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, 1 month ago

    Whatch Dunk haul for picking Ayew insted of him 🙁

    1. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      glad my post ended up at the bottom of the last page and the top of this one - phew!

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

    What your points predictions for Brighton vs Watford?

    Mine is 1-1

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      1-2

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      only passing interest is for BHA to concede

    3. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ryan has been a nightmare to own, hopefully he finally get me over 2-3 points for once

    4. Bragazeti
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      2-1

    5. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      0-0 hopefully with a motm performance from the useless Mr Ryan

  3. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Saturdays arrow depends on Troy Deeneys performance, let's go!

  4. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What's with Webster not starting?
    Thought he was pretty nailed, don't need another non-playing for GW28

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Dan Burn back i guess, but he used to play left back. Not sure on that formation

  5. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Think it is safe to say a 1-1 will be a great result for those who have no players starting BRI vs WAT.

    1. TiAgoFPL
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      With 2 own goals ? 😀

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ha ha yes, cherry on top 😀

      2. Karhumies
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Damn, you were close!

        1. TiAgoFPL
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Yes Almost !

  6. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    My defense looks good for the current GW
    Lund Webster Smith(3.9)
    TAA Robbo
    Early thoughts ? Have 0.4 ITB

    1. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      If Lund doesn't start again this gw, get rid

  7. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any word from Ancelotti on Holgate yet?

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

      The people's Eyebrow hasn't said anything.

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      What's happened to Holgate ??

    3. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It's just rotation, he said before that he'd rotate his defenders.

  8. CMJC
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Really need something from Trossard today. Hopefully a good game regardless

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

    As if this GW couldn't get any longer, he's Grandad Murray to slow down time.

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Lol

  10. drughi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any objections on doing Grealish and DCL > Traore and Jimenez for free ?

  11. Easy Cheesy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I’m at three players for GW31 (jimi, boly, pope) w 2 FT, w cantwell likely to play as nor will lose to tott Thinking I should focus my two subs (traore, mee/ tark/ taylor) to get to five players before GW28. Then use three transfers up to GW31 focused on the GW31 team. should be able to then get 9-11 players depending on fixtures. Then WC in 32 and BB/ FH in 34 and 37.
    Is it just too far away to plan for 31?
    Team is:
    Pope, martin
    Taa, boly, lund, rico, reid
    Kdb, salah, martial, cantwell, grealish
    Vardy, jimi, firmino
    50k OR, £0.9m ITB
    Any thoughts?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      You not counting Rico as a player? Harsh

      1. Easy Cheesy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Good point. He’ll be around for the next six game weeks with a load of terrible scores

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'd ignore 31 planning and just do a free hit - focus the team for 34 (max 4 fixtures missing) and then get ready for the dgw with WC and BB

      I don't want to be buying in the gw31 players in the run up

  12. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Considering DCL’s haul today, would you still transfer him out for Jiminez?

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      yeah

    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      i tend to stick with players on form, that said jimi has form and fixtures so

    3. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      keeping at have 4 blanks for 28 so will need to sort those!

  13. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tempted to rage transfer out Sidibe tonight itself.

    What an awful transfer.

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I am tempted to calmly transfer Sidibe out in two weeks

      1. PL Ball
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        You're a better man than me.

  14. Miniboss
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    DCL is providing steady flow of points, but it may be time to move on as their fixtures look terrible

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

      It isn't what it looks though.

      1. Dthinger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Agreed. They have four red fixtures but the first three are teams who can’t keep clean sheets.

  15. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    No 1 in OR sold Mahrez ahead of this gw wow. If he´s not benched tomorrow then that could backfire terribly

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He will be benched

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Hopefully not

        1. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          You have monster rank this season. Well done. I have Mahrez too. Hope he will start

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

      He threw caution into the wind by grabbing a bulls horns

      As the saying goes

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I hate Pep and why I got rid of Mahrez.

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

      Did you see (a few pages back) what OR27 did? Richarlison(c)+DCL in his team.

  16. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Need Bournemouth to have their shooting boots on to wipe out that Sheffield cs tomorrow 😉

    1. CMJC
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I’d be happy with this and Henderson save points

  17. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Got Auba. Next two fixtures are top dollar. Would Auba to Firmino makes sense for GW28?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Of course.

    2. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      If you own Vardy

    3. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'd take Firmino over Auba all day this gw

  18. Lukakuna
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Sold Maupay for a hit and he doesn’t start! Feels like a goal and max bonus.

  19. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any realistic chance of city game being postponed?

    No idea how bad the condition is or is likely to be

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Would be postponed to next weekend would have thought

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

        Oh yeah good point

  20. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Wonder how City will actually bounce back after the Spurs loss. They were really bad.

    Either going to slaughter West Ham or Bowen will end up with a hattie on his debut 😀

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bowen hat-trick = 750/1 (Hills)

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      They werent realy bad until the sending off.

      Shd have been 2 or 3 up by then

      If anyhting..bad at finshing i guess

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        City not the same team anymore.

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

      They battered spurs until the sending off!

      Racked up just under 3 XG, 20 goal attempts, Kun by himself had over 1.0 XG, 6 shots, 5 in the box...

      Pep will just want more of the same I’d imagine (sans the sending offs)

  21. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    DCL Lundstram => Jimenez Taylor for 2FTs?

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

      Looks very good to me.

  22. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Will be on 0 points tonight.

    Rank drop 200k?

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Who cares for rank before GW is finished?

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A fair bit ahead of my -8

  23. Pigeon
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I think everyone tends to forget that Everton have done quite well against top 6 teams this season and the last. Also form > fixtures

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

      Eyeing up Mahrez > Rich

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

      If you have Rich or DCL then i would keep, any def I would ditch (and will).

    3. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Was all set on DCL to Ings next GW, think I'll stick to the plan. Don't fancy selling Vardy or Jimenez

  24. luk46
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Top 25k, but Maupay so disappointing, literally 40 y/o Murray starts instead of him again...

    1. Pigeon
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      9% conversion rate... Been absolutely painful owning him

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

      You had a warning last game.

    3. luk46
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I mean, I benched him therefore and used ft to ship Lund out, still annoying tho

  25. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    C'Mon Troy get those boxing gloves on

  26. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who to sell first?
    A. Holgate (fixtures, rotation)
    B. Lundstram (dropped)
    C. Soyuncu (not good but nailed)

    1. Turns
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Holgate priority. But Lund if it means you have funds to bring in another SHU defender

    2. Party time
        4 years, 1 month ago

        A & B

    3. Turns
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Was all set for DCL -> Ings, but DCL is great value at 6m even with poor upcoming fixtures.

      Should I still pull the trigger?

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

        Ings is better value

        1. Turns
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks bud

    4. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Who to Jimenez in GW27:
      A) Kun
      B) DCL

      or C) save FT

      Thanks

    5. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Owning Richarlison never felt so good. I used my WC one gameweek ago and everybody here was like, downgrade Rich, downgrade Rich...What a great advice that was

      1. Udo
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Take advices into consideration, but follow your guts is the best strategy in my opinion.

      2. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        You > everybody here

      3. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Why ask if you know better than everyone else?

      4. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I hope you listened them.