Dugout Discussion

Vestergaard returns as Minamino makes Southampton debut

Southampton take to the field at Newcastle with some welcome boosts following their 9-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Fresh from a horrendous defensive display, their most important centre-back, Jannik Vestergaard (£4.7m) is finally back in the starting line-up for the first time since Gameweek 14.

The Danish international has struggled with a knee problem during the winter and is sure to improve the Saints’ defensive prospects as he features alongside Jan Bednarek (£4.9m), whose one-match ban was overturned midweek.

Vestergaard’s return sees Jack Stephens (£4.6m) push out to the right-back berth where Southampton have had some problems this season. Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.7m) is still not fit enough to be involved today.

But defence is not the only area where Ralph Hasenhüttl has been handed good news as Takumi Minamino (£6.0m) is ready to feature for the first time since leaving Anfield on loan in the transfer window.

He is stationed on the flanks of midfield, with Nathan Redmond (£6.4m) on the other side, in support of centre-forward pairing Danny Ings (£8.4m) and Che Adams (£5.8m).

Newcastle’s own January loanee Joe Willock (£4.7m) also makes his Premier League debut for his new club, his arrival allowing Steve Bruce to go for a more adventurous shape than usual.

Willock sits in a number 10 role with Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m) and Miguel Almirón (£5.6m) either side of him in a 4-2-3-1 fronted by Callum Wilson (£6.8m).

The Magpies are somewhat short at the back though. Midfielder Isaac Hayden (£4.7m) starts alongside Fabian Schär (£4.9m) at centre-back.

Double Gameweek planners will have their eyes on the other 3pm match today as Burnley host Brighton.

As expected, the Clarets are in 4-4-2 formation with key Fantasy targets Nick Pope (£5.5m), Ben Mee (£5.0m), James Tarkowski (£5.3m) and Matt Lowton (£4.4m) all involved.

Charlie Taylor (£4.4m) is still not fit enough for a return and neither is Chris Wood (£6.2m), both players absent from today’s match-day squad, which means Erik Pieters (£4.3m) is at left-back again and Ashley Barnes (£6.0m) is paired up-front with Matej Vydra (£4.8m).

On a run of four successive clean sheets, Brighton are in 3-4-2-1 today with Dan Burn (£4.2m) and Joël Veltman (£4.3m) in the left and right wing-back roles respectively following Solly March‘s (£5.0m) injury at Anfield.

Gameweek 23 Starting Line-ups

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; Gudmundsson, Cork, Westwood, McNeil; Vydra, A Barnes.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (3-4-1-2): R Sánchez; Webster, Dunk, White; Burn, Bissouma, Groß, Veltman; Mac Allister; Maupay, Connolly.

Newcastle United XI (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Lewis, Schär, Hayden, Manquillo; Shelvey, Hendrick; Saint-Maximin, Willock, Almirón; Wilson.

Southampton XI (4-4-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, J Stephens; Minamino, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond; Ings, Adams.

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1,274 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Barnes great block

  2. Mile Plankton
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Think my GW is over.
    Benched Martinez and Targett, played Wilson.

  3. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No where to hide now for Martinez benchers

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No where to hide for no where to hiders.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      There’s plenty of places. Why do people say this, they’re at home on their couches ... cupboards, wardrobes, entire empty rooms more than likely.

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Last week?!?

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

      They shoulded be spanked by Martinez big hand.

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Soucek should spank you

        1. CRO KLOPP
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          2 times

    5. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep. It was a bad decision. Every time I've benched him I've lost out. Luckily, I've only done it twice including this week.

  4. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    PL have awarded goal to Almiron, so not Bednarek OG

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No. Way.

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep, own goal reversed

    3. Gleys11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thats what I heard. Hope its true

  5. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My luck has really turned in the last week.

  6. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I'll take happiness in little things like benching Pieters this morning because of Brighton's form

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

    Bednarek wants to break his record set last GW.

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lol gotta feel for the fella

  8. Kaneyonero
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What happened to Wilson?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hammy.

  9. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wanted to do Salah to Dunk but you all laughed!

  10. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hahahahahahahahah

    Started Mee this gw

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      And benched Martinez

  11. TwiggsJameson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    My projected rank has gone up during these two matches 🙂

  12. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Benching Martinez over Pope this GW will pay off next GW ?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Next GW is irrelevant to this weeks lost points.

