Dugout Discussion

Traoré benched again as Aston Villa start two strikers against Wolves

Adama Traoré (£5.8m) finds himself on the Wolves bench for the second tie in three matches since the Premier League restart.

Nuno Espirito Santo has gone with a 3-5-2 formation for the tip to Aston Villa, the same system used for the last away match at West Ham.

For that Gameweek 30+ encounter, the Wolves manager used Traoré as an impact substitute, to good effect, and it appears that will be his plan again today.

Raúl Jiménez (£8.3m) owners and captainers will be pleased to see the Mexican in the starting line-up although may be a little disappointed by Traoré’s benching.

The two players form the most productive pairing in the Premier League this season, seven of Jiménez’s goals coming from Traoré assists.

Diogo Jota (£6.3m) gets his third successive start since the restart, joining Jiménez in the front-two.

Leander Dendoncker (£4.4m) is the man coming in for Traoré, sitting in a three-man central-midfield unit alongside Ruben Neves (£5.2m) and Joao Moutinho (£5.4m).

Meanwhile, popular Wolves defenders Matt Doherty (£6.4m) and Romain Saïss (£4.6m) both keep their starts once again.

They will have to handle a new-look Aston Villa attack this afternoon, with Dean Smith making the decision to go with a front-pairing of his own.

Rather than choose between Keinan Davis (£4.3m) and Mbwana Samatta (£5.6m), the Villa manager has started them together, supported by Jack Grealish (£6.4m) in what appears to be a central role.

Smith’s decision to go with a more conversative back-four has produced improved defensive showings since the restart, so he hands starts to Matt Targett (£4.4m), Tyrone Mings (£4.4m), Kortney Hause (£4.4m) and Ezri Konsa (£4.3m) once again.

Despite the tweaks to the front-three, Smith keeps faith in a three-man screening for the defence, deploying Marvelous Nakamba (£4.4m), Douglas Luiz (£4.4m) and Conor Hourihane (£5.7m) in central midfield.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-1-2): Nyland; Targett, Hause, Mings, Konsa; Nakamba, D Luiz, Hourihane; Grealish; Davis, Samatta.

Wolves XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Doherty; D Jota, Jiménez.

1,481 Comments Post a Comment
  1. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Adama??

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      benched

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Saved for the Arsenal game and to come on after HT to destroy Villa's tired legs and for the counter-attack when Villa are trying to chase a goal.

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Early reports not in team but later amended

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        BBC Sport lines up were wrong, they fixed it 10 mins later and included Traore.

  2. pakornk
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Villa v Wolves could be a great match

  3. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    May all your arrows be green.
    (Unless you're ahead of me)

    1. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Certainly not a problem for me with my God awful rank

      1. Stockport Hatter
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Bet I'm worse off

  4. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Adama massively overrated as a player I think.

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      overrated as an FPL player, and a huge trap for sure

      1. DavidMunday815
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Interesting to see what impact he has from the bench. Smart move for Nuno to use him as an impact sub. Imagine seeing him coming on after 65 minutes when you're knackered! If he gets another assist today in such circumstances today, would you say owning him paid off? I don't have him, btw!

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          That's why I wasn't gonna be bothered if Jota was on the bench, he's only gonna get 60 mins anyway, I'd rather he got the last 30 with how slowly a lot of these games have started.

        2. Kellz86
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Ali_G name me a more productive sub 6m midfielder

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If he was a better finisher then he'd be insane. Liverpool might buy him.

    3. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      gotta disagree. absolute class maybe not a great fpl asset though

    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He’s massively improved. I’d watch him again and give him a second thought.

    5. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It's time to transfer from Wolves' bench to the Liverpool's. 🙂

      He's actually very good, has power, pace, shot, it's just tactical.

  5. Jealous Viper
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Did a last minute switch starting DCL and benching Nketiah

  6. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Aston Villa have conceded 148 attempts from set pieces this season, the worst in the league.

    Saiss and Boly could get something here.

    1. DavidMunday815
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Fingers crossed for Saïss!

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        AKA the cheap man's Doherty!

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Can't have 'em all ...

      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Hopefully no yellow card today, too.

    2. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doherty too

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        My C 🙂

        1. Jealous Viper
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Almost put it on him but was worried Villa could nick a goal. Best of luck

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Set up for a Moutinho or Neves screamer.

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Funny, I was just thinking Neves hasn't had a screamer for a while.

