Dugout Discussion

Three £4.0m defenders start in Saturday’s 3pm matches

Three £4.0m defenders have earned Gameweek 1 starts, two of them coming in the same match.

As predicted from our research of pre-season, John Lundstram (£4.0m) is deployed in the central midfield trio of Sheffield United, while Diego Rico (£4.0m) starts at left wing-back for Bournemouth.

The match at the Vitality Stadium also includes a Premier League debut for Cherries goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (£4.5m) who appears to have won the hotly contested race to start between the sticks.

Fantasy managers backing Ryan Fraser (£7.5m), Callum Wilson (£8.0m) and Josh King (£6.5m) will be happy to see them on the team sheet.

Callum Robinson (£5.5m) starts up front for Sheffield United alongside David McGoldrick (£5.5m).

Meanwhile, Martin Kelly (£4.0m) features at centre-back alongside Scott Dann (£4.5m) for Crystal Palace.

The Eagles are still without Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m), who sitds on the bench. Christian Benteke (£6.0m) and Jordan Ayew (£5.0m) lead the attack.

There are few surprises for visitors Everton as Seamus Coleman (£5.5m) holds onto his right-back berth for now and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m) starts up front with Moise Kean (£7.0m) on the bench,.

Those unfamiliar with Graham Potter’s version of Pep Roulette were given a harsh introduction to it on Saturday afternoon.

After naming an unchanged 3-4-3 line-up for the last two pre-season friendlies, which included starts for Leandro Trossard (£6.0m) in the front trio, he has gone with 3-5-2 for the trip to Watford and benched the new Belgian signing.

Glenn Murray (£6.0m) and Jurgen Locadia (£5.5m) start in the front two while Pascal Groß (£6.5m) comes into central midfield alongside Davy Pröpper (£5.0m) and Dale Stephens (£4.5m).

Dan Burn (£4.5m) joins Lewis Dunk (£4.5m) and Shane Duffy (£5.0m) in the three-man defence while Solly March (£5.0m) and Martin Montoya (£4.5m) are the wing-backs.

Hosts Watford have gone with a 4-4-2 formation but Gerard Deulofeu (£6.5m), reclassified as a forward for 2019/20, has been named on the left wing of midfield.

Troy Deeney (£6.5m) and Andre Gray (£6.0m) lead the Hornets’ line.

TEAMS IN FULL

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale; Aké, S Cook, Mepham; Rico, Billing, Lerman, Smith; Fraser, Wilson, King.

Sheffield United XI: Henderson; O’Connell, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram, Baldock; Robinson, McGoldrick.

Burnley XI: Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Gudmundsson; Wood, Barnes.

Southampton XI: Gunn; Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard; Valery, Ward-Prowse(C), Oriol Romeu, Bertrand; Adams, Redmond; Ings.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; van Aanholt, Dann, Kelly, Ward; Meyer, McArthur, Milivojevic, Townsend; Ayew, Benteke.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Keane, Mina, Coleman; Schneiderlin, A Gomes; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin.

Watford XI: Foster; Kiko Femenía, Dawson, Cathcart, Holebas; Capoue, Doucouré; Hughes, Deulofeu; Deeney(C), Gray.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Duffy, Dunk(C), Burn; Montoya, Pröpper, Stephens, Groß, March; Locadia, Murray.

1,670 Comments Post a Comment
  1. brownc46
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I got absolutely destroyed by Villa fans on here when I said Taylor would start over Targett. How does it feel that some randomer on the internet knows more about the team you've been following your whole life than you.

    1. Mull
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      At least your humble about it.

      1. Mull
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        *you're

      2. brownc46
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I'm the most humble person in the whole world

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Good for you Brown...Shut the loudmouths UP

    3. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Was it Epic Fail?

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Fans don't often know much unless they are insiders (like that ex-WHU employee or those people on the Wolves forum).

    5. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kiwi villain I’m guessing. Gulibert too. Nonsense

      1. brownc46
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Was indeed. Tbf I also thought Fred Gilbert would start

    6. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes but to be fair he consistently talks a barrel of shite.

  2. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Lundstram subbed, being rested

  3. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Watford going down down. First to sack manager?

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Southampton*

  4. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Barnes assist lol Gudmunsson goal

  5. Respect My Authoritah
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Dunk assist!

  6. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What an honour for Schneiderlein to get the first red card of the new season

  7. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Everton pls dont concede I don't wanna cry

  8. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    MAXIMUM DUNKAGE ASSIST

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      FFS changed Dunk to Montoya

  9. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How's Norwood looked chaps?

  10. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Gomes injured. Delph injured. Schneiderlin red card. Not looking rosy in midfield for Everton.

  11. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Dirty tackle, deserves red

  12. Respect My Authoritah
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Red card Schneiderlin

  13. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Been bigging Gudmundsson up all pre season

  14. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Guilbert nailed they said..

    1. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Well Kiwivillan repeatedly said.

      1. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Lol

  15. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wtf Barnes

  16. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Schneiderlin RC. So Everton down to 10 men.

    1. Licky
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Oh dear. HOOOLD.

  17. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Rico shot literally exits the Vitality

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Disguised clearance. He is world class

  18. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Burnley pre-season was a sign of things to come. Dyche have done a good job turning them from a solid, very defensive side to survive into a team playing decent football.

  19. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    wtf dunk

    i was on duffy then changed to dunk for money reason on thursday night

  20. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Spent the extra .5 for the assurance of Vertonghen starting. Absolute lol.

  21. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Schneiderlin injured and out

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He got sent off actually 🙂

  22. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hoooold Digne

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Or score!

  23. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    maupay kick to the face

  24. jaybradlights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I love you Lewis Dunk but I would love you even more if you weren't sat on my bench instead of blooming Cathcart

  25. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Get Montoya they said

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Classic case of overthinking that. Dunk was always the better pick.

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      This!!!!!!

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He is a good buy though this GW. On course for a CS. Can't really complain about a CS at that price.

  26. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mini league rival with Sterling, Salah, Dunk, Origi and Kane. Season over…

    1. BooYaKasha
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      That was quick...chill man long way to go

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Only joking of course, but it will take time to catch up those points already.

  27. Budweiser
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wood over Barnes hurts a lot man. So annoying I could've had a mega score. Trossard better stay on the bench

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If I'd chosen Barnes I could have had a mega score the same as many others.

  28. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Dunk on my bench :((

  29. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    KANE STARTS!!

    1. St. Joseph
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lol. Its like waiting for the news for lundstram starting

  30. The Chosen One...
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    went with the Villa and Brighton fullbacks. should have gone the centre backs