Dugout Discussion

Fantasy interest minimal as relegation-threatened Villa face crucial Palace clash

It’s not quite last-chance saloon territory for Aston Villa but, seven points adrift of safety and with only four matches remaining, a victory over Crystal Palace is surely a must this afternoon if they want to keep their slim chances of avoiding relegation alive.

Kick-off at Villa Park is at 14:15 BST.

Both managers originally made one change apiece from the sides they sent out in Gameweek 34+ but an injury to Kortney Hause (£4.4m) in the warm-up has seen Ahmed Elmohamady (£4.1m) replace him.

Dean Smith has also recalled Conor Hourihane (£5.7m) to the Villa midfield, with Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) dropping to the bench.

That should see Jack Grealish (£6.0m) move to a more advanced position down the left of the hosts’ attack.

Keinan Davis (£4.3m) is only among the substitutes, as is the fit-again Matt Targett (£4.3m).

Pepe Reina (£4.2m) recovers from a hamstring strain to start.

Roy Hodgson’s one alteration is an enforced one.

Gary Cahill (£4.4m) looks set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, so Mamadou Sakho (£5.0m) gets the nod to replace him at centre-half.

Budget FPL defender Martin Kelly (£4.1m) is back on the bench after recovering from a calf problem.

It’s fair to say interest is limited in this one from a Fantasy perspective.

Grealish is the only player in either starting XI who has a double-digit ownership in Fantasy Premier League.

‘Ghost teams’ will account for some of that ownership and, if we instead look at the top 10,000 in FPL, not a single player from either Villa or Palace is owned by more than 3%.

Grealish’s ownership within this elite group is only at 2.13%.

Nine of Palace’s ten clean sheets this season have come against sides in the bottom half.

The Villans have scored just twice in their last eight Premier League matches.


Aston Villa XI: Reina, Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Taylor, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Hourihane, Trezeguet, Samatta, Grealish.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Dann, Sakho, van Aanholt, Zaha, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Ayew, Benteke.

840 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    If villa can somehow get more points vs arsenal/everton than west ham do vs watford/utd (not impossible)

    That final day game....

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I hope this happens.

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Everton look terrible tbh. So they have a chance...

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yes big game that. I would want abtonio vs villa if that games end up with villa needing to win

  2. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Palace all over the palace.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Shows how bad chelsea are defensively

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Bad is generous.

  3. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Nice of Woy to let his team play in their flips flops today.

  4. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Was Antonio's score of 26 the highest in fpl history?

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Joint highest in a Single gameweek

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Actually no joint 2nd highest

        Salah vs watford still top

    2. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Been higher than that before, I'm sure.

      1. Drexl Spivey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Didn't Lampard get 28 once?

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          yep, 4 goals vs Derby

    3. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah's 29 vs Watford imo.

    4. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah vs Watford beat that I think.

      4 goals 1 assist. That is 29 points.

    5. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Salah scored 4 & assisted one vs Watford in his 1st season, that beats Antonio. There's more.

      1. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks all.
        I seem to remember Aguero Berbatov Lampard on 25, didn't remember the Salah one.

    6. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Rooney I seem to recall scored 31(x 2=62) but it was dgw

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Harry kane beat that in a dgw.

    7. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Walcott scored 26 for me few years back. Versus Newcastle 3goals and 2assists. I captained him that week also.

      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        captained him and had Demba Ba too .. it was fun!

    8. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Didnt Fabs have a 2G + 4A match

  5. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Handball surely?

  6. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Villa putting pressure on Watford and WHam.

    Final game WHam vs Villa.

  7. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Triple UTD attack primed for points vs Palace.

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If they start

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Top 4 more important than FA cup, they start

  8. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I sold Kane and Son for Mane and Vardy and don’t have Sterling, I’m fearing the worst here in a bad gameweek...

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kane is definitely going to score. He loves a derby goal.

  9. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    NLD First Goalscorer and Final Score prediction?

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kane, 2-1 spurs

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      0-0

    3. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Auba, 1-1

    4. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It would be nice that Son finally score.
      2-2

  10. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I need to make a note that motivation really does matter at the end of the season...

    Antonio doubled his goal tally in a single game ffs!

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Keeping triple Liverpool was a mistake too.

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes because West Ham are fighting for survival

      Ofc they're motivated

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        That was my point. Motivation greatly supersedes quality.

        I thought quality would play a bigger part than it has done.

