Dugout Discussion

Fantasy community back Villa in opening Gameweek 28 match

The Fantasy Premier League community are backing Aston Villa in the opening match of Gameweek 28.

41.0% of managers worldwide are in possession of Emiliano Martínez (£5.4m) for a Friday-night trip to Newcastle after two double-figure hausl since Gameweek 24.

The Villa goalkeeper has recorded eight clean sheets away from home this season, at least two more than any other shot-stopper after 27 Gameweeks.

Meanwhile, 14.7% have brought Matt Targett (£5.0m) into Gameweek 28, who lines up against Newcastle’s out-of-form right-back Emil Krafth (£4.2m) tonight.

While Villa’s left-back has produced just three attacking returns this season, two of them have come on the road.

There is less of a spread of interest in Dean Smith’s attacking assets even for a favourable meeting with Newcastle.

Jack Grealish‘s (£7.5m) continued absence is sure to have played a part in that.

Villa have scored two league goals in four matches since their talismanic midfielder succumbed to a leg injury, Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) and Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) the only players to find the net during that period.

The latter is on the bench tonight with Trézéguet (£5.2m) and Traoré either side of Ollie Watkins (£6.6m) in a 4-3-3 formation.

The former Brentford man is the only fit and starting Villa midfield or forward asset above 1.4% ownership tonight, currently sat in 26.7% of Fantasy teams worldwide.

Callum Wilson (£6.5m) remains the most-popular Newcastle option despite his ongoing absence while Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m) and Miguel Almirón (£5.6m) are also on the sidelines.

Steve Bruce has selected Dwight Gayle (£5.9m) to lead the Magpies’ line tonight, supported by an attacking-midfield trio of Ryan Fraser (£5.6m), Joe Willock (£4.7m) and Joelinton (£5.7m).

Gameweek 28 Line-ups

Newcastle United XI (4-2-3-1): Dúbravka; Dummett, Clark, Lascelles, Krafth; Hayden, Shelvey; Fraser, Willock, Joelinton; Gayle.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-3): Martínez; Targett, Mings, Konsa, El Mohamady; J Ramsey, D Luiz, McGinn; Trézéguet, Watkins, B Traoré.

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793 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Traore has been the worst differential on WC....

  2. swobe
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Feel for those who brought in Traore this week. Just cannot really account for the core strength of Paul Dummett.

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      bought him today, cant wait to rid him tonight

      1. swobe
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        considered a Villa mid with the blank in mind but they rarely score more than 1, their defence is more appealing FPL wise. Ended up punting on Lucas Moura for the fun of it, expect him to fall off the team bus on Sunday.

    2. Warbling Wendy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tbh if you're not factoring in Dummet's power core being the direct opposing force on the field to your pick then you're a casual

      1. swobe
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        this.

  3. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do we think Watkins will ever score again?

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      When Grealish is back

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Two goals for Watkins today, just be patient

    3. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If they make the goals slightly bigger....

    4. Warbling Wendy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Next season

  4. rokonto
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    That El Ghastly is a greedy git!
    Makes my blood boil!

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

      He is a great FPL option if he started

      1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Much like Salah over the years, great for FPL because he pretty much shoots on sight and ignores everyone else

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

    Absolutely nowhere to hide for Traore owners

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

      Wtf were they thinking?

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What do you gain from posting that? Just childish

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

        It’s a tounge in cheek comment (partly because there are so very few Traore owners)

        If you did bring Traore in this week then it’s extreme bad luck obviously

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Get yer tongue out of my cheek, Dragon!

        2. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          It’s not. It’s just toxic behaviour for no reason. If you wanna do that, go on twitter or instagram. This isn’t the place for stuff like that.

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

            I don’t have Twitter or Instagram for that reason.

            Hope I don’t see you making any opinion base / jokey/ non factual comments going forwards

            1. Qaiss
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Those comments are fine, but being unnecessarily toxic isn’t. “Same with ‘lol at ____ owners”.

              This community should try not to be like the rest of social media and just unnecessarily toxic the whole time.

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

                I dont know about toxic. I just find it all a waste of time scrolling through this kind of pointless stuff.

                1. Qaiss
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Yeah, but if you feel the need to go on a forum and say ‘no where to hide for’ ‘lol at ____ owners’, and stuff like that, then you are just toxic.

        3. Homer21
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yep but it's just getting really old now

  6. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    El Goalzy Fowled

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

    Initial thoughts:

    Salah & Cancelo to Auba & Reguilon for free?

    Martinez
    Reguilon Dallas Veltman
    Auba Son Raphinha
    Kane Watkins Bamford

    Areola Gundogan Stones Bruno Mitchell

    £1.7m itb

    Auba to KDB GW30

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

      Lovely

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

      Play Areola anyway.

      Auba could backfire around EL match week.

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

        Over Martinez?

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

          Leeds blank quite a lot and Martinez has one clean sheet from 8 against top 8 opposition. Fulham are of course the form defence here

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

          You have two double attacks - which do you trust more is one way to look at it.

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

        Will definitely be tracking the EL

  8. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Awful game so far.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      FPL?

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        That too.

    2. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Villa struggling for goals and love to hold on to a cleansheet. Newcastle just struggling. It's so 0-0.

