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

    Is there any madmen out there who haven’t or not going to wildcard by next GW?

    1. Diedhiou See That?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Me

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

      I'm as mad as wolf's eyebrows.

    3. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I was clinging on but Egan has done for me. Missed price rises deciding not to do it last night!

    4. Bank$y
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      The jammy/genius madmen who triple captained Kane or Son should be fairly content. GW2 Bruno TCers are crying in the corner.

    5. Aidan269
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah waiting for gwk 8 as I planned all along. I'll take the odd hit if I need to

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

        Why gw8?

        1. Aidan269
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Spurs Southampton Fulham fixtures all turn and some teams Like West ham get good. Basically all my players till gwk8 have great. Fixtures

    6. The Fantasy Doctor
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I’m not. The template changes every week. One good score and players emerge from nowhere (Zaha) then quickly vanish again.

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

        (also Zaha)

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

        Was thinking similar on Zaha but he's playing up front, not out wide, so hopefully his consistency can improve.

        1. The Fantasy Doctor
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          It could. But we’ve been here many times before.

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

            Very true. I'm gonna ignore Barnes, Pereira, Foden and Rodders for now and punt on him for Willian.

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

        Keep hoping it vanishes just cos you didn't get him.

        1. The Fantasy Doctor
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I’m not saying he definitely will. This may be the season he excels. I’m just saying names seem to appear after one good score rather than a period of consistency.

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

            He actually could have scored hat tricks in both games, that with only 20+% possession. I highly doubt he'll blank streak like last season.

    7. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Egan messed it up.No better week to wc for my team

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

    Lamptey better option than Justin right?

    1. pablo discobar
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Pieera out till end of october now. Lampteys fixtures not great really

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

      Not right now I think. Debateable when Pereira returns and how certain that Justin will be benched when Prereia's fit.

    3. European Bob
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Lamptey and Mccarthy or Ryan and kwp is one of my wc dilemmas

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

        KWP cheap but useless in terms of points

    4. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Worry about Justin when Pereira is fit. Not any time soon. Justin is the best 4.5m in the pacn barr none at present and very sweet fixtures ahead

      1. Team Bobcat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        *pack

  3. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Think that Egan red has tIpped me over the edge to WC.

    Who are the must have players on WC?

    1. Aidan269
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nobody. Lots of really good options but nobody is essential imo

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

      Just look at the RMTs dude...

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

      Son, kane, bamford, mitro, allison, martinez, justin, dcl, zaha, hames, mane

    4. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Only issue with wildcarding this early is you have to get it right and get lucky. No fall back option. A lot of uncertainties with ManU ManCandevenspurs assets. It will be a gamble so GL

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

    Rate Mitrovic short term? Or redistribute funds to the defence - get someone like Castagne or even try to stretch to Digne perhaps

    1. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I like mitro fixtures

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

      Not many CS in opening two GWs. Even if Fulham are awful a 6m Mitro will always get chances.

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

        Good point

    3. SAY MY NAME
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      i would just stick with Mitro - Mitro plus 4.5 def better than 4.5 non-playing striker and better defender imo, not seeing many clean sheets and i like the assurance of having an extra player on the bench to call on if needed in these covid times when there could be unexpected benchings

  5. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best defender up to 6.5m? Lamptey?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Haha

      • AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Luiz.

      • jomikijiq
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Laporte if he'll be available for GW3

      • Bank$y
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Tierney but the lad is out for a couple weeks.

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

        Virgil Laporte or Digne

      • g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Castagne

      • Chazz69
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Laporte or Digne defo not

    2. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      This game man

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

        Almost boring as Man United

    3. JamTart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      RMWC

      Martinez, Button
      TAA, Sass, Justin, Dunne, Mitchell
      Salah, Sterling/KdB, Zaha, Podence, Burke
      Werner, Martial, DCL

      No Spurs I'm willing to gamble on as you can't have them all. May also go TAA and Dunne to Robbo and C.Taylor

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

        Wouldn't expect Burke to be a consistent starter, would rather go with someone more nailed on.

