Dugout Discussion

Injured Cavani misses out as Solskjaer opts for Martial over Greenwood in attack

Having been leapfrogged by Leicester City earlier in the day, Manchester United will attempt to go back to second in the Premier League table at Old Trafford this evening.

A win over visitors Newcastle United will do just that and keep league leaders Manchester City within ten points’ reach, following a win for Pep Guardiola’s troops in the late-afternoon kick-off.

The last of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday gets underway at 19:00 GMT.

Daniel James (£6.2m) and Nemanja Matic (£4.7m) are brought into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI tonight.

Both of the United manager’s changes from Gameweek 25 are enforced, with Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) and Scott McTominay (£4.9m) missing through injury.

Mason Greenwood (£7.0m) is again only among the substitutes, with Anthony Martial (£8.7m) preferred up front.

Steve Bruce has made just the one change to the Newcastle side that lost at Chelsea last Monday as Joelinton (£5.7m) replaces Dwight Gayle (£5.9m) in attack.

Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) is the second-most-popular captaincy pick of Double Gameweek 25 overall and within the top 10k, trailing Patrick Bamford (£6.9m) in both instances.

Selected by the vast majority of the top 10,000, Fernandes’ effective ownership is, once again, in excess of 100% – so any return means a small red arrow for those who own the Portuguese midfielder but haven’t captained him.

LINE-UPS

Newcastle United XI: Darlow, Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Willock, Hayden, Shelvey, Joelinton, Almiron, Saint-Maximin.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Matic, Fred, James, Fernandes, Rashford, Martial.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 25 SO FAR…

Ilkay Gundogan (£6.1m) made a swift return from injury at the Emirates this afternoon but couldn’t add to his season’s goal tally of 11.

The German started and finished the game in his now customary ‘number eight’ role but he, and City as a collective, never really clicked in an attacking sense in north London.

Not that Pep Guardiola’s side really needed to get out of second gear, with Arsenal failing to capitalise on some threatening positions in the final third and mustering only one shot on target in the entire game.

This was City’s 15th clean sheet of the season and their 13th in the last 16 Gameweeks.

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) made his first start on his return from injury as a ‘false nine’ and provided some typically incisive through-balls, while the advanced Joao Cancelo (£6.1m) again saw plenty of penalty-box action and wasted a glorious chance to double City’s lead when toe-poking wide from 10 yards.

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) was the visitors’ match-winner, nodding home Riyad Mahrez‘s (£8.1m) second-minute cross for his 13th attacking return in his last 14 league starts.

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2,309 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FantasyClub
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lads I would like your opinion.

    Martinez/Forster
    Shaw, Digne, Cancelo, Dallas, Mitchell
    Bruno, Son, Gündogan, Raph, Grealish
    Ings, Bam, Antonio

    Kane and DCL in for Ings and?

    Since I have Son is Kane unnecessary?

    1. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Don’t think I’d double up on Kane and Son, would take out Ings and Antonio if you’re planning that swap

    2. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Easy dump grealish

      1. FantasyClub
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I’ll do that but I’d need to dump 2 strikers for the swap

    3. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      God no

      1. FantasyClub
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Elaborate please

  2. Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it insane to captain DCL??

    1. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Between him or Kane for me

    2. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not insane at all

    3. Jeremy T
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Doesn't sound insane to me. I regret having sold him, think he's a good candidate for the armband.

  3. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bruno or Kane TC?

    1. dshv
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Till th end of the game. Bruno!

    2. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bruno

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        But will he get better dgw later?

  4. Ray In Bruges.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope (4.0)
    Cancelo Shaw Stones (Alioski, Douglas**)
    Grealish Salah Fernandes Son Gundogan
    Bamford Antonio DCL

    1.2 ITB, 2FT

    A) Grealish > Barnes, Salah > KDB
    B) Grealish > Barnes, Antonio > Watkins
    C) Something else? Any suggestions welcome

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. Jeremy T
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I prefer B.

  5. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Coufal to digne (4) ??

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Might be worth trying now.

    3. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on if you need GW29 players, it not could be worth it with nice DGW and possible another DGW before 30.

