Dugout Discussion

The reason for Grealish’s absence as Mitrovic is recalled for Villa v Fulham

Having returned to full training over the March international break, Jack Grealish (£7.5m) was expected to make a playing comeback for Aston Villa’s clash with Fulham this afternoon.

The Villa talisman is absent from the hosts’ matchday squad, however, with Dean Smith reporting that the England international pulled up in training on Saturday.

The Villa boss said:

He’s trained this week and was looking really good but he had some discomfort yesterday and pulled out after 10 minutes in training. We erred on the side of caution as we must do. He was all up for playing [until then].

The hosts will be looking to improve on their sub-per record without Grealish: they have scored on just three occasions in the six matches he has missed.

Smith makes one change to the side that started the 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.3m) comes in for Trezeguet (£5.2m) in the Villa head coach’s only tweak to his starting XI.

Scott Parker has made four alterations to the side that started the Cottagers’ defeat to Leeds United a fortnight ago.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.5m) is the most notable name among the quartet of returnees, with Josh Maja (£5.5m) dropping to the bench.

Parker said of the Serb’s recall:

His form for his country has played a big part. The last game in terms of selection [in Gameweek 29], it was nip and tuck, really, he came off the back of very good work, training-wise. Well deserves his chance.

Bobby Decordova-Reid (£5.3m), Kenny Tete (£4.3m) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) are also additions to the line-up, with Antonee Robinson (£4.4m), Ivan Cavaleiro (£5.3m) and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m) dropping to the bench.


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Sanson, Traore, Watkins, El Ghazi

Fulham XI: Areola, Tete, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Aina, Reed, Lemina, Reid, Loftus-Cheek, Lookman, Mitrovic.

710 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Come on fulham

  2. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Don’t worry everyone

    Grealish is back on the grass and finally pain free

    Expected back late 2023

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He didn't specify the year or the division when he said Grealish would be back for Fulham

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Haha!!

    3. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Smith is a liar

  3. Whazza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Poor Grealish :/

  4. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What are you doing with Bale? Rage transfer out, for Jota?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bale is done for. Get rid now

    2. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes or Salah, wait and see what happens in CL.

    3. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Waiting but will get rid for jota

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I wonder if jota will rise again tonight ?

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          He'll rise 3 times

    4. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I am considering selling for a hit for Jota, but should have do it this week, next week it might not work

  5. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WC.. no any other chips left.
    Opinions ,

    Mendy (button)
    taa dallas rudiger coady mitchell
    Salah jota son bruno lingard
    Kane iheanacho brewster..

    0.7 itb where to spend ??

    1. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Get rid of Dallas

    2. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No city?

  6. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    #mufc's starting XI to face Brighton: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Pogba, Bruno Fernandes; Rashford, Cavani, Greenwood #mulive [men]

    Already leaked.

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nothing out of the ordinary

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        No McFred mid is good to see though.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Henderson interesting.

      Also be interesting to see Pogba and Bruno combo and what effect it has.

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Think DDG is still away in Spain isn’t he

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Nope both there and fit

          Said both would feature so perhaps DDG is now the cup keeper.

    3. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hendo is good for Jota

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        For Shaw

  7. Flair
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Actually had hope for Watkins points this week, very silly

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Didn’t know it was full time already...

  8. GE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Cancelo, Gundo, Bale and Son...great!

  9. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Only Martinez and Konsa can save my game week

  10. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Need Fulham's masterclass here.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      0-0

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Fulham to win ,make relegation more interesting

  11. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    45 with Bruno, AWB and DCL left is underwhelming. If Fulham manager to score I think i still can get a small green

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      19 with 6 players left.. Bruno C.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It's good for this GW.

    3. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Avg in top10k is 36 or something like that, so you're good for now.

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yawn

    5. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Disgusting subtle brag

  12. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Konsa to azpi already been a trash move but a villa CS would rub salt in the wound

    1. Boomerang V
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Got Azpi and benched Targett 🙁

  13. Better luck next year
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Decent WC team or any room for improvement?

    Ederson Forster
    TAA Dias Shaw Rudiger Coady
    Salah Jota Bruno Gundo Burke
    Kane Antonio Iheanacho

    1. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No keeper in 33.. Also no Kane Gundo Dias

      1. Better luck next year
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Got FH left for either 32 or 33

        1. Whazza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          All good then 🙂

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No Son with Spurs double in 32 is a concern

      1. Better luck next year
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        True. Considering using FH in 32 instead of 33 though. Teams needs a bit more planning.

  14. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    mr oliver shitkins,this is your destiny..

    1. hueycho
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      U mean oliver offkins

  15. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I already used my two free transfers just now.

    Pereira (Lei) OUT - Phillips IN
    Bale OUT - Salah IN

    I feel like two fantasy football weights have been lifted off my shoulders.

    I am now having an eye on relegation battlers Fulham and West Brom.
    Mitrovic and Pereira look like good value.

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wilson could be where it's at if you wait a week or so

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Oh yeah forgot all about him.

