£5.0m) and Davy Pröpper (£4.8m) have been given the task of protecting the back-five, with creative players such as Aaron Mooy (£4.8m), Leandro Trossard (£5.8m) and Pascal Groß (£6.2m) on the bench.

Alexis Mac Allister (£5.5m) looks to be in a rather disconnected number 10 role just behind Aaron Connolly (£4.2m) in the lone-striker role, while Neal Maupay (£5.7m) finds himself among the substitutes.

Brighton and Hove XI (5-3-1-1): Ryan; Montoya, Burn, Duffy, Dunk, Lamptey; Bissouma, D Stephens, Pröpper; Mac Allister; Connolly.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka; Matic, Pogba; Rashford, B Fernandes, Greenwood; Martial.

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 32+

1,724 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    offside

  2. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Martial AKA Captain muppet

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

    Offside?

  4. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Bruno > Martial

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Shaw might be offside though.....

    1. SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Not Shaw to be honest.

  6. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Matt Ryan been awful on his near post.

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      He’s been in slow motion for both goals

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Huge deflection

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

    Pogba essential!

  8. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Getting Maquire for the goal threat instead of Wan the Man, who apparently is not that attacking, looks silly now 🙁

    Come on Maquire, goal is needed, cups dont count for FPL.

    Anyone esle in the same boat? Are we switching?

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

      similar boat- i got DDG

  9. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Season over...

  10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    That was offside

  11. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Yes.... Shaw is offside... Oofff!!! VAR to the rescue

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      It stands

    2. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Wow... Not given 😮

    3. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      It’s United, what did you expect?

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

    Bruno assist

  13. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Is Ryan weak at diving to his left or something?

    1. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      He's got a half-time chocolate bar is his left pocket and doesn't want to break it .

      He'll be a lot better in the second half.

  14. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Ah yes, the week I didn’t captain him

    1. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Same, Rash this week..

  15. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Offside AND an own goal.

    1. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Yes, 100% this

  16. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    hell yeaaah no offside !!! Brunoooooo punishing kneejerkers

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

    lol at those who sold bruno for martial.

    kudos to those who c bruno

    1. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Having both is fine

  18. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Ohh Bruno Fernandes, ohh Bruno Fernandes

  19. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Surprised that wasn't a VAR check

  20. endy919
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Greenwood G
    Bruno G
    now Rashford please 🙂

  21. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Was set on Nketiah as a backup strike but why not Greenwood.

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      need all the united spots you can get

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

    No replay for offside?

    LiVARpool at it again!!!!

  23. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Pretty good for a pen merchant 😉

  24. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    So is it 2 goals or no!?..

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Sounds like few more than that

  25. JabariParkersEyelid
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Cannot believe they haven't called that offside? Own Bruno, but still.

  26. Lucy2019
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Bruno to Martial owners loving life.

  27. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    United turning into City. About 5 players who alternate who gets the megahaul from week to week. Never bench, never captain but have 2 or 3 to "cover" their attack.

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Mark must have capped Bruno

    Goal already given

  29. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    It clearly wasn’t offside. Can’t make that complaint now var in place

  30. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Bruno is great potential captain with Pogba behind, not vice versa .

    Come oooon Rashford