Dugout Discussion
7 January 2026 1398 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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A whopping eight Premier League fixtures to come this evening, with six kicking off at 19:30 GMT and another two underway 45 minutes later:

TEAM NEWS

The tinkerer is back: there are five changes from Pep Guardiola this evening, one of which sees returning loanee Max Alleyne – who isn’t even listed in FPL! – come in at centre-half.

Abdukhodir Khusanov, Nathan Ake, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku are also handed recalls.

Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are injured, while Nico O’Reilly, Rodri and Rayan Cherki drop to the bench.

Pascal Gross is in for his first Brighton and Hove Albion start since his return from Borussia Dortmund, with Maxim De Cuyper and Jack Hinshelwood also brought in.

Joel Veltman, Brajan Gruda and Charalampos Kostoulas drop out.

As for the other Manchester club, the big news is that they welcome back Bruno Fernandes from injury for tonight’s game with Burnley. The Portuguese playmaker starts in place of Leny Yoro.

Hannibal Mejbri, Maxime Esteve and Marcus Edwards come in for Burnley.

Antoine Semenyo starts as expected for Bournemouth in what could be his final match for the Cherries.

Andoni Iraola brings in Eli Junior Kroupi and Lewis Cook for the injured Justin Kluivert and the benched David Brooks.

There are five changes for Tottenham Hotspur, one enforced as Mohammed Kudus is absent.

Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani, Djed Spence, Lucas Bergvall and Joao Palhinha are back in the starting XI.

Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies and Archie Gray are demoted to bench duty.

Sander Berge for Sasa Lukic is Fulham’s only change as they prepare to face Chelsea.

The Blues welcome back Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo from injury and suspension, while Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap and Andrey Santos are promoted to the side.

There are two changes apiece at Brentford, who have Sunday’s hat-trick hero Igor Thiago in their starting XI.

The hosts bring in Rico Henry and Keane Lewis-Potter for Aaron Hickey and Mikkel Damsgaard, while the Black Cats’ Regis Le Bris prefers Dan Ballard and Chris Rigg to Dennis Cirkin and Eliezer Mayenda.

At Selhurst Park, there are also two changes for each side.

Crystal Palace’s alterations are enforced: Jefferson Lerma and Nathaniel Clyne are injured, so in come Jaydee Canvot and Justin Devenny.

Lucas Digne and Jadon Sancho replace Ian Maatsen and Emi Buendia for Aston Villa.

And would you believe it, also two changes apiece on Tyneside.

Nick Woltemade and Harvey Barnes come in for Yoane Wissa and Jacob Murphy for the hosts, while Leeds welcome Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon. Noah Okafor and Sebastian Bornaauw drop to the bench.

Up at Goodison Park, Everton bring in Harrison Armstrong for Tyler Dibling as they prepare to face an unchanged Wolverhampton Wanderers.

LINE-UPS

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jiménez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Cook, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Kroupi, Evanilson.

Subs: Forster, Soler, Brooks, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Unal, Milosavljevic, Rees-Dottin.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Palhinha, Bentancur, Xavi Simons, Bergvall, Tel, Kolo Muani.

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Richarlison, Gray, Odobert, Davies, Scarlett, Williams-Barnett.


Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Schade, Igor Thiago.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Nelson, Damsgaard, Peart-Harris, Donovan.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Geertruida, Hume, Xhaka, Le Fee, Adingra, Rigg, Brobbey.

Subs: Patterson, Cirkin, Neil, Mayenda, O’Nien, Mundle, Hjelde, Jones, Tutierov.


Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi, Devenny, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Johnson, Pino, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Uche, Sosa, Richards, Rodney, King, Benamar, Casey, Drakes-Thomas.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Sancho, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Buendia, Torres, Garcia, Malen, Jimoh-Aloba, Maatsen, Bogarde, Hemmings.


Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Armstrong, Garner, McNeil, Grealish, Barry.

