Dugout Discussion

Holgate and Sidibe benched as Everton face Palace in Gameweek 26 opener

The first of ten Premier League matches in as many days takes place between Everton and Crystal Palace, with Gameweek 26 getting underway at Goodison Park at 12:30 GMT.

Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a blow to owners of Mason Holgate (£4.5m) and Djibril Sidibe (£5.4m), with both of those defenders only among the substitutes.

That is Holgate’s first benching since Gameweek 9, with the budget Fantasy Premier League asset losing his ever-present record under his new manager.

Michael Keane (£5.2m) and Seamus Coleman (£5.3m) come in at centre-half and right-back respectively, with Bernard (£6.4m) ousting Alex Iwobi (£5.6m) on the left flank.

Ancelotti’s other change is an enforced one, with Morgan Schneiderlin (£4.4m) replacing the suspended Fabian Delph (£5.3m).

Richarlison (£8.1m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.1m) again form a two-man strike force for the hosts.

Speaking of his line-up changes, Ancelotti said:

We need more of everything. More quality, more intensity, more pressure, more concentration. It’s not easy to pick the line-up but I want everyone to be involved and the players accept my decisions.

The Palace team news is nice and easy to digest, with the Eagles unchanged from their defeat to Sheffield United last weekend.

Martin Kelly (£4.3m), who lost his place to Joel Ward (£4.3m) in Gameweek 25 anyway, is absent with a minor calf injury.

Vicente Guaita (£5.0m) is between the posts again after his clanger against the Blades, with Roy Hodgson saying:

You don’t drop first-choice goalkeepers because they’ve made one mistake – it can happen to anyone. We’re very happy with him and very happy he’s playing today.

Palace are without a clean sheet since Gameweek 16, which is the longest barren streak in the top flight at present.


Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Walcott, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, McCarthy, McArthur, Zaha, Ayew, Benteke.

1,580 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Should have played Dunk instead of Ayew...

    1. squits
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yep. Palace attack is dreadful. But so is Brighton defense

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

    will crystal palace ever score another goal

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

      I sold Ayew ( my bench fodder forward ) for Ings this week.

    2. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Throwback to De Boer in 17/18 when Palace had no goals after 4 games.

      "He's scored more than you,
      He's scored more than yoouuuu
      Fabian Delph,
      He's scored more than you!"

  3. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Low quality match

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Needs more Holgate.

      1. squits
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Noooo keep him on the bench!

        1. Rolls-Royce
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I have Lundy coming on, so don't think it will make much difference.

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

      Indeed!

    3. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Terrible

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

      You expected anything else?

      1. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Nope but I paid membership here so I have to contribute somehow even with a useless comment

        1. Bun Rab
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Haha. Nice. It alwasy good to give back.

  4. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibe has been shite since he came on

    He could get subbed back off

    1. SirStevieG
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Still looks out of form.

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

      Too bad big Dunc isnt still in charge

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

        If he has a poor match he will be subbed since he has been playing from 25min so not that fresh

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

      Looks like he was upset he had to come on.

      1. squits
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        He's wearing two right foot socks

    4. JammySprat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Deffo a chance. As an owner im scared he's going to either get subbed off or get sent off. way off the pace

  5. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Don't see any captain HT this week. So... who did everyone here end up captaining?

    1. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Salah because I'm boring

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Just had to be Salah. I pondered giving it to Son but chickened out.

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

      aguero

    3. SirStevieG
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mahrez

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Ballsy.

        1. SirStevieG
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          No Sterling, hoping he gets a lot of touches.

          He will either go big or blank.

          1. Rolls-Royce
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Nice. Maverick.

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

      Salah again.

    5. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Aguero

    6. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Kun

    7. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Jimenez

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Cheeky.

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          was on Son all week, don't have Salah and have triple City attack so I just asked my wife to pick as she does the captaincy thing much better than me lately!

          1. Rolls-Royce
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Noice. You owe her a good Valentine Day's present. 😉

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

      Son by mistake. Meant Salah but didn't save. Not worried though. Son is able!

