Dugout Discussion
21 August 2021 1861 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Four Premier League matches kick off at 3pm BST today, including reigning champions Manchester City against newly promoted Norwich City.

Aston Villa v Newcastle United, Crystal Palace v Brentford and Leeds United v Everton are the other top-flight fixtures taking place at the traditional Saturday afternoon start time.

The headline team news comes from the Etihad as Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.

Aymeric Laporte, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva are all recalled to the starting XI, with Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho dropping to the bench.

An ankle injury keeps Kevin De Bruyne out, while John Stones isn’t part of the hosts’ matchday squad.

Norwich are unchanged from the side that lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool last Saturday.

That’s also the case with Brentford, as Bryan Mbeumo gets set for another out-of-position run-out alongside Ivan Toney.

Summer signings Conor Gallagher and Joachim Andersen get their first Palace starts, with Christian Benteke also recalled. Jordan Ayew, Jairo Riedewald and Jean-Philippe Mateta drop to the bench.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith makes two changes to the team that lost to newly promoted Watford last weekend, with Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz replacing Matt Targett and Marvelous Nakamba.

Targett’s benching means that Ashley Young starts at left-back.

Joe Willock starts for Newcastle as Steve Bruce makes three changes to the Magpies side that lost at home to West Ham last Sunday.

Willock replaces the injured Jonjo Shelvey in midfield, with Fabian Schar and captain Jamaal Lascelles coming into defence in place of Emil Krafth and Ciaran Clark.

Kalvin Phillips and Junior Firpo are make the Leeds line-up after fitness-related benchings in Gameweek 1, with Robin Koch and Rodrigo dropping to the bench.

Yerry Mina for Mason Holgate and Alex Iwobi for Andros Townsend are Everton’s two alterations.

GAMEWEEK 2 LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young, McGinn, Ramsey, Douglas Luiz, El Ghazi, Buendia, Ings

Subs: Steer, Targett, Wesley, Hourihane, Tuanzebe, Nakamba, Hause, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka

Newcastle XI: Woodman, Murphy, Schar, Fernandez, Lascelles, Ritchie, Hayden, Willock, Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin

Subs: Gillespie, Clark, Joelinton, Lewis, Hendrick, Krafth, Fraser, Gayle, S. Longstaff

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Kouyate, Schlupp, McArthur, Benteke, Gallagher, Zaha.

Subs: Butland, Matthews, Tomkins, Ayew, Mateta, Kelly, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi.

Brentford XI: Raya, Ajer, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry, Janelt, Onyeka, Mbeumo, Norgaard, Canos, Toney.

Subs: Goode, Forss, Wissa, Fernandez, Ghoddos, Dervisoglu, Bidstrup, Sorensen, Roerslev.

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, Struijk, Cooper, Firpo, Phillips, Raphinha, Dallas, Klich, Harrison, Bamford.

Subs: Forshaw, Roberts, Klaesson, Helder Costa, Rodrigo, Summerville, Shackleton, Cresswell, Drameh.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne, Allan, Doucoure, Gray, Richarlison, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Kenny, Holgate, Delph, Townsend, Begovic, Gbamin, Davies, Kean, Branthwaite.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Walker, Gundogan, Rodri, Grealish, Silva, Torres, Jesus.

Subs: Steffen, Ake, Zinchenko, Mendy, Fernandinho, Sterling, Mahrez, Doyle, Palmer.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis, Lees-Melou, Gilmour, Rupp, Cantwell, Pukki, Rashica.

Subs: Gunn, Omobamidele, Dowell, Tzolis, Sorensen, McLean, Sargent, Mumba, Idah.

FANTASY5

There’s still time to enter today’s Fantasy5 contest, in which you can win £10,000 without paying a penny.

Simply pick five players from the nominated Gameweek 2 matches and, if they all exceed their Fantasy ‘points targets’ (a par score set by Fantasy5 for each asset), you’ll be in the money.

