Dugout Discussion

Injured Cavani misses out as Solskjaer opts for Martial over Greenwood in attack

Having been leapfrogged by Leicester City earlier in the day, Manchester United will attempt to go back to second in the Premier League table at Old Trafford this evening.

A win over visitors Newcastle United will do just that and keep league leaders Manchester City within ten points’ reach, following a win for Pep Guardiola’s troops in the late-afternoon kick-off.

The last of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday gets underway at 19:00 GMT.

Daniel James (£6.2m) and Nemanja Matic (£4.7m) are brought into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI tonight.

Both of the United manager’s changes from Gameweek 25 are enforced, with Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) and Scott McTominay (£4.9m) missing through injury.

Mason Greenwood (£7.0m) is again only among the substitutes, with Anthony Martial (£8.7m) preferred up front.

Steve Bruce has made just the one change to the Newcastle side that lost at Chelsea last Monday as Joelinton (£5.7m) replaces Dwight Gayle (£5.9m) in attack.

Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m) is the second-most-popular captaincy pick of Double Gameweek 25 overall and within the top 10k, trailing Patrick Bamford (£6.9m) in both instances.

Selected by the vast majority of the top 10,000, Fernandes’ effective ownership is, once again, in excess of 100% – so any return means a small red arrow for those who own the Portuguese midfielder but haven’t captained him.

LINE-UPS

Newcastle United XI: Darlow, Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Willock, Hayden, Shelvey, Joelinton, Almiron, Saint-Maximin.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Matic, Fred, James, Fernandes, Rashford, Martial.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 25 SO FAR…

Ilkay Gundogan (£6.1m) made a swift return from injury at the Emirates this afternoon but couldn’t add to his season’s goal tally of 11.

The German started and finished the game in his now customary ‘number eight’ role but he, and City as a collective, never really clicked in an attacking sense in north London.

Not that Pep Guardiola’s side really needed to get out of second gear, with Arsenal failing to capitalise on some threatening positions in the final third and mustering only one shot on target in the entire game.

This was City’s 15th clean sheet of the season and their 13th in the last 16 Gameweeks.

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) made his first start on his return from injury as a ‘false nine’ and provided some typically incisive through-balls, while the advanced Joao Cancelo (£6.1m) again saw plenty of penalty-box action and wasted a glorious chance to double City’s lead when toe-poking wide from 10 yards.

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) was the visitors’ match-winner, nodding home Riyad Mahrez‘s (£8.1m) second-minute cross for his 13th attacking return in his last 14 league starts.

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2,309 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Was there any post match update about Maddison? I have him and I am planning to BB on dgw26. This injury can put me off.

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not post match, but he’s hurt that hip before

    2. Igz08
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      yes, rodgers said they are looking into it and its a recurring issue.

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

    thoughts
    A bam & ings to richarlson & watkins -4 (have dcl)
    B raph & ings to barnes & watkins- 4
    C coufal/dallas & ings to digne & watkins-4
    cheers

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d stay away from Watkins with Jacky out

      1. Gizzachance
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        True, ings is the downgrade to get raph to Barnes

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Barnes is going to suffer is Maddison is out (not sure he is)

          1. Gizzachance
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Cheers, will wait for hews

    2. Arfaish
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B, Barnes looks quality at the moment and could go big in the double

      1. Gizzachance
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        My current thinking, Watkins not inspiring me, but has a dgw
        Cheers

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

      Honestly not judging anything but how deep a teams squad is this year

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

    Hello top 10k my old friend

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

      Well done Bubz. You deserve it bud.

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

        Cheers Rupert

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fair play for holding onto rashy

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You must have taken my place.

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

      Rashford was a good call after all. Nice going. Although selling Gundogan is looking a bit suspect.

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

        I’m probably going to have to wildcard tbh

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

          Depends how badly you think you need Spurs.

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

            I think they’re quite important to own despite their recent results

            1. SimonOwen
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              10k is warm and fuzzy bubz 😀 dont be trying to overtake me though.

  4. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    btw was Dallas left-back likely to be a one-off or are his OOP days over?

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He won't play in mid against Southampton anyways irrespective

      Long term he should play in mid

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

      Not sure really.
      I believe Phillips being out means they need to reshuffle.

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

        Quick one Horse, apologies for being a bit of a grumpy sod yesterday.

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      As I understand it was formation change due to Phillips injury

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

        Yeah agrees.

    4. Who are all Lukakus
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think I was playing LB just to contain Traore. He has a good history of containing Traore btw

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

    DCL tempts me as 11 dgw player. But who to lose( will WC before blank week, only have 4 players for gw29 atm
    A) Ings ( who has dgw27)
    B) Bamford ( value tied up in him)

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      it's a hard decision made harder by Ings' fixtures, the non-double ones are good too - his goal scoring record has been pretty lame recently though

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B for me, Ings huge value in 27

      1. Dichio24
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Huge value? Away to Man City?

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          And Sheffield.. on pens, talisman...Small double, huge relative value

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

    Did not use WC yet and planning to do BB DGW26.

