Dugout Discussion

Pogba on the bench as United and Watford name unchanged starting XIs

The first of two Premier League matches to take place on Sunday kicks off at 14:00 GMT, with Manchester United the visitors to Watford.

Both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nigel Pearson have named unchanged starting XIs from the sides that lined up in Gameweek 17.

There is a surprise returnee among the substitutes, however, as Paul Pogba (£8.4m) makes the United matchday squad for the first time since the end of September.

Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) is also on the bench for the visitors, as Anthony Martial (£7.7m) once again leads the line in front of an attacking midfield trio of Marcus Rashford (£9.1m), Daniel James (£6.2m) and Jesse Lingard (£6.3m).

Rashford was the most-bought Fantasy Premier League forward of Gameweek 18, with just under 290,000 managers drafting the United striker into their teams.

The England international was also the second-most-popular captaincy option this weekend, having been handed the armband by over 800,000 FPL bosses.

Rashford has only blanked twice since a ‘two-pointer’ in Gameweek 8.

Both he and Martial were on target when these two sides last met in March.

Adam Masina (£4.3m) and Roberto Pereyra (£5.6m) are both fit to return for the Hornets but only make the bench.

Troy Deeney (£6.2m) gets his fourth straight start up front following his recent return from a long-term injury.

Interested is limited in Pearson’s troops from a Fantasy perspective: not one of Watford’s players is owned by more than 2% of FPL bosses.

The Hornets have only scored in one of their last five home fixtures, with that solitary strike coming from the penalty spot against Chelsea.

United are without a clean sheet in 12 Premier League matches, however.

Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenía, Hughes, Capoue, Sarr, Doucouré, Deulofeu, Deeney.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, James, Lingard, Rashford, Martial.


1,381 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who you reckon wins this round

    Me- Son(C) Alli Rashford + 1pts

    Cup opponent- Kane(C) Martial Tammy

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers going to be close i reckon

    2. mojoindojo
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. andres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Should be you

  2. mojoindojo
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rashy hatty please

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hope so but united could easily neutralized if Watford plays more defensively

  3. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mariappa against rashford, very tasty

    • Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Disrespectful to Mane and VVD when people say KDB best player in the league.

      1. lilmessipran
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Unfair to compare players in different positions on the field

      2. Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He's won more league titles.

        1. Digital-Real
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          the other two have won more European cups

          1. HurriKane
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            You can compare likes of mane with salah sterling son etc

            But KDB is a class apart and deep down inside you know it. Just dont want to admit it

      3. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Putting the bait out. I see what you did there

        Any liverpool fan who is unbiased will agree that kdb is the best player in the league

      4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        They’re all really good players. KdB better though.

      5. Critical Observer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Lol.

        KDB comfortably the best player in the league. Neither Mane nor VVD is even the best player in that Liverpool squad.

      6. LSK
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Should all be cloned multiple times to make a full team made up of themselves and made to play each other home and away to find out who is best. I reckon a team of KDBs would win, but a team of 5 VVDs and 5 Manes would beat 10 KDBs (keepers always being equally able, of course)

      7. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Kun the best

      8. StayoutheSpiceZone
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        How is it disrespectful? He is better than both of them

      9. el polako
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Mane and VVD should be proud to be considered on par with ginger Zizou.

    • Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      At this point im sure the person who chooses the pictures for the FFS articles is having a laugh picking the least flattering pictures every time.

    • jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What’s Nigel’s plan?

      1. Richd
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Delay the bus. Then park it.

        1. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          ... but WAT showed attacking intent against LIV last week ...

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Track them, find them, kill them on counter attack

        1. StayoutheSpiceZone
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Watford need to win, draw no good to them. Hope it’s a good one

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

        I think Nigel’s plan was the same as last week’s.

    • lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hoping for a Rashy blank today

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Hopefully he smashes it and punish the salty non owners 😉

      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Amen

    • Richd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rashford blank

      Kane hattrick

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Hoping for the exact opposite! And Alli to at least outscore Pulisic to make my FT this week worthwhile

        1. Richd
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I need Pulisic to outscore Alli as well.

          Today we will have to disagree mate 🙂

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            One of us will be happy!

        2. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Wouldn't mind both hauling tbh.

      2. mad_beer ✅
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I thought we were friends. 🙁

        1. Richd
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          We will be friends again after the Kane hattrick 😉

      3. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        YES COME ON KANE!

    • Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Losing Jimenez, not the good plan.

      Henderson Martin
      Kelly Taylor Lund (Soy Rico)
      Salah Mane Son Grealish (Cantwell)
      Rashford Jimenez Vardmeister

      1FT 0.1itb

      How long will i keep

    • Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Trashford do your duty,

      Blank

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He has this nickname for a reason?

