Dugout Discussion

Still no Barkley or Konsa for Villa as Allardyce era gets underway at West Brom

Sam Allardyce takes charge of West Bromwich Albion for the first time this evening.

The Baggies take on Aston Villa in the last of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday, with kick-off in the Black Country at 19:15 GMT.

The former Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and England head coach has succeeded Slaven Bilic in the hot seat the Hawthorns, with the Croat losing his job following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at the Etihad.

The impressive showing against Manchester City and limited time with his new charges has persuaded Allardyce to name an unchanged side from Gameweek 13.

As for the visitors, Dean Smith welcomes back two players from suspension today – and both return straight to the starting XI.

Douglas Luiz (£5.0m) and Matty Cash (£5.0m) are newly available after one-match bans and replace Marvelous Nakamba (£4.3m) and Ahmed Elmohamady (£4.3m) in central midfield and at right-back respectively.

There is still no Ross Barkley (£5.9m) for the Villans, as the loanee nears a return from a hamstring injury.

The ill Ezri Konsa (£4.8m) also isn’t part of the 18-man matchday squad.

FPL’s most popular goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez (£4.9m), starts between the posts and will be hoping to continue his fine form on the road.

The Villa custodian has registered clean sheets in four of his side’s five away fixtures this season, averaging 6.6 points per match on his travels.

Jack Grealish (£7.8m) is the most-owned player on show: he sits in 43.2% of Fantasy squads at present, with only Son Heung-min (£9.7m) proving to be a more in-demand purchase among midfielders.

Not one of Albion’s players is owned by more than 2% of FPL managers.


West Bromwich Albion XI: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, O’Shea, Gibbs, Phillips, Sawyers, Livermore, Gallagher, Diangana, Grant.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Hause, Mings, Targett, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Traore, Grealish, El Ghazi, Watkins.

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1,454 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Thank you Mr Grealish. Up to 87 points and Soucek, Chilwell and James to go. My best GW this season from hell.

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

      James ain't playing.

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

        Praying Kilman starts.

  2. Tosa86
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Vardy is fit???
    Grealish, vardy for salah bamford (-4)

    Rest is son Bruno soucek kane and dcl

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

      I like that move

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

      Selling Grealish home v Palace and Vardy for a hit!? No

      1. Tosa86
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Vardy is fit?

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

          he himself said he is

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

    Helping my father in his league..

    Would you sacrifice KDB for Salah?

    KDB R.James Lamptey —> Salah Coufal C.Taylor -4??

    1. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      It's a yes for me

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

        Thanks !

  4. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any Leeds fan here? Chances of Struijk or Davis starting against Burnley?

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

    Anyone still selling Grealish given his run of fixtures? If so, who for?

    A. JWP
    B. Rafinha
    C. Harrison

    Leeds have the better fixtures but JWP should be on penalties too in Ings' absence.

    1. Mike2795647
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Keep for me, although so have one eye on blank gameweek

  6. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    At last at good week 3 mil to 2.1 and should be ok with Mendy Coufal and Soucek. 85 points I don’t if the ton will happen but still possibly.
    I really needed a good week.

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

    Will C.Wilson fall in price? Saw he was around 80%...

  8. Mike2795647
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Just need 1 more point after baps to break 100' awesome game week - watch it all crumble with a 25 pointer next week

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

    Adams or Watkins for the third striker?

  10. BEEZUS
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    A) Lamptey, Mahrez, Adams --> Robbo, Soucek, Bamford

    B) Lamptey, Adams, Kane --> Dias, Bamford, Vardy/Firmino

    C) Lamptey, Mahrez, Kane --> Dias, Mane, Bamford

  11. All The Aces
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is it me or did they not even look at the offside after the game? Or did I miss it?

  12. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Mccarthy
    Chilwell coufal dias taylor mitchell
    Son soucek bruno kdb salah
    Bamford dcl davis

    2ft 0.7 itb

    What to do ? Don’t want to waste a ft ?

    1. Mike2795647
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Swap Mitchell to playing defender

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

      Good team. What is your strategy for GW18/19?

  13. spray
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I have 2 FTs and likely to use one on a bench/later gameweek upgrade.

    2 FT, 0.3 ITB

    Martinez
    Maguire, James, Coufal
    Maddison, Grealish, De Bruyne, Salah, Neto
    Vardy, Calvert-Lewin

    Johnstone, Wilson, Justin, Shaw

    I'm considering Shaw to Gabriel, and use him where required, but mostly as a GW18 player.
    I don't mind Dallas, had him previously, but won't play him this week against a good opponent, so seems like less is on offer. His DGW19 looks great... but they leak!

    I think Maguire has great fixtures, his old club, a double gameweek... until late Feb.
    I don't think I want to trade Maguire for Robertson, who I recently dropped to bring in Maddison. I feel that may have been a mistake, though I prefer having someone like Keane, Maddison, compared to what I had, Robertson, March.

    What do I do?

    Do I need to do something else like build money ITB to be able to go Vardy to Kane, this gameweek or later?
    (ie. Maguire to Dallas)

    Thanks

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

      Decent team, personally think Maddison is too expensive and find him a bit streaky. You are covered with Leicester with Vardy.

      I'd prob go to someone like Zaha playing as striker.
      OR
      Downgrade Maddison to someone like Soucek and upgrade Maguire to Trent/Robertson.

      Of course, a lot depends on your approach for GW 18/19.

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

        I think you're about right. I appreciate the reassurance... likely needed it.
        I've got this issue with bringing in guys I've had. Maybe there's an article somewhere. Anyway, trades need no bias.

        Thanks.