Dugout Discussion

Cavani back in United XI as Solskjaer explains absence of Martial and de Gea

After drawing a blank in the goalless draw with Chelsea at the weekend, Fantasy Premier League’s leading points-scorer and most-owned player will attempt to resume normal service at Selhurst Park.

Bruno Fernandes’ (£11.6m) sub-par record against the ‘big six’ is well documented but his output against the rest of the division is exemplary, with 26 attacking returns in 19 such games this season.

The Portugal international unsurprisingly is involved from the start against Crystal Palace this evening but there are one or two eyebrow-raising selections in Ole Gunnar Solskaer’s starting XI, most notably between the posts.

David de Gea (£5.3m) isn’t involved in the visitors’ matchday squad at all as Dean Henderson (£5.2m)makes just his third start of the season.

Anthony Martial (£8.7m) is also missing, with Solskjaer explaining ahead of kick-off:

Anthony got a knock in training on Monday in his knee, not ready for this, hopefully for the weekend but we’re not sure yet.

That’s personal reasons [why de Gea isn’t involved].

Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) returns from injury to lead the line, with Eric Bailly (£4.8m) and Nemanja Matic (£4.7m) also recalled.

Making way are Daniel James (£6.2m), Victor Lindelof (£4.8m) and Scott McTominay (£4.9m).

Crystal Palace make just the one change from their goalless draw with Fulham at the weekend.

James McCarthy (£4.3m) replaces Jairo Riedewald (£4.4m) in the engine room, while Connor Wickham (£4.4m) and Jeffrey Schlupp (£5.3m) returning from lengthy lay-offs on the bench.

Wilfried Zaha (£7.1m) isn’t involved despite a recent comeback to training.


Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Cahill, Kouyate, van Aanholt, McCarthy, Milivojevic, Ayew, Eze, Townsend, Benteke.

Manchester United XI: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Matic, Bruno, Rashford, Cavani, Greenwood

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1,303 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Crouching Tiger
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    I'm sorry, I triple captained Fernandes. That is a super jinx to everyone else... double blank confirmed.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I think we've made a huge mistake. Would do unspeakable things just to get an assist tonight.

      1. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        This

      2. Crouching Tiger
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Yep, or the very dubious VAR pen even ... 🙂

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      He's been poor for weeks. Unless there's a penalty or a free kick close to the box . . .

      1. Crouching Tiger
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Still he's been averaging AT LEAST a goal every 4 gameweeks before DGW.

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Yup ; he's a points magnet.

  2. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Question nearly as dull as this game - Veltman or Burn?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      No, it's significantly duller.

    2. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Burn

    3. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Opinion on here seems to favour veltman.

  3. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Think we can safely say teams are playing too frequently. The quality has dropped off a cliff.

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      It's about the empty stadiums.. This isn't football at all

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Yeah, good point. Maybe the players would still be fatigued but fans would help them give an extra 5%.

      2. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        True. Need fans back in ASAP

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      This.

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      You are both right

    4. LiamK17
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      To me I’m watching training games every day - not one game has any urgency or meaning it’s just something to have in the background while on twitter

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Yeah, the games are just on in the background tbh.

      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Except Man City pushing forwards.

    5. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Indeed.
      They're tired. So am I 🙁

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if it was every month.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Exactly !

    6. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Totally. City are running away with the league because of their squad. Nobody can compete with it, everyone else is utterly knackered.

    7. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      All Pep's fault................

  4. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Nothing for Bruno except maybe a yellow card.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      He has made 5 fouls
      Either a goal or a YC incoming !

  5. Openboxman
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Salah to Jota?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Not worth it

    2. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      No way

    3. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Jota is good, but he may only average 60 minutes per game.

      Plus, his lucky streak could be past.

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Will be first game back so if happy with 10/15 minutes off bench go for it- rather 90 minutes of Salah myself

  6. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Are we likely to get any confirmation this week should Everton-Villa be scheduled for a double in GW28 ?

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      No, seems that it will come later

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Friday or Monday is the consensus

    3. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Txs, best to roll a transfer then

  7. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Bruno tc’ers - would you do a shot of vodka through your eye ball right now for a 2nd half hatrick?

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Prefer suppositories

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Up your nose?

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          You are doing it wrong

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I'd do it for an assist

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Or a rogue bonus point

    3. Isco Disco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Gross! Why would you sacrifice your eye for a friggin fantasy game?

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        See above

    4. LiamK17
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I’m a Bruno captainer (not trip) and I’d run through the Amazon rain forest drenched in honey for an assist (and Luke Shaw cs)

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        😀

    5. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      All day.

      And a chaser for the baps.

  8. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Why do they pronounce derby as DARby?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Just English.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Same reason Bicester is pronounced Bister, probably.

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Is Liverpool/United a VARby?

    4. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Try Worcestershire

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        and Mousehole in Cornwall

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I'll raise you

        Cholmondeley

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Haha crap, had to look that one up! Gnarly

        2. King Carlos
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          "epäjärjestelmällistyttämättömyydelläänsäkäänköhän"

          Welcome to Finnish language.

