Dugout Discussion

Out-of-position £4.0m defender Struijk starts in midfield for Leeds

Fantasy Premier League managers have confirmation of the latest starting £4.0m defender as Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) features in midfield for Leeds United tonight.

In his pre-match press conference, Marcelo Bielsa promised the budget option would be the replacement for Kalvin Phillips (£5.0m), who is out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury.

While most of the FPL attention will be on Jack Grealish (£7.2m) and Emiliano Martínez (£4.8m) tonight, each owned by roughly 25% of managers, it will be worth assessing Struijk’s credentials, especially with Max Kilman (£4.1m) turning heads at Wolves.

The omens initially look relatively strong for Grealish and his differential team-mates Ollie Watkins (£6.0m), Ross Barkley (£6.0m) and John McGinn (£5.5m) though.

Not only are Leeds without their key defensive midfield Phillips, club captain and first-choice centre-back Liam Cooper (£4.4m) could not overcome his groin injury.

That has forced Marcelo Bielsa to put together something of a makeshift back-four, especially with back-up centre-back Struijk playing in midfield.

The tweak sees right-back Luke Ayling (£4.5m) join Robin Koch (£4.5m) in the middle, Stuart Dallas (£4.5m) switching flanks to fill the gap there and Ezgjan Alioski (£4.4m) comes in at left-back.

The Aston Villa defence, which has kept three clean sheets from a possible four so far, remains unchanged.

That means another start for Emiliano Martínez (£4.8m), Matt Targett (£4.5m), Ezri Konsa (£4.6m), Tyrone Mings (£5.2m) and Matty Cash (£5.0m).

After five Gameweeks this season, Villa’s two centre-backs are in the top three for most points per million spent among defenders.

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

Leeds United XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Alioski, Koch, Ayling, Dallas; Struijk; Harrison, Rodrigo, Klich, Costa; Bamford.

1,443 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Some more of this and exactly the current scoreline is how I want it to end!

  2. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Please don’t make me regret benching Ayling.

    Come on villa

  3. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Went Foden over Grealish/Barkley. I need a bigger sofa tonight!

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Grealish will blank again as I brought him in last week

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

        Please take him out

  4. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Strujk owners what we do now?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sold Mitchel for him on wc

      1. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Don’t worry, Mitchell won’t play many games going fwd

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Move him from 2nd to 3rd on bench

  5. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is Barkley a poor man’s Grealish or is Barkley actually the real deal?

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

      Poorman for me. He's a troll like Zaha

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

        wait for it......

      2. Paul Psychic Octopus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        We need to go back to the likes of Zigic to find the real trolls.

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

      First until he scores

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

    Too bad that goal line clearance doesn't even give Ayling any BPS.

  7. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Meslier looks small but he is actually 1.97m )

  8. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bamford is such a poor finisher

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He is poor full stop.

      1. Pedram
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        He's definitely not poor

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

        I think he makes a decent living

        1. james 101
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Indecent?

    2. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      His conversion rate was so rubbish even in championship

    3. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      My first sub

    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'm starting to realise that the Leeds attackers are expected to do some much chasing and closing down that they don't have the composure to finish chances.

      It's crazy the amount of closing down they're asked to do. Most strikers try and preserve their energy for the chances they get.

    5. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'm pretty shocked he's still starting now Rodrigo is there.

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

    Can we have some goals please???

  10. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Looks like a 0-0 here, Leeds don't even look close to conceding. I should have started Dallas! O.o

    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      what you talking bout willis?

      grealish had one cleared off the line already

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

        Exactly, Leeds defense will stand ground no matter what

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

        The scoreline will tell the story

    2. Jake.l_8
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      ??

  11. Fantasy Gold
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    The Struijk bandwagon lasted 21 minutes.

    Oof.

  12. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    The moment I got Watkins 0-0 was locked in.

  13. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This is turning into a bit of a basketball match again. Leeds with a sort of 2-2-6 formation with the ball.

  14. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    0-0 would be just fine

  15. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Double Villa attack, benched Ayling... know how this ends!

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      1-0 Leeds Ayling scoring the winner

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Ayling tackled himself earlier.

      2. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        bookmarked

  16. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which team looks more likely to score?

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Villa

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sounds like the correct answer is “no”.

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Villa imo.

    4. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Derby County.

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

      First Leeds then Grealish

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        If he can stay on his feet long enough.

  17. HNI
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which Astonvilla player shot was cleared off the line by Ayling?

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Grealish

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Grealish

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Grealish

    4. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      JG

    5. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      According the the BBC Live text it was Bamford.

      (Was Grealish)

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

      ffs!! I have him :/ But as he is only 7mn I will give him some weeks

  18. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    At least 3 goals nailed on for the second half once these sides start to tire

  19. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins kept wasting Grealish assists.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Watkins is a waste. Of space largely.

  20. Meinhoff
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Never heard of this Cash guy, but he is a terrific player.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Agreed, looks really good.

  21. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Everyone with Salah captain https://www.livefpl.net/leagues/581 including Ronka and Magnus and Kane EO is 134%? I don't get it how

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Tons of casuals will have captained Kane after last week

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

      Top 10k owners have Kane.

    3. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ahem, you missed out someone.

    4. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I captained Kane over Salah for this very reason. Knew most would C Salah and want to make up some ground (hopefully) maybe others in the same boat as me.

    5. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      that is top 10k EO

  22. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Barkley seems to be playing deeper.

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He has about 1 shot a game, his quota is up this game.

  23. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Looks like Rodrigo is spending too much time with Bamford

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      haha

  24. ilikewud
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Well this article didn't age well

  25. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Cash was a good buy from Forest

  26. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    villa looking rubbish

  27. HNI
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Was Struijk so bad? Just started following match since last 5.mins and he is already subbed lol. Suprisingky good match! Credit to Leeds! What a blessing to see such an entertaining promoted side 🙂

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Was about to get sent off ; on final warning and with Grealish diving when a blade of grass crossed his boot he was a liability.

  28. F_Ivanovic
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Ayling is so freaking good. Regretting getting rid on my WC.

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Good player but playing CB reduces his FPL appeal unfortunately

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He's looked shaky at CB, tbh.

  29. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Leeds allowing Villa so many touches in the box.

    Leeds look a team that could concede 7 or 8 in a match later in the season.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      All fine as long as Villa players continue to decide not to shoot.

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

    Revenge of the transferred out this GW

    - TAA haul
    - KDB to start and haul
    - Kane and Grealish blank