  7. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WC time,

    Current

    Pope,
    Trent, Doherty C, Aurier, Taylor,
    Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Barnes,
    Rashford, Vardy

    McCarthy, Sarr, Jimmy, Boly,

    .2 itb

    Then WC to something like this & play 352,

    Pope,
    Trent, Doherty, Aurier,
    Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Son, Martial
    Rashford, Jimmy

    Martinez, Taylor, Holgate, Nketiah

    1. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not tempted to save WC and use it as GW38 FH?

      You could get the majority of key players in that team in a couple of GWs as its so similar to what you currently have.

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Had though about that, -4 this week would get me close.
        Also another week to assess who is the go to players.

        TC Salah vs Villa next week if no injury?

  8. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Played Saiss over TAA. Gonna look real stupid

    1. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Or very clever

    2. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      What's the rest of your team?

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Benching Taa is something I'd never ever do

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Modern Baines

  9. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    0-0 incoming !!

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Spoil sport

    2. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Wouldn't be a disaster as I've double wolves defence

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Great

  10. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Why hasn't it updated yet? Mark is really slacking off these days, he should have upgraded the fpl servers ages ago

    1. Fozzyb34r
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Normally takes about 40-45 minutes

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Used to take 15 minutes

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Not really

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Why do i remember it taking less time a few years ago

            1. Zimo
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Weird

          2. Team Cruel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Took almost exactly 21 minutes up until 2018-ish

    2. Jealous Viper
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Maybe he's lost interest seeing as his team has struggled this season

    3. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      What do you think of Mark avoiding Vardy and KDB all season? Just don't get it.

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Vardy has been a flop in 2020 so the stubbornness there can be justified. But KDB should have been in by GW3

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Sterling is his secret weapon though.

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Too many players. Growth of FPL has been significant over last 5 years. Somehow gone from under 2m players to over 7m. PL viewing figures have not seen that level of growth. I reckon it is to do with all the betting sponsorship. People putting on their cheeky bets + playing FPL and for those in countries where they can't bet, FPL provides a gambling type fix.

    5. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Last GW took over an hour to update think (or the one before).

  11. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Changed my captain from Jimenez to Rashford last minute..

    Feeling nervous now.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Right call maybe 😛
      Maybe not

      1. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Ha.. Jimenez is such a boring pick in my opinion.. Rashford has a higher ceiling but plays a good team in Brighton.. Let’s see what happens now.

    2. Fozzyb34r
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Good choice. Jiminez on for a 2 pointer

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Corrected that for you, Martial

  12. @FPL__Engineer
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Updated

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      *** Immediately checks Mark's team ***

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Wildcard.....

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          See below. Massive news.

  13. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Maybe some1 has already pointed this out but Traore doesnt appear to be on the bench like the article suggests. To me suggests he is injured...

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Wolves twitter confirmed he is and not Taylor. Think somebody posted it on here.

      1. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        ah ok cheers

        1. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          livescore still showing the wrong team

    2. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      On Wolves twitter account he's on the bench..

    3. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      BBC Sport shows him on bench.

    4. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You're right. He's not even on the bench

      1. thegaffer82
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        *On my APP I should say

  14. Cak Juris
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Captain Son instead of Jimenez

    Very riskyyy!!!

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ditto

    2. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It’s risky but could pay off big time.
      (C) Salah here, who’d thought he’s going to be a differential captain two weeks in a row

    3. Steinburg FC
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      me too, full weeks rest, i just hope i wont be posting "Son C to save my GW!
      "

  15. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Top 10k captaincy stats:

    Jiménez 31.7%
    Aubameyang 16.2%
    Rashford 13.8%
    Martial 8.0%
    Salah 7.8%
    Fernandes 7.0%
    Son 5.1%
    Kane 2.7%
    De Bruyne 2.3%
    Doherty 1.5%
    Mané 1.2%

    Magnus Carlsen brought in Kane and capped him 😎

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Magnus knows.

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Triple Villa and no Jimenez - hmm...

      2. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        he sure does !!

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

      Where is Pulisc !?
      😮

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        0.36%!
        Hell of a differential (c)

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Thank you

  16. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Good fixtures next GW for Wolves, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      yep .

  17. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    BREAKING!

    Mark has Wildcarded!!!! 😯

    No premium Liverpool or Man City attacker.

    Triple United attack.

    TAA last on the bench.

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/21074/event/41

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Surely you need to forget about Mark and Ville and move on to Magnus and Lateriser12. They are next gen.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Mark is the greatest. Never forget: form is temporary.....

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          You can have class, but eventually the mind and/or body just can't cope with the demands anymore.