The deadline is at 3pm BST – so get those entries in now.

We’ve selected our own picks for Gameweek 2 in the article below, with Ted Talks FPL following suit.

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

    Can see Leeds getting an equaliser. Will it be Raphinha?

    1. One More Hit
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’m tempted to sell

      1. One More Hit
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Lol

        1. Bielsa's Bucket
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Haha

    2. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      One can only hope.

    3. sunzip14
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      yes

    4. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes 😎

  2. Fer Fuch's Ake
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How the hell can anyone pick a MCI captain with such a point spread

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

      You can't unless you are psychic or have a time machine. Which would then beg the question, why are you wasting your time on FPL if you are psychic or have a time machine?

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        😀

    2. pundit of punts
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No City player as captain until Kane signs

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Or KdB back fully fit?

    3. Khark
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I want Kane to go to city for an FPL point of view.

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

    Digne YV

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      YC even. Throwing the ball away...

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      So glad I steered clear.

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Surprising absolutely nobody

      1. Bielsa's Bucket
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        *shocked pikachu face*

  4. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez is coming on

  5. Ibralicious
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez looking lively on the bus home

  6. Postman Ty
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    FFS Digne get out of my team forever.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This

  7. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez just do something please I beg

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah right

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Are Norwich mathematically relegated yet?

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Norwich and Leeds are doomed

  9. Random Name
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez and Pep you fkn trolls

  10. Pukki Party
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Clear red

  11. tambourineman
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Grealish off Mahrez on

  12. Fabreghastly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Digne looking like a top pick this year

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Shocking!

  13. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Keeping Gundo was a stupid decision, have to start listening to myself more and read less comments….

    1. Thanos
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Play your own game man. Atleast it's easier to live with your own decisions than do something based on someone else who is as clueless as anyone else.

      Fwiw bought in Stones for Digne for a hit this week but still happy I did it!!

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Dead team?

      2. On The Up
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Exactly, people need to stop whining. Gundo started and they were 3 0 when he left. He could have easily got points

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I might be saying something similar about Barnes tomorrow

  14. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Grealish off
    Mahrez on

  15. dansmusen
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/23990570
    Why did i not do this 🙁

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      The knight won't be too proud of this one

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        The knight quickly exits stage left as the rotten fruit and vegetables begin to rain down!

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You were hardly confident about it.

      1. dansmusen
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Points are not my biggest regret here just that i knew Targett lost his palce and wanted him off

  16. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    NO jammy Mahrez goals please

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ill take a jammy assist even

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      At least two goals please

    3. Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Us non-owners will be lucky to get out w/o a Mahrez goal now.

  17. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Grealish not even good for 90 mins? Ew.

    Lineups also out. Dennis fit.

  18. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Troost-Ekong wagon….

  19. Drexl Spivey
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Dennis again.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He’s a menace….

    2. Wirtzle Gummidge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tempted to upgrade my 4.5 striker to him

  20. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Chance of manrez goal?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      0.5% because I own him

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      0 manrez not found

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      0.0000001

  21. Feloh
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Toney out for who -4?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Dennis obviously.

    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Menace

    3. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Dennis looks like. 5.1 starting is easy.

  22. Alexis Nonsense
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Odds of Gray keeping a place when James is back?

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      50/50

    2. Marvin.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      James may well be on his bike.

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

      I don't see James back. He's completely lost intesrest.

  23. Mcgugan
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best 5.5 mid?

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mbeumo?

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Odegaard could be good

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Gray

  24. Totalfootball
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez cameo

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yep thanks

  25. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who's the dude that captained F.Torres - how you feeling?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same as Salah captainers I suspect.

  26. Duke Silver ☑
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Do something already Toney.

  27. Maeki2
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez come on to have a shower with the guys

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Hmmmm, wrong site

  28. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Raphinha!

  29. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Raph goalaso
    Bam A

  30. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Where’s Josh King?