    Martinez (Meslier)

    Cancelo, Stones, Mee, Cresswell, Mitchell

    Salah, Bruno, Grealish, Gundo, Raphina

    Bamford, Ings, DCL

    Im going to take some hits but is it worth it to get a better team for BB?

    A) Mee, Grealish, Ings -> Digne, Barnes, Kane (goes from 10 to 11 DGW players) -8

    B) Meslier, Grealish, Ings, Mee -> Areola, Barnes, Kane, Digne (Goes from 10 to 12 DGW players) -12

    C) Meslier, Raphina, Ings, Bamford ->Areola/Pickford, Barnes, Kane, Watkins (Goes from 10 to 14 DGW players) -12

  7. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I have a gut feeling Konsa will haul in the DGW.

    Leeds bad at defending set pieces and so are Sheff Utd. I expect at least 1 clean sheet too.

    Gotta follow it through right (on WC) ?

    1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Good choice Mate!! I’m going for him for Lowton I think!!

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

      Good price too. Why not?

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        (C) it is then

        Jk 😀

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

      Still scarred from getting him in for when he got injured atraight away and they went in to get 4 straight clean sheets.

  8. Arfaish
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I’ve got a couple different ways I can approach the doubles next week:

    A) Sterling, Antonio > Gundo, Kane (-4)
    B) Antonio, Button, Justin > Watkins, Johnstone, El Mohamady (-8) and then BB
    C) Wildcard into a great DGW team and set up for a BB in the week after

    Option B would allow me to BB a bench of Johnstone, Raphina, El Mohamady, Dallas. Is this worth a BB and -8?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A. Can't judge C without seeing team

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

        Yeah that’s fair, I’d have 10 double game weekers with the single being either Raphina or Bamford so it would be nicely set. Only real worry is no Leicester and Mitchell would be one of my doublers

    2. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A looks like a good move.

  9. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Keep Salah or Son for DGW?

    Anyone watched the Pool game? Any close calls wit Salah? Other than poor defense, any other pressing issues with Pools recent performance?

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

      Yes he nearly scored twice ; Pickford on fire

    2. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

  10. Telly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bamford at home to Villa (without Grealish)
    OR
    Barnes at home to Arsenal and away at Burnley for a -4

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

      Barnes

  11. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Konsa Stones Cancelo
    Salah Son Bruno Gundagon Raph
    Bamford Ings

    Steele Antonio Tarkowski Dallas

    Ings and Antonio to Kane and 4.4m (Brewster) -4?

  12. Pachi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Woulc you WC this team? No fh available

    Pope
    Dias / cancelo / lowton
    Salah / bruno / rashford / sterling / raphinha
    Bamford / watkins

    Forster / dallas / coufal / brewester

    1ft 0.5 ITB

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

    Play 1:

    Tarkowski, Rudiger, White

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tark, fairly confident on that one

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

        Haha I've gotten all 3 in the first few posts. It is quite a tough one.

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Tark for sure

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

          Tarkowski shouldnt get a single CS, maybe a goal if lucky
          Rudiger is hit or miss, but would you bet against a United and Liverpool blank?
          White is the only one who has a shot at a CS

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

            Yeah but what about attacking threat? Rudi and Tark can score from set pieces.

            1. The Suspended One
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Don’t count Burnley out of a CS in those 2

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

      White

  14. Johnny too hotty
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone out there with no FH and using WC this week?

    I can’t get Kane in without a giant hit so need to WC but would like to see some teams that are well planned.

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

      Yeah me. Look below.

    2. Arfaish
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Are people free hitting this week if they have a wildcard?

      I hadn’t thought of that. Wouldn’t it screw you for bgw 29?

    3. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, can't guarantee my team is well-planned though.

      Martinez Ederson
      Aina Cancelo Konsa Veltman Pereira
      Barnes Maddison Gundo Bruno Son
      Kane DCL Diagne

      0.9 ITB for DCL > Ings in 27

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

        What will you do if Maddy is out?

        1. Do I Not Like Orange
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Considering one of Lookman/Traore/Foden.

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

      Bench boost for me this week then WC into GW 29/30

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

    First pass at WC26, not sure on KDB and Periera but seems like a decent pairing

    Martinez
    Cancelo - Pereira - Digne
    Gundo - Bruno - KDB - Barnes- Lookman
    DCL - Kane

    Sanchez - White - Bamford - Dallas

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I like Lookman pick, might steal it for my own if Maddo is injured.

  16. Who are all Lukakus
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A. DCL and Targett
    B. Watkins and Digne

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

      flip a coin

  17. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Any word how long Grealish is out for?

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He’s either out a month or not hurt at all

  18. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Million dollar question: which 3 players to choose from City? I just can't decide. They are just 2 levels above anyone else right now. Their defense options are by far the best currently in the game. On the other hand doubling up on defense means we can only have one of KDB, Gundogan. Gundogan stats are just crazy recently, if he keeps his form he's simply the beat value in the game. Is he going to have the same tactical role with KDB back though? I'm not sure. I'm also very much tempted by KDB for the DGW, his ownership will be relatively low and they have 2 nice fixtures. A possibilty to gain some ground. Right now I'm considering losing Cancelo for Alonso and somehow fitting KDB in. I don't know if it is worth reaping my team though. I may have to use my wildcard. Thoughts on this? Which 3 from City is the way to go?

