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. Cousin Greg
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    dendo denied

  2. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    With this Villa cleansheet, ive gotta consider Villa defence

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

    Omg martinez

  4. Dybala10
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Benched Martinez for Johnstone. Yuck.

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

    I don’t believe this...

  6. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I remember calling a Martinez haul a few days ago, only thing I’ve predicted right this season

  7. money face bandwagon
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Wow martinez getting 2cs

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

    People took a hit to sell Martinez for the WBA keeper...

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

      😆

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

      Lol

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

    Targett yellow

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Fck

  10. Party time
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I should have captained Martinez!

    • Pariße
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A fantastic piece of football right there with me getting a headache for benching Martinez.

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

      What a save!

    • MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Martinez HOOOOLD

    • ivantys
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Martinez is destined for this CS

    • BeWater
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Mike Dean trying to get to 4000 yellow cards.

    • Champions League Varane
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Another point for Martinez but Targett yellow fcckkk

    • La Roja
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Hand of god!

    • Joey Tribbiani
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      my heart stopped, I though that was in

    • Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Incredible save

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

      Dendonker needs to score that. Absolutely useless. I score that 10/10 times.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Course you do Collin lmao

    • DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      There's a new troll in town.

    • MagicMessi
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Some guy here said 9 people triple captained Martinez?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Danstoke82
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Blimey Martinez please hold

    • The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      7

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

      7th save. Silva overhead kick.

    • Dele
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Hooooolllldddd Martinez

    • yalala
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Wow nice

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

      Martinez absolute haul.

      On my bench

      1. The Train Driver
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        That's why I got Johnstone as 2nd keeper, so I'd never feel the need to rotate.

        1. The Train Driver
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Had Steer before but wanted a playing keeper and free up AV spot if anyone wonders...

    • Sanchit
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      How did Neves fall out of favour?
      Last season he was mostly the first name on the teamsheet for Wolves.

    • Rainer
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      2 more not out of the question...

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

        Yeah 2 more shots on target
        1 of which goes in