Dugout Discussion

Out-of-position £4.0m defender Struijk starts in midfield for Leeds

Fantasy Premier League managers have confirmation of the latest starting £4.0m defender as Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) features in midfield for Leeds United tonight.

In his pre-match press conference, Marcelo Bielsa promised the budget option would be the replacement for Kalvin Phillips (£5.0m), who is out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury.

While most of the FPL attention will be on Jack Grealish (£7.2m) and Emiliano Martínez (£4.8m) tonight, each owned by roughly 25% of managers, it will be worth assessing Struijk’s credentials, especially with Max Kilman (£4.1m) turning heads at Wolves.

The omens initially look relatively strong for Grealish and his differential team-mates Ollie Watkins (£6.0m), Ross Barkley (£6.0m) and John McGinn (£5.5m) though.

Not only are Leeds without their key defensive midfield Phillips, club captain and first-choice centre-back Liam Cooper (£4.4m) could not overcome his groin injury.

That has forced Marcelo Bielsa to put together something of a makeshift back-four, especially with back-up centre-back Struijk playing in midfield.

The tweak sees right-back Luke Ayling (£4.5m) join Robin Koch (£4.5m) in the middle, Stuart Dallas (£4.5m) switching flanks to fill the gap there and Ezgjan Alioski (£4.4m) comes in at left-back.

The Aston Villa defence, which has kept three clean sheets from a possible four so far, remains unchanged.

That means another start for Emiliano Martínez (£4.8m), Matt Targett (£4.5m), Ezri Konsa (£4.6m), Tyrone Mings (£5.2m) and Matty Cash (£5.0m).

After five Gameweeks this season, Villa’s two centre-backs are in the top three for most points per million spent among defenders.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-3): Martínez; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Cash; Barkley, D Luiz, McGinn; Grealish, Watkins, Trézéguet.

Leeds United XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Alioski, Koch, Ayling, Dallas; Struijk; Harrison, Rodrigo, Klich, Costa; Bamford.

1,443 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Grealish can pizz outta my team right this minute.

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Steady chap.

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Haha!! Read my earlier comments.

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

      I want pizza

  2. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This place on matchday got more drama queens than broadway.

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yep it’s pathetic

  3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    listening to the game on the radio

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Cheaper. And in many ways better.

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You should your avatar to Abe Simspson.

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Haha

    3. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That is certainly the way forward. I’m currently listening to Wilshere’s interview who is now a free agent

    4. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It's quite a visual sport. Better to use your imagination imo

    5. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      so thats how you're always the first to report goals

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        OMG Radio5Live

  4. Kryptonite666
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is it worth keeping Watkins guys based on eye test ? Or should I start worrying

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

      Worrytown

    2. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'm moving to Antonio in 2 weeks if he continues to look this poor.

      1. Klaren
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Except that he didn’t look poor

        1. FPL.team
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          He was awful, so slow in posession, no service, any openings he did get he did nothing with.

    3. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Looks like an Aston Villa striker

    4. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      100% with those fixtures

    5. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He will score 12-15 goals. Not every week. He is 6m. All 6m’s will be about the same imo

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Nketiah begs to disagree

      2. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        All comps? Or prem?

    6. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      only will switch for Antonio, and he'll probably be injured again before West Ham's good fixtures start. For £6 mil Watkins will be good enough all the way to GW16.

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

    Hows Watkins so far? Brought him in to enable Spurs attack. Worth sticking with?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Couple decent positions. But hasn’t looked threatening

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Makes other players around him play better. Defo wouldn't sell before Soton. His pace is likely to stir trouble.

    3. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Absolutely. He has good fixtures and is the main centre forward of an attacking team. Definitely keep

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Placeholder for Antonio in a few weeks for me

  6. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any inclination as to who was going to take a potential penalty for Villa during the VAR review?

    Unable to watch unfortunately

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

      Nah. Ref didn't point for pen. It was just checked by var and not given

    2. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It wasn’t given in the first place, so no one took the ball.

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Ah cheers both

  7. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    "Wamangituka Fundu" strangest footballer name I've seen in a while. Stuttgart forward.

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I’d just call him fundu

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wa man ?

  8. FPL_trail_runner
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    So HT

    Game following mostly the pregame underlying stats

    Villa not creating much, bar one Ayling mistake letting Grealish have a very good chance

    Leeds the better team but not taking their chances, should have scored 1 already if not more.

    Villa look the more likely to concede, however may all change in second half.

    Watkins, Barkley anonymous, Grealish looks the pick of Villa.

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Leeds tend to fall off in the second half with the intensity they put early in the game. Fancy Villa to nick this in the second half.

      1. FPL_trail_runner
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Very much a possibility

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Villa will score, unlucky.

      1. FPL_trail_runner
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I would not be surprised.

        Easy out if it does, i focus on the decision over the outcome.

        Wasnt worth a -4 for any defender this week i didnt have.

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          true, it's difficult to justify a defender in a for a hit unless they have a nice run of games.

          Good chance of this game ending 0-0, so you never know.

  9. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Would you pick Zouma or Cash/Targett?

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo XX

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      *rubs eyes*

      Zouma?!

      How about Konsa?

    2. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      U want Cresswell and Chilwell. The wellbros!

