Dugout Discussion

Fernandes starts at Brighton despite 120-minute FA Cup outing

Bruno Fernandes (£8.7m) has surprised Fantasy managers by starting for Manchester United’s trip to Brighton.

The Portuguese international played a full 120 minutes in an FA Cup win at Norwich on Saturday, suggesting that he might miss out on Gameweek 32+.

Despite having Andreas Pereira (£4.8m) and Juan Mata (£6.1m) on the bench, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed Fernandes for a fourth start in all competitions since the Premier League resumed.

In light of extra-time in the FA Cup, it will be interesting to see how long the midfielder is able to last at the Amex Stadium though.

Fernandes will also be under the microscope of eagle-eyed Fantasy managers still curious about how he will cope with Paul Pogba (£8.3m) in the side.

The Frenchman made his first league start since Gameweek 7 when Sheffield United were dispatched 3-0 at Old Trafford, arguably overshadowing Ferandnes in the process.

Therefore, it will be important analyse whether or not the same will be true on the road, especially considering this is the same XI that Solskjaer named against the Blades.

That means another Premier League start for Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) on the flanks of attacking midfield, Marcus Rashford (£9.1m) on the opposite flank and Anthony Martial (£8.2m) in the centre-forward position.

The out-of-position FPL midfielder scored 10 points the last time he faced Brighton and launched himself onto the Fantasy radar with a hat-trick in Gameweek 31+.

Manchester United may not have it too easy at Brighton though. Notorious tinkerman Graham Potter has gone for an ultra-conservative formation, featuring a back-five and a trio of midfielders screening the defence.

Dan Burn (£4.5m) tucks in alongside Lewis Dunk (£4.7m) and Shane Duffy (£4.8m) at centre-back while Tariq Lamptey (£4.0m), who impressed against Leicester, could be up against Rashford.

Dale Stephens (£4.4m), Yves Bissouma (£5.0m) and Davy Pröpper (£4.8m) have been given the task of protecting the back-five, with creative players such as Aaron Mooy (£4.8m), Leandro Trossard (£5.8m) and Pascal Groß (£6.2m) on the bench.

Alexis Mac Allister (£5.5m) looks to be in a rather disconnected number 10 role just behind Aaron Connolly (£4.2m) in the lone-striker role, while Neal Maupay (£5.7m) finds himself among the substitutes.

Brighton and Hove XI (5-3-1-1): Ryan; Montoya, Burn, Duffy, Dunk, Lamptey; Bissouma, D Stephens, Pröpper; Mac Allister; Connolly.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka; Matic, Pogba; Rashford, B Fernandes, Greenwood; Martial.

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 32+

1,724 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Talking myself out of AWB on wildcard last week has gone splendidly then...
    CS 2A and counting.

    No funds to bring him in directly without a downgrade elsewhere either ffs

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You obviously upgraded elsewhere when u went without so just downgrade that player if you want him so badly

      1. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        How do you ensure you get the hindsight points when you do this?

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Email fpl towers usually works?

  2. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    This could be a rout, surely Bruno can’t blank again

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

    Pogba wins Bruno/Rash ranger.

  4. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Wish Id stuck with Martial over Rashford, he just looks more dangerous

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Agreed. He’s playing really wide

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Also. Means I’d have Patricio over Martinez too 🙁

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        And Greenwood as my 3rd striker 😆

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

      Odd that rash doesn’t seem to be trying to get in the box on each attack. Even on the left I’rd expect him to bust a gut to score

  5. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Dangerous free kick. Bruno and rashford over it

  6. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Really wish you could have more players from one team... Would have AWB and Maguire alongside Martial, Rashford and Bruno.

  7. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Triple United with Rash, Martial and Bruno ffs no involvement

  8. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Remind me why Maguire was the better option over AWB?

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

    Is Greenwood nailed?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Seems like he is first choice now?

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah maybe

  10. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Kane, Greenwood, Connolly the new template front 3

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Kane? This isn’t 15/16

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

        Ha

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        He always finishes the season strong bro

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

          Lucky the season finishes before August.

    2. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If I had WC I'd be half tempted

  11. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Vardy, Bruno -> Greenwood, Mane -4?

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

      Insane in the brain.

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah 🙂

    2. Reg83
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      i would. vardy useless

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Unfortunately so. Would like him to bang a hat trick against Palace but this is probably his last chance!

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

    Pogba's ass to help Bruno hopefully

  13. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Greenfoot is a decent young striker. But to hear G Neville compare him to Van Persie is laughable.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Very unlike Man Utd to overhype their players

      1. Right In The Stanchion
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        The new Macheda

  14. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who's gonna take it... Bruno or Rash!!??

  15. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bruno wasting Pogba assist again

  16. Reg83
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    of course my main rival has AWB; i have DDG

    AWB 1 assist all season; 2 assists in last 2 games; what the hell?

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

      I feel your pain. I have Martial, Bruno and Rashford (c). My rival has Rashford and AWB so of course he would get attacking returns...

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

        Well, timing.

  17. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Awful that! How’s he took that of Rashford?

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

      There’s no one to get the ball from row Z if Rashford takes it.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Bruno wasn’t far off Row Z either

  18. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bruno SoT

  19. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    United CS already locked-in

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      United are very hard to beat when they go in front. Counter attacks!

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

        And with them scoring goals without counterattack we gonna theyre gonna be a nightmare

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

          Lol i said we gonna they're gonna XD too excited for united next year

  20. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    He’s no TAA or JWP

  21. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Can someone encourage people to keep criticising AWB’s attacking please - It’s working wonders the last few weeks 🙂

    No defender in the league bar TAA has more assists than AWB (4) since GW19

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

      AWBs assists are a little different to TAAs.

      Greenwood did all the work there.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        TAA is more than a little different to AWB though, no one can compete with Corners, DFK’s, IFK’s & that David Beckham-esque right foot from play

        But AWB’s doing allright compared to every other defender in the league - which isn’t a bad place to be - and they’re all worth 3 points at the end of the day 😉

  22. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    RVP on Mason Greenwood - "I think he will be very good because in every game he tries to copy me. My style, my technique, my left foot, my way of finishing... so, I'm sure he will end up (good)"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlL0b3x1cQc&feature=youtu.be&t=118

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

      😀

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Funny Neville just remarked about the exact same thing on commentary

      Greenwood looks a proper baller

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

      But rivals' fans will tell you to stop overhyping xD

  23. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Due!

  24. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Maguire skimmmmmms post

  25. Iggypop
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Keep planning a triple man u attack but how can I get rid of awb!

  26. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I don't like not owning AWB.

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

      I like owning AWB

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

        This AF

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

    Bruno to Maguire then, Andy nearly in dreamland.

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

    I know maupay is benched, but genuinely dont know who brighton have up front as ball hasn't been in that half.

  29. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    AWB over Maguire

    1. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Lovelllllly

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

      I thought it was obvious.

  30. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Have Awb bruno rashford here

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

      Same, Rashford (C). should've capped AWB!

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Captain Hindsight

      2. Gashead9
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Its 25 mins in...