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. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Doherty hits side netting, should have done better

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

      He had assist. But if he really wanted to shoot, why not the far side

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

    Doherty greedy!

    Should have crossed. Super hard to score from there

  3. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Selfish Doherty

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

      Warming up his shooting boots

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

      Not if you own him 🙂

  4. Jeremiah
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone else considering ditching Liv/City assets after this GW?

    KDB & Salah owner here and have some rotation fears!

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'm tripling up on Liverpool from GW33 onwards.

      1. Jeremiah
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Brave! You don't think Klopp will change things up and give some of the younger lads game time?

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

          I'm thinking of cashing in on Salah.

          Prob is they play villa at ho e in 33...

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

            Would imagine he is auto captain pick, and TC for alot. Would be a disaster if he was benched for that game.

  5. Bobby
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Oh how I wish jimi would just score early for once. Very nervous captainer here.

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

      This

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

      Best feeling ever. When your captain scores in the 1st half!

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

        Even better when its TAA 😉

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

      Same - I feel your pain

  6. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Doherty SOT

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Subbed off tired? Slated on touchline? These acronyms are awful

      1. Herman Toothrot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Doherty's Sister's otherworldly tatties

  7. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Did anyone actually captain Jiménez? He is the antithesis of explosive.

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      32% of top 10k

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Brilliant

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I did. In such a drawn out week with many playing in cup too, I thought a certain starter was worth it.

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He is the definition of consistent though

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

      I did, I'll take 6-9 non-explosive points. Auba will surely start in the cup and Arteta confirmed the incoming rotation.

    5. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Eurghh, thid guy

  8. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Doherty walking off the pitch on the 24th minute

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

    If your (C) and (VC) are both playing FA cup this weekend, don't say you are unlucky if they both miss out because of injury/rotation. The little things 🙂

  10. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I briefly considered Doherty cap for this, let’s see how it goes

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He’s quality.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yea don’t see villa scoring and he can haul

  11. james 101
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone else hoping that Traore comes on at 59 minutes for jimmy?

    1. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Only non jimmy owners.

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I own him. But not capping.

    2. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      O/

    3. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Won’t help him get points

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

      Nope

    5. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      me

  12. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Matt Doherty utilizing some GAA skillz there with the strong shoulder.

  13. james 101
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone got the points table that shows eg score at OR 1000, 5000, 10,000 etc

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks!!

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers.

  14. olidooley
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So I own Jiménez and Doherty but I don’t want Jiménez to score or Wolves to keep a clean sheet because of EO?

    1. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      What's the Wolves def EO like?

      1. olidooley
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Over 100 apparently

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

          Jimenez on 121% EO, need a doherty goal and thats about it

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You want as many points as possible

      1. olidooley
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        No....I want the highest rank possible

    3. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'm 11k and I'd take Doherty 7 Jimenez 2 right now

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

      The thing is, you also need Jimenez and Doherty to outscore potential other options that people might have as differentials.

  15. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Doc lucky to avoid yellow

  16. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Jota's performances since the restart suggest to me the he was not expecting football to be restarted any time soon

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Prefers playing FIFA

      2. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Sold him for -4 for Rashford as haven’t been impressed by him at all since the resumption

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Worst thing is gets subs at 60-70 every GW

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

      First half 0-0 probably standard since the restart

    • milanista10
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Anyone else without WOL defenders and want an Aston Villa goal?!

      1. Differentiator
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        only masochists

      2. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Tumbleweed

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

        o/

      4. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Just the noobs

      5. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yes, I always want teams to score against teams that I don't own players from.

    • Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Why did i always think Grealish was left footed?

    • Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      What a Marvelous Name to have

      1. Differentiator
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        needs an l

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

      Anyone on here at the game?

      1. super zlatan
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I like your grav. 🙂

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

          🙂 Cheers You know who it is?

          1. super zlatan
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Tell me ?

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

              Gromit of 'Wallace & Gromit' 🙂

    • Dele
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Jota extremely underwhelming, why do I still have him?

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Hope he doesn’t get subbed at 59

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

        He will score in my opinion

    • Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A Saiss headed goal would be lovely jubbly

    • SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Saiss down.

    • BRKFCTrueRover
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Doherty captainer here forget how nerve racking it is to captain a defender!

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Great captain could get u 28 or something

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

        The balls on this guy

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

        Absolutely incredible punt mate. Fair play, sensational.

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

        I can never quite steel myself to hand a defender the armband but have a lot of respect with managers who do have the balls to do so.

        Good luck with it.

      5. Kitman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Me too mate!

        Very difficult watch

    • SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      PAT SOT

      1. SuperMane Returns
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Sorry i mean PAT save

    • LewanGOALski
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      WC TEAM:

      Foster - ___
      Maguire - Aurier - Saiss - Lascelles - ___
      Salah - KDB - Son - Pulisic - Martial
      Jimmy - Rashford - Nketiah

      which max 9.2 duo for the remaining spots:
      A) Pope + 4.2 DEF
      B) Ryan + 4.5 DEF
      C) Martinez + 4.9 DEF
      ..?

      I still have BB so I want 2 playing GKs

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Kneejerk central midfield

    • Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Does anyone here own Grilsh?

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

        On my bench

    • UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not liking my team for next week, have 2FT's luckily but tempted to FH as i cant find a better week to FH (FH38 is difficult). Have 2FTs and 0.2m

      Ddg
      Taa Doherty* Aurier* -- Kiko* Holgate*
      Salah Kdb Bruno Sarr*
      Rashford DCL* Jimmy*

      *= players with "tough" fixtures

    • shearer9
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      When are people thinking of playing the TC chip?