News

Newcastle’s Gameweek 11 trip to Aston Villa postponed as COVID-19 cases rise

Newcastle United have announced that their Gameweek 11 trip to Aston Villa has been postponed.

The match was originally scheduled for the evening of Friday, December 4 at 20:00 BST but a “significant increase” in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases at the Magpies’ Training Centre has forced the club to take action.

They report that “several” Newcastle players and staff members are now self-isolating after an upturn in positive tests over the last few days.

It has not been revealed which individuals have contracted the disease or when their respective isolations end at this stage.

Meanwhile, the knock-on impact on Gameweek 11 of Fantasy Premier League is similarly unclear.

What is certain is that the opening match of the round is no longer to take place on Friday, with Everton’s Saturday lunch-time trip to Burnley set to kick us off for Gameweek 11.

At this stage, it is unknown whether or not that game-makers at FPL Towers will change the deadline from 18:30 BST on Friday to 11:00 BST on Saturday, in line with it usually occurring 90 minutes before the first fixture of the Gameweek.

As for our squads, Jack Grealish (£7.7m), Callum Wilson (£6.5m), Emi Martínez (£4.8m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) are among the key Fantasy assets with significant ownership at the time of writing.

While it could be tempting to shift as many of these as possible, or even trigger a Wildcard or Free Hit in response to the postponement, we urge patience and caution to Fantasy managers.

Both Aston Villa and Newcastle have a free midweek fixture slot in the week beginning Monday, December 7.

If the protocols and ever-changing situation at the two clubs allows, we could see this fixture rearranged either for Tuesday, December 8 or Wednesday, December 9.

If that were to be the case, then it would remain in Gameweek 11 and still count towards your next collection of points.

Such a scenario would not be without its complications, of course. Confirmation of the fixture’s new date could be short notice, and come after the Gameweek 11 deadline.

Meanwhile, even if the game is confirmed as going ahead before we have to submit our next squads, the likes of Wilson, Karl Darlow (£5.0m) and Jamal Lewis (£4.3m) could all be among those self-isolating, so we will have to wait for more information on those specifics too.

Furthermore, the Premier League has now confirmed that Newcastle’s training ground is to remain closed until “Friday at the earliest”, which could affect the timing of any rescheduling.

1,273 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    FPL deadline moved to 11 am Saturday, in case you weren't aware.

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Indeed, and no more fixtures for my triple villains lol

    2. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      not yet

  2. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    4 from New and Villa. Mitchell on my bench. Already on a -4 (yes I'm an idiot. Had to act fast on Jimenez) Tempted to free hit..

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

      No don't freehit. U need it for double gameweek

      1. FPL.team
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I'd have to -12 to get a team out and then I'd want Watkins and Martinez back again, is a freehit really out of the question?

      2. icanseethroughyou
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        When is this double GW everyone is talking about? Not obvious when I looked before.

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

      FH is for DGWs or BGWs.

    3. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If you free hit, you'll be stuck back with jiminez..

  3. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    McCarthy
    Chilwell, Cancelo, Coufal
    Salah, KDB (C), Bruno, ziyech
    Watkins, Bamford, Brewster

    Forster, Grealish, Lewis, Targett

    2ft 0.3 itb

    Watkins > Adams pretty much happening.

    Would anyone do anything else with this?

    1. roach04
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Other than be envious you're in that good of shape 🙂

      Watkins to Adams make sense - and you only use one of the FTs. Nice. (Wish my squad looked as appealing!)

      1. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I only used my WC in gw9. I am actually tempted just to do the Watkins to Adams move.

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

        I heartily echo all these points. What I'd give to be in this position!

  4. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Watkins > Bamford worth a hit this GW? Not expecting much from him but would quite like him for GW12 anyway.

    1. Dele
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I’m thinking this. Always a chance an attacking Leeds could score at Chelsea.

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

      Talk about adding insult to injury after last nights shambles aye. was definitely planning on playing him next 2. Owned Watkins TWICE this season and none of his 6 goals just a missed pen for me, Jesus Christ

  5. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Johnstone is an interesting option. Lots of saves from him...

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Due to play Newcastle GW12 - what if they have to quarantine for 2 weeks?

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

      These are the type of knee-jerk moves that people regret. I see the reasoning. He makes saves, but my goodness do WBA give opposing teams enough good chances to score. Sheffield United(!) had an xG of over 3!

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I would keep Martinez and just upgrade Steer

        1. Peskey
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Second that. I am considering using the FT Steer —> Johnstone.
          Keep Martínez for two DGWs

  6. Marcin the Pole
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How does this WC team look?

    Mccarthy
    James Chilwell KWP
    Bruno Salah KDB Son Jota
    DCL Adams

    4.0 Coufal Brewster 4.0

    Too reactive? Cheers all

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

      Needs more Villa in there

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

      Jokes aside if I was Wildcarding I’d be tempted to gamble on Antonio (over Adams) and get Lamptey over KWP (avoid the double up).
      Otherwise looks decent

      1. Marcin the Pole
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Very fair suggestions. Not too midfield heavy you don't think? That's my main concern

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

          Yes I do think it is, because I’d want Kane - but I am biased.

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

    Will the Villa/Newcastle players be red flagged?

    IIRC = red flag = 2-3x higher net transfer threshold for price changes and price locked once the flag is removed

  8. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Semedo to James this week, then Kane/Anguissa to Brewster/Salah to captain the latter v Fulham?

    Current team:
    McCarthy
    Robertson Konsa Chillwell
    KDB Fernandes Jota Grealish
    Kane DCL Bamford

    Subs: Anguissa, Semedo, Lampety

  9. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Mane to KDB worth a -4?

