Dugout Discussion

Rodriguez returns to Everton line-up as Greenwood misses out for Manchester United

James Rodriguez (£7.9m) is back in the Everton starting line-up after missing the past two gameweeks through injury.

The Colombian has so far racked up 34 points in three home games, including one 18-point haul against Brighton in Gameweek 4.

Rodriguez is set to operate on the right of a front three for the Toffees, with Bernard (£5.8m) playing from the left in the absence of the suspended Richarlison (£7.8m).

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m), fresh from an overnight price rise, leads the line for Everton.

Seamus Coleman (£4.9m) is another injury returnee at right-back, while Lucas Digne (£6.1m) resumes his place on the other side of defence following a reduced one-game ban.

The fit-again Mason Holgate (£4.8m) is preferred at centre-back over Yerry Mina (£5.5m). Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) returns between the sticks for the Toffees, having been dropped in favour of Robin Olsen (£4.5m) in Gameweek 7.

Ancelotti made it clear in is pre-match press conference yesterday that Pickford would come back into the Everton XI.

On the pitch he [Pickford] has to be focused on what he’s doing. He has to know where his quality is. He knows what to do tomorrow. His mentality is good, I don’t want to change it.

I think sometimes he made mistakes because he thought too much. He has to use his instinct more, which is really good. – Carlo Ancelotti

Anthony Martial (£8.7m), back from a three-game suspension, begins up front for Manchester United.

Mason Greenwood (£7.2m) is absent from the Red Devils’ matchday squad so Juan Mata (£5.9m) earns a start in attacking midfield.

The Spaniard could play from the right or centrally, potentially interchanging with Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m), while Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) looks set to face off against Coleman from his usual left-side attacking berth.

Alex Telles (£5.5m) is back in training but does not make the 18, while Paul Pogba (£7.8m) is on the United bench.

Victor Lindelof (£4.9m) has recovered from a back injury to take up his spot in central defence beside Harry Maguire (£5.4m).

Victor is feeling okay in his back, hopefully he can last the game because he has had trouble with it. The energy of Scott McTominay and Fred after not playing this midweek [in the Champions League] will help us. – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

On Richarlison, who will return for the Toffees’ sweet clash away to Fulham in GW9, Ancelotti said last night:

it is impossible to replace Richarlison. There is no player in the world like Richarlison. So we have to replace him with another player with different quality.

We have to change a little bit our style of play without Richarlison, but the defeat [against Newcastle] was not because Richarlison was not there. It was because we did not play well. Simple.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, was full of praise for the Everton manager when quizzed by BT Sport on his decision to join the Merseyside outfit.

I needed to play under a coach who knows me; how I behave on and off the pitch. Carlo was exactly what I needed for coming to this club.

It was because of both reasons [Carlo and the club] that I moved here. They trusted me when no one else did. I;ll be forever grateful to the club and to Carlo. – James Rodriguez

Everton XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Digne, Keane, Holgate, Coleman; Sigurdsson, Allan, Doucouré; Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Rodriguez.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, B Fernandes, Mata; Martial.

1,173 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Why is Siggy on set pieces?

    1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Because of Don Carlo's stupidity

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

      Don’t know but I’m selling Hames if it carry’s on.

    3. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He has himself on FPL, not James R.

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

      Because hes good at them

  2. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I brought Bruno in for Hamez this week, probably the first time I've got a transfer right this season.

    On a separate note, I've got Kane and Son - are people keeping both for the next 3 tough fixtures?

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

      Son. Cheaper. Enables a big 5 midfield of Salah KDB Bruno Son Grealish

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

      Only have Kane so keeping, wouldnt keep both.

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

      I'm getting rid of Son for sure. Undecided on Kane, will likely keep for next week and then assess.

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

    Kane, Son, Maupay, Stephens to KDB, Bruno, Antonio, Brewster(-8) looking tempting

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      😆

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

      Not really

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

    James the biggest flop pick since last int break. Glad i didnt fall into the trap after his last haul

  5. Reeker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    James Rodriguez really needs to be on more deadball situations. He's a lot better than Siggurdsson at them

    1. Reeker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Even the deadball situations that favour a right footed player

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

      Agreed

    3. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      The reality is the difference between them at set pieces is minimal, you only think that because he's in your team

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Terrible opinion

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

            That's your opinion

        • Reeker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I think that because I support Everton and James is a lot more accurate

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

            He's doing nothing to support my claim and everything to support yours atm!

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

        Lol @ deluded hames owners

        1. Reeker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I couldn't care about the points he's giving me. I want Everton to actually score goals from set pieces

    4. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Thoughts on Jimenez to Martial for a hit?

