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

    Imagine captain Rashford

    Oh wait... 🙁

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Imagine owning Rashford. 🙁

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Who would wanna own a player with 10 attacking returns in his last 10 games! Dang

        1. Tempestic
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Yeh nice except everyone bought him 2 gw's ago when hes done nothing

          1. Zenith UK
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Lucky I'm not everyone 😛

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

            Not everybody though.

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

      I’ve actually had a fairly good week. I’m amazed

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

      Thought you were a Party boy. Live and learn.

  2. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Brutal gw. Typical Xmas sh1Te

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

    Are Kabesele and Wijnaldum related? Look so alike...

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

    Anytime now, Rashford.

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

    Ahead of Spurs nice fixtures...
    A) Mount -> Alli (FT)
    B) Mount, Leno -> Son, Gazza (-4)

    1. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

      Definitely b in order to get Leno out

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

    McTom off
    Mata on

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

    What else is in the charity shop window with Pogba? An old Tracey Island model and some star trek figurines?

  8. Zenith UK
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Potentially strange topic...
    Every season forwards and midfielders seem to outscore defenders and goalkeepers. Does anyone else think that it's time defenders and goalkeepers get slight adjustments to their points system so it's a bit more balanced across the board?

    1. Grand Thibauto
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Their prices are low for that reason

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

      The have adjustment in price so its fair imo.

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

      No - because they cost less also?

    4. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Highest defender is 7.0m. Highest mid and forward is 13.0 and 11.5 respectively... let that sink in

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

      Every season its defenders who end up being the best value for money. The pricing system is completely fine.

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

    Why does trashford keep shooting from ridiculous angles... Hes like Ronaldo on free kicks. Actually not very good on them but because he shoots every single time from every single angle hes bound to score some of them now and then.

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

      Cause he’s as good as Ronaldo.

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

        Yeah the brazilian Ronaldo, and only becuase hes 43.

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

      Which is gold in FPL terms

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

        He would get more points over time if he recognized the situations where a pass or cross is the better option

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Gerry D ruining AWB.

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    9m + for a utd striker is just laughable really

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

      *midfielder

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      This, what was I thinking

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

      Not if you like points

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I prefer same pointsfor cheaper price

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

          Only two forwards with more points. Neither of them are cheaper.

  12. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    They've looked alive since Pogba came on. United a totally different outfit with him playing in the midfield. He's absolutely class isn't he.

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

      Best midfielder in the league.

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

        KDB says hello

      2. Vlad Tepes
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        KDB way better, hes is top 3 in the world tbh

        1. Fudgy
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Messi, neymar kdb?

          1. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Ronaldo better than neymar

            1. Fudgy
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              😆 this isn't 2008 mate

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

            Neymar lol. Hes not even top 20 in the world

            1. Fudgy
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Deluded

          3. Vlad Tepes
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Ye could be a list, he is so underrated. KDB is such a complete player and deserve more credit

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Pity that we can't find his position for the team
      He can't play in 2mid formations and we haven't got players for any 3mid setup

  13. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    De Gea was just showing his experience. He knew Sarr was struggling for confidence, gifted him a goal so that Watford will take points from United Rivals in the next few games; Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

  14. tisza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic benched

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yesss

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

      No surprise, been shite for A long time

  15. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Yank Walcott benched.

  16. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pogba close. Would have been rashford assist

  17. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic dropped

  18. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic benched.

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

    Pulisic benched

  20. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulusic on the bench

  21. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Three at the back for Chelsea

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

    Pheww sold Pulisic for Grealish this gw.

    What a disaster of a transfer was getting in Pulisic

  23. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Lol pulisic

  24. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Even though they're often a mess of awkward moves and strange decisions, I do enjoy watching Watford play - they have a bunch of creative minds in that team.

  25. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    We really haven't even looked threatening, so bad.

  26. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pulisic essential for Southamptom home

  27. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Eriksen benched.

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      you call that news?

  28. Thunder Warrior
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Any chance Pulisic stays on the bench?

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

      zero

  29. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Why the fk is Reece James on the bench again. These team sheets are so frustrating.

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

      Because Che playing 3 at the back and Alonso is better at WB

      1. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        That has literally nothing to do with Reece James, they play on opposite sides. If anything this should help his chances of starting because his crosses are infinitely better than Azpi's, and Azpi can play as a centre back if he really has to be in there.

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

          Wrong - because Azpi moves to LB when RJ starts. Chelsea fan?

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            a) Azpi doesn't have to be in the team
            b) I just told you he can play at right centre back of a three if he has to which is probably his only decent position now

            Yes I'm a Chelsea fan and follow everything about them.

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

    My Rashford to Ings and Pulisic to KDB transfers going surprisingly well so far...