    3. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah Bees can do better than this, but ill take the half-time lead

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

    Non Villa Keepers and defenders unite here...

    Vazza

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

      I think you might be the only one at the party.

  10. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Traore injury looking serious? Was set on getting him for DGW 30 and BGW 29.

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Could be anything from bruising or worse.

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

    Martinez need to concede

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

      Needs 5 more saves.

  12. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is FPL a form of addiction for some, maybe a less harmful one than gambling but an addiction nonetheless?

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

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

      Pretty clear lots on here are ‘addicted’

      Exacerbated by lockdown and the games being drip fed one after the other

      I actually think a huge number of males are experiencing some form of addiction / mental health challenge related to FPL

      Think you’d be surprised how many

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        True.

        Should have said a lot less harmful than pouring your money away!

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

      Honestly, yes. I genuinely think it is for me at this point

    4. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      O/

    5. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Oh yeah

    6. fclackless [Brazil Nuts]
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Course it is, hence scout taking the money from the betting companies who know where to find their prey ... plenty of potential victims here

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        We need to be careful.

        Football bets are one thing, horses, Cheltenham, live enhanced roulette and slots are another.

    7. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fish in a barrel for Bet365.

  13. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would love for DGW30 to be announced after the next deadline

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

      Would make planning easier.

  14. Warbling Wendy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Still baffles me how the bald Pirlo continues to command a Premier League wage

    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bit hairist there WW.

  15. Athletico Underachieving
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Only took about 15 mins for my week to start falling apart. Traore easily the worst differential I’ve ever tried

  16. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Brought in El Ghazi this week. Feel like I’ve had my share of luck with him coming off the bench this early.

  17. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Time to sell Wastekins?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You got a full XI for the blank GW?

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

        No, that’s the reason I’ve kept him, unfortunately...

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He' due

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He' Brew
        He' Mountin doo

      2. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Has been A long time, but seems more vaccined against scoring than A 90 year old for Covid 19

  18. Warbling Wendy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Konsa > Mings

  19. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah to Auba?

    1. Warbling Wendy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sure beans

  20. kennethrhcp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Early thoughts for 29. Can only bring in 1

    A. Bale
    B. Aubameyang

    *have son and kane

    1. themaindanger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      All in on Spurs - get Bale!

  21. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    It's a pity Emi won't have one of his monster hauls here since Newcastle couldn't hit a barn door.

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

      A couple of daisy cutters from Joelinton late on will sort that out!

  22. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Traore bullet dodged. Very nearly went there.

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

      Whatever was you thinking?

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

        Still trying to get a barnes replacement. Fortunately decided 2 ft to even funds out was the way to go.

        1. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Mount I think is a good shout after 29 ... lovely fixtures.

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

            Was 0.1m short. Would have bought him this week otherwise.

  23. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who are Villa’s other striker options ... surely he can’t be their ‘best’ striker?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Davis and Wesley who has been injured for years.

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Villa fans, would a new striker be number 1 on your shopping list in the summer?

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Either to support Watkins, or to replace him.

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

        I'm hoping it's Tekkers

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They should buy Andy Carroll

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well, if Newcastle are relegated, Wilson would be a great move.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Would prefer Watkins if I were a Villa fan. Kinda similar anyway

    4. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Marlon Harewood if his still there.

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

      They should quickly buy Daniel Sturridge. Think I heard he’s been injury free for the last three days

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

      He works incredibly hard for the team, always leads the press. Also has 10 PL goals which isn't to be sniffed at (more than the likes of Mane, Auba, Rashford).

      Yeah he's their best striker.

  24. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    THis Traore injury is a game changer

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

      how?

  25. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Watkins is a waste of a forward slot. Looking to ship for Adams after 29.

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

      so one useless player to another? 🙂

      1. Well you know, Triffic
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Adams has looked good recently and Saints actually try and score.

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He is a total troll ... he’s out after 29 for me also ... never again.

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Watkins got me loads of assists once when he should have got me a hatrick. Benched him for a 9 point the same week I captained Soucek and he got sent off. So it has been mixed.

  26. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Not watching it but I assume 0-0 will likely remain the result?

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would be very surprised if it didn't.

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sadly, I fear so.

    3. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’m seriously considering ironing my tea towels as opposed to watching the 2nd half.

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        😆 burst out laughing reading this!

    4. swobe
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      0-0 or 1-0 either way.

  27. GE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    B. Traore 🙁 From 7 to 6 players in GW29 then...

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not necessarily. Could be back for GW 29.

    2. Benjustjamin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He'll be back quick, Dummett muscled him off the pitch and he hurt his ribs on the side boards

  28. LiamK17
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Haven’t had a goal from Watkins since bringing him in - can’t wait to take him out in 31 he’s doin my head in I hope they get the double asap

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

      He’s been a passenger in my team for weeks

  29. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My teams is boring af. Might get Maja instead of Antonio next gw.

  30. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Shouldn't have benched Targett

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

      You've got 5 tip top defenders there.

    2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You could be lucky and TAA could be rested or something.

      Your season seems to have panned out similar to mine. A struggle to get out of the top 1m. Only difference is you have your second wildcard still.