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

          Justin, Dunne and Mitchell are short term picks - do you want all 3?

          1. JamTart
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Mitchell could be Ferguson if looks likely to come back in. Justin another 4.5 I guess. Dunne is a punt for if Tarkowski does leave

        2. JamTart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          What's the reason for his start today?

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

        Martial to jimi & upgrade dunne

        1. JamTart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I'd not want the double with Prodence but could be a shout. I'm just worried united kick back in after that first GW

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

        Dunne very short term
        Justin and Mitchell ok medium term and Mitchell becomes Ferguson easily.

        Get Steer over Button surely?

        Podence could be great but possible rotation headache

    4. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      How have Villa not scored yet? 77% possession 7 shots.

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

        They keep shooting down the same side, no variation in attack...

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

      Diangana Klich Podence...

      A few decent options at 5.5. Does Klich on pens swing it? He does have worse fixtures

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Klich is the steady option, podence I'd say higher ceiling but we know he's not nailed for 90 and not nailed to start

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

            Diangana? Or avoid baggies

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

              Great player but the team is in need of a couple of transfers to allow him to flourish. If they sign a competent CF he could be a good option, but it's an if...

        • beric
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Slow down man, one question at a time

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

            Technically they are one at a time

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I swear some of the question on here boil down to "who is a good player guys?" Might as well drop your email and password and we'll pick your team for ya

          1. Threat Level Midnight
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            Have a walk

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                3 years, 6 months ago

                Already had my run thank you concerned citizen

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

              Does my nut in. I skim over 90% of posts.

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 6 months ago

                  Honestly don't know how you cope sometimes, doing the lord's work man

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

                On the way 🙂
                I kinda agree - at least throw out some options you have looked at.
                Although sometimes I do it to see if the same names I have been considering come back or not. Even then I give some price point.

                1. @persecuted_by_mods
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    This, and tbh once in a while we all lazily throw out a question my post is mainly aimed at ones that continually spam questions with little input and never help anyone

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

                      What about the questions typed in here that could be typed into google to get the answer. Those really crack me up.

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

                      What about asking A or B and getting 3 A and 3 B answers. How exactly does that help 🙂

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

                  I can't remember the last time I've ever asked for specific advice on my team, don't see the point. It's my team, I make the choices! I come here for general FPL discussion

                  1. @persecuted_by_mods
                      3 years, 6 months ago

                      I try to at least answer more than I ask, and agreed this season I'm barely asking anything and lo and behold best start I've ever had

                3. Ser Davos
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 6 months ago

                  Hope Davis gets a cameo point

                4. Shark Team
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 6 months ago

                  Egan or Davies to sell? I think Egan has a 6pter to give in gw5 if I wait for it but Davies may never start again

                  1. Threat Level Midnight
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    Both, stat

                5. Shultan
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 6 months ago

                  Why is everyone is so against knee-jerking when patience doesn't always work out either!

                  If I knee-jerked & got rid of triple saints, Werner, Ali, ASM on a WC i would be in a much position
                  All replacements have scored (all double figures) & martinez penalty save even more gutting

                  Not blaming anyone because I took the be patience mantra in the articles but knee-jerks work out too

                  1. @persecuted_by_mods
                      3 years, 6 months ago

                      Yup, there is no rule other than get the right players, you could take a -8 every week and still win if you get the right players, you could never get a single captain right and still win if you had the right players. Many ways to skin a cat

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

                      Hi. I knee jerked Son and Kane out of my team.

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

                        Made the mistake of actually watching their game vs Everton and thinking how poor they looked. Should've just stuck to watching MOTD.

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

                          It's a funny game

                          They could have been, 2 or 3 down by half time and then scored with their first chance at 45m.

