Dugout Discussion

Third straight league start for Bale as fit-again Zaha returns on Palace bench

Gareth Bale (£9.3m) has been handed his third Premier League start in a week, as the Welshman and his Tottenham Hotspur teammates prepare to face Crystal Palace in the final Gameweek 27 match of the day.

Kick-off in north London is at 19:15 GMT.

Bale, Harry Kane (£11.2m) and Son Heung-min (£9.6m) were bought by a combined 635,000 Fantasy Premier League managers ahead of this encounter with the Eagles, placing them all in the top 11 for Gameweek 27 transfers in.

That trio are joined by Lucas Moura (£6.6m) in the hosts’ attack, with Dele Alli (£7.4m) making way.

Ben Davies and Tanguy Ndombele (£5.9m) also drop to the bench, with Sergio Reguilon (£5.5m) and Harry Winks (£5.1m) recalled.

Roy Hodgson has made one enforced tweak to the side that began their 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Wednesday, with the injured James McCarthy (£4.3m) replaced by Jairo Riedewald (£4.4m).

That means that Wilfried Zaha (£7.1m) has to be content with a place on the bench despite recovering from injury.

Hodgson said ahead of kick-off:

He could give us quite a lot of time if we feel that’s the right thing to do but I didn’t really want to change the team from the last two performances, which have been very good. Of course, Wilf has been out a long time and hasn’t done a lot of training.


Tottenham XI: Lloris, Doherty, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Reguilon, Winks, Hojbjerg, Moura, Bale, Son, Kane

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Kouyate, Cahill, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Townsend, Eze, Ayew, Benteke.


DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 27 SO FAR…

Third straight league start for Bale as fit-again Zaha returns on Palace bench 3

Manchester City’s Double Gameweek 27 got off to an underwhelming start at the Etihad on Sunday, with the champions-elect’s cross-city rivals once again getting the better of them.

After much negative coverage of United and Bruno Fernandes‘ (£11.5m) recent record against ‘big six’ opposition this week, it was almost inevitable that the Portuguese playmaker would find the net; his second-minute strike coming from the penalty spot, naturally.

Luke Shaw (£5.1m) then continued his fine form by lashing in United’s second goal, which took him to five attacking returns in the last six Gameweeks – that’s two more than any other FPL defender over the same timeframe.

An improved Anthony Martial (£8.7m), who returned from injury at the expense of the absent Edinson Cavani (£7.9m), wasted a further two big chances as United caused City numerous problems on the counter.

Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) was a casualty of the victory, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying of the winger’s injury:

It is one of them. It was a great recovery run, a recovery sprint, he saved maybe a goal, so he sacrificed himself for the team.

It is something with his ankle I think. I am not a doctor but hopefully, it is not too bad. We will have to scan him in the morning.

Third straight league start for Bale as fit-again Zaha returns on Palace bench 2

United’s backline once again shone on the biggest stage: six of the Red Devils’ 10 clean sheets this season have come against Chelsea (twice), Liverpool, Man City (twice) and Arsenal.

City had their opportunities, with a misfiring Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) wasting the best of them, but they were due a sub-par display and it duly arrived on Sunday.

There was some encouragement for Ilkay Gundogan (£6.2m) owners, with the German, getting into some promising shooting positions without capitalising on any of his four attempts.

He and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) were among the City assets who for once were not quite at their best and the worry now, of course, is that rotation will strike for what is the most appealing of their two Double Gameweek 27 fixtures in midweek.


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1,372 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    8 key passes for KDB against United. Not his fault for the blank

    1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE FOR THE LAS…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah just seem he nearly grabbed a BAP!

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE FOR THE LAS…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        *seen

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Blame Kun

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Everyone on the City team was a yard off the pace today. Bit of complacency setting in.

  2. SEXY SOLO SAUCE FOR THE LAS…
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane on 1 BAP, need another return please

  3. acidicleo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Spurs fixtures:
    11/03 - europa league
    14/03 - Arsenal
    18/03 - Europa league
    21/03 - Villa

    Unlikely Bale will start both PL games unless EL is done and dusted in the first leg...

  4. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Zaha on to punish sellers

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      For Eze though? Bad choice Roy.

  5. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Yikes, could actually afford Salah + Gundo > Son + Bale

    To give:
    Bruno Son Bale Linz Raph
    Kane DCL Bam

  6. StevenW
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    This weekend has been horrid. First football index then a shite FPL weekend with Bruno & Shaw on the bench.

    1. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Damn, unlucky. Shaw is my 3re bench slot *cries*

      1. StevenW
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thought I was clever benching them given how good city are!

        Seems a few might have fallen for the same trap!

        1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Very unlucky, especially that Shaw scored a goal. Clean sheet was unlikely.

    2. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not being rude or wind up,

      I know what it is football index is but what’s happened?

      Is it they went into admin and you lost all money in it?

  7. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who will be likely benched for City's second game?

    A) Stones
    B) Sterling
    C) KDB
    D) Mahrez
    E) Pep

    1. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C & D, Foden and B.Silva to start and maybe Aguero in place of Jesus

    2. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones, Sterling. Possibly Mahrez. Pep on penalties

    3. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cancelo, Sterling

    4. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      All four. I think he'll use the opportunity to get some match fitness to others ; complacency setting in - happens when you have a massive lead, good to get some hunger out there.

  8. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Tough week for Scout picks. 1 assist + 1 CS

    1. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Tough week for people thinking Scout picks would be good selections. Putting this one behind me

  9. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hopefully this away trend of the last week continues tomorrow, started my 3 Leeds boys this week.

  10. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Jorginho/Salah to Bale/Fernandes(c) -4 would be for triple up..

  11. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Shaw and Fernandes benchers or sellers don't be too hard on yourself, most expected City to beat UTD and Fernandes wasn't delivering for a few games. Other than a penalty, he didn't do much in the game.
    West ham next and they're no push over this season, they are a good defensive unit.

  12. SomeoneKnows
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez (Fabri)
    Cancelo, Stones, Dallas (Coufal, Douglas)
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Gundogan (Grealish*)
    Kane, DCL, Bamford

    With 2FT and 0.5 itb should I?

    A) Salah + Stones > KDB + Shaw
    B) Salah + Stones > Bale + Shaw
    C) Other suggestions

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

    OMG Bale.

  14. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane, Bale Combo

  15. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bale
    Kane

    OMG

  16. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Knowing how spurs fall apart in the 2nd half, this could be very tricky here.

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Lol

  17. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bale hard to ignore here. Has to come in.

  18. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bale essential

  19. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son sighted in celebrations

  20. SEXY SOLO SAUCE FOR THE LAS…
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Woohoo!!!!

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Did I call that or what?

      Nice C

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE FOR THE LAS…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers mate, you did indeed

  21. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bale again.

    Every 50/50 call this season, I get it wrong.

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      you went Son?

      1. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yep. At this rate, I'll just swap them over before GW29.

        Bale looks first class

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

    Bale single-handedly trying to save my GW.. TY!

  23. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Unbelievable

  24. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kale! Again!

  25. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    damn you Bale

  26. mattk lfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who is this Bale guy and what have they done with Bale

  27. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No doubts. Bale is essential now.

  28. djman102
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane and Bale the new Kane and Son

  29. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bale on fire. Bye Salah!

  30. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    God... Should have got Bale instead of Son this week.