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Ohh. Sorry read it wrong! 🙂

  11. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Seeing Crystal conceed so many goals lately makes me questioning my FH team (almost no man utd cover)

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

      In 16 games i think Palace have beaten United once, and that was at Old Trafford.

  12. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Squad atm...looking at a BB this week

    Pope/Martinez
    TAA Digne Doherty Mendy Lamptey
    Bruno KDB Mahrez Martial Willian
    Greenwood Vardy Ings
    1FT 1.1m ITB

    A KDB to Dilva
    B Mahrez to Foden
    C Something else?

  13. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Got the rub of the green with ElMo starting like that, and looking all the value for it too. Auba up next, then 3 Red Devils tomorrow...

  14. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    In fairness, Palace are already on the beach - they're safe for next year and have absolutely nothing to play for except a few additional quid for a higher position. If it wasn't for the FA Cup, you'd bet ManU assets would be in line for big returns next week.

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      They've been nothing short of a disgrace

  15. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which one for the next 3?

    A. DSilva
    B. Foden

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers mate

    2. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure.

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Planning to get one?

    4. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    5. DannyDrinkVodka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    6. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A

    7. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers everyone

  16. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Palace could be the super whipping boys of the league right now. Martial (c)?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fernandes or Greenwood(c). Martial don't seem to do it away from home.

      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        This

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Look like they're on the beach.

      No Cahill hurts too.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yep. They have absolutely 0 to play for.

        Hopefully United pull one of their front 4 early so we can have a captain for next game. Or Sterling vs Bournemouth...

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Bruno will start unless he's injured in the cup regardless of minutes.

          1. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            They all will.

            James over Greenwood at Wembley?

            1. BENOIT
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Urgh, no

            2. Rolls-Royce
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Ighalo probably starts over Martial.

              1. Rainer
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Should be enough for the Chelsea CBs.

            3. The Ejiptian King
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              I agree, Bruno especially so though, he's undroppable, we're not the same team without him.

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ighalo (c)

    4. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      😉

    5. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I prefer Pulisic/Willian/KDB/Jesus this GW

  17. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which move is best:
    A) Doherty+Jimenez to Boly+Jesus
    B) Doherty+Sarr to Aurier+Pulisic

    Have 2FT, so no hits with either

  18. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    With Sheff Utd, Wolves and Burnley doing well, Spurs v Arsenal could be a Europa eliminator

  19. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Reina owners, unite xD

  20. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thinking of which ManU players start against CP next week Thurs, with FA Cup on Sunday - got to think Ole prioritises Champion's League more than FA Cup this season, right?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      110%.

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think he plays his best team in the league.

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Definitely

    4. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I would guess a strong team, and then early subs if they're winning.

      Just a guess though.

  21. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Completely clueless on what to do here. I'd like to bring in Jesus, Sterling or Mahrez, but Pep's comment about rotating 4-6 players is worrying. What would you do with a FT here?

    Dubravka
    TAA Aurier Boly
    Salah KDB Bruno Martial
    Vardy Jimenez Gwood
    ___
    Martinez Traore Taylor Lundstram

  22. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can anyone give me a hand with the what I should do with this lot for next GW? I'm properly stuck if anyone can give me any suggestions.. 1FT, No Chips left, 130 points clear.

    DDG (Henderson)

    Trent - Aurier - Saiss (Fernandez, Holgate)

    Salah - KDB - Pulisic - Fernandes (c) (Hayden)

    Ings - Vardy - Rashford

    Would Rashford & Hayden > Greenwood & Dsilva be a good move? Not sure what to do.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Seems decent to me.

      1. Kodap
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Decent moves yeah?

  23. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    PVA almost goal ;(

  24. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Reina having a good few games lately

  25. gers23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Skybets Promo for Auba shots on target doesn't bode well as an owner.. Going by previous experience.

  26. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Reina on for his first PL clean sheet since 2013 😆

  27. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bentake ruined an absolute sitter for Scott Dann

  28. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Oh Ben

  29. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ings or Jesus going forward!?

    Could get D.Silva instead of Jesus?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Diva probably more likely to start.

  30. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah, Mahrez, Gayle

    to

    Pulisic (c), Foden/D.Silva, Ings

    (-4)

    Thoughts?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If Spurs manage to score, Salah hatty on the cards.

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      seems decent.
      Many would disagree with ditching salah but I don't see many, if any goals in the Ars v Pool game.

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Really he always seems to do well against them.

    3. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      you should be played bb with that bench mate ))