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. Zinedine
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Terrible week this week! Two free transfers with 1.0 in the bank. Any thoughts on what the obvious moves are?

    McCarthy, Steer
    TAA, holding, Justin, Johnson, Mitchell
    Aubameyang, Salah, fernandes, S-M, Romeu
    Werner, Adams, Nketiah

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

      Bruno will probably come good. ASM Nketiah probably the main issues imo

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      ASM to Podence

  2. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Egan owner here, just logging in to say fml!
    Owned him post lockdown for his red card, sold him before his 2 goals
    Bought him over Saiss just because of this weeks fixtures
    Major fail

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Egan owners now know who to blame! 😀

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

    How did foden start ahead of mahrez

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mahrez not fully fit

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

      The future plus pep roulette

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

        At least my jesus safe for 2 months

    3. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Isn’t Foden more likely to play in the middle?

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

        Yeah, kdb usually plays behind too.

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

        No

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

    Assuming he’s fit, how many games does Ake start? 8/10, 9/10?

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      When Laporte is fit 0/10

      He's a left-sided CB.

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

        Ah right, it’s that simple? I get that Pep likes a right footed and a left footed pairing, but if Ake and Laporte are the best defenders (remains to be seen) surely Pep has to consider playing them together. Can’t imagine it’s too detrimental to have 2 lefties. But then I’m not Pep 🙂

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

    Sheffield is falling to Championship where they belong.

  6. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Since Sunday, 8 from 6:

    Werner 2
    McCarthy 0
    ASM 1
    Egan -2
    Doherty 0
    Justin 7

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

      Let me guess you are on 50+ points

      1. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Ha-ha.....right..... 47 on Saturday all from Jaime, Mitrovic, and Auba....along with three United knuckleheads.

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

      Mine must be worse. Can't even check 😀

    3. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I have all of them too except Doherty

      But I also have Mane Son and Ings 😎

      1. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        The score is not the worst.....I went Kane and Son to Rashford and Martial after week one.......

        I should know better.

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

    Fernandinho’s classification as a defender make him one to watch if he makes that CM field shirt his own again this season? (Or will he be the one to give against weaker teams?)

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

      Surprised if Pep plays 2 DM’s often

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

        He doesn't even like defensive defenders...

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

    Both RWs Mahrez and Torres on bench and Foden starts as RW...very strange.

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

      Mahrez still recovering and I guess pep wants to ease Torres

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

      Not fit & system to learn.

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

    Too many Portuguese in one team that.

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

      5!? Wolves have fielded 8 sometimes

    2. BobbyV
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      One more to come soon...Semedo

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

      What’s really shocking is that city have more English players than wolves!

  10. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ive been watching Ramsdale with particular interest as i own him. Hes a bad shot stopper. Is nowhere near shots a lot of the time and is lucky that they are on target. That last goal was well placed but slow and he was nowhere near it.

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Off target*

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

    All eyes on Ake?

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

      How long is Laporte out for?

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

      Ake n believe it

  12. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Konsa and Mings what a fecking pointless goal !

    - salty Grealish owner.

  13. OrmskirkFC
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Fernandinho is the new team captain, why is there no interest in him for fantasy? I grabbed him in my draft league very late, no one seemed to want him.

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

      Has he got the legs to play every week? Especially when CL is back.

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

      Means nothing at City. Will be rotates and sits back. Not worth a City spot for me

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Got him in draft too.

    4. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He’s a defender

  14. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Excited to see Foden and KDB in this attacking CAM role

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

      Foden on wing right now probabaly

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Foden in the Messi role, and KDB "in the hole". Lovely potential

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

          Indeed

        2. el polako
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Foden plays in the hole only with England.

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

            nice

  15. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who would you rather play every week?

    A) Ake
    B) Bamford

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

    Rory Delap on the City bench

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It's his son.

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

        Does he do a good throw in though?

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Not that I'm aware of, he's a striker, highly rated.

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

      The whole bench is a bit nutty. Only one defender, and no fullbacks!

      Plus an American keeper

  17. sandman58
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Willian & Werner
    B) Son & Jimenez
    Which one?

    1. El Platano
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. ash and swanson inc
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I would rate B highly over A for the season, and have them!

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

    Cancelo has a foot injury

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

      Couldn’t play vs his own national team anyway.

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

        Haha good one 🙂

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

    How have Villa looked?

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

    *I will not activate WC until at least GW 7*

    *Scores 140 points in two GWs. Looks at next week's team. Holds nose.*

    *Activates WC*

    Martinez
    VvD - Digne - Saiss
    Salah - KdB - Son - Podence - Anguissa
    Kane - DCL

    Steer, Justin, Mitchell, Brewster

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

      Strong

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Sky were reporting today that Milan are interested in Anguissa and Fulham are open to offers.

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

        Ceballos, then?

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

          Or Hendrick, even.

          1. The Ejiptian King
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            No idea, just letting you know.

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

              Cheers

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

        They need him. They made hard work of Shamrock Rovers last week and coughed up to the runners up of a part-time league. How the mighty have fallen.

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I’m very close to pulling the trigger on something very similar- looks good

    4. ash and swanson inc
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice team, I personally would go jimi over kane and upgrade anguissa or brewster, if enough change get second keeper. On here I hear Justin will get booted sooner rather than later so that would put me off to a newc/villa/brighton/ston defender. I am on 165 with jimi to go but gutted took out son for fernandes, son back in now...admit my mistake on that one

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

    Stuffed it. Shoulda kept Son on WC til late as he’s likely to rise twice and I could have banked 0.1 there. Oh well

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

      It is rare these days for players to go up in price twice in a week

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

    Hmm. Podence & Neto on opposite wings to the lineup pic last week.

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

      Semedo in already too much of a put off.

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

      It's a trap once they get Semedo

      Traore comes to RW and they rotate LW, with one of them used to rest Traore sometimes

  23. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Wait with WC until GW5 triple ManC vs Leeds including Foden?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I am waiting till GW 5 at least too. I like Salah then too and I dont have him

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

    How is Burke performing so far?

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

      Brilliant pass to Basham to win the pen.

      Can’t be judged in a game like this, staying on ahead of McGoldrick has to be a positive.

  25. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ramsdale wouldve been easily beat there had Watkins made any contact. Waaaay late getting there

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

    Would you prefer Zaha DCL and 0 ITB (can’t get any United) or Hamez Mitrovic and 1.0 ITB (currently have)

    1. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Zaha and DCL at moment - I've got all 4 at moment with 1.3 ITB haha

    2. BobbyV
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hamez and Watkins. Surely the latter will be better than Mitrovic

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

    Will Ki Jana Hover be starting RB for Wolves u think? Or just bought him for emergencies?

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

      CB & RWB cover.

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cant wait for him to Hover up the baps

  28. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    On wc

    A) vvd saiss
    B) robbo Lamptey

    1. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  29. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    KDB playing the number 10 role do we think?

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

      Yeah, plenty of freedom from midfield.

    2. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      100% - he's the needle of the team, all the thread will go through him.

    3. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      With rodri and ferd playing i expect KDB to play behind Jesus.

    4. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      4-3-3 but the most attacking of the 3

      1. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        4231 I think.

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

    Just realised that only two players returned from scouts pick this week. Priceless!

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

      Pointless*