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Son is a great pick imo. 4 goals in his last 4 games or something like that. Plus City put 6 past Vill only a few weeks a go.

        1. Tinkermania
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yes, that's why I am not worried. And he took a pen and scored in midweek.

    9. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Salah ©
      Son V©

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

    Green arrow with no players in this game. Lots of hits taken then?

    1. squits
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      That time of the season when people try hits

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Or you are in the million club.

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

      I'll be on -8 tonight - no players playing today

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DCL down and hurt

  8. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Holgate will come on for Sidibe after an hour.

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

    Clear penalty denied. Awful refereeing and VAR better change it.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Clearly not actually

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Nah

  10. ppv
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero EO 47%. Very low

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Glad to have him still

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      ...that is low so hope he and City smash it... non capper but triple City attack!

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

        Don’t underestimate Moyes 😉

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I put this triple up in place, a little early (Spurs flop), specifically for this fixture...
          5 nil incoming 😉

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

      OR 4K and dot have him. Would involve a -4 and then a transfer to take him out in 2 weeks. Not worth the risk.

  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DCL back up and limping

  12. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Calvert-Lewin owners have been desperately unlucky

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not if they benched him...

      1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, not if they benched him

        1. james 101
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          He’s my first sub to be fair. We will see how it plays out

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Irbox fuming

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

      Sold for Jimenez

  13. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DCLs had a few knocks today. Can see Kean coming on for him at 65/70 mins or so - if not earlier.

  14. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Pickford circus medrano

  15. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Zaha falling over again

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      In other news the Sun rises.

  16. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Jordan Pickford

    England No1

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Pope & Hendo should go 🙁

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

      Plays like a complete number 2 most of the time.

  17. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Forgot the deadline being in a different timezone but would've done Martial to Richarlison for a hit... how's he playing?

    1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He doesn’t play until 17th

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        wtf... aren't Everton playing now?

      2. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        muppet lol

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

      there'll be another one along in 2 weeks

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

      Nothing special.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        cheers

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

    Big club bias from VAR again.

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      ? Is Palace a big club?

  19. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Could DCL at least still stay on till the 60th? 2 points are better than 1.

    1. Root
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      There is a non-zero chance of this happening.

  20. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would you rather have Soyuncu or Rico coming off your bench this week?

    1. Root
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Soyuncu

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

      Both were so 2019.

  21. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    DCL doesn't look like scoring.

  22. noahzark22
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    My one playing GK Leno has a blank GW coming up. Do I transfer him out, bring in a playing back up, or just take a blank that week?

    Bur, Wol, ManU seem to have the best schedule for the rest of the season after the blank week.

    1. squits
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'd take him out for a cheap guy. Maybe pope?

      1. noahzark22
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        that option seems to be in the lead at the moment

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

      Bring in the cheapest playing back-up for GW28

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

      Pope it is then.

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

      unlikely to be his first blank either - 28, 31 and possibly 34 ... plus you may have BB left
      Would get a 2nd keeper .. but not keen on Leno either, Arsenal don't do clean sheets

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

    Everton handling the nursing home comfortably

  24. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How has Richarlison been?

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Awful but so has everyone else

  25. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Zaha lost his powers after he cut his hair.

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Samson...

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

      Hasn't lost his diving powers.

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        😀

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

    10 matches for Palace without a clean sheet now - the worst run of any club in the league

    1. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Even Villa and Norwich are doing better!

  27. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ancelotti going to have to earn his money now. Tough fixtures until GW34. Although I expect Everton will pick up more points than people are expecting in that tougher fixture run.

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      They tend to perform well in the latter part of the season.

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

    Need a Guaita peno save

    pleeeez :/

  29. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Already settled on doing DCL to Jimenez next week pending no injuries

    This match is also tempting me to sell Zaha for a hit as he’s been a waste of space for weeks

    1. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Zaha is a more pressing concern IMO

      1. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I often wonder why I ever brought him in

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Get in Perez for Zaha

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

      Jimenez and Harvey Barnes?

  30. The Fed
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Richarlison headed goal in second half, cross from Digne. Head it here first.

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks!