Dugout Discussion

One change apiece for Villa and Southampton as Walcott starts over Redmond

Bertrand Traore (£5.9m) has been handed his first league start since signing for Aston Villa, replacing Trezeguet (£5.4m) for Sunday lunchtime’s hosting of Southampton.

Head coach Dean Smith had stuck with the same starting XI when facing Liverpool, Leicester and Leeds but has opted to select the summer arrival from Lyon.

The back five have kept three clean sheets from five matches, a total only passed by a Wolves side who have played seven times. Emiliano Martinez (£4.8m) is FPL’s highest-scoring and most-selected goalkeeper, boosted by his penalty save against Sheffield United.

Ahead of him, both Tyrone Mings (£5.2m) and Ezri Konsa (£4.7m) have already contributed a goal to Villa’s impressive start, whilst talisman Jack Grealish’s (£7.3m) 24-point haul against Liverpool has played him into almost 30% of teams.

That incredible 7-2 victory over the champions also brought a goal from Ross Barkley (£6.0m), who provides an interesting cheaper route into the Villans midfield. With consistent minutes and the possibility of penalty duty, the loanee could soon be an enticing option.

The big question is whether Patrick Bamford’s (£5.9m) hat-trick for Leeds last week has brought them back down to Earth after a 100% winning start.

Southampton’s only change is to replace Nathan Redmond (£6.4m) from the side which beat former leaders Everton 2-0 at St Mary’s. The winger missed earlier matches due to an ankle injury but remains on the bench here, with Theo Walcott (£5.8m) taking his place.

With knocks to only Moussa Djenepo (£5.4m) and Will Smallbone (£4.5m) and a lack of match fitness for new signing Mohammed Salisu (£4.3m), manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has also been able to name consistent line-ups.

The clean sheet against the Toffees was their third from four matches, responding brilliantly to their 5-2 collapse against Tottenham in Gameweek 2.

This has provided regular returns for the popular Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) and Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.5m), although the latter has already collected three yellow cards.

Up front, only a trio of strikers have amassed more points than Danny Ings (£8.5m). Despite a large pre-season price hike, he still provides a reliable option up front for Fantasy managers. His 22 goals of last season have been added to with four this time, taking a break last week to assist both goals against Everton.

ASTON VILLA XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Douglas Luiz, McGinn; Traore, Barkley, Grealish; Watkins

SOUTHAMPTON XI (4-4-2): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Bertrand; Armstrong, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Walcott; Adams, Ings

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FPLMarc Newcastle fan that spends far too much time thinking about FPL.

1,368 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Right so this he single handedly has shown me why I should have waited for my wc...

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Gw*

  2. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dean Smith spent the last 8 days identifying last weeks problems to prepare for this match.

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      And he still starts Barkley

    2. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      And he put McGinn against Vestergaard...

      1. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        To be fair, that was more Vestergaard movement to get the match up. Nice plan from saints, rather than poor villa defense.

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      the game plan is working, it has everyone fooled. Then Villa come back tiwn 4-3

  3. HippY
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No matter how this game ends, over the course of the season I'd feel much more comfortable holding Southampton assets over Villa

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Imagine reading this comment 2 weeks ago

  4. villa_til_i_die
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    It ain’t finished yet either!!

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nah mate you're done today 😆

      1. villa_til_i_die
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        That’s what I mean, it could get worse!

    2. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I have seen stranger things...

      1. villa_til_i_die
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I haven’t!

        1. dimo_fpl
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          You should, it’s quality

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

    I feel like subbing half of my team, it is that bad.

    Watkins, Jimi, Saiss, TAA, Foden. Worst start to the season in a long time.

  6. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Gone down 35k because of those goals.

    Didn't realise JWP and Walcott were so popular

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Che adams assist and the causal defener goals

  7. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Villa beat pool 7-2

    But losing 3-0 to soton

    Who lost 6-1 to sours

    Who kost to everton

    Who couldnt beat Liverpool

    BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD AND A'INT NO DENYING THAT NO MORE

    1. aborg
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lol so hilarious but the truth !

  8. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    It was a great ball from Adams tbf, which forced the handball from Cash.

    Assist is fair enough IMO (non-owner)

  9. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Wtf how did Adams get the assist? It was a freekick from a Cash handball

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Clueless

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You always get those assists. If the player handballs it from your pass, shot, cross etc then you get the assist.

      1. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        The hell? Podence assist was more warranted than this

    3. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Did you get that 4 year old account from ebay?

    4. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      See above, fair enough IMO

  10. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah > JWP (-8) done. Now I can breathe

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lool

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        It’s the sort of move that would characterise my season.

        Fudging joke so far!

  11. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A) Trent, Mitro -> Chilwell, DCL
    B) Trent Mitro -> Coufal, Werner
    C) Trent, Grealish -> Coufal, Fernandes
    D) Trent, Grealish -> Zouma, Rashford

    1. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C Vs D is similar to my dilemma, let's see how United look

  12. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I'm so glad I never pulled the WC trigger to get triple Villa. Whichever kind people advised me my team didn't need a WC, thank you. Turns out Soton double up defence is still going strong!

  13. Viper
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Mccarthy & Adams out for Martinez & Watkins over the past few weeks has not gone well!

    1. beetlejuice
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I did the same and since then Soton guys are on fire.

  14. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    WTF HAD happened to my Double Villa defence and Greqlish.. FFS i give up

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Perfect storm

  15. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    McCarthy and kwp to Martinez and Konsa going well

  16. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dean Smith half-time team talk:

    "We put 7 in against the Champions, Leicester put 9 in against these. That means we can win this 16-3. C'mon lads!!"

  17. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Saints fan. Third in the league. Happy!

  18. Ligdon
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Lets go Che

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Goal needed

  19. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If there are no other injuries this week, going to pull the trigger on Martinez > Mendy & Podence > JWP! Looking good.

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nah

      1. Kodap
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Really? Why not.. Want to offload Wolves anyway apart from Jimmy.

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Stop chasing last weeks points & think where next weeks will come from.

      1. Kodap
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I'm thinking long term, Villa look like they're reverting back to their usual self... Wolves fixtures take a turn and I wanted to offload Podence anyway, surely it's picking on form and not last weeks points?

  20. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Saints have a top 6 defence. Everyone blinded by the Spurs match but they barely ever concede and their defenders are amazing at set pieces especially with the English de Bruyne whipping them in

  21. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Not sure if selling McCarthy for Martinez in GW3 actually worked out or not!

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No but its better than my McCarthy to Guaita transfer.

  22. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How many on here managed to catch JWP's annual haul?

  23. yash
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Tough to see Adams getting points every week since I got rid. 🙁

  24. Chhana
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    just check the score and amazed Saints are 3 nil up but no return from Ings 🙁

  25. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Adams has been excellent in this game. Unlucky to be offside and the assist was deserved it was a very good cross

  26. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son to JWP for a hit?

  27. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Villa going back to reality 🙁

    Martinez/Grealish owner

  28. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez get out of my side and Konsa get onto my bench

    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nah he faces his old club next, and after that has a great run of fixtures

  29. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So that is the Villa wagon well and truly derailed 🙂

  30. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Grealish has to go

    Grealish to JWP is tempting

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think it’s interesting to see Barkley has taken FKs and corners from Grealish which lessens his appeal. I’m going to hold though as he’s looked dangerous over the last couple of games.

    2. Boomerang V
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I am tempted to downgrade him to a 5.5 ish bracket and invest elsewhere.