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
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Yeah. They grew into the game

  2. ☈☾
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Wirtz to King will be very popular

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      You might be even more annoying than Virgin

      1. Red Red Robins
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Can we call it a draw?

    2. Red Red Robins
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Bet it won't

    3. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Think the poster is a bot

    4. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 1 month ago

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

      xoxo

    5. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Scotty B

  3. Football is home
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

  4. ☈☾
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Konsa 1 or 3 match ban?

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      1 match

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      1

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

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Haaland wouldnt have broken stride

  5. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    King (4.5m) on 8 defcon already

  6. Brosstan
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

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

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Solanke is the reason

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Also, how bad was Kudus's blank?

    3. Football is home
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 1 month 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
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Look who’s back! Hopefully you behave

      1. Brosstan
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

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

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          You have your moments but good to hear

    5. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Do you even pay?

  7. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Vicario wtf

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      The spin made things awkward

  8. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      In the EFL

      I've got two players for Man City this evening

      Otherwise it's Sunday

  9. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    No idea what Vicario was doing with that spinning shot

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

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

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Wow haha :laugh:

  10. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Josh King a big star on the England Underage squads?

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 1 month ago

      He's Norwegian

        1. Moon Dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 1 month 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 😛

      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Stuck in the past

  11. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

    1. Bihom
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      He's bored like the rest of us

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Had a Konsa moment

      And whoever that basketballer was in yesterday's match

  12. el polako
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

  13. ☈☾
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Terrible GW

    1. Red Red Robins
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Go away

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Nice

  14. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 1 month 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
      1 year, 1 month ago

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

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        I wonder what happens when Solanke is ready to start

  15. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    holdddd Spurs

  16. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month 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
      1 year, 1 month 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
        1 year, 1 month ago

        They don't mention the distinction there

  17. have you seen cyan
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

  18. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Diouf sounds very involved

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Looks really good, came close to scoring.

  19. Dynamic Duos
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    How do you bloody do emoji on here ?

    1. The Night Trunker.
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Google word press emojis

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      :bear:

      1. The Night Trunker.
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        😯

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

      😉

  20. MrAnderson
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 1 month 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
      1 year, 1 month ago

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

      1. MrAnderson
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 1 month 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
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Yup 🙂

        2. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 1 month 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
            1 year, 1 month ago

            Thanks for the info.

  21. ‘Tis the Season
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Goal rush?

  22. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

  23. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month 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
      1 year, 1 month ago

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

  24. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month 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
      1 year, 1 month ago

      And don't give me the rotation BS

    2. ‘Tis the Season
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I’d say Gakpo, Eki goes out wide

      1. More Tragic
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        lol

      2. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

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

    3. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      form based

  25. Brosstan
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 1 month 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
      1 year, 1 month ago

      he also has been redubbed as sh*tkins

    2. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Said last season that he was overpriced, still is.

  26. nanxun
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 1 month 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
      1 year, 1 month ago

      New transfer. Being bedded in

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      frank prioritised the psg match possibly

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

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

  27. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Goal

    Two nil

    Bradford City v Luton Town

  28. DeSelby
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

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

  29. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Kudus Porro on Cks.

  30. The Night Trunker.
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    The Seagulls are toothless.