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. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Reggies 5 minute 5 point swing cost me 10k places

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

      Determined to kick him out asap

      I don't trust him anymore

  2. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Went from 15k to 9k on Friday and now I’m on a red even though I have a Brighton defender, Antonio and Kane. Captained Raph over Kane thinking it was a masterstroke but of course Kane has to get a goal when it wasn’t deserved. Sick of this game man glad I don’t have to think about it for the next 2 weeks

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

      cry me a river

    2. A. PRISE
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      You got Antonio, you are not allowed to cry. Antonio was literally sh*t today and deserved to get minus points.

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

    Can't believe I took a hit for Bale! Oh well, Raphinha C get in!

  4. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Horrible start to the season, finally a bit of a jump in rank.

    415k > 280k

    Long way off but green arrow I'll take it

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

      Yep I was all ready to give up buy 500k-200k and the charge for respectability has new life

  5. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Some popular defenders this week, Dallas, Tierney, Cresswell and Targett = 3 points haha and I had them all, lucky had 6 from Dunk as well.

  6. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    OR rise from 20K to 12K. Would have cracked 10k if I went in heavy on Brighton. Onwards and upwards.

  7. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    63 (4) No FH
    Green to 32 k

    1. Parsnips
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      87 for me using fh. From 60k to 22k. Onto next gw

  8. Homer21
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    67 all out, I’ll take it with a poor Aura C pick!

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      *Auba

    2. michaelington
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      What are you doing with him now? He looked awful.

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        FH, but don’t think He’ll even be on my radar, something not right

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

          Yes another reason it was great to FH is that Auba doesn’t have to be transferred out again.

    3. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      64. After a great day yesterday, apart from Laca, today has sucked. But I’d have taken that score at the start of the weekend. Better than the 14 (-12) I would’ve got with my no FH

  9. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Kane 1 BAP or Zero?

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      1 atm

  10. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Outscored the Kings of the gameweek team.

    Mini achievement

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Noice

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

    Having no Hammers, Arsenal and owning Bale sucked but Im just super glad Martinez didnt save Kanes pen. That wouldve truly ruined my GW

  12. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bye bye Ollie,Gareth and Pierre.

  13. Sheffield Wednesday
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Son and Bale no show reduced me to 7 players. Thinking of using 1FT to replace one of them but Newcastle fixture in a couple of weeks makes me hesitant. (I have Kane)

  14. sergioaguero67
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Best Chelsea players to buy?
    Decent upcoming fixtures
    Please help

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Havertz

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        I brought in Mendy/Rudiger/Havertz last wk on WC. Not sure on the latter...

    2. michaelington
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Defenders, leave it at that

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

      Mendy, Azpi, Rudi, Havertz maybe

    4. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Mendy and Dave for me...

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

      Between Mendy Azpilicueta Rudiger Mount

  15. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Kane owner but I hate to see those kid of penalties given

    Clearly missed the ball and ball going out and then get rewarded

    Good for me today points-wise but I hate those should not be penalties

    1. LewisKitesurf
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      he tricked the defender he missed the ball deliberately. you would have to have played football to understand how this is a stone wall pen

  16. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    10 points from the defense (4 defenders + GK) with Trossard's 14 points on bench but a rank rise of 30K. Lucky!

  17. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    “Low scoring Gameweek” they said

    “Better to use the FH somewhere else” they said

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Did not expect this I have to say 🙂

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

      told you arsenal was a waste of space

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        The revisionism 😆

        Christina: “Spurs and Ars will be flat after last night.”...“ Now for Villa to rip Spurs a new one.”
        Arsenal & Spurs: “Score 5 goals between them”

        😆

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

          ..and Auba, Bale, Son, Tierney scores 3 pts between them.
          😆

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 29 days ago

            So Arsenal & Spurs weren’t flat then? 😆

            The mental gymnastics to try and get an “I told you so moment” that doesn’t even exist 😆

  18. GW30 Fixtures and clean sheet odds
    G-Whizz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    GW30fixture odds can be found here:
    http://prntscr.com/10rwhvp
    (Provided by Betbrain)

    BGW29 clean sheet results:
    BHA: 48% ✅
    ARS: 30% ❌
    FUL: 30% ❌
    TOT: 30% ✅
    LEE: 27% ❌
    WHU: 27% ❌
    AVL: 24% ❌
    NEW: 21% ❌
    BUR: -
    CHE: -
    CRY: -
    EVE: -
    LEI: -
    LIV: -
    MCI: -
    MNU: -
    SHU: -
    SOU: -
    WBA: -
    WOL: -

    GW30 clean sheet odds:
    CHE: 58%
    EVE: 45%
    LEE: 45%
    MCI: 43%
    MNU: 41%
    TOT: 41%
    SOU: 39%
    AVL: 35%
    WHU: 35%
    WOL: 33%
    LIV: 31%
    FUL: 28%
    BUR: 25%
    CRY: 24%
    ARS: 22%
    NEW: 19%
    SHU: 18%
    BHA: 17%
    LEI: 15%
    WBA: 11%
    (Provided by Betbrain)

    Clean sheet totals:
    Manchester City: 16
    Chelsea: 15
    Aston Villa: 14
    Manchester Utd: 12
    Leicester City: 10
    Tottenham: 10 (+1)
    West Ham: 10
    Brighton: 9 (+1)
    Burnley: 9
    Fulham: 9
    Leeds: 9
    Southampton: 9
    Arsenal: 8
    Liverpool: 8
    Wolves: 8
    Crystal Palace: 7
    Everton: 7
    Newcastle: 5
    West Brom: 5
    Sheffield United: 2

    That Brighton clean sheet went a long way to helping me to a good GW. Couldn't compete with the majority of FHitters out there but happy enough with 70 (-4)= 66

    Hope you've had a decent one too and I will see you soon...

