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. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Holgate spit under threat because of new manager so might try out different CBs? Or has he looked good

  2. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Come on Martial (c) you should be more clinical

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

      Brave

  3. james 101
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What do you need for a cup win?

    I think I’m going out. Rash two goals would win it though.

    Or Tammy.

    1. DF
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A miracle

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

      Rashford(c) Alli + 8pts to outscore Rashford Mount Pulisic

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

        I'd say you are good esp with rash cover there

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

      Rashford blank and son 10pts

    4. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Just need Son+Alli+Rashford to outscore Mount by 6 points...

      Easy, right?

    5. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Aguero (C) 1 point cameo for my ghost ship opponent kept Cantwell 10 pointer on the bench, think Im fine.

    6. supperspout
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Alli not to get -40 points

      1. Soto Ayam
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Feel pretty safe
        Son, aurier, alli (c), Tammy +9 points
        Vs son (c), rash

    7. Wensink
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      55-55. Opponent has Rashford (C) and Dele left, I’ve got Tammy and Dele. So far, so good.

    8. Rash
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A time machine as I went out first round

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

    How long until OMG Mashford?

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

      23 minutes

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

      Hopefully not long

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

      MASH POTATO

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

    A. Jimi to Kane
    B. Pulisic to Son

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

      A

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

        Cheers

    2. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Both for -4

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

        Can’t I’m afraid.

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

      B based on form

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

        Thanks

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

    Mariappa owning Rashford

    Sarr is S*IT

    1. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Sarr is awful, quick but his legs and brain don’t work in tandem. Seems to constantly make the wrong decision.

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

        Cant be worse than Almiron ?

        1. Blue&White85
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Possibly not but can’t believe he cost Watford £40m.

          1. Rash
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Shame they didn't keep the receipt

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

      Sarri too in epl

  7. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Have seen nothing yet to suggest Rashford will do anything.

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

      Calma 75 mins still left

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

    WTF 32 MILLION FOR SARR ARE YOU SH*TT*NG ME!?

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

      Calm down Snorlax

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

      40million Joelinton says hi

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Iwobi sees your 40mil and raises with some add-ons

    3. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      60m Fred says so what

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

        75m kepa. Hold my beer

        1. Pras (FPL)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          120m Coutinho says I drank it already :p

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    One to watch. Sarr

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

      Apparently he is shite mate

    2. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Not my type. Sorry.

  10. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    How can I improve this WC for gw20? (£ maxed out)

    Ramsdale 4.0
    Soy Aurier Lund Maguire Kelly
    Salah Son Alli KDB Grealish
    Vardy Jiminez Maupay

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

      Maguire out

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

        Agreed waste of dough

        1. manu4life99
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Ings, Dunk instead of Maupay, Maguire?

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

            Keep Maupay, Do Dunk

  11. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford getting nothing

  12. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    OMG Marcus Mumford

    😉

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

    Doucoure G disallowed

  14. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    De Gea getting protection in the box as always. Big team bias. Watford goal disallowed.

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

    Expecting nothing from c Rashford

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

    Doucoure goal disallowed due to due earlier foul on DDG at a corner. Watford testing him under high ball

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

    Crash and Burnford fail 🙁

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

    United losing the ball easily

    Rash limping very slightly but seems fine

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

    This game is ferking abysmal. Why are we watching this tripe?

  20. Sailboats
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Regretting capping Rashford already

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

      Same, captain seems to fail again 🙁

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

      It was bound to fail

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Agree

  21. Pras (FPL)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pogba in Lingard’s position will be FPL gold

  22. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    my gf looks like troy deeney

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

      Sorry to hear that

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Double bagger 😉

    3. Aftermath
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      My condolences

    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      shes very handsome

  23. hueycho
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Need a biiiiiiggggg performance from Alli (c) later to beat ma opponent!!!

  24. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ings to rashford going well so far

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

      Selling Ings ahead of Villa game. Genius 😉

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Bite me

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Ouch!

  25. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Every United game is like this. Need a jammy first goal to open the game up. If United get the first goal Rashford (C) is gold, if they dont it will be a huge fail.

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

    Why do we own a penalty merchant who plays out of position

    FFS. Fell for the Rashtrap

  27. popcoin
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford is having an absolute stinker. Another captain fail. Oh well!

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      These comments are ridiculous. Not even a third of the way through the game and he can play terrible all game and still bag a brace

      1. popcoin
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Ridiculous

  28. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Son, Alli, Tammy and Rashford were the reason of my red arrow last week hope they return something this time

  29. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Got to feel for Greenwood having to watch Lingard play from the bench after his performances. Pogba in the hole will be decent though.

  30. Whats the Huth
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Who’s the most captained this gw?
    Article above says rashford is second most captained.

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

      Kdb?

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy