Dugout Discussion

Villa debuts for Watkins, Cash and Martínez as Burke deployed OOP

Aston Villa have handed Premier League debuts to three key new signings for their first match of the 2020/21 season.

Ollie Watkins (£6.0m) slots straight in at the apex of Dean Smith’s front-three, flanked by Jack Grealish (£7.0m) and Trézéguet (£5.5m).

Fresh from defensive improvements during Project Restart, the Villa defence features Matty Cash (£5.0m) at right-back for the first time while Arsenal’s post-lockdown goalkeeper Emi Martínez (£4.5m) is between the sticks.

Interestingly, Villa’s two most-popular Fantasy assets in Ørjan Nyland (£4.0m) and Keinan Davis (£4.5m) both miss out on a place in the starting XI.

Jed Steer (£4.0m) has been turned to as the second-choice goalkeeper, while centre-forward Davis backs up Watkins from the bench, where is joined by Anwar El Ghazi (£6.0m).

The exciting news coming out of the Sheffield United camp is a the position deployment of FPL midfielder Oliver Burke (£4.5m) up-front.

Chris Wilder has handed him a Blades’ debut in the front-two of his 3-5-2 formation alongside David McGoldrick (£5.5m).

Oliver Norwood drops to the bench as the Sheffield United manager goes with a midfield trio of John Fleck (£6.0m), Sander Berge (£5.0m) and John Lundstram (£5.5m).

John Egan (£5.0m) is therefore handed the captain’s armband in Norwood’s absence, as he sits at the heart of an unchanged defence.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-3): Martínez; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Cash; Hourihane, D Luiz, McGinn; Grealish, Watkins, Trézéguet.

Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): Ramsdale; O’Connell, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Fleck, Berge, Lundstram, Baldock; Burke, McGoldrick.

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 2

1,407 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I LOVE MARTINEZ

    😀

  2. Leonard hatred
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    if martinez can save a couple more pens, keep a cleanie and score a goal my GW is saved!

  3. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    My keeper never saves a penalty.
    He does now!
    Wohhhoooh!

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      My keeper let in two in the first match despite him having a good record

  4. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Come on Targett keep the cs!

  5. Waynoo
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Nice

  6. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Argentina GK for 4.5 is steal

  7. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martinez has more points than my GK already

  8. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    First time my GK save a penalty in 9 years

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

      Silent, friend

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Still never for me in 10 years

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I got one last year with Gazzaniga but it was a fail overall because he was outscored by Pope.

    4. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I had Stekelenburg against City few years back in which he had saved 2 penalties! It was amazing!

  9. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Lundstram and Egan highest owned players in the game and both will end on minus points likely. Hilarious

    1. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      only thing l am loving this GW

  10. La vida FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anybody thinking about deleting their team?

    1. kime67
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      yes

    2. Right In The Stanchion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah we I’ve seen you looking all depressed and that

  11. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nothing gives me more confidence in picking a keeper than his team conceding a penalty to 10 man opposition

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        And the opposition is Sheffield United

      2. KUN+10
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I take it you don't own Martinez

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Don't need to, have a good team anyway

      3. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        So scared to take villa players they struggling against 10 men

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          No rush watch and wait

      4. Traction Engine Foot
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Egan ffs

        1. Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Dial up?

          1. Traction Engine Foot
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Not watching just looked at my team

      5. HollywoodXI
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Wildcarded in Martinez for McCarthy this week 🙂

        1. wulfrunian
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          nice one!

        2. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Well done

        3. WVA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          To be fair that was the most obvious move

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

            I’m a Saints season holder so it pains me to say I agree 🙁

            1. WVA
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              I used to be when I lived down that way, miss it a lot! Enjoy and good luck

        4. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Same here.

        5. Gobigorgohome
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          mind u he face liv soon

        6. FFSbet.com
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Same

        7. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          wd would have done the same if on WC

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

        Lundstram. Hero to BELOW zero

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

        Chelsea bid for Martinez incoming?