    G

    1. A-L
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Thanks G. The odds likely to change much over the few weeks?

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Maybe by the odd single per cent or so but I'm happy to post an update nearer the time (few days before the deadline), so we'll see...

    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Love this article, always my first point of reference in deciding which defenders to play.

      Although I do feel I wasted far too much time choosing whether to play Emi or Leno this week.

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Glad you're finding it of some use 🙂

        I wouldn't have really (I know easy to say in hindsight) wasted that much time on that decision if I'm honest, as I automatically assumed in both fixtures it was more than likely there would be goals conceded.

        Definitely at those low odds I think I would have just flipped a coin 😆

        Hopefully they'll work out better for you this week...

    3. Kroos Kontrol
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Any clue why Man City playing Leicester away have a higher CS% than Man Utd playing Brighton at home?

      1. FPL Theorist
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 28 days ago

        Models are based on xG, and xG data suggest that Brighton are almost as good as Leicester.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          Yep

          Brighton XG / XGc = 42 / 27
          Leicester XC / XGc = 43 / 35

          The sooner this whole "XG for FPL" nonsense burns itself out the better - Opta have played a commercial blinder in creating a market for absolutely nothing out of absolutely nothing

        2. Kroos Kontrol
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 28 days ago

          That'd be pretty dumb then to put Leeds, who are 19th on xGC (nearly 20th and some way off 18th), on 45%. Even if it's Sheffield United.

          1. G-Whizz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 28 days ago

            SHU have scored 16 goals in 29 games so I can understand it tbf...

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

    63pts no FH no hits
    56k OR-> 30k OR
    We move.

    1. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 28 days ago

      Well played!

  20. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Tempted by a Chelsea attacker.

    Havertz the best punt or?

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I’m looking at Havertz.

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Do we think he retains that false 9 on a consistent basis?

    3. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I'm going Mason...

  21. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bale,Aubamayang >> Fernandes,Havertz -4
    or
    WC
    Martinez
    Dias,Digne,Dallas,
    Lingard,Aubamayang,Bale,Raphinia
    Kane,Watkins,Bamford

    Johnstone,Gundogan,Coufal,Dunk

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

      Good team for 30 so would not WC. Certainly would do Aubameyang to Bruno on free

    2. A-L
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I'd want to keep Bale against Newcastle personally but Auba to Bruno looks good

  22. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Schools out forevveerrrrrr

    At least we get two weeks away from the bragging ...

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Haha yep very true 😉

    2. A-L
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Agreed I think much more bragging and "unlucky me" going on this week

  23. Athletico Underachieving
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    79 on FH. Chuffed to bits, and not loaded up with crap like Bale!

    1. Michu stole my mojo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      This is how I feel too. Really happy I used it this week.

      78pts - up from 123k to 57k

      1. Athletico Underachieving
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Well done mate. Glad I went with my gut and used it!

  24. Parsnips
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Any move to make here with 1FT?

    Martinez
    Rudiger Cancelo Digne
    Bruno KDB Gundogan Raph
    Bamford Kane DCL

    Fabri Son Coufal Holding

    1. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Save

  25. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Who to sell first?

    A) Bamford
    B) Watkins

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

      B

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        For dcl? Also have Kane

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

          Perhaps- but just have feeling about Werner home to WBA or Richarlison over DCL

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      B

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Watkins if Bamford is ok.

    4. A-L
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Watkins out, I can't wait to get rid

    5. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      why would you sell bam?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Fixtures turning, will Max keep for one more game

    6. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Sell B

    7. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Sell Bam for GW31, if he's fit for GW30.

      Grealish would be back for GW30 and Villa have one pending game.

  26. Aftermath
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    84 points with trossard C cutting down ML leader's lead by 30 pts. Chuffed!

  27. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Some crazy scores on here

    45 and absolutely chuffed with a small green arrow

  28. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    No FH. Took massive hits (-12) to bring in Veltman, Raphinha, Lingard, Trossard and Aina (I know this one is a failure).

    Sometimes, taking hits is not a bad thing.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Long as you want them long term.

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Or are about to WC

      2. Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Lingard is long term, Raphinha is short term.

        Veltman and Trossard are obviously very short terms, but not bad, right?

        1. MrZ
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Velt & tros can be handy in 31 & 33

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Bench of Trossard, Veltman and Aina next GW then?

  29. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I want to bring in Jota.

    Who do I drop? Gundo or Bale?
    I have KDB and Kane

    1. A. PRISE
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Bale

  30. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Anyone else's new players brought in for the blank gameweek combine for worse than -1 points?

    1. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I think that’s going to be hard to beat but my 2 points from Salah / Robbo to Bale / Dallas comes close.