Dugout Discussion

Saiss benched and Doherty returns as Santo continues to rotate Wolves starting XI

Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Crystal Palace in Monday’s late kick-off, with play getting underway at Molineux at 20:15 BST.

Nuno Espirito Santo continues to tinker with his starting XI and has made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Burnley.

Romain Saiss (£4.8m), Ruben Vinagre (£4.1m) and Diogo Jota (£6.0m) are the men to drop out, with regular wing-backs Matt Doherty (£6.5m) and Jonny (£5.5m) returning along with Leander Dendoncker (£4.4m).

Saiss’s benching is a notable one from a Fantasy perspective: the Moroccan sits in just over 6% of FPL teams overall and in 35.11% of the squads in the top 10,000.

Dendoncker appears to be playing at centre-half this evening as a result of Saiss’s omission.

Doherty sits in more than one in two of the teams within the top 10,000, with Raul Jimenez (£8.1m) – starting his 36th league game of the season – boasting an ‘effective ownership’ of 50.63% among this group of leading managers.

Crystal Palace have made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 against Manchester United in Gameweek 36+, both of which are enforced through injury.

Patrick van Aanholt (£5.6m) is replaced by budget FPL defender Tyrick Mitchell (£4.0m) at left-back, with Jeffrey Schlupp (£5.4m) coming in for Luka Milivojevic (£6.4m) in midfield.

Not one of Palace’s starting players has a double-digit ownership in FPL and there is negligible interest within the top 10,000.

Jordan Ayew (£5.1m) has the highest ‘effective ownership’ among these managers – and his ‘EO’ is only 0.19%.

The Eagles are on a six-game losing streak, a sequence of results that has seen them ship 15 goals and score just twice in reply.

Wolves have kept clean sheets in eight of their last 12 games, by contrast.


Wolves XI: Patricio, Doherty, Dendoncker, Coady, Boly, Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Traore, Jimenez, Podence.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Dann, Sakho, Mitchell, McArthur, McCarthy, Schlupp, Zaha, Ayew, Townsend.

1,538 Comments Post a Comment
  1. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Lots of FPL points for Doherty, please

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

      Amen

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

      My wish was granted!

  2. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Let's go Jiminez and Doherty

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Juhuuu

    2. One More Hit
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Same here

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

    LOL. Steve McManaman doing the commentary for BT Sport today and he ain't there because he is stuck in traffic.

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thank God for that.

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

    I'm all in on Wolves tonight.

    Jimi (C) + Doherty and Boly

    Let's do this!

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

    Ohh Hooooo Matt Doherty...........

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1opyfduXxVc

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

      Need a 15 pointer

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

    So what's the chance of Saiss coming on to secure a 3-pointer at the end of the game?

    Decided to give him the nod over Trent and this will not end well xD

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

      He will probably come on...in the same boat except it's Aurier on my bench instead of TAA. Hopefully you don't get punished too bad! GL

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

        Thanks, you too. I am pretty confident Pulisic will get a couple so no more than a 1-pointer for Trent anyway 😉

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Saiss can play DM also so like Donkey when he’s benched he comes on normally for a tiny bit at the end of the game. Maybe the same in this game with Saiss unfortunately

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

        Probably yeah. Oh well, was there any indication of him getting benched? Or no way of knowing that? I didn't look at Nunos presser or anything, just took him for granted

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

          I took it for granted as well. No indication as far as I know

        2. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Dendo was benched last game, so there was sign of a threat of rotation. I personally thought he would be ok, but with the quick turn around maybe he just wanted to get Saiss a rest.

    3. Lexi2014
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hoping he doesn’t show as I’ve got 8 points from Jack Stephens on my bench coming in....maybe

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

    8 point from Dunk, very nice.

    1. Lucy2019
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      People actually own Brighton defenders?

      1. michudagawd
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yep 🙂

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

    Jiminez will score again, as he has every week since I took him and Rashford out for Greenwood and Vardy.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I hope Salah does well 🙂

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What is that site where I can see who I have captained over the season?

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

      This?
      https://www.anewpla.net/fpl/report/

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks lads. Good luck the rest of the GW

  10. One More Hit
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Shows the need for squad depth next week.

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

      4m Brant & Williams 3.8m a blessing.

      1. One More Hit
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Williams may be OK for next week I guess but otherwise wouldn't want to burn up a Man Utd slot.

  11. rowdog24
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Has Saiss come on yet?

    1. Lucy2019
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      89th minute.

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      89mins

      1. rowdog24
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks both

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

      yeah, and now he has scored a hattrick 😉

      Bah, we have to accept our faith of 1-pointer here I guess

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

    Richarlison single handedly ruined my BB 🙁

  13. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Chances of Saiis coming on before 30th minute?

