Dugout Discussion

Grealish absent through injury as Castagne returns for Leicester’s trip to Villa

Jack Grealish (£7.7m) is absent from the Aston Villa squad for the visit of Leicester City this afternoon.

Rumours had swirled about the midfielder’s potential absence over the last 48 hours and grew louder closer to kick-off, with the Athletic’s Gregg Evans reporting that Grealish will also miss the first part of Villa’s Gameweek 26 double-header against Leeds United, too.

The England international is owned by 37.0% of Fantasy Premier League managers overall and just over 35.0% in the top 10,000, so his absence will be keenly felt and cause a headache or two ahead of next Saturday’s deadline.

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) is the man who benefits from Grealish’s absence and will line up on the left flank of Villa’s attack.

Dean Smith’s other alteration from Gameweek 23 is also enforced, with Matty Cash (£5.0m) ruled out for several weeks due to injury.

Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.3m) makes just his second league start of the campaign in Cash’s place at right-back.

Brendan Rodgers has also made two changes from the side that beat Liverpool last weekend.

The fit-again Timothy Castagne (£5.7m) and Luke Thomas (£4.2m) are recalled, with Daniel Amartey (£3.9m) and Marc Albrighton (£5.2m) dropping to the bench.

LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Traore, Barkley, El Ghazi, Watkins.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Thomas, Ndidi, Tielemans, Castagne, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 25 SO FAR…

Grealish absent through injury as Castagne returns for Leicester's trip to Villa 2

West Ham United defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the first Premier League game of the day, with Jesse Lingard (£5.9m) continuing his purple patch of form in east London.

Lingard’s goal was his fourth attacking return in as many appearances for the Hammers and turned out to be the match-winner, which looks set to secure him maximum bonus points and a double-digit haul.

Michail Antonio (£6.6m) was passed fit to play and marked his return with an early goal, although his comeback was ever-so-slightly tainted with a second-half booking.

Grealish absent through injury as Castagne returns for Leicester's trip to Villa 3

Tomas Soucek (£5.3m) also picked up a yellow card en route to a one-pointer, with FPL’s most-owned defender, Aaron Cresswell (£5.8m), losing his clean sheet when Lucas Moura (£6.6m) nodded home Gareth Bale‘s (£9.3m) corner.

Soucek and Vladmir Coufal (£4.7m) were involved in separate collisions but recovered to finish the game.

Son Heung-min (£9.5m) and Harry Kane (£11.1m) both blanked but came within inches of a return: the former striking the woodwork late on with a freak, looping touch, with the latter seeing a potential assist go up in smoke in the process.

Kane had also teed the impressive Bale up for a second-half attempt that clipped the bar.

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1,215 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling striker today?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      KDB I think

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Probably KDB and Gundo rotating during the game, that seemed to be what was happening before KDB's injury. KDB starts there then drops deep while Gundo pushes through or vice versa.

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          This see below

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      KDB up top.

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      KDB and Gundo support each other through the middle? Would be interesting watch to figure out who’s further up.

  2. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    This GW is going wonderfully well. All 9 of the players I purchased on WC that have played so far have blanked, and Gundo who is on my bench plays so will probably now outscore my entire starting 11 !

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

      Same here. 9 players 9 blanks with Gundo on bench. Sold double Burnley defence, Richarlison and Antonio on WC too

    2. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Similar here but at least I got an areola clean sheet! Took antonio and lowton out, planned for Barnes in next week rather than this week

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Highest score C Bambam & Raphinha on 4, have Aina on the bench 8 points, everyone else 2 pointers!

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

    Stay in your bloody goal Emi you are not coming up for a corner.

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

      Come up & allowing Barnes to get a breakaway goal.

  4. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How seriously injuries did Maddison looked?

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Injured**

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Look*

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looked more like a precaution to me

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

      Continued on for a bit and walked off. Looked like an impact injury and precautionary.

      Wait and see but I’d expect he’ll be fine for the DGW.