  9. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Bruno to Lingard?

  10. VaVaVoom14
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Will Martinez outscore Areola by 4 points up to gameweek 30?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Yes

  11. LiamK17
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Trying to fit Kane in and the only player who I can consider taking out is Bruno (got him in at 10.5m) or Salah (Easy fixtures coming up with Fabinho and Jota back)

    To me kane is esssssential with Palace arsenal and BGW29 game

  12. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Tomorrow is the big day. Digne, DCL and Kane Tc to come.

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Don’t forget my Son

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      No exaggeration to say it’s the most important day of 2021 thus far

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Defo.

    3. Bobby
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Oh lord I wish I had son. I'm going to rue not bringing him in this week for a while. Silly.

    4. KUN+10
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      So excited for those 6 points to come in

  13. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Teemu Pukki is not a young lad anymore but I could see him as a Vardy replacement for Leicester.

    Makes similar runs, is fast enough, proven scorer when getting good enough deliveries. Obviously I am Finnish and biased but would love to see that. 😀

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Yeah... No.

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Is Edouard from Rodger’s old club not more likely replacement

    3. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      They'll get someone better.

    4. KUN+10
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Im getting him next year. Norwich next year’s Leeds

  14. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    So what's your lowest return on a complete GW?

    I'm on for an assist from Gundo (minus the 2 pointer of course) and a likely cs from Shaw. Have zero confidence for Mo and Son tomorrow. Think that adds up to 28 or 30 if Mo and Son get cs bonuses.

  15. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Best option for next week?

    Need some differentials?

    Barnes > Lingz - Jota if fit.
    Shaw > Reguilon

    Both have 29/33

    Martinez,
    Dias, Cancelo, Shaw,
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Gundo,
    Kane, Watkins, Bamford

    Sanchez, Aina, Dallas, #Barnes

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Lingard misses week 28- like the Reguilon move and gives you week 29 defender

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Isn't Chelsea and Rudiger a decent option too?

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          No 29?

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        That’s the idea

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Always thought your grav was a pint of beer with a face drawn on it.

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Frozen glass full of Tenerife local 🙂

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          what I’d give for that right now

  16. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    I think Bruno could slip in to negative baps at this rate.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Joining Maguire.

    2. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      He'll probably get all 3 bonus points, he's just that jammy.

  17. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Tbf in a season where I had 10 captain blanks in a row at one stage, it was optimistic to think my triple captain wouldn't blank in a double gameweek.

    1. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      If it makes you feel better, almost all assets didnt deliver (much)

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I'll feel better if Kane blanks tomorrow.

        1. Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          That would make me sad though!

          1. Mr. O'Connell
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            If everyone blanks, then everyone can be sad together. The perfect world.

            1. Free Hat
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 26 days ago

              True. And it looks like the perfect gw for it so. I fully expect a blank so no dissappointment hopefully.

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      You've played it consistently!

    3. Bragazeti
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      The writing was on the wall

  18. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Mili with Suarezesque powers of recovery

  19. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Is Slabhead having a good game?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      untroubled

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Being kept on his toes with Tekkers’ quality.

  20. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Just as well de Gea is a no show. At least now I can root for a Palace goal. C'mon, lads! Gimme something to cheer about!

  21. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Surely Fernandes can’t blank 2 away games?

    Surely

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Shaw he can

  22. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Bruno TC, Please save my GW and get a return

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Looks good for clean sheet returns at least

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I'm counting 2 clean sheets as a return. As long as he doesn't get booked. And we can take those 18 points to the bank.

  23. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Going to be so painful when Kane hauls tomorrow and all other captain options fail.

    Sod’s law in a season of flukes

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Top TC for the season in this gw I reckon?

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      sorry for the upvote

  24. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Is that mist on the pitch or a cloud of despair created by Bruno TC'ers?

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Old tv yeah?

  25. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Cracking save by a Hendo!
    DDG would be picking that out the back of the net.

  26. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Another nil nil next week and Palace will have reached the magic 35 points for safety.

    Everyone else with me on celebrating this?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Not Fulham, Newcastle or Brighton...

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Buckingham?

    3. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      So 35 points generally regarded as what's needed to stay up Though it was more like 40'ish ?

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        40 is a complete myth - simply a nice round number. It's generally around mid to high 30s. Depends on the competiton that season.

        Palace did of course once manage to get relegated with 49 points (longer season but still).

    4. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      It’s the magic 40pts

  27. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Can’t believe I’ve got TC Bruno and haven’t capitalised on my ML rival who accidentally captained McGoldrick and made 0 changes this week despite being top 10k. Wow.

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Most is rolling in

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Mist

    2. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      There's a few gorrilas on that pitch

    3. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Be nice to see some goals rolling in

  29. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    0 quality in this match. What a dreadful watch.

  30. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Shaw needs to start collecting some baps