Dugout Discussion

Son and Grealish absent as Bale is benched for final Blank Gameweek 29 match

Son Heung-min (£9.4m) and Jack Grealish (£7.5m) will both sit out the final match of Blank Gameweek 29, while Gareth Bale (£9.7m) begins this evening’s clash between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur on the bench.

Kick-off at Villa Park is at 19:30 GMT.

Bale’s demotion from the Spurs starting XI is a blow to the legions of Fantasy Premier League managers who bought the Welshman ahead of Gameweek 29.

The winger was the subject of more transfers in (771,282) than any other player ahead of Friday’s deadline.

The most-sold FPL asset of the round, Son, hasn’t recovered from the muscle injury that forced him off in the north London derby last Sunday.

Son and Bale are among four players in Jose Mourinho’s Gameweek 28 line-up who miss out this afternoon, with the benched Matt Doherty (£5.6m) and the absent Toby Alderweireld (£5.4m) the others to make way.

Spurs confirmed that Alderweireld and Serge Aurier (£5.2m) both miss out through illness today.

In come Carlos Vinicius (£6.9m), Japhet Tanganga (£4.9m), Joe Rodon (£5.0m) and Giovani Lo Celso (£6.9m).

There’s no rest for Harry Kane (£11.5m) after his 120-minute run-out on Thursday: the England striker, captained by over two million FPL bosses tonight, starts.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has made two changes following his side’s draw with Newcastle United over a week ago.

Matty Cash (£5.0m) and Morgan Sanson (£5.5m) start, with Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.3m) and Jacob Ramsey (£4.5m) dropping out.

Despite the positive noises about Grealish in Smith’s pre-match press conference, the Villa talisman misses his sixth successive league match.


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Sanson, Traore, Watkins, Trezeguet.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Vinicius, Kane, Moura.

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1,164 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Sub Off Kane & Bring Bale

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

      Give it 45 min

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      The word preceding “off” has been spelt incorrectly

  2. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Bale >>> Jota
    Ayling >>> TAA

    What say?

    1. Jindaljain
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Unless you are liverpool fan

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

    Harry unmarked and unfound on the back post

  4. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Vinnie playing in Harrys position. Another captain fails.

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      His cap fail won't hurt your rank much.

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Actually Son/Bale's position 😛

  5. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    LACA(C) success after a very long time

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Have you just come round?

  6. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    In this match, I have Son not Playing, Kane but not captained, Martinez when all ML rivals have doubled defence, and Watkins who is now the only one I want to do well. FPL does mess with your enjoyment sometimes!

  7. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    moura one of the greatest but underrated

    1. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Did you just call Lucas Moura one of the greatest?

      1. Philosopher's Stones
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        In fairness, he didn't mention what greatness of Moura he was talking about. For all we know, he could be a great cook, because he's definitely not one of the greatest footballers.

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      instrumental in Spurs' Champions League final trophy!

  8. chrismoo75
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    grrr one point from safety in LMS

  9. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    I miss the old Kane who played as a main striker.

    1. Jindaljain
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      I miss old Premier league Gameweeks

  10. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Barely going to get 30 this week, knew it wouldn’t the the best but a real rotten egg of a game week

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

      I'm only on 24. Incredibly poor week.

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        What's considered a good week this week?

        1. Scots Gooner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Got some free hitters in my ML on 55-65. Was probably the week to play it after all.

  11. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Villa have absolutely no threat without you-know-who

    1. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      You-know-who played yesterday against Brighton.

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Barkley?

      1. tbos83
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        1. tbos83
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          *crying with laughter emoji*

    3. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Voldemort left ages ago.

      1. Bob_the_builder
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        I think he found his nose and has been playing for Newcastle for a while now.

    4. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Yep they miss El Mohamedy’s marauding runs

      1. tbos83
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Got it in one

  12. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Surprised so many of the so called pro’s went with kane (c). Why? Boring players or Fear?

    1. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      All the experts are dullards aside from mark.

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Just look @ the elite 64 league and the % that went Kane (c) is shocking lol

    2. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Want to defend my first place in my ML

      1. GROBARI
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        But im not a pro so nevermind

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      cowards

    4. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      The real pros went Raphinha

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        The real pros went Trossard.

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Did you go for it? I didn't have the bottle.

          1. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 days ago

            Of course not, I'm a filthy casual.

    5. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Big element of rank protection. All the BGW preparation goes out of the window if the 170+ EO scores and you don't have him/have not capped.

    6. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      It's Harry kane...

    7. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      generally this season the "obvious" captain has paid off - especially in case of Bruno

      not sure what boring vs exciting player is - other than willingness to take hits
      guy in my ML has taken a couple of -40 hits.
      not so much exciting as mental !

    8. Miniboss
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Who are these pros? Does someone get paid for playing this circus of pain every week?

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        They’re people who got a couple good finishes back in the day when nobody took the game seriously and would disappear after the first international break

      2. NETFLIX & CHILWELL
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        I LOLLED at Circus of Pain.

    9. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      AZ showing them how its done. Such a good opportunity this week knowing full well that Kane struggles without Son. All the other candidates did well Bamford, Lingard, Raphina, Lacazette

      1. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        going for the best captain option is not boring.

      2. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        AZ? He is nowhere this season.

    10. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Just sensible. Kane scores twice which we know he's capable of and massive rank drop

    11. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Real Pros went for that youngster Jesse

  13. Bob_the_builder
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Can someone distract Bale with some golf clubs? :p

    1. Jindaljain
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      No we will play that after 60mins

  14. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Bale looks happy...

