Dugout Discussion

Watkins leads Villa line as Barkley benched for Leeds trip

Ollie Watkins (£6.5m) leads the Aston Villa attack for their first Double Gameweek 26 match: a trip to Leeds.

Any pre-deadline rumours about an injury for the forward were assuaged as he was named on the team-sheet this afternoon.

Dean Smith has still tweaked his Villa side though, moving to a 4-3-3 which involves a drop to the bench for Ross Barkley (£5.9m), who has failed to impress of late.

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) and Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) flank Watkins while Jacob Ramsey (£4.5m), Marvelous Nakamba (£4.3m) and John McGinn (£5.5m) comprise the central midfield trio.

Matt Targett (£4.9m) is the most fashionable member of Villa’s back-four with 13.4% ownership while the 0.4%-owned Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.3m) offers a differential route at right-back.

Leeds assets may only have one fixture in Double Gameweek 26 but they do come into the round full of confidence.

Marcelo Bielsa makes just one change from the win over Southampton, affording himself the line-up that won the second half 3-0 on Monday night.

Hélder Costa (£5.0m) comes in for Jack Harrison (£5.5m) on the left-hand side of midfield while Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) continues in the holding role.

Patrick Bamford (£6.9m) remains in 52.7% of Fantasy Premier League teams worldwide, Stuart Dallas (£5.0m) still backed by 21.0%.

Double Gameweek 26 Line-ups

Leeds United XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Dallas, Cooper, Llorente, Ayling; Struijk; Costa, Roberts, Klich, Raphinha; Bamford.

Aston Villa XI (4-3-3): Martínez; Targett, Mings, Konsa, Elmohamady; Ramsey, Nakamba, McGinn; El Ghazi, Watkins, B Traoré.

Double Gameweek 26 so far…

West Bromwich Albion recorded a much-needed second clean sheet of the campaign as they beat Brighton 1-0.

Crucially, it makes for back-to-back shutouts for the first time this season, good news for those who invested in either the out-of-position Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) for Double Gameweek 26.

The Arsenal loanee was deployed on the right-hand flank of attacking midfield once again and enjoyed a decent chance to score in the first half.

Still, it was an interesting afternoon for Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) owners. They benefitted from the Baggies’ clean sheet and also secured a raft of extras, two for saves and two bonus (provisional).

However, his Double Gameweek 26 score could have already stood at close to 20 points had Brighton’s penalties gone a different way on Saturday.

Pascal Groß (£5.8m) and Danny Welbeck (£5.5m) both missed spot-kicks but each of them struck the woodwork, denying Johnstone the chance to earn a Fantasy reward in each instance.

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883 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    West Brom (1.13) 1-0 (3.14) Brighton

    The Brighton way.

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Sanchez now on pens?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Himself & Ederson are getting closer...

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      2 of those were missed pens so shame on Brighton

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      This shows xG can be misleading

  2. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    4 players in this game... Yikes.

  3. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I took Stones out on my WC ffs. Moved to Cancelo.

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Go on, do Cancelo to Stones now 🙂

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        🙂

      2. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Haha, I’ve made my bed I shall now lay in it.

  4. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Play up Pumpy.

  5. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    It’s a long week but with 6 eggs in this basket my week rests on this one pretty much

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Thought I had it bad with 4...

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        I still have SHU to come but still

    2. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Touché

    3. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I have 5, 3 Villa and 2 Leeds. Not sure what I want to happen.

    4. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Think everyone has at least 4. I'm on 5... Martinez, Konsa, Watkins, Raphina + Bamford. Would have been 6 but I took out Strujik for Digne.

    5. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Amature ❗

      Only 5 for me 🙄 😆

  6. Mengo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Mini League Cup rival transferred in Kyle Bartley this week. Wow...scores right away, then survives TWO missed penalties AND Dunk's VAR reversal to claim the CS and to top it off 3 Baps of course. You can't make it up sometimes.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Elite.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      LoL

    3. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Lol. Props to him though. I wasnt aware that Bartley even existed.

    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      When your luck’s in...

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        I got Areola for hit this. GW instead of Johnstone 😀
        Can't do anything though as he never came to my mind at all. This game can be crazy at times

  7. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Cancelo 1st on transfers out. Why are some managers so jerky?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Stones and Dias more nailed and cheaper. So why not get the players who get more points and are cheaper?

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Well, it is Dias > Stones > Cancelo

      2. jomikijiq
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Stones isn't more nailed than Cancelo

    2. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Who else do you want them to transfer out? Stones or Dias?

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        I bet most don't have 3 City defenders.

        1. Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Cancelo was the most owned non starter. You are expecting people to go out of their way and transfer someone else out for no real reason.

          1. Botman and Robben
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 29 days ago

            No. To wait until the DGW has played out, then make decisions.

            1. Egg noodle
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 29 days ago

              Such rules only apply to the 'normal' fpl players.
              Unfortunately, when there are 6 million people playing, there's always going to be some crazies.

              You could ask, why was bednarek triple captained when he scored -7... Some things we can never explain 🙂

    3. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I miiight do Bruno > KDB (c) and Cancelo > Dunk.

