Dugout Discussion

Ill Aubameyang misses out as Xhaka starts at left-back

The last of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday sees bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United play host to Arsenal.

Kick-off at Bramall Lane is at 19:00 BST.

These two sides aren’t exactly hot property in Fantasy Premier League, with not a single asset on show owned by more than 10% of managers overall.

Looking within the top 10k, which is often a better gauge of popularity among ‘active’ FPL bosses, only Rob Holding (£4.2m) has a double-digit ownership.

There is more than one notable omission from the Arsenal squad this evening but the headline team news is the absence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m), who is unavailable today due to illness.

The news of his ailment only broke after the FPL deadline had passed on Friday, as did the confirmation of an ankle injury for Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m), who is also sidelined in South Yorkshire.

There are four changes to Mikel Arteta’s starting XI from the Gameweek 30 defeat against Liverpool, with Aubameyang among the players to drop out.

Two further changes are enforced, with Martin Odegaard (£5.9m) and Kieran Tierney (£5.2m) also sidelined.

Gabriel (£4.9m) drops to the bench, meanwhile, with Pablo Mari (£4.4m), Bukayo Saka (£5.2m), Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) and Granit Xhaka (£5.2m) all promoted to the side.

With Cedric Soares (£4.6m) benched, it appears as if Xhaka is playing at left-back this evening.

Paul Heckingbottom makes three changes from the side beaten 2-1 at Leeds United, with John Egan (£4.7m), Ethan Ampadu (£4.3m) and Oliver Burke (£4.3m) in for Phil Jagielka (£3.9m), Jayden Bogle (£4.3m) and Oli McBurnie (£5.6m).

The Blades are unbeaten in all four of their previous home Premier League matches against Arsenal.


Arsenal XI: Leno, Chambers, Holding, Pablo Mari, Saka, Thomas, Xhaka, Pepe, Ceballos, Martinelli, Lacazette.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Egan, Ampadu, Stevens, Baldock, Fleck, Lundstram, Norwood, Osborn, Burke, McGoldrick.


GAMEWEEK 31 SO FAR…

Ill Aubameyang misses out as Xhaka starts at left-back

Some of the lesser-owned Fantasy Premier League assets from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United took centre stage as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side triumphed 3-1 in north London.

Blanks for Harry Kane (£11.7m), Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m), Luke Shaw (£5.3m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.7m) meant that four of the five FPL players with double-digit ownerships in this fixture didn’t deliver anything more than appearance points.

Only Son Heung-min (£9.4m) from this quintet popped up with anything meaningful, tapping Spurs into a first-half lead for his first goal since Gameweek 23.

Edinson Cavani (£7.8m) and Mason Greenwood (£7.0m) both registered two attacking returns apiece along with bonus points to supplement their scores.

It was far from a convincing audition for Spurs assets ahead of Double Gameweek 32, with their defence looking particularly suspect again.

Son topped the shot count and key passes table to further his case for inclusion in our squads next weekend but there was more misery for those who retained the services of Gareth Bale (£9.2m), who was benched for the third straight Premier League match; his total pitch-time over the last three Gameweeks comes to ten minutes.

496 Comments Post a Comment
  1. RogDog_jimmy
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wahoo Holding.
    WC into 67.
    LiveFPL telling me or 362 after subs. Hoping games tomorrow aren’t wild and I stick top 500.

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

      Well done!Your first fpl season or just new member here?

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

        First season! 99% sure this will be my best ever so just trying to enjoy it as much as I can.

    2. Reece’s Pieces
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Well done mate.

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

    What happened to Saka?

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

      I brought him in for Son on WC...sorry.

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Injury they say...

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

      Was icing his quad after the sub.

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

      Was an off the ball injury.. was rubbing his quad then came off

  3. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best defender for 4.6?

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

      Looking at fixtures & saving some cash, Holding.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      The defender that has been mentioned in the last page or two haha

  4. Sif
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WC 69 all out
    Would be very happy apart from benching Nacho for Wood. Not the worst outcome, was never going to bench Salah, Jota or Kane.

  5. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    77 all out.

    WC template I copied from all of you worked a treat. cheers.

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

      What was the consensus in the end? I remember checking week ago and at least then the template featured

      Mendy Foster
      Rudiger TAA
      Jota Salah Son Bruno
      Ihenacho Kane

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

        Add lingard, holding and coady or whoever you can afford 4th 5th def.

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

          Yep, Lingard was always going to be there. Remember seeing lots of drafts with Maddison in as well.

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

        Add Lingard. Holding. Coady. Vydra.

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      40 all out. Didn't copy it. Should have.

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      77 all out for the FFS community team, nice work lads

    4. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Exactly same team except Torres over Son.cheers.

  6. Sanchit
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    When was DGW 32 announced?

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

    79 all out on my 'template' wildcard

  8. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    HOLDing got me to 77 points, couldn't be happier about this week, greatest week this season for me. After disaster of DGW 26 when I doubled my rank, and going around 30-40k last few weeks, finally big breakthrough to 18k and 10k is now within 17 points. DCL can get points tomorrow I don't really care now!

