Dugout Discussion
16 August 2025 656 comments
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Three more Premier League matches follow on from the goalless draw at Villa Park.

Sunderland and Burnley contest their first top-flight games since promotion from the Championship, while two of the sides who just missed out on Europe last season meet at the Amex.

Guiu Dubravka

Budget Fantasy picks take centre stage today.

Burnley have four £4.0m defenders – Kyle Walker being the odd one out – and a £4.0m goalkeeper in their starting XI this afternoon, with Martin Dubravka getting the nod between the posts.

Lyle Foster, a £5.0m forward, leads the line.

The Clarets make their Premier League return against Tottenham Hotspur, who make three changes from the Super Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

Lucas Bergvall, Brennan Johnson and Archie Gray come in for Joao Palhinha, Kevin Danso and Rodrigo Bentancur.

In the north-east, the big hope from the £4.5m forward pool, Marc Guiu, is on the bench.

The Black Cats have two £4.0m defenders in their team, Jensen Seelt and Reinaldo Mandava.

Mandava is one of seven new signings in their starting XI, alongside Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra and Robin Roefs.

Mads Hermansen is straight into the West Ham United team, with Alphonse Areola having to settle for a place on the bench.

El Hadji Malick Diouf gets his Premier League debut but £4.5m midfielder Freddie Potts drops to the bench, despite having started West Ham’s final three friendlies.

Finally, at the Amex, Fabian Hurzeler makes just one change from his final pre-season line-up: Carlos Baleba is in for Diego Gomez.

Danny Welbeck is only among the substitutes.

Fulham boss Marco Silva matches Hurzeler in making one change from last weekend.

It’s an enforced alteration, too, with Ryan Sessegnon missing out. Jorge Cuenca comes in.

LINE-UPS

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbuggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Wieffer, De Cuyper, O’Riley, Ayari, Baleba, Minteh, Mitoma, Rutter.

Subs: Steele, Gruda, Welbeck, Milner, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gomez, Veltman, Coppola.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Bassey, Anderson, Cuenca, Lukic, Berge, Wilson, Iwobi, Jimenez, King.

Subs: Lecomte, Reed, Muniz, Cairney, Adama, Pereira, Castagne, Diop, Emile Smith Rowe.


Sunderland XI: Roefs, Hume, Seelt, Ballard, Reinaldo, Sadiki, Xhaka, Diarra, Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Guiu, Roberts, Rigg, Alderete, Isidor, Le Fee, Jones

West Ham United XI: Hermansen, Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd, Wan-Bissaka, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Diouf, Bowen, Paqueta, Fullkrug

Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Alvarez, Wilson, Mavropanos, Soucek, Scarles, Potts, Irving


Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Spence, Gray, Bergvall, Kudus, Sarr, Johnson, Richarlison 

Subs: Kinsky, Danso, Joao Palhinha, Tel, Vuskovic, Solanke, Odobert, Bentancur, Davies.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Sonne, Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman, Mejbri, Cullen, Laurent, Anthony, Foster. 

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Tchaouna, Flemming, Ramsey, Lucas Pires.

656 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. SalahFingers
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    What's the difference between DC and CBI?

    It says this in the rules: "Any defender who reaches an accumulative total of 10 or more clearances, blocks, interceptions (CBI) and tackles in a single match will earn 2 points."

    But in the stats, there's both "Defensive Contribution" and "CBI".

    For example: VVD last game got 20 DC but 19 CBI. Where is the difference from?

    Also, can you get the 2 defensive contribution points twice? Eg if you get 20 points, do you get 4 points instead of 2?

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Re latter q no I asked this when it first released and it wasn’t clarified, it’s a one off achievement of 2 points

      1. SalahFingers
        • 8 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Cool thanks. It's still worth having players that get a bunch of contribution points, but obviously huge levels aren't rewarded then.

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Defenders have CBIT for DCs

      Attackers have CBIRT for DCs

      T: tackles

      R: recoveries

      1. SalahFingers
        • 8 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Ah that'll explain the difference Which one counts for the 2 bonus points though?

        DC or CBIT/CBIRT?

        I assume it's DC since that's the one that's shown on the score sheet.

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          DC is unrelated to BPS

          The same actions that counted towards bonus still count now. DC is another source of 2 points once the threshold is reached

          1. SalahFingers
            • 8 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            Yeah I knew that. By bonus points, I mean defensive contribution points. It was bad wording, I apologise.

            So midfielders have more sources to get their DC bonus from. Interesting. Thanks for clearing it up.

            1. Ze_Austin
              • 7 Years
              8 months, 1 day ago

              My pleasure 🙂

      2. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Don't need goals and assists. All I want is afternoon T

  2. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Yes Kudus!!

  3. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Esteve cleanie going nevermind

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Welcome to the Premier League

    2. Make FPL Casual Again
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Steve's electric...he's in a team lacking clean sheets, and they neeeed more tiiime

  4. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    There was someone earlier who started with Richardson. Must be laughing

    1. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Richarlison*

    2. Big_Bear
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      I've started with Richarlison too.

      Salah (c) and Haaland so had to go scrapping the barrel!

  5. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Is this site crawling on mobile, dog slow & hanging?

    1. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Yeah site is slow ar

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      All of the above

    3. fantasist
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Yep it lags when you click a link and loads slowly

    4. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Like the dial up days, anything from Towers about possible fix!

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Not enough signed up...

      Despite the SUBSCRIPTION banner!

  6. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Will be a lot of Wirtz to Kudus

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      For Man City away?