                          On another day they lose than 2-0 or 2-1 and no dramas

                    • GreennRed
                      • 12 Years
                      3 years, 6 months ago

                      Depends on how you play it. Wildcard rarely pays out for me the next GW and longer term not a whole lot better than pre-WC. But that's poor decision-making and planning. At least wait until transfer window close and give players 3 or 4 games to judge how they do in PL. Admittedly that's cautious and boring.

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

                    Any chance Ings rises back to 8.5m this week?

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

                      Unlikely

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

                    Sterling you muppet don't get benched

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

                      If so, he's more than capable of scoring off the bench.

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

                    Commentator implies McGoldrick (and Norwood) ahead of Lundstram re pens, and that was before the miss.

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

                    Don't understand why Villa let Grealish have those minimal shin pads. If he gets kicked it is more time out.

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

                      Gotta look cool tho innit

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

                    Auba and Egan to Sterling and Castagne?

                    Would leave me with both Justin and Castagne but that's a risk I'll gladly take. Team is fine otherwise even though still have Havertz and no Jimenez, Son or Hamez.

                  7. RAFA THE GAFFA
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    Something like this on WC?

                    Martinez Steer
                    TAA Digne Saiss Lamptey Mitchell
                    Sterling KDB Son Zaha 4.5
                    DCL Martial Bamford

                    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
                      • 12 Years
                      3 years, 6 months ago

                      Not bad...

                      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
                        • 7 Years
                        3 years, 6 months ago

                        Although I haven’t even priced checked this haha

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

                      I quite like it. You got faith in Son though? I just replace Son Dunne with Trent Klich again.

                      Also no Salah/Mane?

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

                    Pep roulette time... And the winner is

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

                      None

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

                      Pep

                  9. Kryptonite666
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    Podence + Robertson

                    Or

                    Foden + Robertson

                    Or

                    Hamez + Saiss

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

                      Easy hames saiss

                  10. Forza Papac
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    Podence my boy

                  11. ClassiX
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    WOLVES TEAM NEWS
                    Team to play Man City: Patricio, Saiss. Boly, Coady, Marcal, Neves, Moutinho, Traore, Neto, Jimenez, Podence.
                    Subs: Ruddy, Silva, Vitinho, Vinagre,Dendoncker,Kilman, Buur.

                    MAN CITY TEAM NEWS
                    Team to play Wolves: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Mendy, Rodri, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Foden, Jesus, Sterling.
                    Subs: Steffen, Torres, Mahrez, Otamendi, Delap, Doyle, Bernabe.

                  12. Drop Dead Tsimikas
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    WOLVES TEAM NEWS

                    Team to play Man City: Patricio, Saiss. Boly, Coady, Marcal, Neves, Moutinho, Traore, Neto, Jimenez, Podence.

                    Subs: Ruddy, Silva, Vitinho, Vinagre,Dendoncker,Kilman, Buur.

                    MAN CITY TEAM NEWS

                    Team to play Wolves: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Mendy, Rodri, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Foden, Jesus, Sterling.

                    Subs: Steffen, Torres, Mahrez, Otamendi, Delap, Doyle, Bernabe.

                  13. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    MAN CITY TEAM NEWS

                    Team to play Wolves: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Ake, Mendy, Rodri, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Foden, Jesus, Sterling.

                    Subs: Steffen, Torres, Mahrez, Otamendi, Delap, Doyle, Bernabe.

                    WOLVES TEAM NEWS

                    Team to play Man City: Patricio, Saiss. Boly, Coady, Marcal, Neves, Moutinho, Traore, Neto, Jimenez, Podence.

                    Subs: Ruddy, Silva, Vitinho, Vinagre,Dendoncker,Kilman, Buur.

                  14. Ser Davos
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    Foden starts

                  15. Fudgy
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 6 months ago

                    Wow foden

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

                    Mahrez RIP

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

                    Lineups pls

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

                    Foden and Mendy could come back into the convo tonight