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

    If Martinez went up and scored 😆

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It wouldnt have been surprised

  6. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Uh Oh sold Gundo on WC...

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why would you do that

      1. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        To buy back next week. Wanted Raphinha this week

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

    This game has a 3-0 City win written all over it. Wish I had KDB, Gundo and Cancelo going into it

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

      3-1

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Exact triple I have but with Gundogan first on bench

  8. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    El Mohamady looked ok? Likely to retain spot for the double?

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

      Looked a suspect to be honest

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ouch bit worrying then, though can’t think who else could play there

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

      Was poor tbh

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Barnes torched him all game

    4. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He was so bad that I'm now worried Pope outscores Martinez.

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

      Worst player on the pitch arguably.

      Having said that, I’m not sure who they have to replace him so he should be ok.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ok, funny cos he’s 3rd highest BPS as well for Villa!

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          2nd even

  9. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    FT: 1-2

  10. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Phew Martinez 2 pointer. Glad that 6th save never came else it'd have come with a bap as well.

  11. Forgetmeknot
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Martinez still best gk on wc?

    Rank is c.150k so could do with a few differentials, thought Mendy could be a good option until kepa started the last one

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I don't think that's a position I'd be looking for a differential in.

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

      ederson

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

    90 minutes so a Thursday night rest for Harvey, Brendan!

  13. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone else playing Lowton with his not so great double (tot, eve) or should i take a hit for someone with better fixtures?

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If you have a doubler don’t take them out for a hit I’d say

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes I am unless Going ahead with my FH option

  14. ANGRY PERSON
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anybody sold grealish yet ? If it's a long term injury I want to sell him asap before his price drops.

  15. Cali
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Playing around with WC options right now. Probably too top heavy but this is tempting:

    Areola (Fabri)
    Shaw Dias Rudiger (Burn, Struijk)
    Salah Bruno KDB Gundo Barnes
    Kane DCL (4.3)

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fantastic imo

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Don’t fancy Digne?

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

          I do. Have him right now. Unfortunately, too expensive if I’d want to go for this attacking lineup.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Ahh ok. Well I’m glad you posted this anyway, excellent attacking team and had given me food for thought for sure!

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I am FH ing, the same attackers but in defence I will have Ederson Shaw Pereira Aina.

    4. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son over Salah and bulk up defense

    5. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Very dangerous defence, you may be fielding 1-2 defenders some weeks. Burn and Struijk will lose their spots soon

    6. nolard
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Keeper too weak for me, plus I would like a more nailed 4th defender as you play 352.
      Maybe need to let go of a big one

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

        That’s probably the sensible thing to do. Cheers!

  16. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Castagne or Pereira pass the eye test?

    Worth considering for DGW and BB?

  17. JabariParkersEyelid
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this defensive minded minus 8 for bench boost?

    Peacock-Farrell, Mitchell, Dallas, Grealish
    To
    Martinez, Targett, Aina, Barnes

    Means bench boosting: Pope, Shaw, Aina, Bamford

  18. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    hope Arteta repeats the FA Cup classic.

  19. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    People forgetting that Barnes won’t be playing on El Mohamady every week?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He’s been scoring for fun against non El Mohamady’s

  20. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Harvey Barnes you beauty!

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

    Sterling. KDB. Mahrez.

    Gundogan. Fernandinho. Silva.

    Back 4 pivot Cancelo to 3-4-3 with the ball.

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

    Did Luke take -16 or -20 before dgw? I just started to consider BB 26 strategy with -12 or -16. The idea would be getting rid off deadwood (Coufal) and getting 2nd gk Martinez in for his later doubles. Since everyone I get in would have good dgw it could work in theory. Then FH 29 and WC 30/31. For me it looks like that players like H Barnes might match likes of Son and Trashford for some game weeks. It would be a gamble, but in order to attack and ditch too templatish team... What do you think about this strategy?

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

    Goal

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

      Mahrez to Sterling

  24. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Son or Barnes for the coming DGW, please folks?