Dugout Discussion

Fernandes and Pogba both start against injury-hit Bournemouth defence

Bruno Fernandes (£8.8m) and Paul Pogba (£8.3m) both start for Manchester United as Bournemouth come to Old Trafford.

The pair were subject of an injury rumour circling around some quarters of the media on Friday evening, but it would appear they came through the most recent training session unscathed.

In fact, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has named an unchanged line-up from the side that won comfortably at Brighton, much to the delight of Fantasy managers interested in their assets.

At a time when Manchester United options are in such high-demand, it is encouraging to know that the manager has found a settled selection. This is the first time since November 2006 that an unchanged XI has been named in three successive Premier League matches.

That means Mason Greenwood (£4.4m) is on the right-hand side of attacking midfield once more, joined there by Fernandes and Marcus Rashford (£9.1m).

Meanwhile, Anthony Martial (£8.2m) starts up-front hoping to replicate his most recent Old Trafford outing, which saw the Frenchman score a hat-trick against Bournemouth.

A further boost for Manchester United backers has emerged in the form of injuries to Chris Mepham (£4.3m) and Steve Cook (£5.0m), who was reprimanded by Eddie Howe this week for publicly criticising Bournemouth.

With Simon Francis (£4.4m) still on the sidelines, a dearth of options has forced the Bournemouth manager into some tough decisions with his defence.

Left-back Lloyd Kelly (£4.4m) has tucked into centre-back alongside Nathan Aké (£4.8m) with Diego Rico (£4.2m) earning his first start since Gameweek 26.

Elsewhere, Leicester host Crystal Palace, although that fixture has considerably less Fantasy interest.

Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) remains the most popular Fox, sat in 26.2% of teams, but has just two goals since Gameweek 19.

That statistic does not particularly bode well given that Roy Hodgson’s men have four clean sheets from their last six matches.

It is also frustrating news for the 15.1% still in possession of James Maddison (£7.4m), who does not make the matchday squad while Harvey Barnes (£6.0m) is among the substitutes for the third match in a row since the Premier League returned.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, Justin; Pérez, Tielemans, Ndidi, Albrighton; Iheanacho, Vardy.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; van Aanholt, Cahill, Sakho, J Ward; Zaha, Riedewald, Milivojevic, McArthur; Benteke, Ayew.

Manchester United XI: De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka; Pogba, Matić; Rashford, B Fernandes, Greenwood; Martial.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale, Rico, Aké, L Kelly, A Smith; Stanislas, L Cook, Lerma, Brooks; J King, Solanke.

2,491 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Martial assist from that is a joke

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

      Agree, even as an owner

      1. reo19uk
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        It is a Joke but rules state the person who knocks it on to the handball gets the assist so imagine it will be given to him

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

          The rules on the FPL site don't state anything in relation to handball.

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      what do the rules say ?

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

    The rules don't mention handballs at all, which is absurd.

  3. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Greenwood on my bench, predictably. Doing this week's Saint Maximin impression.

    1. E25
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Why?

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

    If Martial was fouled and that was a penalty = assist
    Martial kicking the ball and a player handballing it = ? I'm not sure

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

      Didn't Digne get an assist the other day for the same reason?

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

        Yeh they always do it like that

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

      Works for me...

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

      Maybe if a shot towards goal is stopped with a hand, not a header like that. Shouldn’t be anyway.

      1. joker14
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Digne got the assist from taking a free kick cross which led to a handball. Please some consistency please 🙁 Martial TC here.

  5. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Was gonna sell Rash for Kane next week v Bournemouth but now not sure!!

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

      That was my plan too

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

      Ideal for you now! Bruno will take next pen!

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Kane v Bournemouth to hard to ignore

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

    Martial assist to be given soon,dw

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

      Unlikely, he looked off side and not very lively....

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

        Yeh they always measure whether or not to give an assist or not on a players liveliness

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

    Why hasn’t the Martial assist been added???

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

      I wonder that too. Probably because it is a fantasy assist

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

    Rashford all remaining pens for the Golden boot?

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

      he's going to need a few more penalties to stand a chance given his scoring rate from open play

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

      I'm guessing it's taking turns with Bruno they way they were laughing after Rashford placed it in the bottom corner, after a feint and stutter and keeper stood tall.

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

    Don't tell me martial got the assist. How??

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

    Might have to sell useless Maguire to accommodate third united attacker.

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

    Moved captaincy from Rashford to Salah

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

    Confirmed no assist?

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

    Rashford been sloppy too why the hell didn’t Bruno take it

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

      This!!!!!!!!

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

      I think the next one is Bruno's turn.

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

    How is that a martial assist. Such a joke fpl lol

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

    Jammy Martial owners

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

      🙂

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

    I need to stop playing this game, I just can't believe my luck this season

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

    WhErE iS MaRtIaL’s AsSiSt yOu sLaGs

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

      Chill

    2. Party time
        3 years, 9 months ago

        It will be added soon, relax buddy

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

      Guys, the ball hit a Bournemouth defender and then onto the arm of another, wont be an assist I dont think

    4. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      So much confidence in our attacking players. Exciting times ahead

      1. Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Definitely 🙂

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

      That’s gotta be a martial assist right? That’s how it always works

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

      How is Leicester looking?

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

        Close game, Leicester edging it, Vards warming up

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

          Cheers!

    7. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Maguire >> Digne to allow DCL >> Greenwood?

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

        Yes

    8. teddypicker
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If we all email fpl@ismgames.com to complain, they'll add the assist

      1. the snazzy viking
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        ok I'll email to say don't give the assist

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

        Doing it. Get at their Twitter too

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

      Does Mark have Martial - that will determine who gets the assist

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

        He does. Congrats owners.

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

      Blatantly not an assist

    11. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      assist not added?? why damn it

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

      It s not Martial assist. It s like Sane last year. Dont complain

    13. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Martial assist taking a while to add

    14. Party time
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Are/Is the fpl tower being naughty again?

      • sunzip14
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nearly posted in anger about buying Rashford instead of Greenwood as part of a (-8) and captaining him instead of Bruno. Not complaining now!

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

          Ok then