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Yeah, they love playing there - check score last season…

    2. Red Red Robins
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Bet there won't

  7. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Hartman on corners, nice

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Chose him over Esteve 😉

    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      I was going to play him next week but Burnley just look so bad

  8. Big_Bear
    • 11 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    (About the first goal, delayed comment) Richarlison goal a sign of good season of my non standard picks paying off.

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      +1 for the helpful context

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Talk Sport commentator the other day was wondering if Richi could be leading goalscorer this season?

      But recognised his minutes would probably count against him

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Mind, he only scored 4 league goals last year.

  9. Seanigula
    • 16 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Anyone have the code for the Scout League?

    1. mad_beer ✅
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      League codes are on the front page. When it loads.

  10. _Freddo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Sunderland do not look out of their depth:

    1. Moon Dog
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Burnley do

      • Red Red Robins
        • 5 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        More that hammers are poor?

    2. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Sunderland looking good!

      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Done some decent transfer business tbf

    3. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      De Cuyper and Diouf so attacking, virtually playing as winged forwards

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Yep

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Red Bull gave them wings?

      3. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Got both, quietly happy so far

      4. Make FPL Casual Again
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Genetic modification loophole in doping protocols?

    4. jay01
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Are the Defcon points added at the very end of the gameweek?

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Added instantly

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Might be revised with Opta changes (like BPS), I guess

        2. jay01
          • 11 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          I cannot see them added on to overall player scores? (Not sure if I’m looking in the right place)

    5. AYEW JOKING
      • 1 Year
      8 months, 1 day ago

      mistakenly capped richarlison, get iNNNNNNNNN!!!

      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Mistakenly and Richarlison

        1. AYEW JOKING
          • 1 Year
          8 months, 1 day ago

          brought him in and cap was automatically on him, didn't find out till deadline

          1. La Roja
            • 14 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            Ayew joking?

    6. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Walker sends the ball out on a walk

    7. Mother Farke
      • 2 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Bergvall doing all the things Sarr punters wanted Sarr to do e.g. runs into the box.

      Time for it to change, mind you.

    8. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      I did NOT get King for his DC potential!

    9. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      diouf scored almost. very close

    10. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Roeffs best 4.5 GK

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Likely looking at sunderlands defensive record in the championship

    11. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Diouf with 2 chances

      Off the line apparently

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Almost a banger

    12. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Will need to bring in Diouf and de cuyper

      1. fantasyfog
        • 10 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        I have both, along with Wirtz Watkins and Konsa

    13. Moon Dog
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Esteve shot on target

      • g40steve
        • 8 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Diouf sot 🙂

      • Mother Farke
        • 2 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Burnley growing into it.

      • SINGH
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Remove Watkins and wirtz for Ekitike and Bruno?

        Want to keep Frimpong as Liverpool asset as I think he will come good

        1. La Roja
          • 14 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          I’d keep Watkins

        2. g40steve
          • 8 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Hammy

          1. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            Precautionary, I think

        3. ‘Tis the Season
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Yes

          Nooooooo

        4. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Sounds like you're heading to an early wildcard or hit with only 1 GW of data in an open transfer window

      • RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Feeling scared with this Diouf chap on my bench!

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          If you benched him here, when were you planning to play him?

          1. RICICLE
            • 3 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            Very true! I just preferred Munoz over him at least to start with and see how Diouf faired

            1. Ze_Austin
              • 7 Years
              8 months, 1 day ago

              Fair enough

              King on my bench is like a watchlist too 😀

              1. RICICLE
                • 3 Years
                8 months, 1 day ago

                Haha yeah King is definitely slammed on my watchlist!

      • Mother Farke
        • 2 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Burnley fk in dangerous area.

        1. Mother Farke
          • 2 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Off target.

          1. Moon Dog
              8 months, 1 day ago

              Hannibal lacking bite

          2. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            North London is pretty safe mate

        2. They are eating the dogs
          • 3 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Best Konsa replacement?

          1. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            Why sell? Only 1 game

            1. They are eating the dogs
              • 3 Years
              8 months, 1 day ago

              Got only Esteve and Reinildo on the bench

              1. Royal5
                • 14 Years
                8 months, 1 day ago

                Eh Esteve plays Sunderland. Won’t get a better fixture

          2. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            The lad on your bench

            1. They are eating the dogs
              • 3 Years
              8 months, 1 day ago

              Esteve or Reinildo?

              1. Ze_Austin
                • 7 Years
                8 months, 1 day ago

                Either of them. Your choice. It's their best fixture for a while anyway

        3. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 12 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Petition for Konsa to be removed from repeatedly being chosen as a good option on here because of ‘fixtures’.

          1. thegame983
            • 9 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            He got a clean sheet.

            1. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 12 Years
              8 months, 1 day ago

              And still managed to F it!

              1. thegame983
                • 9 Years
                8 months, 1 day ago

                So the fixture wasn't the issue.

                1. Count of Monte Hristo
                  • 12 Years
                  8 months, 1 day ago

                  Konsa is, regardless.

          2. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            What's changed about his fixtures?

            1. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 12 Years
              8 months, 1 day ago

              He won’t be in them 😉

              1. Ze_Austin
                • 7 Years
                8 months, 1 day ago

                Konsa will only miss Brentford

          3. Mother Farke
            • 2 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            Funnily enough, this wasn't one of the fixtures. He'll be back for CRY (no Eze) eve sun FUL etc.

        4. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Riveting stuff this