      But let's see how Tuesday goes.

  8. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Anyone with the link to the FFS cup draw - it seems to have disappeared from hot topics

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Tyvm

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Oh what fun I'm up against a previous winner of the whole caboodle - brought in Phillips of `Liverpool this week

          1. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 29 days ago

            Nat Phillips hat trick incoming

  9. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bamford to avenge those dropping him after bland DGW captaincy with a second hattrick v Villa.

    Spose it depends on if he owns Martinez...

  10. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Watkins. Please continue doing what you've been doing.

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Hattrick coming. He's due.

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Blanking?

    3. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Missing big chances?

      1. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Exactly. I'm a non owner.

    4. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      owned TWICE earlier in the season, missed all of his goals and just got a missed pen from him! haha. Couldn't bring myself to put him in for a 3rd time this week on WC. Went with Vardy instead.

      1. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Hahaha

  11. Pommie22
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Hope Dermot Gallagher is on appearance money. He's been called on every week this season for his views

  12. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    With these players all in this game I'm not even sure what outcome I want. Maybe for the Leeds lads to do well because Villa have another fixture to make up for it.

    Martinez
    Targett
    Watkins
    Dallas
    Bamford

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Those were my instructions to the boys.

      I fear Cooper and Minus weren't listening as they plotted a 1-1 together

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Tear worthy outcome

  13. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I'll take a 0-0

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Please.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      5 players in this for me. Only 2 attackers though so I'd take it with Martinez monster haul

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Bamford pen save would be a delight.

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Klich takes them doesn't he?

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 29 days ago

            Awesome then : lol:

      2. DandyDon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        funny how things change, had 3 leeds last week but wildcard this week and only one villa defender (Targett) for me this week. 0-0 or 1-0 villa (without a watkins goal!) would do me nicely . Can't see Leeds blanking though.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Me too..
          Hopefully a 5-5 😀

    3. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      No chance

  14. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I thought Watkins was Out !
    😎

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      It's not like he's going to score anyway...

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        2 points !
        😀

  15. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Brighton vs opponents in last 3 matches:

    XG: 7.79 vs 1.51
    Goals: 1 vs 3

  16. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    LMS safety score currently 4

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

  17. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    1-1 draw with McGinn and Costa goals incoming

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      DGW dictates central defenders

      Mings and Cooper

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Konsa please!!! Haha

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Sorry I have him too so no

        2. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          This !!!

    2. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I’d take that as I only have Watkins in this.

  18. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Whether the cricket, VAR in the Prem or now the rugby. All top level sport is being ruined by the match officials....

    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    1. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      So true

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      It actually seems to work in Cricket and Rugby though(?)...not that i'm a fan of either sport. The little rugby i've watched the ref always seems clear and in control using the technology.

      1. BENOIT
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Ref gets shown respect by players in rugby, but the decisions today have been a disgrace.

        Pretty sure it is Ryan Giggs refereeing

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Wow, you couldn’t even think of an ex-Wales rugby player

          1. BENOIT
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 29 days ago

            Was trying to help appeal to the football crowd given the nature of the site 🙂

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 29 days ago

              Haha, I’d have been struggling too, tbh 😉

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Telemetrics definitely helps with LBW calls in cricket.

  19. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Is Lee Mason reffing the England vs Wales game?

  20. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Can't believe Martinez doesn't have any save points or BAPS yet. Already transferred him out

  21. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bam & Targett goal involvements needed

  22. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I'll take a 3-3 please.

    Bamford hattie with Raphinha trio of assists.

    Watkins scores 2 before Martinez steps up for penalty taking duties and fires in a last minute equaliser.

    1. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      since I got rid of emi this week I'm sure he'll save 3 pens from bam

  23. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Come on Martinez and Elmo! Double clean sheet please!

    Be nice to be on the right side of a Villa cleanie for once!

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      And whilst your at it an attacking return wouldn't go amiss Elmo! Would certainly help recover from the hellish start so far

  24. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Of all the TC calls i think those on Bruno or Salah over Kane may haul more...

    Those on DCL is pretty ballsy to be fair.

  25. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Another 6 points - it's a definite green right now!

  26. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Almost a Raph goal, Bam assist

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      SoT or SOT?

      1. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Missed the bounce of the ball

        1. Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Ok thanks

      2. afcblegend
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        which is which...?

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          I use SOFT and SOT, can't remember which is which for said reason

        2. Egg noodle
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Off is small o

  27. afcblegend
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bielsa's mugshot for the sky lineups looks very Austin Powers-esque.

    Probably one of a few premier league managers that could do a turn as a bond villain, along with Arteta.

  28. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Turns out triple captain Johnstone was the answer

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Johnstone or John Stones.
      Both 10-a-piece so far.

  29. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Is 3-3 with Bam and Watkins hatties, the latter all assisted by Targett, really too much to ask??

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Watkins can guarantee a hattrick of shots off target, is that alright?

  30. Isco Disco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Come on Bamford!
    It's time to go Bam Bam today and reward those people who put faith in you with a brace/Hattie