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

    Marital goal

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

      Wedded bliss?

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

    Martial G

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

    What a beauty

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

    Martial wonder goal

  5. pitstop1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    That was def a Martial goal, right?

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

    He’s not getting the assist now.

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

    Martiallllllllll

  8. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Beautiful

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

    I’d be in favour of changing this antiquated assist rule. Instead only if the assister gets the final touch before the balls goes in the goal should they get the points.

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

      Lets just get rid of goals. Point for distance run instead

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

    Here is the Martial goal

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

    Bruno A

  12. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Martial + Greenwood

    Dreamland

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

      Bruno I believe?

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

    Ramsdale has played really well. Poor guy

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

    Marshie you beauty!!!!!!!

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

    Goals for you, you , you and you...goals for everyone!

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

    Oh Tony Martial!

  17. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    MARTIAL GOAL
    BRYNO ASSIST

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

    Bruno A?

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

      Yes. Very clearly

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

    Did say Martial was a viable (c) candidate this GW

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

    ADD THAT YOU COWARDS

  21. Meinhoff
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Not Martial goal, it touched the crossbar

    1. FPL DONKEY
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      This ^^

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'd be better of giving the crossbar the goal, Martial the assist and nothing for Bruno

  22. Party time
      3 years, 9 months ago

      MARTIALLL Oh Yeessssssssss

    • Reg83
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Mixed feelings but I'll take it. Bruno c assist, but non martial owner

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

      Martial Goal Added

    • g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ayew down

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Lovely, lovely goal.

    • goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Going Pogba over Martial has been FPL suicide.

    • Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Martial owners jerking each other off

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

        only on FFS

    • nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      MARTIALLLL,, WHAT A STRIKE!!!!

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

      Bruno assist not awarded