Dugout Discussion

Fernandes and Vardy the Fantasy focus as Bailly returns at centre-back

Bruno Fernandes (£11.0m) and Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) are the key Fantasy Premier League assets as the Boxing Day football gets underway.

Unsurprisingly, the two talismanic figures both start as Leicester City and Manchester United go head-to-head at the King Power Stadium.

Fernandes, owned by 43.5% of managers has blanked in just one away Premier League match since joining the Red Devils, today facing a Leicester defence that features Timothy Castagne (£5.7m) and James Justin (£4.9m) either side of Jonny Evans (£5.5m) and Wesley Fofana (£5.0m).

Like Fernandes, Vardy is less effective at home than he is on the road, averaging 4.7 points per game at the King Power Stadium this season.

Against Manchester United, the forward is supported by an attacking midfield of Harvey Barnes (£6.7m), James Maddison (£7.1m) and Marc Albrighton (£5.3m).

He might fancy his chances against Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s defence today, considering Eric Bailly (£4.9m) is returning to the side.

Very few deny the Ivory Coast international has the pace and strength to thrive in such an environment but he has not appeared in a Premier League match since the 6-1 defeat to Spurs in early October.

Solskjaer has explained that Bailly is operating at centre-back today, not on the right, perhaps indicating either Victor Lindelöf (£4.8m) is occupying that position.

The alternative layout, could see the two of them joined in a back-three by Harry Maguire (£5.4m) with Daniel James (£6.2m) and Luke Shaw (£4.8m) fulfilling wing-back roles.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Castagne, Evans, Fofana, Justin; Ndidi, Tielemans; H Barnes, Maddison, Albrighton; Vardy.

Manchester United XI: De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Bailly, Lindelóf; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, B Fernandes, D James; Martial.

1,330 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Just glad it wasn’t Vardy

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      +1

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

      Me too he has killed my rank in the last few weeks.

  2. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Game setup for a Cavani screamer in the 87th minute!!

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

    Is it last time to use first WC?

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

      Yup

    2. VeryTemplate Utd
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Deadline till Monday 28 Dec

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

    United cleanie gone without Vardy or justin involvement. Perfect

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

      If they carry on defending like that they will get something.

  5. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bruno shot off target -ppi

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

      Lol

  6. F_Ivanovic
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Sold Bruno this week as a hit for Salah (C) ... hope he doesn't punish me too much.

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

      Madness

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

      Sheep...

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

        Wasn't aware this move was popular.... or because I went for Salah? I actually had no intention of doing it and then I realised with my other moves I had the money for it. Figured Salah is going to outscore Bruno over the next 3 especially if I'm captaining Salah this week.

    3. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      same haha

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

      Wow.

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

      Brought him in for a hit. Glad I haven’t jinxed him

  7. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    1:1 now is good to Bruno owners

  8. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bruno throwing away baps nice

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

      He will have a penalty later. Baps confirmed then. 😎

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

    Vardy blank please

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      AMEN

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

      Dont want him to be injured but a tight hammy would be good so he has to be subbed.

  10. KEN YA DIG IT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bailly owners in the mud

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

    Bruno having a terrible game so far

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

      But has still had a minor return.

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You even watching the game? Set up 2 big chances

    3. Booked4Dissent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      What are you on about mate? He’s playing great

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Last twenty minutes, a lot of misplaced passes from Bruno. Picked up a yellow too.

  12. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    On WC:

    1) Son
    2) Rashford

    A) Raphina
    B) Walcott

    Have Fernandes, Adams and Bamford. No other Spurs

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      1 A

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

      1a

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

      1 A initially

  13. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    United need a better striker than Martial.

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

      Andy Carroll? 😉

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

      Easy to agree. But as a Pool fan, I'll take Martial.

      1. M♤rvin
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        What on earth for?

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Martial isn’t a striker to begin with

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

      They should sign Cavani

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

      He's sitting on the bench.

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

      Ighalo

  14. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Justin looking good for offense and defence recently. Can I say that he is improving? I would not drop him for Pereira as Rodgers (and Justin owner :D).

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

      Of course. I sold him 3 weeks ago having had him all bloody season.

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

        Dont worry, I have benched him for almost all the hauls from gw1.

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Agree though I just lost him for Stones , wc active

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

        Kept on wc but will move if not nailed anymore.

  15. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    how come Dan James is looking like a good player again?

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

      I think his confidence was just shot last season

  16. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Martial infuriating to watch. Lazy pos, just let Cavani play.

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

      Ole is a clown benching cavani

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

        He's 33 years old. Can't expect to play every game

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

          Ibra does it and is 40

          1. M♤rvin
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Ibra is not like us mortals.

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

            And now he's injured. Martial isn't that bad to risk Cavani getting injured

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

          You can get 60 mins from him every week at least. Very fit guy.

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

    Seriously considering Son to Rashford

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

      For the double a good move but not until then.

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Look at Sons fixtures and think again

  18. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Nothing is world class about that Utd bench. Commentators annoying me now

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

      Haha I know ridiculous comment

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

      Lingard says hi 🙂

    3. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      World class no but it is a very strong bench bar Lingard

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

    WC people! Thoughts on Antonio?

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      For the double if fit I’ll consider

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

      Flagged. Not an option until he plays. Just a transfer waiting to happen.

  20. DycheDycheBaby
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Fletch: Manchester United have a world class bench today.
    Camera pans over to Lingard.

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Lolz

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Lmao didn’t notice that

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

      Speaking about telling the truth

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

      😉

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

      cue the... he has world class potential.

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

    Did Vardy have a shot on target yet?

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Vardy do 2nd hafs

      1. Right In The Stanchion
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Need to know for a bet, they’ve had 2 but doesn’t say who with Barnes

  22. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    LiveFPL live leagues not working for anyone else?

  23. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on GW19 BB team?

    McCarthy - Johnstone
    Balbuena - Coufal - Justin - Taylor - Alioski
    Salah - Son - Bruno - Rashford - Raphina
    Bamford - Adams - Firmino

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

      Nice.

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

      Looking good. Like the Firmino punt.

    3. Skid Vicious
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Decent

  24. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    8 points from Bruno will do just fine though Barnes has overtaken him in BPS

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Timing

      • Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        4 maybe

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      bruno yellow

    3. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Fernandes YC

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Right on HT. Silly

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

      Bruno yc

    5. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno yc 🙁

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

      Loool stupid challenge Bruno. YC.

    7. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno looks good for REd card 😉