        I will have to make a list of all these forgotten players Wilson, Jimenez etc. They will be next seasons bargains.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If you Google 'Feast or famine' Matheus Pereira's wiki page pops up.

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Good point I looked at Pereira's points

        Double digit gw2
        Nothing fpl wise gw4-14.
        Red Card gw11
        Massive score double gw19 - 9 plus 15 points
        Double digit gw21
        Nothing until gw 30 v Chelsea when he got another massive score.

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Have to be joking about Mitrovic... last time he started a league game was about 3 months ago

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nope he was great for Serbia in the lack few games. Seemed to have his spark back. Parker said the Serbia form meant he started again.

  16. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I played Bale and have Watkins on the bench 🙁

    Expect at least a braceniw

    1. Jack Burton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same ffs

    2. gonzalocampos
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Don't worry, Watkins is really bad = 2 points.

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same with Lingard first on bench!

    4. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Please. It’s Watkins. The man is a fraud.

  17. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    No benching a single point this week 😎

  18. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    In the topsyturvyness of the '20/'21 Premier League what odds on West Brom making another great escape?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I thought ‘ok’ but then you look at the table

      Great result yesterday but I just can’t see them getting out

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Fixtures in next 4 or so not terrible. Win a couple of those and there's nothing in it really. 34 points can be enough some seasons.

      2. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        They had 3 weeks to work on their attacking game. Had lots of luck with Chelsea tired after IB Silva red and an eye on CL, but they look a different animal to a few weeks ago and fixtures could be worse.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      One more win against the head and it gets interesting.

  19. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Owning Bale is painful

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes, never again ... honeytrap ... banished on WC and hope to never hear of him again.

  20. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Going to be a painful 90 minute watch with Martinez, Konsa and Targett in the team. Prefer to lose the CS early rather than after seeing the CS points added on my score and vanishing again.

    1. Mika-eel
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Just came across your comment. So sorry pal.

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    So I’m thinking of going quite maverick towards the season close and targeting teams with something to play for.
    So thinking of buying Pereira back, or is that just points chasing?

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Tell me before selling him again. I will buy him then 😉

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Haha that won’t happen ever again I’m hoping. At least with players like Salah etc you kind of expect the risk.

        My jaw hit the floor yesterday when I casually checked the halftime score

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      R or M?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        M

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I had him twice and both times he did well just after I sold him. Might have been chatting to you about him round the first DGW time? Just stuck him in there on WC but more likely to put him out before Friday. West Brom are built around him, he's on setpieces and their attacking game has improved. Not sure their fixtures are that bad at all.

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Fixtures are horrid for my liking

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That’s the thing, they seem to do better in the tougher fixtures!

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wilson is the one with pedigree

      Newcastle weren't second best today really. Can easily see him scoring a few. Best ppg of any budget striker

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nice shout, when is he back

  22. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A) sell Bale
    B) keep him and get 1 point

    1. gonzalocampos
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  23. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bale to Salah or De Bruyne?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota

      1. mgilbert86
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Already have jota

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Salah.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota.

  24. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bale owners you know we’ll sell him for salah or jota who will then be benched after cl and come on for a 1 pointer before bale hauls in the dgw

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah. It's written in the stars. I am considering being patient till Friday

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Probs same but annoying he go up by 0.3.

        I not playing WC this week

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bale will be twice as bad in a DGW if Jose even plays him. A man coming to the end of his career should be ripping it up in training and using Kane as an influence in the attitude stakes to guarantee starts every game and showing the world his box of tricks. Sadly he doesn't seem bothered enough.

  25. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Spursy Spurs.

  26. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    golds are found at the relegation zone cave not at the top.

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Interesting philosophy.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Both. Plus players on the fringes if their international squads bursting themselves to play in the Euros.

  27. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bale and Cancelo out for a hit to TAA and Jota ?

    I know I might be 1 week too late but is it worth doing it ?

    Will Bale get some minutes in the double?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Can't see Mou changing the pattern

      It's Spurs defence that is so awful. Add Bale in and it gets worse with less protection down the flanks in Mou terms.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He might but recent gametime and for doesn't point to a good outcome for him.

      2 players with questionable gametime for two in good form, TAA looking to impress Southgate, a fresh hungry Jota cementing his Portugal spot. Wait until Friday.

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I like this. Made me think of it differently that Southgate dropping him was the kick in the butt Trent needed.

  28. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    On WC

    1. Keep just dias
    2. No city needed

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      1

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Keep him but have decent defenders on bench because he'll probably be rotated for a few games.

  29. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Does that count as a Martinez save? 😉

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Pope might get a save for that but not Emi 😉

  30. squ1rrel
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    My ML rival doubled up on Chelsea defense and the unluckiest week I've seen...

    Now it comes down to martinez + cresswell + lingard + fernandes + konsa + calvert-lewin vs. 3 pts + shaw, who wins 😛

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I would chuckle if Shaw gets an 18 pointer.