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

      50/50

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

      Very likely. Totally normal time for a sub

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      0.2%

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

      I'm hoping he doesn't make it on the pitch. Stephens 8 points coming in.

    5. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I hope that he manages to get 1 min at least 😀

  14. michudagawd
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    That Dunk CS has made me way too happy!

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Really chuffed with picking him as well. Now for him to get an attacking return in 38!

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Always nice a CS + extras
      Dunks been a solid asset this season

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I started with Dunk this season up to GW30.

        Will pick him again start of next season.

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

    How is this for a hit while chasing?

    Saiss and Bruno OUT

    Williams and Sterling(c) in

    1. Boomerang V
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Are you sure Sterling will play?

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Source: Man City official website:

    Meanwhile, Guardiola says he could rotate his side for Tuesday’s penultimate Premier League game of the season away at Watford.

    City have played 10 matches in five weeks since the restart, with two more to come this week as the league campaign comes to a conclusion.

    After our trip to play Watford on Tuesday, we host Norwich on Sunday – and Guardiola says he will make full use of his squad across the two fixtures.

    “We are going to make some changes [for Watford],” he said.

    “Some players played semi-final and will play but we will see.

    “We will play the next two games and try to let all of them play.”

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      “We will play the next two games and try to let all of them play.”

      Whaaaaattttt.....???

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

      The watford game will reveal the norwicj line up too then

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

      clear as mud

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

      Nothing new so.

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

      Nothing new from Pep

    6. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Classic pep

    7. Lucy2019
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pretty obvious really. Rotate positions between Watford and Norwich which we already know.

    8. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He might as well say nothing. Hahaha

    9. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Ederson finally on pens....

    10. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      "We will rotate players that plays the same position"

      "We will sub some players out and some in"

      "We will play 180mins. Then we will see."

      "Some will retain positions. Or maybe not. Probably"

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Well at least we can try and plan GW 38 transfers no?

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

      The new bit is that there will be less players rotated against Watford but more against Norwich.

      It will help many in gw37 who are still backing Man City premium players to a large extent.

  17. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    This is preview of spurs vs Palace.

    Wolves also plays on counter. Dependant upon talisman striker. Hmm

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

      Spurs also without their best defender

  18. rowdog24
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Saiss hasn't come on yet but at least Steve Mcmanaman has.

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

    For the final gameweek, playing bench boost. Which combo please?

    A) Antonio & Ings
    B) Saka & Jesus
    C) Fernandes & Connolly +4

    Thanks

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

      I like B

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

        Thanks, if Jesus starts against Watford would you be worried he doesn’t start vs Norwich?

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

          Yep

  20. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Wolves flicking and moving it around. Conor Coady plays a nice floated ball over to Daniel Podence, who tries to pick out Raul Jimenez but Mohamed Salah is there to head it back to his keeper.

    -- BBC live text

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      ReLly?

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

      Your point?

      1. Long ago I drew a walrus
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thought it was quite funny, is all.

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Salah DGW 🙂

    3. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Without pics or context its meaningless.

  21. Manani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Kane, Auba or Jesus for last GW?

    1. Lucy2019
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      All.

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I would avoid Jesus with Pep's comments tbf. I am doing him to Auba. Might even take a hit to do Sterling to Mane and have Dilva for 38.

      1. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Has Pep said something about Jesus or was it his general comment that everyone would be rotated?

        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          He said he will play all of them.

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

        Well I guess if he doesn’t start Watford he’s a shoe in

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          “We will play the next two games and try to let all of them play.” - Pep

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

            That tells me he most likely won’t start both?

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

      All three

  22. TAT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Stephens and Fernández first and second on my bench. Billiant…

  23. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who would you rather have for Man City last game against Norwich?

    Sterling or De Bruyne

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Toss a coin.

    2. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Depends on lineups this week

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

    Jimmy looking lively lads?

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

      Aye

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

        cheera amy... a brace would be nice...

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      He had SoT. Relax he always scores second half

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

        Hope so 😀

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

      He’s like having two or three players

      Clinical striker/poacher
      Target man
      Silky #10
      High energy midfield ball winner

      All rolled into one - would grace any team in the league

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

    Traore could have played the Doc through then. Annoying.

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

      We're going to see that trend a lot this game.

  26. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jonny is Marking sakho in the box ..

    Ohh Nuno 😀

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

    If Dilva is benched for Watford you’d think that confirms his start for Norwich, right?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      See above my post. 90% yes imo

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

      Yeah but you can't predict Peppie

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

      Well he is my captain last gw, so hope he is

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

    Sakho off surely.

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

    Bad news for Jimmy owners...

  30. rowdog24
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Saiss on for Sakho