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. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I wish for so little, yet I'm still disappointed...

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Wish to be disappointed

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

          That might break the system but I'll try!

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

        My life 😀

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

      Do you guys think they need Eriksen 2nd half?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah he will come on for Winks

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

        They needed him in first half

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

          Too late almost finish

    3. Flying Dutchman
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      When you have Eriksen and Lo Celso in the squad but start winks and Sissoko - That's Jose for you

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Don't forget ndombele too

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

            This

      2. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This game needs eriksen

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

        Can't wait to sell Alli - the last Spurs assest remaining in my team

        1. Warbling Wendy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Ditto

      4. Evil Greg
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Boom Webster goal, love getting defender goals.

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

          I have Dunk!!!!

          1. Evil Greg
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I went for Webster cos he'd scored twice, missed first few games and was only 4.4m.

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

        This feels like the week where Jose shows his true colours. Only so long he can hide behind his encouraging, laid back persona. Expecting an ugly interview.

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

          Players to be thrown under the bus

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

          He started last week with passive aggressive comments about Rudiger faking his injury.

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

        Son is really missed from this side

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

        Mark got in Greenwood for Connoly for ft. What a bizzare transfer

        Surely he's not taking it seriously anymore?

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

          Maybe he needed the money and wasn't planning to field either

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

            He has 3.2m in the bank though.

            Cant honestly justify his decisions all season

        2. FPL.team
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          What's wrong with that? Frees up a bit of cash and Greenwood is pushing for a start.

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

          I have noticed quite a number of odd decisions over the season. I'm starting to think it's not actually Mark managing the team. Starting Williams who has only started a couple of games and hasn't played for several weeks is also baffling. He's also benched Madison in favour of Cantwell which is also questionable. Still no Vardy in his team either.

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

            And persisting will Sterling(C) for majority of the season

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

          wait till you see Sterling hauls!

      8. Miniboss
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Moura has one of his bad matches today. Holds the ball for ages and tries to run through 3 defenders, ending up losing the ball every time.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            4 years, 3 months ago

            That's how he usually plays when he starts, he's a super sub impact guy. Kinda like chicharito, whenever he comes off the bench he does well so people clamour for them to start but when they start they're pretty naff

        2. rjcv177
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Kane to salah?

          Is connoly good enough for 8th attacker on 352?

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

            Martinelli may be a better punt

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

          as a man united, it's great humour to me what spurs fans have to go through with that clueless mouthy mouthinho.

          1. Champions League Varane
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            This

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

            Without buying exotic players Jose is clueless, bit harsh but hey

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                4 years, 3 months ago

                You mean now? Or with Porto and inter too?

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

                  Did not follow him at Porto nor Inter ... so recently

                2. Dr Van Nostrand
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  That was a decade ago mate. Football has moved on and he's well past it now

                3. Dr Van Nostrand
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  He's been pants in every job he's had since

          3. Werner Bremen
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Best 4,8 GK from next gameweek on?

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

              Ramsdale

              1. zdrojo187
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Ramsdale

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

              Thinking Ryan

            3. Boomerang V
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Ryan

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

              Take note of the SHU-wat match. Foster might be the man if it looks as though Pearson effect mode is switched on.

              1. Werner Bremen
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Great advice, thanks.

            5. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Like the look of Ramsdale

          4. Karan14
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Sick of seeing the Eriksen posts

            A player who wants to leave the club cannot be starting games. Simple!

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

              Relax and let the rant go on

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

              Agreed. Playing him is just pissing your pants to keep warm.

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

              His delivery has been awful when he's come on. He is not in form, for obvious reasons

              1. FC Hakkebøf
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                He has not been playing but still gotten a few assists to be fair

                1. FC Hakkebøf
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Not been playing well*

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

              Don't understand you ... if he is not to play just don't put on the bench!

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

            Played Aurier over Kelly - never before had a Palace clean sheet been so guaranteed

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

              On behalf of the many of us who started Kelly, thank you kind sir 😀

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

            Just logged back on

            Spurs not walking this one then?

            1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Brighton walking it 😀

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

            Amazing turn around from Mourinho! In the reverse fixture they were 2-0 down at HT... great improvement

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

            Ryan get that CS

            1. buggyball
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              hoping for that cs

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

            If Vertonghen doesn't get an attacking return this half I'm selling. Useless.

          10. Eleven Hag
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Any Aurrier owners looking to ditch him alre?

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

              Aurier does not have a brain

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

            Kane fail 🙂
            Alli fail 🙁

          12. Chucky
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Glad I didn't invest in spurs players 😎

            1. FPL Daniel
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Still early. Magnus did i.e.

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

                lol

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

              Game of two halves

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

            I envisioned a Dele Alli tap-in .. wishing I captained the Lord right now - anyone on here do it and pumped?

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

              I’m not playing today

          14. CONNERS
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Thoughts on these knee-jerk transfers?

            Alli/Rashford to Sterling/Maupay.

            Just have a gut feeling Sterling's about to go on a run of hauls.

            1. FPL.team
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              You probably thought the same when you got Alli and Rashford.

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

              Ha, true.

          15. Mr. O'Connell
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Love a red arrow on wildcard

          16. The Yorkshire Pirlo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Wow.

            Kane(C) + Alli 🙁

            Ship both for who?

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

            Ryan’s fixtures look decent, worth getting on a WC? Who is the best 5.0mil or below GK to get?

          18. Hybrid.power
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Ryan benched for me this week, of course he will haul

          19. Railwayman
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            And I even thought to get Lucas or Alli for a hit, thank God I didn't do it.

          20. Hy liverpool
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Moaners moaners.. Moaners everywhere !!