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. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Think this must be Justins eighth week of ‘borrowed time’ lol

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

      Don't sell too late, sell him...

      Justin time!

      1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        😆

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

      One of my poorer moves this season was to transfer him out on my WC in GW12

      1. Brehmeren
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He's had 2 returns in 7 since then. Not a terrible decision.

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

      Pereira taking forever and Justin has come on very well, much better than I’d have expected anyways

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

    Nice high tempo. one of the better games of today

  3. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    has vardy touched it since kick off ,i dont think he has

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

      He never needs to really and then bang it’s a goal and 3baps 😆

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      lol cleared a corner

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

      Hope not. It’s a family show.

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

    Robbo looking likely to drop and Cancello rise likely also. Tempted to press the button on the transfer, but it’s asking for trouble....right?

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

      Are they allowed to high five as they pass?

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

      I was thinking of moving Robbo out this week to restructure my backline. What % is Robbo on atm?

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

        -100% so right on the wire

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

          Scary stuff. You owned since GW1?

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

            no, GW4 or there abouts

  5. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sorry lads, no party today. Go home & stay safe

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

        Rebecca?

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

        Easier opponent next week in Chelsea

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

        Least he wont get the 10k fine

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

        How many hairdressers do you have waiting for you at home?

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

          For me, it's 1.
          Myself.

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

        No! Don’t give up

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

        Who needs to go home?

    • Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very entertaining match so far. Not many shots but plenty of deep runs and attempts at long breakthrough passes.

    • yalala
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Benched Bednarek for Ayling.....

    • Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I got Vardy in on a FH.

      Is there much point in watching the first 80mins of this match?

    • Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      How was chilwell today?

      Had him pencilled in for Dier this week, but those city fixtures are juicy.

      Already have Stones and don’t really go for the double D, but can also afford Dias/Cancelo... so yea Chilwell, Cancelo or Dias to replace Dier?

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He was disappointing. Wouldn't go down the line and whip it in, constantly looked for the pass backwards or inside. The few cross he did get in were average at best

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

        He didn't get an assist

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

        Chilly was good. Not the same rampaging as when he first started for Chelsea, but that’s endemic of Chel$ea at the moment. They all look scared.

      4. Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Hmm ok I’ll try j check out motd

      5. thegaffer82
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Think you can give a City DFer a pass from your ‘no double DF’ rule.

        Cancelo for me

        1. Clintymints
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Those fixtures might be worth it

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

      Evans is so good.

      Why did United let him go? Could have done a job over last 5 years

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

        Haven’t a clue. Been saying this for a long time.

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

        Bad managers.

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

        Even Smalling has flourished in Italy

        Those experienced old head defenders are absolutely brilliant for younger lads coming in

        Mad but if business

      4. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He didn't make quite as interesting faces in training as others. They equated weird faces with determination and let the wrong guy go.

    • WATERMELONS
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Gelnn Hoddle is the Grandfather Clock! Fair play Glenn!

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He believes he was one in his former life

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Nice

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

            Ha. What a memory. Brilliant.

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

          Why spoil it you total and utter §§§§!

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

        A question i ask is wtf has happened to Pulisic? Injury taken some toll on him? Shadow of last season

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

          Poor quality surrounding him. Barely gets the ball

          1. seanie3
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            nothing to do with it.. when he does get it he does nothing with it, last season alot of the time he received the ball he always made something happen, either an assist or a crazy run taking on 3 or 4 players and scoring..

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

          One of my poorer selections recently.

          Chilwell taking up all his room down the left isn't helping.

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

          Fulham kept him quiet. Of Chelsea's crazily priced forwards I think he has looked the brightest just now he is squeezed up next to 3 others

          1. seanie3
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            please, fulham did not keep him quiet... he doesn't look like the player he was last season.. something not quite right..

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

        Time to go big at the back again? 442/532 rotation? Clean sheets have been much easier to predict lately.

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

          Predicatable attacking returns due

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

          Think so. Games look slower and the players are more tired. When Guardiola starts playing a conservative 4231 you know is time to prioritize defense.

      4. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Pogba screaming at the telly for Adams to run into Schmeichel's foot.

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

          Ha I was thinking that

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

        Leeds will concede against Southamptom anyway

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

        Smallbone slips inside. The commentator surely knew what he was doing there.

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

          While shie didn't even notice.

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

            She? 🙂

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

              Yes. It was a 'that's what she didn't say' joke 😐

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

          Commentator just said Justin...Smallbone.

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

            Brilliant.

        3. Just-In-Cider
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Nothing like a play on words and names

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

        Southamptom better team ao far

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

          They look great!

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

        Who's watching the game? How does Mccarthy look? More of a goal threat than Vardy I'd hope

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

        Surely a vardy blank here. Dodged a bullet not capping him, and not selling saints defence which is fixture proof.

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

          Spoke too soon!

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

        Maddison looks so low

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

          Needs to get a stiffer suspension

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

            i jinxed him

        2. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Timing.

          Yes, I’m on dial up too! 😀

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

        FPL aside, Leicester are a frustrating watch. So many opportunities turned down to get the ball forward, from good players too

      12. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Vardy air shot from centre of box.

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

        Vardy misses a sitter

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

        Vardy swinger party.

      15. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Maddison G

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

        Vardy swing at fresh air, should hit the back of the net. Was a foul in the build up though.

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

        Maddison goal

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

        How did that go in?

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

          Smallbone?

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

            Very tight angle. McCathy was going in too low to jump or reach up and Maddison blasted it full force into top corner. Very difficult to pull off a shot like that.

      19. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Maddy Party

      20. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Maddison