    • andres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Time to bin pieters? For whom? Tempted by everton run of fixtures
      Also atm the cash position allows for alli to salah.

      Hedno
      Kelly TAA Lund
      Kdb Alli Son Grealish
      Rash Vardy abraham

      Cantwell, Soy, Pieters 3.7 ITB 1FT

      1. andres
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        anyone?

      2. ShrunkenHeader
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Correct anyone

    • Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A wild Paul Pogba appeared

      1. Arse Craic
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Can't wait for his new haircut!

    • Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Man U cant beat teams that park the bus. Wat-Manu 1-0

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thats why I'm not going for them. Their next few are all against those types of teams.

    • Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do TAA > Kelly this week or wait a week? Will use the money to upgrade McGinn > Salah in GW20.

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        this week

      2. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Do it for that upgrade

    • Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Greenwood benched 🙁

      1. StayoutheSpiceZone
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He will play 26/12 or the one after

      2. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Keep the faith! Will start 1 fixture over xmas

      3. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Wood sitting on a wood

      4. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        To be expected.

    • DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      All I want for Christmas is a Dele goal and a Watford cleanie.

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        All I want is Rash hattie and Son hattie. Also Alli to get red card.

        1. DeathoftheParty
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          At the minute Santa's my boy and you're on coal.

      2. Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You'll need a strange shaped chimney.

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          🙂

    • Thomas M.
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      How many points you reckon Son, Alli, Rash (C) and Tammy will provide me?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Between 15 and 20

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        35

      3. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        24 in total

        8
        10
        2 x 2
        2

      4. luk46
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        23

    • StayoutheSpiceZone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Watford 1-3 Man U
      Spurs 5-2 Chelsea

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        0-1

        2-2

      2. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This made me laugh.

      3. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        1-2
        3-1

      4. Arse Craic
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        1-0
        3-2

      5. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sounds perfect! Including goals for Rashford, Alli, Son, Tammy. Or a cs for Aurier

      6. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        1-0
        2-2

    • Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Willems > Holgate

      Or just play Soyuncu?

    • Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hey guys.
      I've got 2 FT's, nothing really pressing though. Maybe make a keeper transfer? 1.9 itb.

      Pope
      Toby Lord Kelly
      Cantwell KDB Alli Pulisic Grealish
      Tammy Vardy

      TAA Jimenez Chilwell

      I was also thinking Chilwell to fodder and Jimi to Kane as I've never had an issue with my defenders, always had lots of options.

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'd personally never bench Trent or Jimenez. GK transfer looks fine. Those latter moves could also pay off over the coming weeks, yep

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          TAA is a tough one, but Jimi isn't explosive so its never that bad.

      2. luk46
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Would rather have Son than Kane

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          But then I want to get rid of Jimi and I feel my mids are all good value.

    • HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      For the cup - Need Son (c), Alli, Rash and Tammy to outscore Mount+11 points ... if Mount does not play they need to score 17 points

      1. luk46
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        90% to do so, just a Son goal would almost make that if Mount dont play

      2. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You already won.

        1. HashAttack
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          My opponent has Son too .. so I should only count 1 Son

          Now need Son, Alli, Tammy to outscore Mount+9 points

    • Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Predictions?

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I can give you my hopes?

        1-3, Rashford hattrick and Martial OG

      2. Tcheco
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        3-1 United

      3. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Brexit 2032

      4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        James 3 bonus
        Deulofeu 2 bonus
        Rashford 1 bonus

      5. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Tight game for United. Winning by only 0-1. Che:Spurs goalfest, depends just how many goals.

    • Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Go on Marcus

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Go on and fail?

      2. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Go go go. Cover me, cover me.

    • Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hoping Martial and Alli are the picks this week rather than Rashford and Son.

    • Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimenez is a bit annoying to own - great that he keeps ticking over with points but would I be better off with someone like Ings?... much more explosive recently

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Experts have both

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Fair play. Should Rashford blank some more, I'd be tempted to ditch him instead

      2. manu4life99
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Same.not sure whether to sell Jimi on WC or not. Maupay, Ings, Tammy, Rash candidates to partner Vardy

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

        Would not be buying Ings with fixtures... I’m thinking of selling.

    • Wally banter
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Need 18 points from Delle cap and Son to blank (2 pointer)

      Too much to ask?

      1. iL PiStOlErO
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Probably

      2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yes

    • Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial close 🙁

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Wow u have him!?

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          He’s been great for me x

    • manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Any must have strikers from gw20 onwards (except Vardy)?

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Kane from gw 19-21 will score big if your chasing

    • Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial S off T

    • bialk
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Have Son captain. What should I expect from Rashford? 60k overall.