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. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Watkins was a good buy. Happy with that decision.

    Small. Boat. Missed.

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

    Unlikely of VAR to deny so many pens today

  3. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Funny how all these Bamford owners since day one are coming out of the wood work, didn't see anyone on here say anything other than he won't score in the prem and will likely be dropped!

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

      Cause this season is unpredictable as f...

    2. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bollocks

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

      Fair play to them for not knee-jerking.

    4. Warbling Wendy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nonsense comment

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        yep

      2. Das Boot
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Exactly

    5. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salty

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I would never of picked him as I know little about him and all anyone was saying was he misses all his chances

    6. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games at £6.0million. You just weren't paying attention. Don't be bitter

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

      You weren't looking hard enough then. There is very much a herd mentality here but there were very good reasons to ignore the noise and back a Leeds striker.

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Why didn't you tell me this five hours ago?

        https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/599239/event/6

        I'm blaming you! 😀

      2. WVA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I knew little about him other than what I read on here, he's looked great when I've watched him this season but all I'm saying is no-one was backing him on here at the start of the season especially with Leeds signing a new striker.

  4. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    At least we’ve got a potential Leeds clean sheet

  5. Call Me Old Fashioned
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Gonna be Mitrovic to Bamford or Maupay then this week

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mitro vs WBA next tho!

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Pereira then.

  6. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bam. Bam. Bamford. 😀

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

    As a villa fan this is a load of Koch

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

    Least I got the Grealish yellow card

  9. Red Devil Swede
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    As a Klich owner I feel robbed!

  10. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Fell for the trap again Villa and Grealish awful when will I catch a break!

  11. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I suppose if we all buy him, he'll stop scoring

  12. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This place so was in love with Villa, even I believed in your valuation

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      TBF, they were flying.

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Got me going as well. Just happy I didn't opt for double up offensively.

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

      Grealish still great. He could have had 2 tonight but for amazing defending/keeping.

  13. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    If Grealish scores I won't yank the chicken for the rest of the year

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

    PL have for sure changed the penalty rules

    That was a pen in week 1

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yes but that one should still have been a penalty even with the new rules

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

      Bamford 1st on my bench. Ugh. Need James to sit this one out.

    3. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      OMG Bamfoooooooord

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        4?

    4. donkey73
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kept Bamford only coz I could not afford Wilson.
      My gut feelings and my transfer strategies obviously need revision.

    5. Geriatric Unathletic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Leeds clean sheet locked... Grealish owner. 🙂

    6. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Can you believe how Villa horny this place was? People were saying double up in defence

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 5 months ago

          One match changes it?

        • FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          and double up offensively.. loads of people went for Grealish + Watkins... Won't go near them again.

      2. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        At least wipe that Ayling cleansheet then donkeys.

      3. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Koch on course for 2 baps tonight.

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

          Successful night out.

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

          That's such a dirty post and you know it.

          1. Duke Silver ☑
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            No idea what you're talking about 😀 he could easily fall out of the baps prematurely if Villa score.

        3. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Is your obliging partner a leeds fan?

      4. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Get penalty Villa,need to see who takes them

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

        Villa were suddenly essential even though they were lucky to get away with 1-0 last game.

        1. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Good away victory against a pretty good Leicester side.

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

            People rushing to sell wolves for villa when newcastle are a much easier team to play against was a joke.

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

        Air ball!

      7. Groot the Leveller
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        #downside chasing anyone?
        I transfered out Bamford for Kane this week.....

      8. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Casuals on fireee!

      9. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        6th save for Martinez

      10. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Watkins owners the biggest losers here? Has looked absolutely invisible for the last 2 games

          1. Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Fuming I selected him.

          2. Warbling Wendy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I think he is a talented player but is still going to need some time to adjust to the higher level. The raw tools are clearly their though.

          3. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Bad choice on wc but Soton and Brighton coming up

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

          Bamford owned by 19.3% of Top 10K, but EO is only 16.3%, which means there are around 300 managers in the top 10K who are looking at him longingly on their benches...

          1. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Hoping for a James cameo then

        • Kaneyonero
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I triple captained Kane, thoughts?

          1. Limbo
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Ballsy

            1. Limbo
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Aka nuts

          2. Warbling Wendy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I think it will be an interesting week for you then