Dugout Discussion
19 September 2026 327 comments
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Two underachieving sides without a Premier League win between them this season meet in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off in north London.

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa gets underway at 12:30 BST.

Not only have these clubs yet to taste victory in 2026/27, but they’ve also scored just one goal between them.

TEAM NEWS

Pedro Porro returns from injury today, taking the place of Archie Gray at right-back.

That’s the only change that Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi has made from the 0-0 draw with Everton last weekend.

James Maddison and Mohammed Kudus are among the substitutes for the Lilywhites.

Yohan Manzambi gets his first Premier League start for Aston Villa as Unai Emery makes two changes from the Gameweek 4 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Joao Gomes is also back from suspension to start in the engine room.

£4.5m FPL midfielder George Hemmings and Ross Barkley make way.

Matty Cash returned from injury in the EFL Cup in midweek but, like then, he’s only among the substitutes this afternoon.

LINE-UPS

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Kinsky, Porro, van Hecke, van de Ven, Robertson, Tonali, Bentancur, Savio, Fernandes, Marmoush, Solanke.

Subs: Dubravka, Tosin, Senesi, Gallagher, Maddison, Udogie, Gray, Bergvall, Kudus.

Aston Villa XI: Suzuki, Wan-Bissaka, Mings, Lindelof, Ruggeri, Joao Gomes, Kamara, McGinn, Buendia, Manzambi, Jackson.

Subs: Wright, Cash, Harwood-Bellis, Barkley, Garnacho, Abraham, Mbaye, Bogarde, Hemmings.


LIVE GAMEWEEK 5 PAGE + MATCH CENTRE

Spurs v Aston Villa team news: Porro + Manzambi start

You can follow all the day’s action via the Live Gameweek page, which you can find in the all-new FPL Toolkit section.

Here you can track the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DefCon) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out.

And there’s also the all-new Match Centre to explore. Here, you’ll find stats, heatmaps, rolling xG graphs and more on every Premier League fixture.

A lot is free for all, with Chief Scout Members getting full access.

Enjoy!


327 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    3 hours, 52 mins ago

    Surely Marmoush and Savio wil lbe too good for Championship defense next season.

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 50 mins ago

      By then they will go Man Utd.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      3 hours, 49 mins ago

      Hahahahahahahhahaha that’s a good one! Oooh my sides… I can’t get my breath!

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        2 hours, 58 mins ago

        Probably your local bobby is kneeling on your chest

      2. Winging it
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 hours, 55 mins ago

        Doesn't take much to make you laugh then. Unless of course you're being sarcastic.

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          2 hours, 50 mins ago

          what do you think?

          1. Winging it
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            2 hours, 37 mins ago

            The latter

  2. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    3 hours, 49 mins ago

    Marmoush ruins a Van Hecke assist!

    1. Zalk
      • 15 Years
      3 hours, 6 mins ago

      That commentator really is clueless..."He just has to do better there, he just has to relax"
      Like, what are you talking about?

      1. Admiral Benson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 hours, 53 mins ago

        That particular commentator did score over 400 goals in his career tbf

  3. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 48 mins ago

    Spurs are playing very good.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      3 hours, 47 mins ago

      we know what’s coming

      1. Zalk
        • 15 Years
        3 hours, 46 mins ago

        0-0

      2. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 hours, 43 mins ago

        If Villa go a goal up completely against the run of play, you will see their heads drop. From a FPL perspective I’d like Spurs to get up and running

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 17 Years
          3 hours, 39 mins ago

          Agreed. I feel Spurs are too fragile to concede first.

          They're knocking at the door. Need a scruffy one to go in.

    2. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      3 hours, 45 mins ago

      They've looked good for a couple of games now. Improving every game. They'll be okay.

  4. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 42 mins ago

    Would this be worthy of a BB in GW8? I'm thinking that a GK-less BB could be my new thing each season if there's no playing 4.0. Might not be worth the hokey-cokey unless you BB in GW1 or 2, and even then maybe not, since you have to spend 0.5 more each week until you're rid of the rot.