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Beto, Dibling, Rohl, Aznou, Welch, Campbell.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Sa, S. Bueno, H. Bueno, Gomes, Arias, Hwang, Arokodare, Mosquera, Mane, Krejci, Tchatchoua.

Subs: Johnstone, Doherty, Andre, Moller Wolfe, Strand Larsen, Lima, Chirewa, Lopez, Ojinnaka.


Fulham XI: Leno, Diop, Anderson, Cuenca, Castagne, Berge, Cariney, Robinson, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Raul

Subs: Lemcomte, Sessegnon, Amissah, Reed, Lukic, Ridgeon, Adama, Kevin, Kusi-Asare.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Delap.

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, James, Fofana, Hato, Estevao, Garnacho, Gittens, Joao Pedro.


Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Alleyne, Khusanov, Ake, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Silva, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Lewis, Mfuni, Cherki, Rodri, O’Reilly, Mukasa, McAidoo, Heskey.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen, Kadioglu, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper, Gomez, Hinshelwood, Ayari, Mitoma, Gross, Rutter.

Subs: Steele, Boscagli, Coppola, Tasker, Gruda, Milner, Howell, Watson, Welbeck.


Burnley XI: Dúbravka, Walker, Laurent, Esteve, Humphreys, Pires, Mejbri, Ugochukwu, Luis, Edwards, Broja.

Subs: Weiss, Hartman, Ekdal, Sonne, Bruun Larsen, Foster, Anthony, Tchaouna, Barnes.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Heaven, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu, Fernandes, Cunha, Šeško.

Subs: Bayındır, Maguire, Malacia, Yoro, Mount, Mainoo, Fletcher, Zirkzee, Lacey.


Newcastle United XI: Pope, Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon.

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Botman, J.Murphy, Livramento, Wissa, Willock, A.Murphy, Ramsey

Leeds United XI: Perri, Justin, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Gruev, Stach, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Darlow, Byram, Bornauw, Tanaka, Harrison, Gnonto, Okafor, Piroe, Nmecha.


price change predictions
  1. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    will kroupi jnr get more game time with semenyo gone?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      That would be nice

    2. TochanMama
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I hope so, I got him keeping this in mind

  2. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    What a disaster GW!

    28 points with Saka and Gabriel to play.

    Only Haaland returning. 8 blanks elsewhere.

    Yuck.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      sorry bout that. I am on 4 red in a row, scared to check this gw so far lol...

    2. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Told you to do Gordon to Bruno!

  3. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    DCL hates me

    GW16: Benched 9pts
    GW17: Benched 13pts
    GW18: Benched 8pts
    GW19: Subbed in 1pt
    GW20: Started 2pts
    GW21: Benched 8pts

    Got to laugh 😆

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      a festive troll 🙂

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Oh wow

  4. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Foden out for BrunoG, that's my current thinking. Leave Cunha to Bruno for another week.

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I'll be getting Bruno F in 24 myself - allows me to keep Foden for WOL and avoid Bruno for the tough fixtures

    2. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I'd bin cuhna first

    3. yeahbuddy
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Cunha out, will just keep Foden as long as he's still getting 90 min

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        1 month, 27 days ago

        Didn't get 90 last game

    4. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Thanks, Cunha to BrunoG it is.

    5. SalahFingers
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      did that last week.

  5. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    I aint an expert but I dont get why folks are so desperate to sell etikite before burnley? he s probably the best captain option next gw.

    1. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Exactly especially given there is a long break for him to be fully fit for

    2. yeahbuddy
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Let them sell, hopefully we get rewarded for keeping

    3. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I'll take my Thiago points this week, got rid of Ekitike.

    4. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 27 days ago

      People keep selling players that are hauling, nobody is learning anything

  6. Vasshin
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Who else to remove before I am forced to choose between 4 city players.

    Have OReilly Foden Semenyo Gordon Rogers Bowen

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Semenyo then OR.

  7. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Gameweeks coming thick and fast now, thoughts on this with 2FT?

    Bowen & Cherki to Thiago & Rice

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I've got both Thiago & Rice and no complaint so far 😉

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Good stuff make the move? I know no FPL this weekend but will also make the changes for Sun and other fantasy games I’m playing

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          If no money pressure, I would wait, lots of injuries and stuffs

          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 28 days ago

            Leaves me with 0.2ITB if I do it now, which I might want for Saka to Palmer or Foden to Bruno at some point

        2. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Sorry did not see the Sun game note there ... ignore my comments

          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 28 days ago

            No probs cheers

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Do it

    3. Towsor44
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Next GW isn't for over a week now

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        This is for Sun etc too

  8. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Damn, Cunha > Bruno F 0.1 short

    2nd transfer to release fund Keane to?

    1. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      No need for Bruno with city then arsenal next

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        But rather than having Cunha would be better off jumping early on Bruno using FT?

  9. NRK
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Any idea why Harry Wilson did not get the assist for the penalty but Doku did?

    1. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      what penalty?

      1. NRK
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Ah my bad. Wasnt a penalty.

    2. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      That’s annoying! Hopefully they review it.

  10. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Nico O Reilly useless waste of space.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Agreed, going third on bench, Kroupi gets promoted to 3nd on bench.

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        *2nd

  11. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    52 points with Raya, Timber, Gabriel to play. I’ll happily take that the way the GW is shaping up.

    Guehi 6 pointer first sub lost to ridiculous O’Reilly a bit annoying.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      OR ffs, minutes safe as they have no def left, yeah right.

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        I know such BS. Subbed off before a clean sheet one week, benched the next and on for a 1 pointer.

        City are a dead team. It’s Haaland and a pack of duds.

  12. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    cunha out tomorrow awful to own in fpl,strolls around like a big time charlie,never again,shocking pick........

    1. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Agreed, really regret picking him.

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Cunha to BrunoG for me

      1. Bleh
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Good move. I already have BrunoG so it’s Bowen > Thiago now, ready for Cunha > BrunoF in a few weeks.

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Had to ask several times tonight was he actually on until eventually he was taken off.

    4. KeanosMagic
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      TBF he had one cleared off the line, and given the absence of Mbuemo and the uncertainty of Bruno, he was maybe the sensible pick from United.

      But with Bruno back, Mbuemo back soon and tough fixtures, it probably is time to sell

  13. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Thoughts on Foden + Szsobozlai > Bruno + Wilson?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Foden has United next.
      Szoboszlai has Burnley next.
      Risky.

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Hold off for 2 weeks

  14. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Kelleher my hero.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Absolutely, 2 x double.digit hauls since I got him a few weeks ago.

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Same

  15. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Why was Enzo F taken off at 64? Injured or tactical?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Who knows until new manager starts

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Not injured - he's played a lot of mins lately and given we were down to ten men he was one of the few positions we really could afford to make a change in.

  16. Underdogs11
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    After gw16 Foden's ppg is 2.4. Feels useless, but some nice games coming up.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Other fires so far, he has 2 more weeks.

      1. Underdogs11
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Yeah, probably.

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      You know he’ll stuff you the minute you sell. It’s what he does.

      1. Underdogs11
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        It's the fpl dilemma. 😉

    3. Underdogs11
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Anybody watching, how's the eye-test?

      1. pundit of punts
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Poor

        1. Underdogs11
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Ok, thanx.

  17. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Horror midfield.
    Foden 2
    Cunha 2
    Rogers 3
    Saka ?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      My cheapo mids are on fire

      Anderson 7
      Garner 6
      Foden 2
      Cunha 2
      Saka ?

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        My Garner only got 5 😉

        1. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Robbed!