  6. Orion
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I need help lads...
    A) Maddy & Ings to Gundo & Kane
    B) Raphina & ings to Gundo & Werner
    0.0 itb
    Cheers

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      a

    3. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A all day long

  7. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    These good moves?
    Salah, Ings and Cavani to Kane DCL and Barnes - 8?

    1. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No keep salah

  8. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo / Stones / Lowton
    Salah / Gundogan / Bruno / Anguissa
    DCL / Kane(tc) / Ings

    Johnstone, Raphinha / Dallas / Vestergaard - 0FT & 2.3ITB

    A - Anguissa > Barnes -4
    B - Raphinha & Ings > Son & Watkins -8 (2 teams i need to bringing in for GW29?)
    C - Play Anguissa and no hits?

    Thanks.

  9. MikeS
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A. Ings to dcl -4
    B. Raphina & ings to Barnes and Watkins -8
    C. Raphina, ings & mee to dcl, Barnes, rudigier
    D. Wildcard
    E. Leave and play this:

    Martinez*-(areola)
    Stones*-dias*-shaw*-mee*
    Son*-bruno*-gundogan*-salah*(raphina)
    Kane*-bamford (ings)

    * Denotes DGW player

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Are you going to BB?

      1. MikeS
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No mate, used bb

        1. Jeremy T
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Without BB I'd say that looks good to go

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I agree. A is closest, but who to bench in that case? Mee perhaps, but then again Ings had another dgw next week.

  10. marcos11
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Kane/Raph to Son/DCL madness?

    1. Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah, more so if for a hit.

    2. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Trying to choose between those combos too. If I had one in place not sure I'd bother to swap

    3. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's lunacy

  11. JayLegend
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Surely I can’t be the only one thinking Kane is a trap?

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The last time that people though Kane was a trap scores 2 hat tricks in a row.Burnley away and Southampton at home.

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        scored*

        1. JayLegend
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Ok thanks, I get it now. I remember that time. Still, looks trappy to me lol.

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I doubt history will repeat itself under Jose.

    2. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think he’s the best captain option but no way to him if I want to play my bench boost

    3. MikeS
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yer I regret getting him yesterday, think dcl will do better

    4. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Indeed, Spurs looked very very poor vs West Ham.

    5. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He probably should have had 2 assists today, was unlucky. Spurs are in pretty dire form though. I don't think Kane is a trap though, I've largely got him to thank for my rank, if anyone can bang it's him.

    6. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's a risk. I'll probably captain him but f I had TC left I wouldn't use it. I've full faith in him, little in Spurs.

  12. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yay or Nay? (for bench boost)

    Ings, Adams & Holding -> DCL, Watkins & Pereira (-8)

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I prefer Digne over Pereira.

      1. Prison Mike
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah could go Digne also

    3. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Taking hits for a bench boost defeats the purpose.

  13. Jeremy T
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My starting XI - 45 points
    My benched and sold players - 46 pts

    Splendid.

  14. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Does KDB subdue Gundo, or has Gundo just had an 'off' couple of games (including injury scare)?

    Tempted to TC Gundo but unsure whether the return of KDB will mean he's deeper, or ineffective

    1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He played today mate prior to that he missed the Everton game then before that he got 2 goals and assists against Spurs!! Haha, I think he’s good!!

    2. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo's scoring will definitely be less but possibly still great for an option at his price.

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Why so? He was playing in an attacking role and returning prior to KDB injury. This is a myth being pushed regularly.

    3. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure if it had much of an impact, I would be wary of TCing him though
      Bound to be some rotation and curtailed minutes

    4. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He should have scored at least one, took a poor touch on the chance I'm thinking of.

    5. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope.

      I wouldn't TC though because of rotation risk with CL either side and Manc derby coming up.

  15. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A bit of help with strategy for next week?

    A. BB with Bam, Dallas, Raph + Areola
    B. TC Kane/Bruno
    C. Take a hit to improve BB

  16. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish shouldn't drop today, right?

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      could be tight.

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

        i'm going to take the risk

  17. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez | Fabri
    Cancelo | Stones | Dallas | Coufal | 3.8
    Salah | Fernandes | Son | Grealish | Gundogan
    Vardy | Ings | Bamford

    Grealish to Barnes for a -4 or play a WC and make other trades too?

