Dugout Discussion

McCarthy returns as Walcott starts up-front for Southampton

Alex McCarthy (£4.7m) returns to the Southampton side following his period of self-isolation.

Despite just one Double Gameweek 19 fixture, the goalkeeper is still owned by 19.5% of Fantasy managers who have only seen him miss one Premier League match this season – the Gameweek 17 win over Liverpool.

McCarthy faces a Leicester side that rested Jamie Vardy (£10.2m) and James Maddison (£7.1m) in the FA Cup although the entire Saints squad were not involved in the third round due to Shrewsbury’s recent coronavirus outbreak.

Danny Ings (£8.3m) is missing due to his own period of self-isolation which means Theo Walcott (£5.8m) moves forward to start as a striker alongside the returning Che Adams (£6.0m).

With a number of long-term absentees on the flanks, Will Smallbone (£4.4m) comes in to provide width with Stuart Armstrong (£5.5m) while Ibrahima Diallo (£4.5m) is in for Oriol Romeu (£4.5m).

Leicester keep faith with Timothy Castagne (£5.7m) and James Justin (£5.0m) in the full-back positions although Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) is back on the bench after a considerable length of absence.

Çaglar Söyüncü (£5.3m) is also among the substitutes as he continues ramping up to full match fitness, which means another start at centre-back for Jonny Evans (£5.5m) and Wesley Fofana (£5.0m).

Leicester City XI (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Castagne, Fofana, Evans, Justin; Ndidi, Tielemans; H Barnes, Maddison, Albrighton; Vardy.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, J Stephens, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Smallbone, I Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong; Walcott, Adams.

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1,331 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    New cut for Vardy.

    Just in time for the Party.

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

    Anyone know why no Mitrovic today?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not just today, not featured much lately anyways.

    2. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hasn't started for a while has he?

    3. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      There is no Mitrovic for like 3 months now

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

      Fulham have been a lot better since he dropped out of the team.

    5. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He's at mine for a footballers covid shindig.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Unfortunately I'm not a footballer, so I have to go to another covid party 🙁

  3. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    a 0-0 would be so welcome

  4. smix
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Barnesy party please !!

    1. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sadly, all parties have been banned.

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You can party with your household

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

    Tasty high line from Southamptom

    😉

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

      Nah, King Ralph has said that Saints won’t play that way anymore.

  6. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What happened to Leeds? 0.3 XG is not typical for them. Is it 2nd half syndrome for Bielisa teams?

    1. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The pitch didn’t help.

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

      Maybe they're just a bunch of championship players who have been found out.

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

        Same thing as last year. Get tired. Same team every match.

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

    I benched Che for Bamford.

    Now watch Adams haul.

  8. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Looks like the days of 44 goals per GW are long gone With so few goals and a small pool of big-hitter options, will be quite hard to climb up the ranks significantly.

    1. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      FH 541 here. Plenty of CS points to go around lately.

  9. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1-0 with a goal from Justin would be perfect

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It wouldn't, because I decided on my WC/BB to get James instead. That went well.

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

    Why hasn't Vardy scored yet

    1. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Season over?

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        We'll see.

  11. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone know if big Sam confirm this?

    https://twitter.com/SteveMadeley78/status/1350409156440670208?s=19

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stupid interviewer never asked him

  12. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1-1 Walcott Barnes

  13. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What’s everyone’s overall rank currently before this GW?

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

      68k

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

      Worst in my history

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

      500K

    4. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1.9m

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Appalling. 1.2 million.

    6. mojoindojo
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      201k.

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

      393k

    8. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ive had 13 out of 14 green arrows and still not in top million lol

    9. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      360k

    10. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      499k

    11. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      114k

      Likely to be significantly lower after this shocker of a BB fail plays out 😉

    12. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1.2M

    13. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      478k

    14. A.J.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      734

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

        Wowza. Good man.

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Mate

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

        Ding ding

    15. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      190k

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

      17k

    17. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bloody awful. Into top 2m now though. 😎

      1. Party time
          3 years, 2 months ago

          🙂

      2. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        150k.

        Not going well this week though!

      3. Doctor Evil
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Was 35k now up to 15k

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

        80K

      5. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        500k. Tough season

      6. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Too many likes and replies on this thread. More people are going to end up seenig my rank when they sort by rating. What a mistake 🙁 Pls don't sticky this post

      7. REDMOND IN SANDALS
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        200k

      8. Londongeezaa
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        600k. Some high flyers in today 🙂

      9. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        A whopping 2.5m

      10. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        43k

      11. Buck The Trent
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        78K

      12. chrismoo75
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        27k

    18. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Benched KWP, he always gets a cleanie when I bench him like he did against Liverpool

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Let's hope it happens again.

      2. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He see saints doing well tonight.

    19. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1-1 here with two non important players scoring and no assists would be good.

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes please

    20. Pedersen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ok guys, Zouma to Chillwell or Stones/Cancelo?

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        City for sure. Fixtures are amazing in 20 onwards.