  10. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I don't even understand the logic behind a pick like Watkins when he's only supposed to free up funds, you might as well go with Brewster. Even Bissouma has more attacking threat smh

    1. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Same to Grealish, on borrowed time in my team.

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

      Put Bissouma on the pitch this week, hoping for him to do bits!

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

    hows bamford doing?

    1. FPL_trail_runner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Regressing to his xG

      Missing good chances

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

        dont give a toss about xg p

        1. FPL_trail_runner
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Well its a way to explain his performances so far

          He overperformed in week 1-3 and scored chances that 80% of the time he should miss

          he is underperforming now and missing chances he should be scoring

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

            thats why i dont give a toss about it

            is he getting into good positions and looking dangerous?

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Like he is unable to use his left leg for anything else than running.

      Had a good chance but made a wrong decision.

      1. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        This didn't aged well...

  12. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Grealish to Who? -8

    Trossard, Zaha, Ziyech.

    1. Party time
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Ziyech

      • Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Only for Kante

      • Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Id it's not Oriol Romeu what r u even doing

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

      Not taking a -8 to get Grealish is haunting me. I've made such a mistake. Gameweek over.

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        🙁

      2. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Lets be honest, only thing you can do now is delete your account and wait for next season.

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Keep Martial for one more week of absence? Fixtures not bad

      ARS (H)
      EVE (A)
      WBA (H)
      SOU (A)
      WHU (A)

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I think you are 4 gws late with this one.

      2. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Depends if you want points of not.

        1. Party time
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Lol

        2. Over The Mounié
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Depends what else you might do with a free transfer.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I agree 😀

        3. Party time
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Sell imo

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

          watkins won't play liverpool's high line every week

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            This^

        5. Nas
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Aston Villa have looked great defensively in previous games but today the look easy to counter. Many last ditch tackles and missed shots.
          Leeds are a great footballing team with very poor finishers. Should have bought a callus Wilson or josh king rather than Rodrigo.
          The Leeds defense is a different beast from the open basket we saw in gw1.
          Ollie Watkins actually looks decent. Good hustle, decent pace etc, but Aston Villa don’t look a high scoring team despite their heroics against pool.
          Barkley gets into more central and shooting positions than grealish. Might become the better option

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

            wilson or king over rodrigo... hmmm

          2. FPL_trail_runner
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Neither King or Wilson would suit them

            Neither can

            1. Press
            2. Play on the counter

            Both like slow build up/ crosses and coming deep to create. Biesla only picks pressing forwards with threat on the break.

            A hybrid type who can press and finish is very rare.

        6. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Taylor G For vs Der 1-1

        7. Stormbringer22
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Not watching the game, but reading the comments here I take it Grealish isn't doing so well? I don't have him, and if anything I intend to bring him in, surely you can't all be thinking of selling him? Some dramatic posts on here

          1. Vazza
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            That’s the beauty of FPL. It does not take us FPL community members to turn a hero into zero and vice versa.

            1. Stormbringer22
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              I bet you if Grealish scores in the second half, all posts on here would be "Never doubted you, Jack" and "GREALISHHHHH!" 😀

        8. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Martinez catches an amazing number of shots.

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

            Pope 2.0

        9. FER FUSCH AKE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Guaita instead of Martinez about to sting me for the 3rd time now. I think I've peaked at this game. All downhill from now onwards.

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Jesus bud. Have a beer or knock one out. You are highly strung tonight.

          2. Clintymints
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Gotta know a good thing when it's there and not be stubborn!

          3. Over The Mounié
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            At the end of the day it's just but a f**kin game. Don't beat yourself over it.

            1. FER FUSCH AKE
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              True mate.

          4. Stormbringer22
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Have you Wildcarded yet?

            1. FER FUSCH AKE
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              of course. I was going differential owing to a poor start. Ended up sliding further down the ranks.

              1. Stormbringer22
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Don't beat yourself up. Martinez cleanie has been wiped out

        10. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Allioski astronaut shot

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

            he has a bad haircut

        11. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Chelsea fans, could James get back in the team? I still have him rotting on my bench but shame to transfer out if he plays Burnley next GW.

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            You knew the risks. I’d sell.

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              This guy isn't a Chelsea fan, so bit of a useless comment.

              He's not nailed, but is still talented and will get plenty of minutes.

              1. Forever In Our Shadow
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                Why is it useless? He wasn’t nailed and still isn't. At 5m I’d be moving on most likely for Chilwell if funds permit. Oh and with respect you don’t have to be a Chelsea fan to have an opinion.

                1. Hazz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  He is asking for Chelsea fans and you're not one.

          2. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Yes

          3. Stormbringer22
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Not a Chelsea fan but I don't think he has been dropped. He was always going to be rotated with Azpi

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              This

        12. The Train Driver
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          That would have been the goal of the season...

        13. Pep Roulette
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Grealish My Oh My

        14. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Dammnit. Grealish almost scores solo goal after amazing run

        15. el polako
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          That deserved a goal.

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

            It did

          2. Over The Mounié
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Why? Surely you have to get the ball into the goal to deserve a goal. Or do you mean you would prefer games to be decided by a panel of judges?

            1. el polako
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              You clearly never played the game.

        16. some witty pun
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          This run reminds me of that Payet goal

        17. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Score that Grealish ffs

        18. FantasyHero
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Grealish wow

        19. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Incredible from Grealish!