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Both managers originally made one change apiece from the sides they sent out in Gameweek 34+ but an injury to Kortney Hause (£4.4m) in the warm-up has seen Ahmed Elmohamady (£4.1m) replace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. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Lol Benteke

  2. El-Kloppico
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    If its after final whistle, does it impact FPL?

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

      Yes

    2. Tinkermania
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruh

    4. JJO
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Why not?

    5. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yup.

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

      What did Benteke do?

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He was having a bit of a go at Konsa towards the end. Then after the FT whistle he was saying something to the ref and got sent off for that.

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

          Ah ok
          Thanks

    7. reo19uk
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes but surely nobody has him

  3. S3
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    which city assets reckon will start next game considering upcoming FA Cup semi final game
    A. Raz
    B. KDB
    C. Foden
    D. Jesus
    E. Mahrez

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

      C the most likely

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

      A B C and D imo. E benched

    3. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      b & c i think

    4. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Most people expect Foden to start and Mahrez to be benched, with the other three's chances somewhere in between. But it's all guesswork.

    5. S3
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      thanks guys...just tough with Mr Pepe...but I think Foden and KDB have a higher chance...

      1. S3
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        and Jesus

  4. reo19uk
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Benteke finally done something for the 1st time in months. Not a good thing but still a thing!

  5. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Are people still buying Digne? Villa fighting for survival.

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      They are on beach, Digne is done for this season.

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

      I just brought him in

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

      Not anymore. Everton were really bad, and Villa have hope...

    4. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      got him for this week for his bagel...

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

      Was on my agenda, but Everton looked awful today and think Villa will score next GW

  6. VAR United
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Tricky to try and predict what Pep will do but I think he knows if he benches KDB then there are higher chances the team doesn't perform. He's more likely to start him from now and pull him off once they've established a lead. Just my thinking.

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Don’t waste your time thinking about it or you will just go mad

      Pick the players and see what happens

      Nothing else you can do

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      might start him as 3rd CB

    3. Tinkermania
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He will be rested like everybody else. I think he has one more rest at least before the season is finished.

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

      I think with 5 subs, there's a good chance he starts and off on 60 again

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

    Sterling KDB Martial Bruno Foden
    Ings Vardy Greenwood

    Who on earth do I bench for this week?

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      ManU players might require some rest before FAcup

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

      Vardy

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

      Vardy

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

      Cheers all

  8. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A cleansheet, assist and a goal from Serge would be nice

  9. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can I get a parting gift from my Sister n today?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Haha *Son damn you autocorrect

      1. tucaoneo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        1. tucaoneo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Emoji fail

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Sister and son, a right family affair

        • Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Stepsis I hope 😆

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

        😆

    2. Mr Arsenal
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Benteke (c) fail

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

      Which one?

      Mahrez > Pulisic/Dilva
      Mane > Pulisic/Dilva
      Jimi > Ings

      Worried that Mahrez won't start..

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Mané. He's off his fame

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          game *

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

      Patricio
      TAA Doherty Azpi
      Salah Sterling(c) Fernandes Martial Pulisic
      Jesus(vc) Greenwood

      Button Aurier Connolly Robinson

      Sart of GW36 Pulisic to Dilva to have triple City for the rest last 2.

      1. S3
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I am thinking of bringing in sterling. you think he will start?

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

          Cannot go without him for the last 3.

        2. Tinkermania
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          No. Arsenal is bigger game.

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

            This.

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

      Well that's one less budget forward to think about...

      I have one budget forward slot for a BB in GW 37. Up to 5.8m

      Who to go for?

      A) JRod (nor)
      B) McBurnie (EVE)
      C) McGoldrick (EVE)
      D) Maupay (NEW)
      E) Adams (bou)

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A all day

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

      This was Benteke's 2nd highest week for net transfers in this season
      Unfortunate for the 1,633 new owners this GW

    7. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Did trekkers get a red card after final whistle

    8. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Oh the benching headache! I've got this wrong last couple weeks... so help please!

      Bench one of:
      A) Martial (CRY a)
      B) Foden (BOU h)
      C) Willian (NOR h)
      D) Vardy (SHU h)
      E) Greenwood (CRY a)
      F) Jimi (BUR a)

      Bench two of:
      W) Digne (AVL h)
      X) TAA (ARS a)
      Y) Boly (BUR a)
      Z) Egan (LEI a)

      Currently benching EYZ

    9. SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sonny

    10. Conor1
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Marcos Alonso? Anyone considering him for the Norwich game?