  9. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Template wildcard going brrrrrr

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

      Siuuu

    2. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Double CHE defense the only regret probably, though very small one.

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

        I did triple but got lucky with Holding sub for Alonso.

  10. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on this? Raphinha to Lingard this week, wildcard next week?

    Martinez
    TAA Cancelo Azpilicueta Coufal
    Bruno Gundo Son Jota
    Kane Antonio
    (Sanchez Raphinha Bamford Targett)

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

      Gundogan.

  11. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Neto to lingard an obvious move?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mmh depends if out. Neto still a good option imo

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

        Yeah, just burnt this week.
        The plan was to go for a second spurs player but I'm not so sure now

  12. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kane enough spurs coverage ?

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

      Ha, just seen this. I think I might. No one I really want to lose for son.

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

      No - got to have Son too I think

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Would need to lose mount or take a hit which I haven't done for a very long time. Thanks for reply

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

          I’d lose Mount then - potentially unpopular opinion

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            It's tempting. Thanks for advice 🙂

  13. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Philips over TAA 🙁
    Gundo 1 week punt over Son 🙁

    Other than that - template wildcard success!

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

      I need to learn to save my second Wildcard, it’s amazing there always seems to be a big swing in performing players around this time of the season.

      Congrats!

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

        Yes as lots of rotation during to final stages of cup competition. I not play mine yet

      2. Nanoelektronicar
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes, all the upstairs downstairs last few weeks, and big reward for patience not pulling the trigger until this week.

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I used mine gw18 and it really helped me going up the ranks. Using late doesnt guarantee success

          1. Nanoelektronicar
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            It's just relative to my exact team and situation, playing it this week really pushed me up.

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

    Salah goal
    Trent goal
    Lingard brace
    Iheanacho brace
    Lacazette brace

    WEEK FROM HELL

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

      and you actually had Dallas!

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

        Yeah it started so well, I just can’t believe virtually all the popular WC picks returned or hauled!

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ups and downs kk

      Having a bad week too 😉

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

        I have faith in DCL saving me

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Laca was lucky to start and Jota unlucky and robbed to not get anything. Lingard I don't have, but I did trust Lei not let him brace. And I remember him being able to blank almost for a year. So the one to blame is the man in the mirror.

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

        Just one of those weeks where point chasing would have worked, noted to save my second WC for later next season for sure

  15. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Can I BB this team?

    Areola ¦ Sanchez
    Dias Shaw Coady
    Bruno Pepe Lingard Salah
    Kane Iheanacho Richarlison
    | Saka Alonso Phillips

    0.1 ITB, 1 FT

  16. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who would you prioritize for this team?

    A. Son(Will take a -4 to get him)
    B. Iheanacho(Free)
    C. Both for a -8

    Martinez
    Dias Azpi Rudiger
    Salah Bruno Jota Lingard Raphinha
    Kane Watkins
    3.9 Antonio White Struijk

    1 FT 2.6 ITB. FH left.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not b imo. Who would you lose for son?

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Raphina & Antonio > Son + Brewster/Vydra if I can decide when I'm using the FH.

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Looks good. But spurs play saints few days before cup final. Will there be rotation?

          1. King Kohli
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            As they are more or less out of the top 4 race, there could be some rotation.
            Something to consider before making the decision.
            Cheers mate

  17. STONEROSES
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Does Maguire just need to negotiate the next game with a yellow card before the threshold rises again?

  18. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    77 all out on wildcard. A couple of might-have-beens like not getting Lacazette but got to be happy with that. Highest OR of the season too (119k)! Given I was 1.3m GW18, not too shabby.

    Thanks to all those who have helped me with good advice, particularly in convincing me TAA was worth the money over Phillips!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It’s only good advice because it turned out to be true, it’s still all luck

      1. Riverside Red
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Can't say Trent deserved his haul...so you had a good slice of luck there.

  19. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What has happened? I just started to see adds. I thought I have paid membership fee to avoid spamming. Is there a change of policy here?

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

      Click the blue privacy tab on the right and turn them off.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Done. Thx. But I didn't have that box month ago.

  20. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Planned on selling Martinez but he’ll get loads of save points v City and then has WBA so may as well keep for those two.

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

      Just keep and play every week unless on a WC.

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I am playing him against City, no doubt

  21. Miniboss
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I guess it’s time to use TC on Kane next week. Or are there any juicier opportunities in the horizon? Lost the count of which teams still have extra dgws.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Now or never 😉

  22. Rabb05
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bruno and Neto to Son and Lingard?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No

    2. Reece’s Pieces
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Try and get Lingard though

  23. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Keane and Bamford to Holding and Cavani? I know a main rival will be getting Cavani in and he looked sharp today.

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

      No I wouldn't lose Bamford

    2. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm considering getting Cavani

    3. Reece’s Pieces
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Is Martial out for weeks?

  24. Reece’s Pieces
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I’m needing Everton to save me again - bad position to be in. But come on Digne and DCL!! You owe me