      1. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        You seen how Martial has been playing? If I was tripling on Utd I wouldn’t even have him (Bruno Rash and a defender)

      2. Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        See below

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

        How about you watch the game and we'll see if you still want to make that move

    5. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Martial has been terrible

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

      Easy Barnes to Bruno switch?

      The 5m itb finally coming to use

      1. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yup

    7. Underdogs11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Why don't more people gave Bruno? It's the Fank Lampard profile - good player in a top 6 team who scores on a regular basis. Like Sanchez, Son etc.. And he doesn't cost 12 mn. The only question was uniteds poor form right?

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

        They hate united

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

          There u go. The 2 people below me pretty much summed uo my point quite well

      2. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Top 6 team?

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

          He missed the 1...* top 16

        2. Underdogs11
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          At least in economical terms 🙂

      3. Underdogs11
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Sorry, forgot to write midfielder.

      4. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        suits me, I hope is ownership stays this way

    8. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      God Tony has been awful.

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

        Have a word with yourself 🙂

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

        rename yourself quick

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

      Martial has been terrible

    10. dark91
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Why is Martial still on the pitch?!!

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

      Martial is awful, I'd rather have Daniel James playing.

    12. Bullet Tooth Toney
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No assist for DCL on sky app now, so maybe it will be removed

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

        Fantasy assist?

        1. Bullet Tooth Toney
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          It should be removed, he didn’t touch it, but theres always a few each season they mess up, not the end of the world

        2. JJO
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Well thats real assist and dantasy assist if he touched the ball
          But since he didnt...

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

      Rodriguez/Robbo -> Bruno/Coufal?

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Like it

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

          Cheers

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

      How's Séamus looking?

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

        Old
        Getting targeted by United

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

          As long as he's good for Wembley on Thursday night that's the main thing 😉

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

            Okay Okay

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

      Bugger off Bruno, cba.

      United are so hot and cold that I keep not wanting him even with those fixtures - don’t know how to get him

    16. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      104 points in 9 and a half away PL games for Bruno since joining. Noice.

    17. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yay Bruno captain!

      Have Rashford too so hopefully he can get a goal second half!

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

        Awesome mate !

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

        Link says Kane?

    18. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      So are we selling United players or buying them ?
      😎

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

        No. Bruno's enough for me for now. Not sure how nailed on the rest are or how steady defence will be.

      2. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Buying Tony

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          He should be benched.

      3. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        They just scored a couple of goals. Of course people are going to start chasing those points!

      4. evilfish
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Sadly, I don't have any to sell.

      5. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Not players just a single player as a place holder for sterling/kdb Just son to Bruno for three weeks or so 😀

    19. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Will that DCL assist be removed?

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes

      2. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Hopefully 😉 non owner too?

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

        The people without him will say yes and people with him will say no. So you'll have to wait to find out

    20. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Unless they have the footage to replay the DCL assist how can they be sure to remove it.

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

        They haven't footage to confirm it either.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Haha see my 2-3 comes in

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          *if

    21. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Forgot how painful it is being united fan without Bruno when he’s on form.

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Me too

      2. HODGE
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I'm a Liverpool fan and I own Bruno, hang.your head in shame

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

      There is an unwritten rule in FPL that if a high ownership player is involved in a dubious assist, they will give it.

      I don't know what the 'high ownership' threshold is though (I reckon it is 10% or more).

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

        I’m still waiting for my Sane assist from a few seasons ago

      2. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        You speak a lot of nonsense Diesel mate

      3. JJO
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        How can you give it if he doesnt even touch the ball
        But yeah they are idiots so will give it

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

        15 % and up

      5. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        lol

    23. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hopefully in good stead to save FT after the international break?

      Can then see what I can do re City/Chelsea/Leicester assets in GW20

      Martinez
      TAA | Lamptey | Dallas
      Salah | Bruno | Son | Grealish | Soucek
      Kane | DCL

      Steer | Brewster | Kilman | Mitchell*

      0.3ITB

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        You are ticking along nicely with that heavy hitter team.. Even though soucek doesnt give you any points

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Yes, possibility to downgrade TAA and upgrade Soucek.

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        *GW10

    24. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Seen 2 replays (from far above) from pickfords point of view.
      Then it looks like a dcl assist.

      But 3rd replay from de gea point of view seems Lindelof assist.

    25. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Man the servers for the this website on matchday

      Since I'm not a paying member nor ever will be I suppose I can't complain

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yet you still did 😉

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

      Robbie Podence Kane to Chilwell Bruno 8.5fwd does tempt...

    27. Jolly Good
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If hamez wasn’t back I was planning to captain Bruno

      But if hamez wasn’t injured last week I was all set on Bruno -> KDB last week so count my blessings I guess 🙂