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. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Keep or sell Willems ? Thanks

  2. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    They shouldnt televise Man U games, songs of praise is more enthralling

    1. CARROW ROAD
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Agree

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Someone said yesterday that the premierleague has been dull this year.

      Thats just not true, weve just been subjected to lots of ManU and Arsenal games instead of Sheff Utd, Wolves and Leicester games.

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

    Rashford to ?

    1. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimi?

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

      Ings?

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

      Greenwood?

    4. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kane

    5. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Kane?

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

      It is Newcastle at home next, I am giving him one more.

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

        Ha, Newcastle are even harder to break down

      2. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This is the kind of trap us Rashford/Martial owners keep falling into to.

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

          I have other issues to sort out.

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

      Dings

    8. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rashford with Pogba behind him

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

    God that drumming is annoying. How do Watford match day fans deal with that crap week in week out?

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

      Given most of them live in Watford seven days a week, this is the least of their troubles.

  5. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Game is only 25 mins in, but United too unpredictable in attack to have their attacking assets imo. Pogba back should help Rashford / Martial owners, if he's interested in still being at United.

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

      Hes just on the bench to reminder potential buyers that he isnt actually injured before leaving in January.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        probably a lot of truth in that!

  6. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If Rashforf blanks and you had enough itb to bring in Kane, would you do it?

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

      Defo not get Kane if he blanks too

    2. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah

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

      I have the same question, guess we'll know in a couple hours

  7. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cappers in tears.

  8. Orion
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chilwell to Digne looks ok?

    1. Unfathomable Ruination
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Chasing points

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

    Had Lascelles stinking up team still. Thoughts on a Watford defender to replace him with.

    Should tighten up under Pearson and the next 4 fixtures are okay.

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

    United need Pogba in Lingard's place in this sort of game.

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

      In every sort of game

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

    Lol @ me (so far) last minute switching (c) from JV to Trashford

    1. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Last minute switch from son to Vardy here. Hope it works out!

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

      55 minutes left

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

      This. Fortunately Kdb got only 4 which was equally my option

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

    Anthony martial is not a centre forward.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      And doesn't have the work rate to play out wide. I think the game has passed him by.

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

        Ouch. Strong words.

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I'm just - in the words of Roy Walker - saying what I see!

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

      Such a lazy player. Infuriating to watch. Get Greenwood on and sell Martial. Mourinho was right.

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

        There is a direct correlation between how well united perform with and without martial. It was shown very obviously this season. His influence goes unnoticed mainly by casuals so I understand why you think that

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

          Imagine owning Martial!

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

            🙁 then maybe I’d be like 2k instead of 2.2k 🙁

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

              Wow, great OR. Im still 600k, but as we all know, season of the casual and all that. Hoping for a change second half of the season.

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

                Cheers mate it really is and I attribute it 100% to luck eg getting Guaita at the right time and ings scoring forever without getting injured. Second half and all the chips will make the game interesting again.

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

          Sounds like you two have history.

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

            😛

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

            It’s mainly sexual tension

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

              Haha.

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

      He´s a nothing player, lazy and overrated

  13. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Last season version of me would've made the Jimenez > Rashford move in GW17. Feels good to be less nooby.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Brought Jimenez in this week for the first time this season. Glad he dropped 0.2m before doing it 🙂

  14. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Seriously guys. I'm switching off this game. Save your time and switch off - its pathetic. Come back for TOTCHE

  15. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    no offence guys, but why did you think Rashford would be a good captain vs Watford, this was highly predictable. Only way he was going to get points was FK or Pen.

  16. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lingz joke

  17. hsakrujd
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    That was sad

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

    Lingard makes an absolute embarrassment of a perfect martial assist. Take him off at half time for Pogba I beg my eyes cannot take this anymore

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Agreed.

      Lingard isn't ready for the senior team. Needs to learn his trade with the u19's

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

    Lingard misses a 1 on 1. Would have been a Martial assist 🙁

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

    Bad miss from Lingard, but once he matures he’ll be finishing those.

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

      haha

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah, inconsistency to be expected.

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

      🙂
      When he went through I thought 10% chance he finishes this - for most players that’s probably a 70%

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

        Yeah. He was so through on goal I almost stopped watching assuming it was offside.

      2. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Best years to come as you say. 27 now needs a few more years to reach his peak of 2 goals a season 🙂

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

          Agreed. Let him grow.

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

    Need some Pogba

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

    Trash....

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

      ford

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

    Wrong player to have in a 1 on 1

  24. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    greenwood will come on and score

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

    1 year anniversary coming up since JLigz got a goal/assist in PL. Remember last season when we all had him for 2 weeks? **throws up**

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

      I guess I do... Slightly uncertain though 😉

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

        Owning some players can cause memory black outs. Morata, Batsuai, Isaac Success also come to mind

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

          Morata actually did score some for me. I got and ditched him early.

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I somehow had Morata for his hatty 😀

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      i remember lol but i didnt fall for it, it was like 4/5 weeks he returned wasnt it?

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

        Yeah 5-6 week constant return - played just behind Lukaku.

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

      Milestone! P.S. still hopping that was just a bad dream.

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

      Almiron scored yesterday. Its the season of miracles after all...

    5. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This, but I had him for 4 *throws up****

    6. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      remember boom xhaka laca lol, people genuinely believed xhaka was a good option. Thats got to take the cake

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

    Capoue YC

  27. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Willems to Keane ? Everton fixtures look tasty. Thanks

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You’re welcome

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Any reason why not holgate? Do you think he wont be nailed with ancialotti?

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

      Might as well stretch to Digne if going >5m. Otherwise Holgate?

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Can't afford digne . Is holgate nailed ?

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

          Hard to say - he moved to midfield yest after Keane came on. Seems to be utility player so risky.

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks all

  28. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A couple of seasons ago I lost out by being to cautious. This season, I’m making moves and have been punished for doing so.

  29. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I have 5 players with 4 YC...
    This season is awful for me and i wouldnt be suprised if they all get fifth next GW

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

    Shaw YC