    Kinsky
    Gabriel Calafiori, Munoz (ips)
    Bruno(v), Palmer Rogers, Schade (hul)
    Thiago (hul), Pedro, Gonzalo (cov)

    Palmer | Szobo (BHA), Konsa (EVE), O'Shea (NFO)

    0.0 ITB

    Oh there's a game on. Who are these teams? Premier League, you say?

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      3 hours, 38 mins ago

      Yeah, that's probably good enough tbh. Not having a 2nd keeper isn't ideal, but a SGW BB isn't worth twisting yourself over. I can see 14pts.

    2. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 35 mins ago

      Not imo. Shade to Gross and get Verbruggen later.

  5. el polako
    • 9 Years
    3 hours, 40 mins ago

    Can you finish 17th not scoring a goal whole season?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      3 hours, 38 mins ago

      Imagine going unbeaten and finishing on 38 points.

      1. el polako
        • 9 Years
        3 hours, 36 mins ago

        Invincible impotents

    2. Esraj
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 23 mins ago

      Possible. You need 38 0-0s.

  6. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    3 hours, 40 mins ago

    The artilce starts with 'Pedro Porro returns from Injury.......'
    And he he returns to injury.

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 39 mins ago

      hehe

    2. el polako
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 37 mins ago

      “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in”

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        2 hours, 56 mins ago

        He is out

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        2 hours, 56 mins ago

        the closet?

  7. LarryDuff
    • 11 Years
    3 hours, 36 mins ago

    Have an overwhelming urge to visit Rwanda all of a sudden

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 34 mins ago

      I hear they have excellent camps and can do you a good deal

    2. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      3 hours, 33 mins ago

      I'm getting the urge to eat Cranberries.

      1. Ball Ake
        • 2 Years
        3 hours, 27 mins ago

        Cystitis?

        1. Moon Dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          3 hours, 24 mins ago

          😆

          Spurs fans singing Zombie

    3. Esraj
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 22 mins ago

      Me too. Must be a lovely country.

  8. Nightcrawler
    • 7 Years
    3 hours, 34 mins ago

    Kinsky yet to concede since I sold him on wc ugh.

    At least his fixtures dont look great

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      3 hours, 33 mins ago

      Quite a decent rotation with Leno.

      But that does mean backing the Fulham and Spurs defence.

    2. N1ceguyEdd1e
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 29 mins ago

      Manzambi scores right on cue!

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 29 mins ago

      There you go

    4. The-Red-1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Timing

  9. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 33 mins ago

    This rule where you get treatment after getting clattered by an opponent you have to go off for a period is utter nonsense

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 31 mins ago

      And thats why. Down to 10 for none of our own doing

    2. Esraj
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 19 mins ago

      Punishment for getting clattered.

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 hours, 37 mins ago

        Absolute nonsense. They really need to look at this rule because you're handicapping the team that has an injury and giving an advantage to the team that caused it

        1. Esraj
          • 10 Years
          2 hours, 34 mins ago

          Agreed.

    3. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 12 mins ago

      They had to do something to stop the rampant cheating with pretend injuries. It was getting out of hand last season. This is a good change. No solution is perfect.

  10. JBG
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 32 mins ago

    Oh pi** off Apurs

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 32 mins ago

      Spurs*

  11. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 hours, 32 mins ago

    West Ham getting whacked at the Den

    Could be 3 nil to the Lions, hit the bar from 40 yards just before the second goal.

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 31 mins ago

      Goal of the season that would have been.
      2-0 is more than fair.
      All Millwall first half, twice as much energy and commitment.

    2. Winging it
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 26 mins ago

      It's 2-0 not 5, they're hardly getting "whacked".

      1. el polako
        • 9 Years
        3 hours, 25 mins ago

        You’re clearly not watching it.