    1. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Bale loves bench,like in Madrid

      1. tbos83
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Would love to see a stat on transfer fee/bench time ratio. Bale would surely be miles ahead of anyone

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      You’d be happy all the time when you earn £600k a week.

  15. G-Whizz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Attempts:

    Villa 0 Spurs 5

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Martinez saves: 0

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Perfect!

  16. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    49(-4)45 seems like a big win this week. No Brighton and Antonio (c)

  17. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Jack in his pyjamas 😆

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Woeful tracksuit

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        I thought it was a Onesie...

  18. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Considering the impact of assist of the assister, would FPL from emulating the NHL model, crediting a secondary assist to those that assist the assister.........maybe 2 points instead of 3?

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      No. Don’t over complicate it

      1. DannyDrinkVodka
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        It would probably affect 40 percent of the goals or so.....I think hockey gets it right on this one

        1. Stupendous
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          No, they don't.

          It's ludicrous imo.

          1. DannyDrinkVodka
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 days ago

            Even one point to reward the passage of play directly leading to the goal would be welcome

    2. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      whilst we're at it, lets add an assist of the assist of the assister.

      1. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        While we're at it, let's also automatically double the points of the highest scoring player in our teams.

  19. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Thoughts on Iheanacho?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Seems a lovely chap.

      1. TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Funny

    2. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Want to see 1 more match from him,if he did well he is my team

      1. GROBARI
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        He is in my team*

      2. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Yeah goals 7 in 4 matches isn't enough imo. In all seriousness they play City next so may as well hold on.

        1. fedolefan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 days ago

          Yeah, shame if he doesn't score against City, rules him out as an option.

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      actually was a good pick whenever he played last year too - I nearly started the season with him hoping they'd play 352 - turns out Maddison ruins him as an option

      1. MGMT
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Thats my concern... Guessing his minutes will be reduced when Barnes and Maddison recover

    4. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      I'll take a punt on him...

    5. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Will he feature once Maddisson and Barnes are back?

    6. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Good with salsa

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        😆

  20. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Villa really do look awful

  21. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Loving this as a Bale and Grealish owner

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      you are loving getting zero points from both?

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

        I'm getting 8 points from Grealish 😉

      2. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        -4 points actually

  22. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    20k red arrow if bale shows

    20k green if he stays on the bench

    Assuming he blanks!

  23. Mile Plankton
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Red arrow confirmed.

    1. Mile Plankton
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      and this is not a reply to Steve the Spud.

  24. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Could some one soothe me by lying and saying Bale will remain on the bench?

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Ye he is nailed to the bench you are fine 🙂

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      with Sissoko Alli & Bergwijn it's certainly possible

  25. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Martinez out for 31?

    VIlla fixtures horrible and Villa look punched out

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Mendy in

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Looking at this also.

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Yeah binning on wildcard. Good opportunity as a lot will hold him.

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        One doesn’t simply sell Martinez...

        But he I agree - Mendy on WC in 31 seems the answer

    3. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Martinez to Mendy could be flavour of the week

    4. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Out but for who? Patricio and Mendy have cheaper alternatives in Coady and Rudiger, Coady nice goal threat too lately, I wouldn't touch Leno with a stick.

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        don't like Coady / trust Wolves

        Rudiger bit cheaper but Mendy more nailed
        Also more options in defence e.g. Cresswell, Dallas, Shaw

    5. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      You’ll need him in 33

  26. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    cheers

    I might get Mendy and BB 30 and lose Martinez after that.

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      reply fail to above (me Julie)

  27. CoracAld2831
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    How is Kane looking performance wise tonight?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Won’t get anything

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Fine. Big role in making the goal, the only worry for cappers is that he’s playing behind Vinicius.

    3. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      it's a nothing game really

      Villa more threat first 30 mins - "busy" but not much threat
      stupid mistake from EM from which Spurs score but didn't do much else

      Not many clean chances. Can see 2-0 Spurs with late goal on break from Moura / Bale

    4. CoracAld2831
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Unfortunate, but I still feel good getting him back due to next fixture.

      Just wish I had gotten rid of Watkins instead of Bamford.

  28. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Would be interesting to know how many people captained Kane because they thought he'd be their highest points scorer vs fearing the EO

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      A bit of both

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      20:80 I’d say.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 days ago

        Sounds about right

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      He's the highest scoring player in the game available this week so not surprising he's most capt.

  29. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    The great Ville Rönkä
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/617620/event/29
    😥

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Rent free

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      What on earth....

    3. fedolefan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Great indeed. No finishes outside the top 50k ever.

    4. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      Double Villa defence vs triple Spurs attack was never going to work out

  30. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 days ago

    Bale captain fail. Cresswell 0 points.

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 days ago

      The number 0 is the smallest non-negative integer. The natural number following 0 is 1 and no natural number precedes 0. The number 0 may or may not be considered a natural number, but it is an integer, and hence a rational number and a real number (as well as an algebraic number and a complex number).

      The number 0 is neither positive nor negative, and is usually displayed as the central number in a number line. It is neither a prime number nor a composite number. It cannot be prime because it has an infinite number of factors, and cannot be composite because it cannot be expressed as a product of prime numbers (as 0 must always be one of the factors).[64] Zero is, however, even (i.e. a multiple of 2, as well as being a multiple of any other integer, rational, or real number).