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      The way this season, and especially since project restart, has gone this is probably the right way to go!

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Looks like a very powerful Wildcard. Strength and depth in every position.

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not a bad team but TAA on bench quite disturbing.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        He's never been afraid to bench a premium defender in a tough game.

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

      Seems like quite a safe team, nothing too maverick

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        No attackers from the best two teams in the league is Maverick.

  18. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    EO TOP10K

    Jimenez 121.39%
    KDB 88.79%
    Bruno Fernandes 83.07%
    TAA 79.34%
    Rashford 69.29%
    Doherty 61.38%
    Salah 58.85%
    Son 48.5%
    Martial 46.0%
    Aubameyang 37.8%
    Pope 37.41%
    DCL 34.84%
    Saiss 25.26%
    Mane 23.98%

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      FFS
      No Jimenez is bad 😀

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        how is your season unravelling Amey ?

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Restart hasn't gone well bro. OR tripled.
          So i went crazy and took a -12 this GW 😀
          Let's see how it goes

          I hope your is going well

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Really 🙂 what did you do?

            I was very close to this -12

            Maguire to Aurier
            Grealish to Martial
            Vardy to Rashford

            It was taking a walk to persuade myself against that led to missing deadline and the -4 move

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Vardy to Rashford
              Jota to Nketiah
              Lundstram to Kiko
              4.2 to Pulisc ©

              All IN !

              1. pingissimus
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Whoa

                You must have missed the news that it’s Tammy who gets the hattie this week 🙂

                1. Amey
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Ha ha ha

          2. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            yep just hanging in the top 10k so very pleased 🙂 gl to you 🙂

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Thank you and same to you mate. 🙂

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      One of the reasons I (c) Jimenez is because I expected his EO to be over 100%. At least this way I can cheer if he gets any attacking returns.

    3. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Salah differential (C)
      We’ll see by Thursday if it was a risk worth taking

      1. Ragabolly
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        With you on that one and strangely feeling confident..

        1. POLSKA GOLA
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          It’s a calculated risk. I had no confidence over any players, especially due to FA Cup games. Salah will be well rested and Pool first team motivated to finish with a bang. I’m expecting lots of rotation for them after the City game

          1. Ragabolly
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Same reasoning

  19. Infamy, Infamy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    If the F.A. Cup games are level at 90, are they playing extra time or going straight to penalties?

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

      Extra time. If happens, teams will get a 6th substitution!

  20. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Vaguely shocked to discover Villa have two strikers

  21. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Wolves game only on BT?

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yep.

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

    It feels so good to say this: "Wildcard activated!" 😛

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Bet your namesake wants one in real life too 😉

  23. Soto Ayam
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    If Salah is rested against city, worth capping him against villa surely

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      think i m captaining him all season

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He won't be rested
      More chance of being rested vs Villa

    3. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      In running out of midfielders to put in my team as I've decided to pass on city as lfc assets. Was hoping Salah against villa could work.

  24. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Has anyone ever done the analysis on how many goals there generally are in matches based on when they’re played? I.e. Saturday lunchtime vs, 3pms vs super Sunday’s vs midweek etc? There may be absolutely nothing in it and it’s probably just my bias that makes me think that Saturday lunchtime games are often low-scoring and Sunday 4pms are usually goal-fests!

  25. BucketHead
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Next week transfer decisions
    A, Kane and mount
    Or
    B, Tammy and son ???
    Who would you go for? Tia.

  26. afs2239
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Switched thr captaincy to son from auba just before the deadline,
    Will i regret tht

    1. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No

    2. DF
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes

  27. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I slightly regret not captaining Salah... Have a feeling it will be a goalfest, kinda like that Man United - West Brom game which ended 5-5...

  28. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who scores more this week?

    Me: Martial, Pulisic, PVA
    Rival: DCL, AWB, Taylor

    1. DF
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You do

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

      You

    3. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You do by a country mile

  29. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    GW27
    Wolves - Norwich
    3-0
    Traore is benched (comes on for Jimenez 72 mins in)
    Jimi = 5 points
    Jota = 16 points
    The scenes on here if we get a repeat - especially with Magnus Carlsen having 6% owned Jota and no Jimenez

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I sold the ...
      😀

  30. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On the basis that pretty much everyone has Jimenez, I guess the differential is whether you have captained him or not.

    Other than me, who else hasn’t captained him?

    1. Kellz86
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Martial (c) here

    2. Rover
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've gone for Son

    3. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I don't eben own him.

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

      I opted for Rashford

    5. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Rashford here