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

    TC Bruno on Sat?

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      or Salah

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

        Salah less to play for and Liverpool could coast now, which could mean 8-0 or 0-1

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

    No more goals, United subbed off all their creativity.

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

      AWB is still on last i checked! Lol

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

    Nearly AWB assist again

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

    Awb almost another assist

  5. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Brandon Williams has been more threatening than Rashford in 2 mins of being on the pitch

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

    Is Jesus pretty much nailed? Is Agüero out for rest of season?

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

      Pep enjoys a false 9.

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

        Surely Jesus will be most nailed attacker decides KDB though

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

    AWB creates moderately good chance for Williams

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

    Martial out for Dendoncker?

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

      JWP

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

    Give me my WC back so I can pick AWB over Rashford :/.

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

    Rashford will be on pens now with Bruno and Pogba gone off

  11. TurboTastic!
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bruno price next season.

    Max 9,5 imo

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

      9.5m/10m

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

      Depends, if he gets two goals a game for the next 6 weeks id say more like 12

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

      Max? Min.

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

      Anything below 10.5 would be a joke

    5. TurboTastic!
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No way. Kdb never been more than 10,5.

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

    Obi Wan looking tasty, annoying as already tripled up in MU attack next week.

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

    Pogba has become so much of a team player with Bruno in the team.

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

      Easier to play with actual players, rather than Lingard, Pereira and Fellaini.

    2. ZLATAN'S PONYTAIL
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Agreed. He's playing simple football, no tricks and flicks. His game is better for it. He's got the attributes range of passing, dribbling, physicality. Hope he keeps it up

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

    I captained Rash VC Bruno...dammit

  15. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Would love an Auba no show.

    Bruno v capt and Taylor first sub.

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

      5 min cameo guaranteed

    2. dicky2014
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Exact same situation here

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

    Brighton goal needed, 3k drop with 60 mins up.

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

      Yes please.

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

    Ok. If you took martial and Bruno as 2 Man U assets. And you wanted a third. Would would you go with ?

    A. Rash

    B. Awb

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

      More options in defence, but AWB in better fpl form

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

      B

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

      B

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

      B

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

      AWB for sure

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

      Pretty conclusive

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

      Honestly probs Greenwood

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

      I have B, been happy so far

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

    C'mon Rashford nick one.

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

      I will never, ever trust this guy with captaincy again. Looks even less interested than Martial if thats possible

  19. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Rashford + Gundozi -> Martial + Nketiah me thinks.
    Better late than never

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      eh, dunno, I wouldn't swap between them tbh. They will both get points going forward.

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

    Considering 4-4-2. Someone talk me out of it!

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

      Its boring and sad!

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

      Nothing wrong with it

      Or 451

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

      who are the players?

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

      Why? So am I.

    5. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Looking at 451/541 myself

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

      Same. Trent Doherty AWB is juicy. Much more clean sheets too after lockdown

    7. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Might be worth it!

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

    Rashford owners - stick or twist?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Looks horrendous, unfit, uninterested, Luke Shaw showed more attacking intent

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

        Everyone was bringing him in this week.

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

        Sick or twisted?

      • Sandy Ravage
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        twist for whom? Ings, Kane?

      • o0Ash
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Stick. I went for Martial. They're all going to be scoring.

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

        I just bought him. Sticking.

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

      So many good captain options for next GW. Hope I get it right after Bruno and Jimmy failures

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

        Salah / Mane

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

        Ditto. Almost tempted to get Greenwood in and cap Bruno

      3. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I'm rolling an 11 sided die. Or throwing a dart at my phone screen. 3 blanks since the restart.

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

      where are the muppets who were telling everyone to swap Fernandes for Martial?!

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

        it's a classic case of too much information on here and knee jerk reactions

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

        They’re here..just hiding

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

        Crying in their beers

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

      Is this the time to punt on Greenwood?

      Must be undroppable for Solskjær after the last matches

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Did he start the fa cup game?

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

        He’s in my side but 2nd sub this GW, after seeing James’ vs Spurs I was confident he’d become a regular, likely to start him next GW - 4.3m is a snip!

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

      The Pogba experiment is a done and dusted. Not worth the cash outlay with Bruno in the team. Mahrez or Richa next week.

    6. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Now only need son to explode to justify going without kdb on WC after the DGW

      Salah son bruno martial

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Salah Son Bruno Mahrez here. Foden bench

    7. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Still can't understand which is the best man Utd triple up...

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

        This! Only have two, but have 2FTs next gw...

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

        AWB, Bruno, Martial/Greenwood

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

      Save David

    9. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      De Gea with his 1st save of the season

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

      rashy to Vardy or Giroud?

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

        Vardy

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

          thanks.

        2. pablo discobar
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Would avoid Leicester like the covid at the moment

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

        Neither

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

        DCL

      4. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Greenwood

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

        Obviously Greenwood