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      fairly happy with Cancelo, Gundog, Foden - they are cheap enough to not get too annoyed by benchings

      1. End of King Wilson
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I agree that the best 3 city assets would be those you think will play 4 matches in two weeks. The team vs arsenal is likely pep's big game team.
        Personally, cancelo gundogan then dias. Who I believe will at least get 3/4 games. Ederson as a sure gk for four games sounds logical but lacks some upside as city hardly concedes shots on target

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

      I'm happy with Gundogan, Cancelo & Stones.

      I'd probably have Dias over one of the two defenders, and I probably would have done had I not thought I might want Son next week...

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

      I have Stones, Dias and Gundo.

      I think it works with them and combos with Ederson, Cancelo and even Sterling or Foden.

    4. Igz08
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      imo just keep the ones you have

    5. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I have Cancelo, Stones and Gundo and pretty happy with them. If I was on WC, I would switch Stones to Dias though. I don't like either of KDB/Sterling for 11+ and rest of the attack will suffer from rotation so 2 DEF + Gundo is the way to go for me. City CS is the easiest point to get these days..

  19. JamTart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sell Salah or Bruno for Barnes to fund Kane?

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

      Salah.

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

        Always punishes me when I do, but think I need to roll that dice

    2. Igz08
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no other way?

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

    Here’s my team for 26. -12 taken to take out Mee Raphinha Cavani and Ings.

    Martinez
    Cancelo Shaw Dias
    Salah Bruno Son Barnes Gundo
    Kane Watkins

    Steer Bamford Dallas Coufal.

    Thinking of TC Bruno. Spurs & Pool form is troubling me to TC Kane.

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

      -12 with a week & European games to go before the next deadline? Brave!

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

        Fancying around has cost me recently so just going for it.

  21. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I am surprised I am getting a good green arrow with only 59 points and a Bamford captain blank so far.

    Seems the average was quite low this gw fortunatelly.

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

      59 is comfortably above Top 10k Average.

      However the gap will close once a few BHA players, Ings & the likes of Dallas add a few more points to their totals.

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

      Only 2 cleanies from double city defence and Bruno. Shocker so far. 45pts -4 for a 45k drop.

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

      Almost 30 above average.

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

        20

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

          Best me to it 😀

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

        Average is 40 (46 Top 10k) - so not quite that far above it, but still comfortably so.

  22. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play one this week:

    A - Bamford (AVL)
    B - Alonso (MUN, liv)

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

      Pool not scoring and would fancy the United game to end nil nil so B

  23. Big Al Stankovic
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Shed me some light on this one?

    1. Bamford —> DCL (-4)
    2. Coufal —> Targett/Reguilon (-4) (would mean I’d have to bench Rafinha/Bamford)
    3. Both (-8)
    4. Not worth any hits (fwiw: have all chips left, but probably won’t TC dcl)

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

    That was funny.
    Scholes: You put the sky sports news.
    Jenas: Sorry?
    Scholes: Or your BT sport on.
    😆

  25. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I can't afford Kane without major team surgery, rest of team looks good for GW27. So....with my 1FT:

    Ings > GW26 DCL > GW27 Ings

    worth using 2 transfers over 2 weeks for?

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes DCL should do fine.

    2. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd make the first move then just stick with DCL. He's in better form and I can't see Ings getting anything against City so more like a SGW + 2.

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

      Why get Ings back for City double? They’ve conceded 3 goals in last 10 or something similar

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

      DCL might get a double in GW28, and even if he doesn't don't see the need for Ings with them playing Man. City

  26. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If Cavani is confirmed out for DGW26, would you do this for -8?

    Cavani + Raphinha + Dallas > Watkins + Barnes + Digne

    which would give me 14 DGW + Bamford (btw planning FH29 and WC31)

  27. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wildcard draft (still have FH), let me know your thoughts:

    McCarthy

    Cancelo Pereira Targett

    Salah Bruno Son Gundo Barnes

    Kane DCL

    Subs: Fabri, Lowton, Dunne, Brewster

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      is McCarthy a typo?

  28. JamTart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    -8 for the ** players to bench boost?

    Martinez, Pope
    Taylor, Digne, Dias, Cancelo, Dier**
    Barnes**, Gundogan, Bruno, Son, Raphinha
    Richarlison, Bamford, Kane(C)**

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

      Not a fan of Dier but otherwise looks nice

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

        Yeah, now I'm selling Salah and not Bruno I'm going to go Pereira I think. Double LEI seems a good bet.

  29. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Plan was to keep Leeds and bring in Villa/Spurs to dead end GW29.

    With no free hit it feels like I've either got to keep to the plan (ignoring possible Greliash injury and Spurs poor form) or risk any gains next week being lost through lack of players in 29.

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I want to help but I'm not sure what you're asking.