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      anyone?

      1. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I'd say Grealish to Barnes is decent shout, yeah

        1. Gabbiadini
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          and hold the WC then?

  18. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just getting on here since the Man U game. Did people discuss the absolute joke of a penalty they were awarded and the stonewall penalty from Maguire (AGAIN) that wasn't even looked at? Should have been 2-2 and more dropped points. Fernandes getting a goal and assist that game is a farce, best player in the league right? Sounds "salty" but just an honest assessment.

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Willock got Rashford's foot. That's a penalty and certainly not going to be overturned from the umpire's original decision.

      1. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Got it? He literally barely touched it and he jumped to the floor. It's not even close to a foul, and a penalty has to be a foul. It's a joke this season. Man U have exploited it more than anyone else, I can't stand the rules we play by now. Same as the hand ball penalties at the beginning of the season they had to hot fix.

        1. Gabbiadini
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          He clipped his foot end of.

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            No, not a chance. There was zero reason for him to go to floor, it was equivalent to placing your hand on someones shoulder. He didn't clip anything there wasn't even a tackle. Their feet touched. It's a contact sport, that's a joke.

        2. Bennerman
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          But the defender caught the attacker's foot with a late challenge? He didn't wipe him out, no, but he tagged him. Pretty straightforward?

          1. Gabbiadini
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            as soon as a player feels contact, which he did, the player is instructed to go down.

            1. Postman Ty
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Clearly that's what they're told, which is full of crap. It's diving. They're not feeling contact and going down though they force contact and/or anticipate it and preemptively go down hoping to get it along the way. Falling over doesn't make it a foul.

              1. Bennerman
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Missed irony that Hazard is your picture?
                Not shy of preemptively going down

                1. Postman Ty
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  He was never a diver and never had a reputation of diving. Salah has been diving, Fernandes has been caught diving, Neymar used to dive more than anyone. Hazard has never been on that list.

                  1. Bennerman
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    You must be joking

                    1. Bennerman
                      • 5 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      You probably need to cool the engines, you're a bit revved up looking for trouble.

                    2. Postman Ty
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      He was the most fouled player in the league and the best dribbler in the league. Going down easy and diving are two completely different things. Grealish goes down easy as well but he isn't as bad as this incident either.

                      1. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        OK, sounds very objective and in no way partisan

                      2. Postman Ty
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        I don't care about biases. This has nothing to do with my opinion of Man U, Rashford, Maguire, or Hazard. That was not a penalty, and Newcastle were robbed at the other end. Never have I heard legitimate claims of Hazard being a diver outside of occasional meaningless rivalry banter.

                      3. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        You're obviously not willing to hear anything else, so how's this for what you wanted to hear when you came on here: Yes, agreed, very well said

                      4. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD0V9ia0tlo

                        We could go further, but fine

                      5. Postman Ty
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        I will never accept that as the standard for a penalty, no. And I will never accept the one at the opposite end to not be a penalty. And I haven't heard any reason to change that for either. You're wrong though it's not about wanting to hear anything. Gabbiadini came to the correct point of "that's what the rules are these days" which I can agree with and say is a daft set of rules.

                      6. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        And what about the 'standard for a penalty' in the above clip then, form Hazard (who never dives)?

                        Are you going to get as principled and noble for that one? Or just gloss it over?

                      7. Postman Ty
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Congrats, you found one example of a dive from 8 years ago. Well before VAR when that happened every game. That obviously wasn't a penalty, are you shocked that I can see that?

                      8. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        OK. But you want to hold one massively to account, then sort of dismiss this one because it was eight years ago?

                        You have to admit you're applying one rule for one thing, one for another? Surely?

                      9. Postman Ty
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        What are you talking about? I'm not here trying to slate Rashford at all. I said it wasn't a penalty, neither was the one you showed from an entirely different era. Btw if you want to actually make a good point don't compare apples and oranges. I can show you a clip of people making rugby tackles that weren't deemed fouls in the 90's but that isn't relevant to todays environment.

                      10. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Christ, you must be a bore down the pub (those were the days). After a while everyone just agrees (with the point that you yourself brought up and then argued to death), just to get a moment's peace.

