Dugout Discussion
12 December 2020 1193 comments
Colm Hayes Colm Hayes
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Fresh off an overnight price rise, Jack Grealish (£7.8m) starts in an attacking left-sided role for Aston Villa at Molineux.

The England midfielder flanks Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) on one side, with Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) handed a start on the opposite wing.

There is no place in Dean Smith’s matchday squad for Trezeguet (£5.3m). The midfielder did sustain a cut to his head in Gameweek 10.

Emi Martinez (£4.8m) is between the goalposts for Villa behind a settled back four. Matt Targett (£4.5m) is the cheapest FPL option in that defence.

Smith has also handed a start to £4.5m midfielder Jacob Ramsey, with the 19-year-old taking the place of Ireland’s Conor Hourihane (£6.0m). The Villa chief said of his selection decision:

[Jacob] has really impressed. He’s played a number of cup games for us and excelled in them.

It’s harsh on Conor Hourihane but I just felt that the way Jacob has trained in the last few weeks has really impressed me. His energy levels have enabled him to start today.

On the injured Ross Barkley (£5.9m), Smith explained on Wednesday:

No [he’s not in the squad for Wolves]. He’s still carrying an injury. He’s rehabbing at the moment, he’s back running. It shouldn’t be too long before he’s back.

Fabio Silva (£5.2m) is tasked with wiping out the Villa backline’s clean sheet, as Nuno Espirito Santo hands the young striker his full Premier League debut.

Silva will operate in front an attacking midfield trio containing Pedro Neto (£5.7m), Daniel Podence (£5.4m) and Adama Traoré (£6.2m).

“He has to stick to his tasks. He has talent to exploit the situations that can happen.” – Nuno Espirito Santo on Fabio Silva

The Wolves manager is also sticking with a back four, which sees the surprising inclusion of Romain Saiss (£5.1m) ahead of the benched Willy Boly (£5.5m). Budget option Max Kilman (£4.3m) is also a substitute.

Boly has been demoted by Wolves manager Nuno

Aston Villa have not played since Gameweek 10, after their GW11 clash with Newcastle was postponed due to the Magpies’ Covid-19 outbreak.

The Villans lost 2-1 away to West Ham in GW10 as Watkins missed a penalty. Asked if the striker would have taken a second spot-kick on the night, Smith responded on Friday:

It’s not something I’ve discussed at the moment but we will before the Wolves game. He was disappointed with the penalty miss, an opportunity to score from 12 yards.

He just wants to keep getting better, he’ll keep working hard. He is itching to get playing again. Missing a penalty is not nice. I have missed one myself. It is part and parcel of the game and it is always how you bounce back.

Fabio Silva, at 18 years of age, is Wolves’ only available senior striker after Raul Jimenez suffered a serious head injury in GW10.

The Mexico star was pictured visiting the Wolves training ground this week, with Nuno stating on Friday:

He’s OK, it’s the same Raul. He’s smiling and being positive and it’s so good to have him. We had normal conversations. We already spoke about the team and how we see it.

He has this desire that he wants to return and this is the most important step that he already made. He will take time but he wants to return.

The Wolves boss added on Jonny (£5.4m):

He’s doing very well. He’s a strong player, as you can see, but now he has to have some time. We can’t rush things.

Wolves XI (4-2-3-1): Rui Patricio; Marcal, Saiss, Coady, Semedo; Dendoncker, Moutinho; Neto, Podence, Adama Traoré; Fabio Silva.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-3): Martinez; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Cash; McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey; Grealish, Watkins, Bertrand Traoré.

  1. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hahhaa Podence with a cute little tantrum

  2. COLLIN QUANER
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Podence fuming and rightly so. Never a foul.

  3. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    If no other fires to put out does McCarthy to Martinez seem a worthwhile transfer?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      No

  4. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Villa penalty has happened

  5. CheesyZoot
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    ABSOLUTE SCENES

  6. sunzip14
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Villa Pen

  7. MagicMessi
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Penalty Villa

  8. WVA
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    FYI guys I have started Martinez so may as well accept he won't get a clean sheet now

  9. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Villa penalty.

    1. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Noice

  10. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    OLLIE PENO

  11. MagicMessi
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Mcginn assist

  12. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Podence == bam bam

  13. Arctic monkeys
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Watkins, just get away from tthe ball

  14. Right In The Stanchion
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Villa Pen.

    Please don’t let Grealish take it

  15. JONALDINHO
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Grealish step upp

  16. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Don’t miss this one again

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      F

  17. MagicMessi
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Ghazi on penos 😀 ffs

  18. Il Capitano
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    El Ghazi to take, Watkins off pens

  19. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Let Martinez take

  20. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hahaha

  21. Right In The Stanchion
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Lol Watkins off pens

  22. Meinhoff
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    El Ghazi looool

  23. umerlfc
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Lol
    No Watkins on pens anymore

    1. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Well that may not be true, could just be like when Milner takes them over Salah when he’s on

  24. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    El Ghazi taking LOL

  25. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Not Watkins Not Grealish

  26. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Who has Wolves defence?

  27. CheesyZoot
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    El Ghazi.... is this a joke?

  28. Pukki Party
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    El Ghazi

  29. Dele
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Waatttkkiinnnsss

    1. Zimo
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Lol

  30. KGFC
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Watkins off penalty

    Grealish why don't you take??? 🙁