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you start Martinez 🙂

  13. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    You Just LOVE to see burnley cleanie gone

    OH YES YOU DO!

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      We move

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

      Great timing, love it! Now we can enjoy the double CS next week by bringing Lowton/Pope in

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        For sure...we shall FEAST

  14. michaelington
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I take it I’m not the only one to play Pope and bench Martinez. Fuming.

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      One of the biggest moves made this week bud

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I was this close to buying Pope for Forster and doing that exact move. Then I thought of the nightmare of rotating the best 2 keepers in the game (who aren't exactly cheap either).

    3. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I played Fabianski,so still hope,of course Fulham Will score one

  15. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    NEVER BENCH MARTINEZ

    hope this helps

  16. Del Griffith
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    FPL has many ways to hurt, guess it was inevitable Burnley would concede

  17. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    FPL having pity on Bednarek

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This has to be a joke. He backheeled it past the keeper!!

  18. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez to Pope fail ffs

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's treason then.

    2. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Have both.

      Played Pope which on paper seemed sensible.

    3. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Big big time

  19. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Made sense to bring Pope in this week for me. I would have ended up burning a transfer otherwise. Having brought him in it made sense to play him over Martinez. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      True

    2. Letsgo!
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lol joke

    3. FantasyTony
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yup. Sad but we march on.

      Pope's penalty save will take the sting out of things.

      1. BeWater
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He'll head in the equaliser at the back post in the 96th minute.

  20. mezza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope 1st save...

  21. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Penalty save and assist for Pope incoming.

    1. 2OLEgend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lol

    2. Superflymonk
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You're a glass full kind of guy, huh?

  22. PogChamp
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I can't be the only one that went Mee instead of Dunk because of DGW. I really hate DWGs.

  23. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    ASM 2 assists then! My GW1 team in heaven!

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Auba captain?

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I think so - can't believe how hyped he was in GW1 😀

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Crazy. Surely one of the biggest fpl flops this season. Was nailed in every single team.

          1. Royal5
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Werner #2

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That has to be overturned. Utter mockery.

  24. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pope owners could still get max bonus if he saves penalty!

    1. 2OLEgend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lol. No hope

  25. 2OLEgend
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    To all of you who told me to do DDG->Pope and play Pope over Martinez. Thanks alot. You basicly advised me to destroyed my GW before it even started. Get lost

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Another one, lol

      1. 2OLEgend
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What's your problem mate?

        1. sunzip14
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Nothing. It's you who are having a problem mate!

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Narrators voice “a 2 pt goalkeeper will not ruin your gameweek” ; DDG will likely score the same

      1. 2OLEgend
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well, I would have played Martinez if I didnt get Pope. And 7 pts is alot in the top 2k

    3. Kabayan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That's their opinions, in the end it's your decision.

    4. BremerHB
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Follow your gut. Nobody else to blame.

    5. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That was the plan, ten of us got together and decided we should destroy 20legend's game week.

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

      I feel so sorry for you. Maybe don’t ask if you can’t handle it?

    7. tinear
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Lmao. It’s your team, your decision. Nobody force you to do it. Accept and embrace.

    8. OReiMessi
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Get wrecked trashbag

    9. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Are they in charge of your team? You dont like to do your own judgements?

    10. 2OLEgend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hehe, I'm sorry. I can see no one got my joke

      1. Here's Tom with the We…
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        When a transfer doesn’t work out, everyone else’s fault.

        When it works, fantasy genius.

  26. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    For those who don't own any players from these teams, likely the best case scenario. Wilson 1 pointer, Burnley/Soton CS wipeout

  27. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    After a review, Miguel Almirón has been awarded Newcastle's second goal, which means another assist for Allan Saint-Maximin.

    #FPL #FantasyPL #FFScout #GW23

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I give up. Don’t have any skin in the game but that is as clear an own goal as you’ll see.

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      what a curious decision that is

  28. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Burnley defence was a trap after all.

  29. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone still going with Burnley assets in double?

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. Expected Brighton to score this gw.

    2. FantasyTony
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes.

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely. Figured Brighton will score, wouldn't be surprised if Fulham do too but Palace should be a CS.

      1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I doubt it if Eze and Zaha will be on the pitch.

    4. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pope captain

    5. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez haul and Burnley cs wiped - couldn't be happier after deliberating all yesterday whether to bring in Mee or Pope. For once I kept my knees strapped