  12. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    3 hours, 32 mins ago

    Was always going to happen with Spurs down to 10 men

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      3 hours, 29 mins ago

      Yeah, especially losing a CB. Unfortunate.

    2. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 29 mins ago

      Absolutely bollox rule you have to go off after being taken out by an opponent

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        3 hours, 27 mins ago

        It’s mental, handicapping the team who is fouled by the opponent.

        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 13 Years
          3 hours, 27 mins ago

          Solution, don’t get fouled

          1. Van der Faart
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 hours, 25 mins ago

            Solution, just foul defenders and make sure they need treatment.

    3. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 16
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 19 mins ago

      Solution: Foul them before they foul you. But if they do foul you, make sure with the very next kick you foul them back. So both teams will still have same numbers.

  13. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 32 mins ago

    So harsh on Spurs

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 30 mins ago

      Robertson should have let it go for the corner and get BdV back on

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 hours, 26 mins ago

        *VdV

  14. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 31 mins ago

    Tottenham Coldspur

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 30 mins ago

      Tottenham Dryspell.

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        2 hours, 50 mins ago

        😆

    2. Amartey Partey
      • 7 Years
      3 hours, 27 mins ago

      Tottenham Goalsspurred

  15. Randy_Marsh
    • 16 Years
    3 hours, 29 mins ago

    What a howler

  16. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    3 hours, 28 mins ago

    Van Hecke YC of course.

    What a horrible couple of minutes!

  17. Amartey Partey
    • 7 Years
    3 hours, 28 mins ago

    Van Heck booked now too

  18. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 27 mins ago

    0 points from Sangare

    Now double defence Spurs clean sheet wipes out.

    Nice

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 24 mins ago

      As long as Sangare stays on my bench, I agree 🙂

    2. KeanosMagic
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 22 mins ago

      It's the double defence of anyone playing spurs you want (not next week though)

  19. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 hours, 26 mins ago

    manzambi looks really nice, seems like a sorta 4-2-2-2 again. riding challenges with ease

  20. Brosstan
    • 12 Years
    3 hours, 26 mins ago

    Based Manzambi wiping Kinsky CS

  21. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 25 mins ago

    Now I don't have to regret not getting Kinsky for Verbruggen, at least I hope so 😉

  22. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 24 mins ago

    Kinsky only keeps a CS when on bench

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 23 mins ago

      The issue with rotating goalkeepers isn't news.

  23. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 hours, 18 mins ago

    Odd question to ask on this forum. ......
    This site used to be extremely busy while matches were on, but it no longer seems the case. What are people doing instead - watching streams, watching on Sky, horizontal dancting or some other enjoyable activity, or what?

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 16 mins ago

      Maybe competition between sites? Other platforms?

    2. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 14 mins ago

      I don't know whether people in UK can watch this on TV. Or maybe they don't bother, it's Spurs playing.

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 14 mins ago

      I’ve 2 kids now 😆

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 hours, 13 mins ago

        I’ve get my updates from here not watching the games

    4. Esraj
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 11 mins ago

      The thrill is gone.

    5. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 11 mins ago

      Busier during multiple games at the same time, less so in a single match where noone owns either set of players besides Kinsky.

    6. Evasivo
      • 16 Years
      3 hours, 1 min ago

      Used to contribute a lot to this site but unfortunately I’ve not been a fan of the ownership for some time… so I now come here when I need to or have time, but otherwise just do my own thing.

    7. Raoul Nogues
      • 1 Year
      2 hours, 55 mins ago

      Not much to say about this game...

    8. Christina.
      • 16 Years
      2 hours, 49 mins ago

      nirvana

    9. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 39 mins ago

      Thanks gentlemen - very interesting to hear your thoughts.

  24. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 18 mins ago

    That should have been a penalty on Fernandes at the end, but, you know, Spurs dont get penalties

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      3 hours, 15 mins ago

      Only big clubs get special penalties.

