Dugout Discussion

Sessegnon replaces the suspended Son as Potter rings the changes

The first of nine matches to take place on Boxing Day kicks off at 12:30 GMT, with Brighton and Hove Albion the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With this being the first of two Fantasy Premier League deadlines in the space of 48 hours, we FPL managers will be anticipating a shock benching or two today.

The damage isn’t too bad from a Tottenham Hotspur perspective, with one of Jose Mourinho’s two line-up changes being enforced.

Spurs’ appeal to get the Gameweek 18 dismissal of Son Heung-min (£9.9m) overturned has failed, so the South Korea international will now sit out the Lilywhites’ next three league matches – starting with this one.

Son’s place on the left flank has been taken by Ryan Sessegnon (£5.4m), who makes his first league start of 2019/20.

Eric Dier (£4.9m) drops to the bench, meanwhile, with Harry Winks (£5.2m) promoted to the starting XI.

There are starts for popular FPL buys Harry Kane (£11.0m), Dele Alli (£8.9m) and Serge Aurier (£5.1m), who maintain their ever-present Premier League appearance records under their new manager.

There are five changes for the visitors, however.

Shane Duffy (£4.8m), Ezequiel Schelotto (£4.0m), Bernardo (£4.3m), Aaron Connolly (£4.6m) and Steven Alzate (£4.5m) are all brought into the team, with Martin Montoya (£4.5m), Leandro Trossard (£5.8m), Davy Propper (£4.9m) and Neal Maupay (£5.8m) dropping to the bench.

Lewis Dunk (£4.7m) is absent from the matchday squad altogether as he is suffering from illness.

Christmas-led rotation is perhaps only one of the reasons for Graham Potter’s tinkering.

Albion look to be adopting a three-man central defence, with Potter perhaps having witnessed the joy that Wolves and Chelsea got against the Lilywhites when playing a similar formation recently.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Winks, Sissoko, Lucas, Dele, Sessegnon, Kane.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Ryan, Schelotto, Webster, Duffy, Burn, Bernardo, Stephens, Mooy, Gross, Alzate, Connolly.

1,772 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Good to see Dier dropped. Winks capable of passing forward as we just saw

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Don't care about Spurs much but Dier shouldn't be anywhere near the England team, so this is all good news.

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

        Need Tanguy back

  2. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Stop whining guys it was clearly offside

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This

    2. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Clear? Did the linesman put up his flag? It was fractional and only offisdes after review with technology so don't act like it was an obvious decision

  3. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    teams are going to have to do special armpit training

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

      Tuck them in.

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        'he only had himself to blame, he should tucked his armpit in like in training'

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

      I can just picture them now doing the Chicken Tonight dance...no not really.

  4. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli captain fail. 🙁

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

    Alli fail .

  6. Mo Salah No Mane
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thank God for VAR 🙂

  7. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan would have been a good captain pick this week.

    Guaranteed cleanie.

  8. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Worry this will end 0-0

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

      Alli 3 point haul would be massive.

      Well 2 points because bound to get booked.

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      That would be lovely

    3. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would be delighted with 0-0.

  9. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    VAR has ruined FPL for me.

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

      How so? It’s consistent for everyone playing. It’s also making the game more accurate.

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Armpits offside for one. About 5 of them so far this season

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

          You can score with your shoulder, so it’s offside.

      2. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I love it. Accuracy is God. When they make the decision making process slicker then we'll all wonder what the fuss was about.

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

          Absolutely. Once it’s more like the goal line decisions where it alerts the ref instantly, it’ll be fine.

      3. Bird Raymond
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        It takes the joy out of the game. Whether you are celebrating your team scoring or your player getting FPL points, the enjoyment is that moment of the ball hitting the back of the net. Now you can't celebrate your team's goal or your player's points because there is a good chance it will be chalked off because the players toenail or armpit hairs are offside.

    2. Grounderz
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Like your FPL strategy is heavily dependent on VAR. Great strategy.

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Merry Christmas

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

      Im a big fan of reading the elation followed by fury and sadness

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

    Kane owners in tears. That's the only time their CDM will get close to the box this game.

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Logged in to upvote

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

    Ban

    1. Pedram
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ?

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

        Reply fail to Alli captain fail comments

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

    Interesting to see who takes this FK with no Eriksen or Son on the pitch.

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

      Kane and corners

    2. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      kane

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

    YC Burn

  14. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Miles offside

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

      Didnt realise amazon prime was that far behind

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

    Burn YC

  16. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    why would I capiltain a spurs player.. 🙁

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

      I wouldn't with Mourinho in charge but I can see them scoring here easily

  17. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Think i’ve jumped on the Alli bandwagon too late

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah time to get out, Spurs are turd again

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

        Any decent replacements? I have 2.1 ITB so im flexible. Might look to maddison, Leicesters fixtures turn after liverpool

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

    I don't own Kane but if you think that should be offside, you're not a football person.

    "But he was offside by 1.6mm, so by the letter of the law hurr durr..."

    Go away, nobody wants you watching this game. That goal should stand like many others this season.

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

      So should the cut off be 1.7mm or what?

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

        I don’t think var is accurate enough to prove these 1.7mm calls

        It’s still subjective where the line is put and the frames aren’t slow enough to nail it

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

      He was clearly offside even in real time...

    3. Pedram
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Meh cry me a river

  19. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli false dawn. Too much like Martial with the sulks and head going down.

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

    Amazon Prime viewers bet on Burn getting a YC now.

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

      haha

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      They’re still waiting for game to kickoff I think

    3. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ha Ha - so true. Am watching the game live on Prime and comments about Burn YC came on FFS before it even happened on the telly. It’s ridiculous.

    4. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sky stream is far faster!

      Watching on Prome today. Tis not too bad though.

      Winks suspended for next game. That might be Dire back in

      Selling Alli with that news

  21. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I'm glad I don't watch any prem football as VAR would just kill the enjoyment for me. Imagine hardly ever being able to celebrate a goal without having to wait ages for a check.

    I get that the decisions tend to be correct, and that football is a business and business need predictability, but football only makes people money whilst there are paying fans, and there won't be for much longer at this rate.

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Last bit isn't true, sheeple will always queue out the door

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yep, unfortunately the atmosphere is dead

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah but what about the elation when the oppo goal is correctly ruled out? (or incorrectly for that matter)

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Sometimes you just need to know. Also, what about the disappointment when the oppo goal is initially ruled out and then reinstated?

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

    No ban for all the people spreading fake news about Kane goal?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What Kane goal?

      Say Amazon prime viewers

  23. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    think I need to sell Alli

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

      Yeah, maybe give him one more game.

  24. Lukey27
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    pen

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      !!!

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

      Dude...

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

      ban

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Waaaaaaat

  25. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Spurs look a bit toothless without Son.

  26. chrismoo75
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    0-0 bet placed at 6/1 to help me get over my Kane (c) fail

  27. jimmyabs1987
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So how is that free kick hitting his hand in the wall not a penalty? Rules are rules and it’s hit his arm to stop it going on target?

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It isn’t automatically a penalty if it hits someone’s hand. That isn’t the rule.

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

      ball to hand

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

    Anyone finding picture blurred quite a lot on Amazon Prime?

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Perfect for me.

    2. jimmyabs1987
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope clear for me

  29. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    It’s only cos the Kane captainers went massively against the grain they’re butthurt. Get over it

  30. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Alli has been crap.

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Big game from Pogba and I’ll entertain getting rid

      Jose effect has finally kicked in at spurs it appears

      Took a few games, but he got there in the end

    2. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli > Pogba.