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. Dosh
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Will Peacock Farrell start next week for Burnley?

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

    When do people think the Villa Newcastle game will be played again?

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

      Doubt it will be within this GW if that is what you are after

    2. King of Kings.
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully before xmas as thats as long I was planning on keeping Watkins. Would be nice to get the double GW

    3. SackWenger
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Fa cup 4th round day - in 3rd round villa have Liverpool and Newcastle go to Arsenal

  3. King of Kings.
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Think I've settled on James and KDB for Cancelo and Son.

    Was going to hold Cancelo for another couple of weeks but might as well punt him just now. The extra funds allows KDB and really liking look of chelsea double up (have chilwell already).

  4. Wag the Drog
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    a) Grealish->Mahrez -4
    b) Watkins->Tammy/Adams/Welbeck -4
    c) Hold

    McCarthy
    Justin-Chillwell-Coufal-Bellerin
    Salah-Jota-KDB(c)-Bissouma
    DCL-Kane
    --
    Kilman-Grealish-Watkins

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

      Hold

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

    Grealish to Mahrez for a hit as a punt this week?

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

      chasing last week's points

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

        Or next week's?

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

          Naaah not for a hit for me

  6. In Bale We Trust
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Cancelo owners, thoughts?

    I unfortunately have three players from Villa/Newcastle as well as Ferguson. So I’m four down already going into this gw with Cancelo also.

    I’m think it’s best to just cut my losses now? We’ve been Pepped hard on this one, and I really can’t see him playing at the weekend.

    What are other owners thinking?

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

      I’m sticking. Other fires to put out with the cancelled game.

    2. In and Out
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Going to stick it out a week

    3. mrelpea
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I’m upgrading to Dias, have juts enough money. Granted, he won’t get as many assists etc but with the fixtures city have coming up, I want as nailed on starters as poss

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

        With Laporte, Ake, Stones and Garcia I would be afraid of rotation

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

          I know what you mean. There’s bound to be some rotation over Christmas and new year but I reckon Laporte and Dias are first choice centre halves. Ideally I’d like to upgrade to Walker but I need the funds to bring Salah in

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

      leaving...also have Sterling, Martinez and Grealish so really hoping the City boys get some minutes!

  7. bobbyg
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish and Son to

    Kdb and Jota -4?

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

      I'd keep Son for the next couple of games at least. Wish I never sold him.

    2. davidfromkent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I have Grealish, Son, KDB and Grealish and wouldn't want to part with any of them.

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

        And Jota*

    3. bobbyg
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks guys. Just want to try and get KDB in somehow

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

        Having KDB is crucial...there are some hauls on the horizon for city!

  8. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling shot cleared off the line.

  9. Apwilkin
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone hanging on to Wilson? Originally was going to do semedo and ziyech to Konsa and KDB. But here we are...

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

      I could go Wilson straight to Jesus? That would be my only city coverage...

  10. Shardlow
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Wildcard A

    McCarthy (Forster)
    James, Chilwell, Justin, Dallas (Coufal)
    Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Jota (Grealish)
    DCL, Bamford (Brewster)
    +0.2M

    Wildcard B
    McCarthy (Forster)
    James, Chilwell, Dias, Neco Williams (Dallas)
    Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Jota (Grealish)
    DCL, Bamford (Davis)
    +0.1M

    Wildcard C
    McCarthy (Forster)
    James, Chilwell, Dias, Justin (Dallas)
    Salah, KDB, Son, Jota (Grealish)
    DCL, Bamford (Brewster)
    +0.7m

    Got value tied up in Justin, Chilwell, Son, DCL, Grealish.

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

      B

    2. mrelpea
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

    3. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      So essentially its:

      A: Coufal Bruno (Brewster)

      B: N.Williams Bruno (Davis)

      C Dias Son (Brewster)

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

        Apologies, yes I should have simplified. Long day!

  11. doppelganger
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Guaita Steer
    Chilwell Coufal Justin Targett* Mitchell*
    Kdb Jota Grealish* Bruno
    Dcl Werner Kane

    0.7itb 1 ft

    A) Mitchell to Dallas or maybe Neco Williams couple of games?
    B) Grealish to Ward-Prowse or someone up to 8.1
    C) Save ft

    1. fpl gamer
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      c

  12. Fer Fuch's Ake
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Predicted Man City Lineup vs Ful:
    Ederson
    Mendy, Laporte, Stones, Walker
    DeBruyne, Gundogan, Rodri
    Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling

    Agree/Disagree?

    1. fpl gamer
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      hope so, aciidently brought in sterling instead of de bruyne next wekk so need him to start!

  13. La vida FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Jota rising tonight.... worth waiting on news?

  14. fpl gamer
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    my current team

    Martinez

    chilwell - kwp - castgne

    sterling - bruno - grealish - zaha

    dcl - kane - wilson

    bench - forster - saiss - saint max - mitchell

    what do I do

    1. fpl gamer
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I have 1 free transfer btw

  15. tc93
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kane + Wilson + Stephen’s —> Davis + Bamford + KDB (c) (and play a 3-5-2) worth -8? Imo sets the team up well for the coming weeks.

    Next week can downgrade Ziyech or DCL to free up some funds to upgrade defence/bench

    Rest of team:
    Martinez
    Chillwell / KWP / Dias
    Salah / Fernandes / Ziyech / Grealish
    Kane* / DCL / Wilson*

    Button, Kilman, Michell, Stephen’s

    1. fpl gamer
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      sounds like a good idea, might want to think about keeping kane though his fixtures will ease off soon and he has a strong record against arsenal
      maybe try
      ziyech, grealish, dias ---> de bruyne, neto, neco williams

      free up some money next week to then bring back grealish in 2 weeks

      also comment on my question would be rly appreciated (its the one above)

  16. richarlison2348
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is it worth taking a -4 to send out Martinez? Backup goalkeeper is Steer so no help there. Don't see very many other good options... Would like to save him for the possibility of a double gameweek coming up.

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

      There you have your answer

  17. pmirandag
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Why is RMT still showing Newcastle and villa players projections for GW11

  18. Rbyrne95
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What we thinking in regards to swapping out Wilson or Martinez for this gameweek? worth it? or hold?