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

      No

  10. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    JWP or Jota?

    1. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Jota

    2. Marcin the Pole
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Jota

  11. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I'm willing to get 0 for Martinez, but what about Grealish? Playing Bissouma sounds awful

    1. roach04
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I hear you. My MF option is Soucek - and as of right now, I'm going to leave him. That may change but after 45mins I've just about talked myself into the Martinez 0 as the best call. (Esp when you consider his last 4 GWs are 0-6-1-1. It's not like he or the Villa D have been lighting the FPL world on fire, no matter what the apparently easy fixture schedule keeps telling us.)

  12. F4L
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Time for some hits this week then

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

      Yolo

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        yea

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

    best potential 1 week punts here? waiting til friday pressers obviously

    1FT, 1.6itb
    Martinez
    Robbo, Chil, Cancelo, Coufal
    Jota, KdB, Bruno, Bissouma
    Kane, DCL

    bench - Forster, Grealish, Watkins, Branthwaite

    a) Watkins > Adams (bri), bench Coufal (MUN)
    b) Biss > jwp (bri), play Coufal (MUN)
    c) both for -4
    d) other

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

    Is Jota absolutely nailed to start?

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

      Nope

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

      No

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

      no, Klopp seems to be favouring the 433 system for now, and Firmino looks like he's getting a rest tonight from predicted line ups.

    4. Marcin the Pole
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I think you know the answer to that. Worth the risk atm tho I think

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

        I just have the feeling it's a bench fail waiting to happen, same for Mahrez.

        I have Soucek to ship out and 3.9 ITB, a lot of viable options to consider

  15. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    2FTs, 0.0itb
    1) Watkins > Adams & save
    2) Watkins, Targett > Adams, Phillips (and a save some funds)

    Could do Bamford or stretch to Antonio if I had to.

  16. Johnmph
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bottomed

    Best 4.9 defender as a replacement for Kilman?

    Was thinking Vestergaard due to fixtures and attacking threat from corners.

  17. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    That postponement could solve the bench headache I find myself in after buying an extra defender last week because Lamptey was out. Might even hope Dunne will also get my a point or two. No hope for point from the goalkeeper position from Button. The free transfer is dedicated to find a replacement for Jiménez.

    I like this game - and all the games within the game 🙂

    1. fc_skrald
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not Dunne, Burke 🙂 I sold Dunne last gw...

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

    Got grealish at 7m

    Keep him?

    Could just play bissuma or upgrade bissuma to Jota but that means a benching headance from next gw

    1. fc_skrald
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Keep until further news, and probably keep him anyway

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

      absolutely - he's a season keeper, play biss and its just a single blank from Jack, tons of value tied up ifyou wanted him back plus now has 2 DGWs coming

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

      I am playing Yves Bissouma.

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

      Next drop doesn't affect your sales value anyway

  19. TKC07
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    FH Draft

    Johnstone | * Peacock-Farrell*
    James | Furlong | Fuchs | *Thomas* | *Neco*
    KDB © | Bruno | Jota | Mahrez | *Riedewald*
    Kane | (V)ardy | Tammy

    1. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Doesnt look much better than most normal teams, why bother free hitting this week

      1. TKC07
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Triple Villa (Grealish, Konsa, Martinez) + Wilson + Mitchell + Second GK - Forster

  20. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martinez to Mendy with FT?

  21. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    At least there is no Friday deadline

  22. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Panic sales to start BBC just announced game off 🙂

  23. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    COVID has spoiled a lot of the fun this season

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

      Deep

    2. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Or it's just created its own brand of fun instead. Perspective is everything lol

    3. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      In the running for understatement of the year -- sport-related or otherwise.

  24. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How to approach the GW now? Plan was Bowen -> Jota, but that would leave me without a keeper :/
    Gonna keep Grealish, but I guess Martínez + Cresswell/Bowen to something could be worth a -4?

    1FT - 0.7 ITB

    *Martínez*
    Robertson - Chilwell - Lamptey - Cresswell
    KDB - Fernandes - Son - Bowen
    Vardy - Bamford

    (*Steer*, Brewster, *Mitchell*, *Grealish*

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

    This is rubbish, don't they know how to wash hands up north ?

    Now got 2 Villa players missing plum fixture.

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

      on the positive side you have 2 Villa players ready for a plum fixture during Double gameweek

  26. ElliotJHP
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Think Meslier would be my Steer 4.5 replacement of choice, even though it is Chelsea this week.

    GW16-19 is Villa's only tricky patch really, so want to keep Emi, even if they aren't keeping too many clean sheets and Leeds fixtures are quite favourable over than run.

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

    What are people doing with Villa assets? I will be able to put Grealish on the bench but I will have to play Coufal vs Utd.

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Put them on the bench. One of the best values in the game. Will try to keep them for the double DGW.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Due to lack of options and transfers, I'll just use them for autosub purpose.

  28. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martinez has looked a bit iffy of late...how far away is Heaton?

    1. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      what do you mean? Last two games all the goals literally no chance of saving? in 2 games 5 shots at goal and 4 goals.

  29. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martinez + Mitchell -> Mendy + Dallas (-4)
    to get for next GW

    Mendy
    Robertson, Chilwell, Cancelo, Dallas, Coufal
    Salah, Son, Zaha
    DCL, Vardy
    Forster, Bissouma, Grealish, Watkins

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

    Already sold Wilson for a hit. Did I do a mistake?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yup, still games to be played in Europe.