      2. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Definitely Cancelo

      3. Karhumies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Stones until Laporte/Ake return IMO. Cancelo if you think he won't get rotated/rested too much or if your bench can handle it. Chilwell will get the starts and is very attacking so can get assists, but Chelsea defense almost conceded vs 10 man Fulham due to outrageous defensive mistakes, so I am not convinced about their CS probability vs decent attacks until they improve a bit.

      4. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        MCI or LEI

    21. smix
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Southampton have a small bone to pick then

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

      This definitely was not a good BB week.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Just wait for them to reschedule Lee-Sou for midweek...

      2. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Decent for me so far

      3. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Saw it coming. Kept all my chips. Just didn’t feel right.

      4. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Because at some other point managers will have 15 DGW players in their team?

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

          For me, that is. I'm sure it will work great for some.

        2. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Need them to play at least.

      5. Karhumies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Agreed. Too much COVID to have 15 playing for sure. Ended up using FH instead of BB close to round deadline.

    23. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Who would you bench this gw ?

      KDB - Bruno - Grealish - Son - Foden
      Kane - Wilson - Bamford

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        And so it starts...

        Lots of lineup questions this week I'm guessing...

        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Absolutely

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Might have 2 suspended.

        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Will make things so much easier

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Probably just want 1 though.

            1. pundit of punts
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Aye

              Don’t want Bruno to be the one

              Wanna captain him

              1. Rupert The Horse
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Same.

      3. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Bamford

      4. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        BB? 😎

        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Lol

          No way

          Saving for DGW 26

          1. Forever In Our Shadow
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah. Me too.

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

        Wilson

      6. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Kdb lol

        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          😛

      7. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers all

    24. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio and Cresswell in eases the pain of Fab starting.

    25. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would be interesting to see total scores of gw 18,19,26 and 29

      Should give us a clear idea which chip strategy won

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Bookmarked.

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Probably need to include 16 and 17.

        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Deal

          I got 96 in 17

          Will only help my chances 😀

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            You could mention the 30 in fairness.

            1. pundit of punts
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              😛

    26. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone know where to listen to the football. BBC 5 live is news.

      1. tambourineman
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Talksport

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I’m now listening live because of you. Thank you.

    27. boc610
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      steve mcmanaman has to be the worst co- commentator ever. he might even be the worst co-'anything' ever

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Owen used to be really bad.

      2. Traction Engine Foot
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I still think Owen is worse. "To stay in the game you have to stay in the game."

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah he is bad. But a few years ago he was so bad it was funny.

      3. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That whiny high pitched tone when he gets all indignant gets on my nerves

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

        I have no idea, my ear cannot pick up high frequencies.

      5. JELLYFISH
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Gary Neville surely just for the Torres goal

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Wow. I love him.

      6. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Peter Drury and McCoist combo is the best.

      7. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        In contrast , listening to McCoist earlier was such a nice breath of fresh air.

    28. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Must be an all-time low EO for Salah in a DGW?

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        IIRC, it's his first DGW

        1. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          He had one last year and scored 16 points and I TC'd Mane for 1 point instead!

          1. Paqueta Rice
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Same and Kane the year before for 1 point also. Hopefully 3rd time lucky this week

            1. panda07
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              I feel your pain my last two TC's were Sane and Mane both for 1 pt. Lesson is don't TC anyone ending in ane

    29. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The big question.

      Where are all these footballers getting their hair cut?

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I haven’t got a haircut at a salon for 10 months now

        My wife is doing it for me

        Not taking chances till covid is around

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Cut my own hair for 3-4 years now. I was used to looking like trash before the pandemic

          1. pundit of punts
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Wow

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 2 months ago

          From the big bum latinas they invite round

          1. Traction Engine Foot
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            How do I get one of these?

      3. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Why let that run Vardy!!

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Imagine his water bill.

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Just wasteful. Think of the children !

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              I can’t. I have a record.

              1. Don Kloppeone
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Filthy mare

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

          He captained Barnes

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            You joke....

      4. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Another snooze fest

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

        5ATB every week

      6. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Did I just hear there’s a player called Smallbone? Ahahaha

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Had my eldest son and I sniggering together

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Darn tootin. Nothing like grown men chuckling at something so juvenile.

        2. djman102
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I recall it was quite amusing when he was up against Longstaff.

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Pffffff. You just broke me. Ahaha.

      7. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        For those worrying about a bad bench boost:

        If you had already used your free hit, how on earth were you planning to navigate DGW 26 and BGW 29 while having a good bench boost? Most teams that double in 26 will blank in 29. If you wanted a 15 man bench boost you'd be left with very little for 29.

        All in all, being able to use your 2nd wildcard without the need to worry about a stupid bench boost chip which will probably get you no more than 15 points max has so much of an upside.

        I'd be willing to bet someone who has to plan for a bench boost with their 2nd wildcard will come off worse overall than someone who doesnt have a bench boost. Its important to remember that there will still be 10 or so GWs after the Doubles and blanks which is a bit different to previous seasons

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          All you need for a BB is a playing bench. Its pure luck after that.

          1. Alisson WondHaaland
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            This exactly. Its a very bad chip all in all, mostly just luck. And it does hinder your team for the weeks surrounding the boost if you prepare for it excessively

        2. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Personally I think covid rates will be lower later with more chance of getting a full playing bench. That's why I held off.