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

        Well 2x players sent off is forcing my hand with a wildcard here haha.

        Less than an hour ago it was being saved for GW5!

      9. kime67
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        took out martinez after deadline, thanks deadline button guy!!

      10. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        All the casuals buying Lundstrum? 🙂

      11. aapoman
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Freaking Egan... That just makes my itch to wild card even higher even though got 2ft

      12. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        OOP Oli Burke pick of the 4.5s then.

        WC coming together!

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Enjoy his 5 goals the entire season

          1. beric
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Thats a good return for your 4.5 man

          2. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Still More than the rest

          3. ManofKent
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            He's only managed 10 league goals in 6 years...

          4. Utopsis
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            That's about 5 more than most 4.5's will return

          5. Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Bissy won't get that. He'll still be top 4.5 mid.

          6. Third Eye Vision
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            5 goals from a 4.5 would be better than the usual return of 1 or 2 assists.

          7. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            5 goals for a 4.5 is awesome

        2. ManofKent
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          You do know his record at other clubs?

        3. FFSbet.com
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          That looks like Brewster will go there

          1. Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Palace have edged ahead in that race

            1. FFSbet.com
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              But Palace chairman Steve Parish tweeted of the reports on Monday afternoon: "We have asked Sky to take this down as it is a total fabrication from start to finish.

              "We have not made a bid formal or informal."

      13. Zilla
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        you can't even write it, got egan too lmaoo.

        26 points all out.

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

          solid

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

          You’re not all out yet.

        3. Del Griffith
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Wow. And Ings to Tony to rub salt in. ....that's got to be the roughest of the rough. Unlucky dude.

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

            Oh yeah definitely, hopefully the smooth is coming now.

      14. Chazz69
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Hi all. Any love for Van de Beek guys ?

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          .
          .
          .
          . . . But why?

          1. Chazz69
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Why ? It's obvious that he will or at least should be in the 11 start up marching forwrd

        2. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Depends how he does next few games. Playing a bit deep when there's better attacking mids for the price.

      15. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Grealish has just snatched Basham's soul.

      16. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Every man and his dog on a WC will get Martinez in, but it's hard to know how goof he'll be due to the RC.
        The Villa defence is by no means blowing me away and I think Guaita will be better value.

        1. Begbie.
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Martinez + 0.5 ITB > Guaita

        2. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Perhaps but what can you do with the plus.5 ?

      17. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Those points should’ve been Steer’s!

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Worse keeper, would he have saved it?

      18. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Seems like everyone have Martinez

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Only the people that WC in GW2 which there were quite a few of...

          1. Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            I stuck with McCarthy 🙁

        2. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          He's a good keeper but when you buy the keeper you buy the defence and vice versa. Villa will concede plenty.

      19. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        How we looking? Tempted to ditch Son Justin/Dunne and get Trent Klich + 1.0...

        Martinez (Steer)
        Saiss Justin Lamptey (Mitchell Dunne)
        Salah KDB Son JRod (Burke)
        Werner Jimenez Mitrovic

        WC 🙂

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

          Looks good if you have a time machine

        2. beric
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Justin mitchell and dunne is a little shortsighted

        3. GOTHAM City F.C.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Ya missing TAA, either Son or Warner

        4. Dr. Rog
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          That bench is horrific.

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Is it that bad? Got 1.0 ITB

        5. Niho992
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Justin vs City
          Lamptey vs United

      20. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Not watching the game.

        Is Egan’s red a one game ban or three?

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Professional

          One game

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            But i want it to be 3 🙁

        2. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          3 I'd say. Straight red

          1. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            It's one.

            The type of sending off is what determines the ban length.

            This one was for a professional foul which is 1 game. Violent conduct or serious foul play is 3 games. Bissouma is gone for 3.

            1. Zimo
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              Ah okay. Thanks!

          2. Niho992
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            1

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

        Bloomin' great start to his Villa career.

        But oh my god, Lundstram on penalties.

        1. Dr. Rog
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Norwood not on pitch