Dugout Discussion

Still no Barkley or Konsa for Villa as Allardyce era gets underway at West Brom

Sam Allardyce takes charge of West Bromwich Albion for the first time this evening.

The Baggies take on Aston Villa in the last of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday, with kick-off in the Black Country at 19:15 GMT.

The former Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and England head coach has succeeded Slaven Bilic in the hot seat the Hawthorns, with the Croat losing his job following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at the Etihad.

The impressive showing against Manchester City and limited time with his new charges has persuaded Allardyce to name an unchanged side from Gameweek 13.

As for the visitors, Dean Smith welcomes back two players from suspension today – and both return straight to the starting XI.

Douglas Luiz (£5.0m) and Matty Cash (£5.0m) are newly available after one-match bans and replace Marvelous Nakamba (£4.3m) and Ahmed Elmohamady (£4.3m) in central midfield and at right-back respectively.

There is still no Ross Barkley (£5.9m) for the Villans, as the loanee nears a return from a hamstring injury.

The ill Ezri Konsa (£4.8m) also isn’t part of the 18-man matchday squad.

FPL’s most popular goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez (£4.9m), starts between the posts and will be hoping to continue his fine form on the road.

The Villa custodian has registered clean sheets in four of his side’s five away fixtures this season, averaging 6.6 points per match on his travels.

Jack Grealish (£7.8m) is the most-owned player on show: he sits in 43.2% of Fantasy squads at present, with only Son Heung-min (£9.7m) proving to be a more in-demand purchase among midfielders.

Not one of Albion’s players is owned by more than 2% of FPL managers.


West Bromwich Albion XI: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, O’Shea, Gibbs, Phillips, Sawyers, Livermore, Gallagher, Diangana, Grant.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Hause, Mings, Targett, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Traore, Grealish, El Ghazi, Watkins.

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1,454 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Thank god for that

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

      I chose ings and he blanked so I'm happy Watkins blanks

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        When we thought that your comments just couldn't get any dimmer.........

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

    Thank you VAR! Now Grealish wake up!!!!

  3. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Life of Ollie Watkins owner...is poor

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      the fact that he looked so shocked that he hit the back of the net is a worrying sign

  4. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Now time for the West Brom equlizer to ruin villa CSs

    1. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      *equalizer

    2. Lilac Breasted Roller
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Can't we have one nice thing? We're already in the slumps with Grealish

      1. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Same with grealish bro

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If Jack can't deliver against 10 men WBA team, then he is not deserving a spot on our teams for almost 8m.

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He's playing so deep :/

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah I kind of agree with this. I still think that if El Ghazi dropped out things would be much better for Grealish.

  6. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Poor Watkins owners

  7. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Oh boy owning Ollie Watkins is no fun

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

    Grealish has to go after this doesn't he? Especially with his upcoming fixtures

    Last 5 games:
    BHA
    whu
    wol
    BUR
    wba

    Total returns:
    1 goal

    1. Lilac Breasted Roller
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He has to go until Barkley is back. But that could be a while. I'm ditching.

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

        For who?

    2. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Who else would you get though ..?

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

        I would get Salah in... but would need to ditch Vardy...

      2. MikeS
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Bowen or soucek? Nice run if fixtures

  9. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Didnt the replay show no offside...

  10. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Maybe successful offsides should count as save points for defenders?

  11. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Why doesnt Lollie Watkins learn the offside rule?

  12. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Come on Smith, hook El Ghazi

  13. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    As I said before, Watkins - a Championship player.

    Can't stay onside. Has no threat in the air. Doesn't have a good first touch. He is a very poor version of Bamford.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      And he can't take penalties.

    2. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No threat in the air? 60% of his goals where headers in champ

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        How many headers has he won in the PL? He gets outmuscled every time.

        This the PL. Not the Championship.

        1. HonestBlatter
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Look the replay of first goal today

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

      Wasn't he £30mn as well.. Lollie for sure

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Disagree. He will come good.

  14. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Big Sam has been downgraded to Regular-sized Sam

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      That's like Samson cutting his hair off.

  15. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What we saying?

    Grealish >

    A) Trent
    B) Robbo

    1. Lilac Breasted Roller
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      That's the dilemma. Leaning toward B

    2. Thunderbahçe
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A for differential

    3. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B all day

  16. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    VAR sucking the joy out of football

  17. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I don't own Watkins but my sympathies with Watkins' owners..holy moly he has been extremely unlucky these past weeks

  18. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I'm a villa fan and rate Grealish but beginning to think he's a waste of a spot at the price

  19. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    This is just ridiculously bad luck as a Watkins owner

  20. OLLY G
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play Wilson (Man City A) or Soucek (Brighton H)?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Soucek

  21. Pigeon
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Soucek or Raphinha? Already have Lookman as my 5th

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Souc - so good they named a market after him

  22. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Watkins is my team's lingering fart. I gotta get rid.

  23. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Grealish & kdb on the chopping block over the next 2-3 GWs

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      El Ghazi in?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Then Grealish will score instead

  24. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Lord Ivanovic coming on for WBA

  25. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which assist was that Watkins goal?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cash I think

    2. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cash

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        thanks lads

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

    Surely can’t get rid of Grealish before palace

  27. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If Grealish and Watkins can't do squat against a ten man WBA, is there any justification in keeping them?

  28. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Grealish punishes buyers and punishes sellers

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      this sounds like a Cambridge philosophy interview question

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        does the Lord Grealish punish thee - discuss

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

    Grealish will haul Vs palace after we all sell lol

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 4 months ago

        People must have amazing teams if the first move they need to make is taking grealish out Vs palace at home

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

      14/15 fpl legends coming on

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

        174 points for Ivanovic and 176 points for Austin that season.