          1. The FPL Units
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            1 month, 28 days ago

            Lost a bonus point ffs

    2. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Cherki 0.97 Xgi but 1 pointer instead of Rogers for me, while Bruno G and Wilson keep on hauling...fully expecting Rice to outscore my Ars triple up tomorrow

  18. KeanosMagic
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    People said not to do it.
    I didn't listen.
    Play your own game they say.
    I did.

    Welcome to my team and take a huge bow... Cole Palmer

    1. SalahFingers
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Honestly, I think he's a decent pick, and a great differential. Lots of money if he doesn't deliver, but many are inconsistant right now.

  19. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Bruno G with 3 double digit hauls since I brought him in, unbelievable Jeff.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Absolutely marvelous, I sold him for Cunha, that went well.

  20. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Cunha out for Bruno G seems the most obvious transfer of all time. Cunha's attitude is absolutely rotten.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Approved.

    2. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Absolutely, he’s been demoted to third on my bench for now. Waiting til Bruno F’s fixtures then he’ll be gone!

    3. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Yeah he is a stinker, doesn’t come across well at all. Bruno all you need and dump the rest of the squad in a skip somewhere.

  21. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Bowen to DCL or Thiago?

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I just sold Bowen for DCL, luckily I own Thiago also. I would prioritise Thiago first.

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      prefer the look of leeds' fixtures

  22. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Sold Foden for Bruno F before the GW.. small things going right at least.

    Imo if a player you know you want long term is fit just get him back asap even though the transfer looks a bit sideways for that particular GW.

    Same applied to Gabriel 2 GWs ago for those who had the spare transfer.

  23. jonnybhoy
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Thiago to Ekitike in GW18 has been a disaster

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Reverse it

  24. F4L
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    how good is nathan collins 😎

    1. adstomko
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Did nothing for me in the first 5 weeks

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        unlucky, definitely had a slow start

        i think when andrews finally ditched playing 3/5 back they've just clicked sort of. attacking returns always sorta looked likely with collins, you were unlucky not to get any.

  25. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    I am 3 planned transfers away from this squad. What would you change about?

    Raya Kelleher

    Timber Gabriel Tarkowski Guehi Andersen

    Bruno Gruno Rogers Wilson Anderson

    Thiago DCL Haaland

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      Drop Raya get Rice

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Which midfielder would you lose for Rice?

        1. Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 28 days ago

          Anderson or Rogers

          1. g40steve
            • 7 Years
            1 month, 28 days ago

            Andersen if you can afford it, Sanchez for Chelsea fixtures?

  26. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Hot take, but I think Man City will struggle for the rest of the season.
    Too many injuries, too many players to gel into the team, fixture overload to the point they may prioritise UCL etc.
    No-Haaland may be a talking point in FPL in a few weeks, seriously.

  27. Stranger Mings
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Keep or sell semenyo & foden? Asdime best replacemts are bruno g or bruno f?

    1. adstomko
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 28 days ago

      I'd keep Semenyo & sell Foden, for Bruno F

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 28 days ago

        Cheers. Guess its whether semenyo get many mins

  28. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Evening :). 1 FT & 1.6m ITB.

    Raya
    Gabriel VVD Thiaw
    Foden Cunha Rice Bruno G Szoboszlai
    Haaland Ekitike*
    Dubravka // Alderete Keane* Guiu

    Another painful week (been a few lately), but really the main damage was Thiago. Keane red card didn't help.

    Providing Ekitike is okay for the next match in 10 days time, feels wrong to sell before BUR/BOU. If he's out I'll replace him though, even for a hit.

    Elsewhere, Cunha & Keane possible issues to sort.

    A) Cunha > Bruno F
    B) Keane ... > someone?
    C) Other?

    I had planned to bench Keane in at least two, if not all three next matches so could just bench. Aware his place under threat soon though.

    Not rushing with moves, plenty of games to go before next GW.

  29. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Will bps be added tonight or tomorrow after Arsenal game?

  30. hazza44
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 28 days ago

    Newcastle score 6 goals in the last two games since I brought Gordon in over Bruno. Gordon no returns….