      1. el polako
        • 9 Years
        3 hours, 14 mins ago

        Not saying it’s fair but that’s the way it is.

      2. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 hours, 13 mins ago

        There'd be a letter to the whole committee of refs, the league and whoever else they can think of if that was Arsenal

        1. Pariße
          • 11 Years
          2 hours, 24 mins ago

          Arsenal players notoriously need to get their heads taken off before it’s considered a penalty.

      3. Esraj
        • 10 Years
        3 hours, 9 mins ago

        Yeah, he used to play for Southampton. No chance.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      3 hours, 10 mins ago

      It would've been soft tbf. Could even have been outside the box.

  25. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    3 hours, 11 mins ago

    I've not been to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium so don't know if it's the case - perhaps the atmosphere is incredible. Was just wondering why they're in such a dip at the moment.

    They have a sought-after manager, a beautiful stadium, and have heavily backed De Zerbi in the transfer market. Yet still can't turn their fortunes around.

    What other variable is there? The fans? Would unrelenting loud and vocal support make the actual difference? I often am surprised just how quiet stadiums are until the team score. It's a stereotype, but a working class fan base usually are the most passionate.

    1. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      3 hours, 9 mins ago

      Rotten dressing room. Need to clear out a lot more of the players who have been there for the last 2 season.

      Same thing Man United have been struggling with for a decade. Was looking good last season when the last remnant of the trash mentality players were removed but now Rashford is back and we see the consequences

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        3 hours, 5 mins ago

        It's easy to say that, but all players are trying to win. I agree that some players lack team ethic and togetherness when compared with others.

        Given all the changes, which players are the culprits? Surely not VDV as he's the captain, so that leaves Bentancur? Almost everyone else has changed from last season!

        1. Brosstan
          • 12 Years
          2 hours, 31 mins ago

          I saw some really disrespectful stuff from VDV last season towards the manager at the end of a loss. The fact that hes captain when behaving like that is very telling of the kind of mentality at the club. Players bigger than the manager etc

    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 8 mins ago

      Spurs as a club are always lacking in that belief, arrogance, winning mentality. They are happy to be there but will never really dominate football matches and the PL on a consistent basis.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        2 hours, 23 mins ago

        Man Utd have that and people point out that arrogance is the problem, so it can't be that.

        It's lack of confidence at the moment, hence I was wondering if the fans could have a more positive impact.

    3. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      3 hours ago

      Tactically they’ve looked okay, but there’s a general lack of calm and technique. Solanke missed the ball in one of the best looks they’ve mustered, Zerbi almost took his shirt off in disbelief.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        2 hours, 19 mins ago

        yeah, saw that. Almost like he wasn't anticipating the ball reaching him.

  26. Esraj
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 4 mins ago

    Manzambi the new Rogers.

  27. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 15 Years
    3 hours, 3 mins ago

    Bruno starts Arsenal

  28. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 3 mins ago

    Nice save Kinsky, put his body (face) on the line.

    1. Firminooooo
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 2 mins ago

      Why no savepoint? Still on 2

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 hours ago

        He’s on 3

  29. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    3 hours, 3 mins ago

    4.5 m mid drops like flies, only Regan the Slayer left

  30. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 2 mins ago

    Team to play Brighton:

    Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Tzolis

    Subs: Kepa, Hincapie, Eze, Gyokeres, Madueke, Merino, Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman

    Team to play Arsenal:

    Verbruggen; Kadioglu, Struijk, Vuskovic, Boscagli; Ayari, Gross, Chema; Gomez, Kostoulas, De Cuyper

    Subs: Steele, Hadjam, Rutter, Promise, Osman, Costinha, Svoboda, O'Riley, Yalcouye

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 hours ago

      Yalcouye dropped

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 59 mins ago

      I was so close to going Timber on WC

    3. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      2 hours, 58 mins ago

      Thanks Blow-In

      Dunk injured I guess...