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. Sancidino
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    We should cheer for this goal if we own but didn't captain Bruno right?
    Happy anyways as a Sporting fan

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

      Yes it's all about getting the most points for your team

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

        Well, not if you want to break top 10k and the majority captained him...

      2. Big Hands Barry
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Incorrect. All about effective ownership

    2. Belli2007
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I am a Leicester fan.......not good for us this Utd resurgence.....

      Had the armband on him last week and removed it this week. Typical.....

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

        And tough fixtures ahead... I honestly think you will probably drop the top 4...

        1. Belli2007
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I know. I am always the optimist but don't see us getting much tomorrow given the past 3 performances....

  2. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    HE COMES FROM SPORTING LIKE CRISTIANO

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

    Rashford is United's Kane now 🙁 🙁

  4. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    So I took a big risk going without Bruno on WC - expecting a huge red arrow but was always a chance of it happening! Can't have them all as they say. Let's hope Kane makes up some ground!

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

    650,096 FPL managers transferred in Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford this GW

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

      So less than 10% then

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

      Lol

  6. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Need a Martial goal now

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

      *Rashford

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

    Greenwood 11% owned 😯

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

      On everyones benches tho

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

        This

  8. Railwayman
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Greenwood my first sub 🙁 Hope some of my mids won't play in the next few days...

  9. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Had Ings & Bruno on FH last week for their big fat blanks. Martial & Rashford now repeating the trick in my WC team.

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

      Thats brutal, sorry dude

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

    I wonderr will my prediction of leicester out of top 4 happen. Seems like with united scoring a lot leicester only need to lose 1 game and then united need to win the rest to oust leicester on goal difference.

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

    Only watched Bruno once against spurs, he was awesome, cut above.

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

    A more open second half has to get more out of Rashford (c). He's walked through the first half. He needs to start running at people now.

  13. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bruno punishing those kneejerkers

  14. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I bet there is fair few out there who would have sold Bruno for Martial post his 120 minutes if this GW deadline was on Monday.

  15. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bruno's fitness is unbelievable.

  16. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    De bruyne doesnt have a world cup medal. Pogba does

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

      :yawn:

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Its a true fact, look it up

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

      So does Ozil

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Great player

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

        Yea he was one of the world's best players at the time

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

      Cool Story

    4. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If kante was born in belgium it would be the other way round.

  17. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bruno killing my ML lead tonight

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

      only have Bruno in this game tonight so wasn't expecting a green arrow. Working out well so far.

  18. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Best combo?
    A) Rashford Mahrez
    B) Jesus Martial

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

      Still Rashford Mahrez. Rash will get chances.

  19. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    If they rest Bruno now, he's my TC for Saturday, if not then I haven't got a clue what to do.

  20. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I AM A GOD!!!

    Bruno Capper

  21. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Frustrating.

    3 closest rivals have Bruno, I went for Martial differential (a week late)

    35 mins left to salvage something.

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

    Eh, that Bruno goal barely moved my rank by about 10 places?!

  23. Openboxman
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    TAA > Gomez
    Doucoure > Mahrez

    Gives me

    Pope
    Gomez - Alonso - Aurier
    Bruno - KDB - Salah - Martial - Mahrez
    Kane - Jimmy

    Button - Saiss - Nkethia - Taylor

    Also tempted by Martial > Pullisic

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Don’t lose TAA

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Trent is undroppable

  24. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Feel a Rashford goal on the way

  25. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bruno capper in Dreamland. Need Gashford to get involved.

  26. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    bruno is so highly owned in top 10 k that my rank has barely changed...

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

      Filthy humbleness 😉

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

        😉

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      74% in the top 10k that means more than 2500 people dont have him, which is nuts if you think about it

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

        good point

  27. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Subs should be coming around 60 min mark. No point risking players, this is in the bag

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

      Got to be ruthless mate

  28. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    DCL > Greenwood? 2FT, no idea what to do!

    DDG
    TAA Doherty Aurier
    Mane KDB Son Fernandes
    Jimenez Ings Greenwood
    Martin Lascelles Guendouzi Simpson

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

    Next season will be awesome... Can't wait.

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

      Chelsea, ManU, City, Pool just to name a few.

  30. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Greenwood officially cements his place in the starting XI