                      11. Postman Ty
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        As opposed to you doing what exactly? Arguing the opposite to the death? In fact you've mostly just deflected. Sorry you're not capable of a debate.

                      12. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Have you read your initial post that began all this again? 'Joke', 'farce' and so on.

                        You've obviously got an exe to grind, don't be affronted when you are questioned on it.

                        'Not capable of a debate' etc, I have to imagine you're pretty young

                      13. Postman Ty
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        27, but thanks for being condescending. Axe to grind with the Fernandes hype, sure. He's a very good player but without penalties to pad the stats he's nowhere near how he's talked about. The assist is comical more than anything, compared to someone who dribbles a whole team and assists the assister etc.. You've made one comment on the Man U penalty and no comment on the Newcastle penalty or Fernandes stats. Instead you just went on a random tangent attacking Hazard and then me.

              2. Gabbiadini
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                if the player doesn't go down they won't get a penalty.

                of course, the player has to go down. Was it Lookman earlier in the season that stayed on his feet when otherwise it would have been a penalty?

                1. Postman Ty
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  I agree with that, which is a crappy reality. VAR needs common sense though, it's so obvious when someone has conned it. I have no problem with going down after contact, this isn't the same though the contact has to be relevant.

                  1. Gabbiadini
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    so much contention.

                    a penalty is not night or day, so what's the point when the contact is enough or not enough.

                    there will never be an ultimate solution.

                    1. Postman Ty
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      If it's borderline go with the call on the field, you're absolutely right it's not black or white. That's a very clear dive for me with completely insignificant "contact".

                      1. Gabbiadini
                        • 6 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        All I am saying that when there is contact and there was, it is almost impossible for the VAR to overturn the onfield decision, as the contact deems that there is no clear and obvious error.

                      2. Postman Ty
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Yes, I agree with that. And all I'm saying is that's a horrible flawed system.

          2. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            If it were what I would classify as catching someone then sure. It was so, so soft. Contact does not equal foul.

            1. Bennerman
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Everyone has an opinion

            2. Gabbiadini
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              if the referee gives it then contact in the box is not a clear and obvious error to overturn.

              had it not been given then it probably isn't a penalty.

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      definitely pen despite the fact he went down easily... part of the modern game unfortunately

      1. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The "modern" part is correct, but we all know that's never a penalty.

        1. Gabbiadini
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          he made contact and the referee has given it.

          there is no clear obvious error for it to be overturned

          move on.

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Clear and obviously a dive. Explain the Maguire foul at the other end then. It was very obvious, deliberate, and massively more contact. Not even checked.

            1. Gabbiadini
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              I'm not disagreeing, clearly missed by VAR would be my explanation.

      2. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Players have to go down to get the decision, they are just correctly performing into the ruling.

        1. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Mate the rule is a foul inside the box is a penalty. That is not a foul ever anywhere.

          1. Gabbiadini
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            It was deemed a foul. simple.

            VAR is there to overturn it and it didn't.

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soft as hell, but not as comical as DCLs yesterday

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        And its Old Trafford ; they will never overturn a United penalty

      2. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        That was a funny one. I would be inclined to give that under the premise of "once a defender goes to ground it's their fault" but I can see that one going either way and not be fussed.

  19. MikeS
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Will Barnes rise tonight? Seems unlikely on 93% and rising very slow on fpl stats?

  20. Adderz
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    TC Salah, anyone?

    That Sheffield United defence with all 3 CB's out could get bullied.

    1. wantsharptv
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Makes sense

  21. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best option on bb?

    A) Bamford > DCL
    B) Bamford + raphinha + dallas > DCL + reed + pereira - 8

    Think pereira offers an incredible differential with his fixtures and with the doubles think the hit could pay off, would probably want some of those leeds players back from 29 tho

  22. wantsharptv
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    GT2?

    Martinez
    Dallas Stones Targett
    Raphinha Salah Bruno Sterling Gundo
    Kane (c) Watkins

    Subs: Areola Bamford Lowton KWP

  23. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    BB Martinez, Konsa, Dallas and Bamford?

    Or

    -4 Dallas > Pereira for 14/15 doublers?

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B