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. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    8 months, 6 days ago

    Burnley playing well since going down 1-0. Spurs need Palhinha (on the bench) to protect the defence.

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

      Yeah. They grew into the game

  2. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 6 days ago

    Wirtz to King will be very popular

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      You might be even more annoying than Virgin

      1. Red Red Robins
        • 5 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        Can we call it a draw?

    2. Red Red Robins
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      Bet it won't

    3. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      Think the poster is a bot

    4. Moon Dog
        8 months, 6 days ago

        I don't understand the hostility. You were clearly joking.

        xoxo

      • IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        Scotty B

    5. They are eating the dogs
      • 3 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      A)4.5m replacement for Konsa
      B)Reinildo vs BUR
      C)Esteve vs SUN

    6. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      Konsa 1 or 3 match ban?

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 9 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        1 match

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        1

        Professional foul to deny a goal scoring opportunity as the last man

        1. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Haaland wouldnt have broken stride

    7. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 9 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      King (4.5m) on 8 defcon already

    8. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      Get Kudus they said... meanwhile no one mentioning Richarlison. Is this why we pay for this site?

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        Really you pay? Most of us are given free memberships.

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        Solanke is the reason

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

          Also, how bad was Kudus's blank?

      3. They are eating the dogs
        • 3 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        Next time don't listen to "the experts". I didn't it listen to anyone about Richarlison. Watching the games and trusting your instincts is more important than following the herd equipped with stats only. PSG game convinced me Richarlison is the best Spurs striker at the moment.

      4. ‘Tis the Season
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        Look who’s back! Hopefully you behave

        1. Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          I wasnt banned this time. Just rage quit deleted my team around november. Im always on my best behavior!

          1. ‘Tis the Season
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            You have your moments but good to hear

      5. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        Do you even pay?

    9. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      Vicario wtf

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

        The spin made things awkward

    10. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      Where are the goals? Need to spice up the weekend ...

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 months, 6 days ago

        In the EFL

        I've got two players for Man City this evening

        Otherwise it's Sunday

    11. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      No idea what Vicario was doing with that spinning shot

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

        Vicario is a bad keeper. I think he might have eye problems.

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 12 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Wow haha :laugh:

    12. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 6 days ago

      Josh King a big star on the England Underage squads?

      1. Moon Dog
          8 months, 6 days ago

          He's Norwegian

            1. Moon Dog
                8 months, 6 days ago

                The other Josh King had an ongoing joke of being called English for years. So I thought I'd flip the script on this one 😛

            2. chocolove
              • 15 Years
              8 months, 6 days ago

              Stuck in the past

        • Tonyawesome69
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Wtf was Porro doing in the box?! No need to make that challenge

          1. Bihom
            • 1 Year
            8 months, 6 days ago

            He's bored like the rest of us

          2. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            Had a Konsa moment

            And whoever that basketballer was in yesterday's match

        • el polako
          • 8 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Digging that West Ham away kits, shame about the green atrocity on the shoulder though.

        • ☈☾
          • 8 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Terrible GW

          1. Red Red Robins
            • 5 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            Go away

          2. chocolove
            • 15 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            Nice

        • Tonyawesome69
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Quite like Rich playing CF. Good in the forward press and has the ability to be in the right place inside the box.

          1. Tonyawesome69
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            This also goes back to him playing CF under Ange season 23/24

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

              I wonder what happens when Solanke is ready to start

        • F4L
          • 11 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          holdddd Spurs

        • Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          The FPL rules make a distinction between Tackles (used for in CBI(R)T for DCs) and Successful Tackles (used for the BPS). Does anyone know if they are the same or different?

          From what I can tell, Tackles dispossess a player. It doesn't matter what happens to the ball afterwards (it can even go to a teammate of a tackled player). While Successful Tackles (aka Tackles Won) are Tackles which result in possession changing sides or the ball going out of play.

          So points tackling are harder to come in the BPS than the DC system. Is that right? And if so, why bother with the differentiation, do you think?

          1. SalahFingers
            • 8 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            The stats are from OPTA, so they use their definitions.

            If you are interested, here's each stat defined: https://www.statsperform.com/opta-event-definitions/

            1. Deulofail
              • 10 Years
              8 months, 6 days ago

              They don't mention the distinction there

        • have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          What a boring day of football, bring back pre-season.

        • F4L
          • 11 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Diouf sounds very involved

          1. el polako
            • 8 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            Looks really good, came close to scoring.

        • Dynamic Duos
          • 12 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          How do you bloody do emoji on here ?

          1. The Night Trunker.
            • 2 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            Google word press emojis

          2. chocolove
            • 15 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            :bear:

            1. The Night Trunker.
              • 2 Years
              8 months, 6 days ago

              😯

          3. AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            😉

        • MrAnderson
          • 16 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Free transfer question. Ive not played fpl in 3 years and cant see in the help section. If you dont transfer for 5 weeks you will have 5 free transfers. Am I right in saying if you only do 1 free transfer you will still have 5 the following week?

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

            Yes. They roll over with a maximum of 5 FTs in any GW

            1. MrAnderson
              • 16 Years
              8 months, 6 days ago

              So say you use 3 out 5. That leaves 2, so then 3 next week. As you say up to 5. Just confirming you dont lose them.

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

                Yup 🙂

              2. AC/DC AFC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                8 months, 6 days ago

                You don't lose them

                They accumulate to 5

                But on a FH and WC they remain as they were which is a factor too

                1. MrAnderson
                  • 16 Years
                  8 months, 6 days ago

                  Thanks for the info.

        • ‘Tis the Season
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Goal rush?

        • JBG
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Sunderland defending annoyingly well (or I overestimated WHs attack for this match).

        • Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Keep going Josh! 15 more mins, 4 more DCs and an early sub before the goals start for a 5 point haul!

          1. Pep Roulette
            • 8 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            I think 4.0-4.5 defenders and 4.5-5 midfielders are going to be of good value this season!

        • Pep Roulette
          • 8 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          If Isak signs for Liverpool, which is very much imminent. Who drops out of the attack? Gakpo or Ekitike?

          1. Pep Roulette
            • 8 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            And don't give me the rotation BS

          2. ‘Tis the Season
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            I’d say Gakpo, Eki goes out wide

            1. More Tragic
              • 10 Years
              8 months, 6 days ago

              lol

            2. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 12 Years
              8 months, 6 days ago

              Praying Mantis out on the wing sounds like a disaster to me.

          3. F4L
            • 11 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            form based

        • Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Back in my day we called him Lolly Trashkins. Not much have changed except for some reason hes now 9.0 and people think hes a good asset.

          1. Jordan.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            he also has been redubbed as sh*tkins

          2. JBG
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            Said last season that he was overpriced, still is.

        • nanxun
          • 4 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Just tuning in to today's fixtures. So, why isn't Palhinha in the Spurs starting XI??

          Guess the kids need some game time?

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

            New transfer. Being bedded in

          2. F4L
            • 11 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            frank prioritised the psg match possibly

          3. Tonyawesome69
            • 7 Years
            8 months, 6 days ago

            Lack of preseason, not fully fit to start another game with short turnaround

        • AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Goal

          Two nil

          Bradford City v Luton Town

        • DeSelby
          • 3 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Kudus taking an easy goal away from Porro. Thanks a lot.

        • chocolove
          • 15 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          Kudus Porro on Cks.

        • The Night Trunker.
          • 2 Years
          8 months, 6 days ago

          The Seagulls are toothless.