Dugout Discussion

Bale benched as Grealish makes first start since Gameweek 24

Gameweek 37 has seen not only the welcome return of home supporters to Premier League grounds but also the revisiting of simultaneous kick-offs.

There are three top-flight fixtures getting underway at 18:00 BST this evening: Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United v Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa.

Crystal Palace’s clash with Arsenal begins an hour later, meanwhile.

The headline story from north London is the benching of Gareth Bale (£9.2m) – something that Ryan Mason had hinted was a possibility when he faced the media on Tuesday.

Giovani Lo Celso (£6.9m) is also only among the substitutes, with Harry Winks (£5.1m) and Steven Bergwijn (£7.0m) coming into the side.

Despite widespread rumours about his future, Harry Kane (£11.9m) is part of the Spurs team this evening.

Aston Villa are the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and Dean Smith’s troops will have Jack Grealish (£7.5m) in a Premier League starting XI for the first time since February.

Tyrone Mings (£5.4m) recovers from injury and Marvelous Nakamba (£4.3m) is recalled, as Ahmed Elmohamady (£4.2m), Douglas Luiz (£4.8m) and Jacob Ramsey (£4.5m) drop to the bench following the defeat to Crystal Palace.

There are two changes for Everton as Gylfi Sigurdsson (£6.9m) and the fit-again Yerry Mina (£5.5m) come into the side.

Mason Holgate (£4.8m) is benched, while – surprise, surprise – there is no James Rodriguez (£7.7m) in the matchday squad.

Nuno Espirito Santo has run wild with the changes over the last two Gameweeks and has made another five of them this evening.

Goalkeeper John Ruddy (£4.3m) makes his first Premier League start of the season, while there are also appearances for Rayan Aït-Nouri (£5.0m), Rúben Neves (£5.1m), Willy Boly (£5.4m) and Max Kilman (£3.8m).

Rui Patricio (£5.3m) drops to the bench, along with Vitinha (£4.7m), Romain Saiss (£4.9m), Leander Dendoncker (£4.6m) and Ki-Jana Hoever (£4.4m).

This game comes too soon for Raul Jimenez (£8.1m), who had been seeing a medical consultant on Tuesday in a bid to get the all-clear from a long-term head injury.

Newcastle United are unchanged from their seven-goal thriller with Manchester City last Friday.

Opponents Sheffield United hand another start to teenage forward Daniel Jebbison (£4.5m) and have made just one change from Sunday’s win at Goodison Park.

Jayden Bogle (£4.3m) comes in for the injured George Baldock (£4.9m) at right wing-back.

Roy Hodgson makes two changes to his line-up for his final home game as Palace manager, with James Tomkins (£4.4m) and Vicente Guaita (£4.8m) returning to the side.

Jack Butland (£4.5m) is on the bench, with Eberechi Eze (£5.9m) out with a long-term injury.

Mikel Arteta has also made a couple of alterations to the side that beat Chelsea last time out.

Calum Chambers (£4.5m) replaces Pablo Mari (£4.4m) in defence, while Nicolas Pepe (£5.6m) is in for Martin Odegaard (£7.6m).


LINE-UPS

Everton XI: Pickford, Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Digne, Coleman, Doucoure, Allan, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Holgate, Delph, King, Iwobi, Nkounkou, Bernard, Andre Gomes, Davies, Olsen.

Wolverhampton Wanderers XI: Ruddy, Boly, Coady, Kilman, Nelson Semedo, Joao Moutinho, Neves, Ait Nouri, Traore, Silva, Gibbs-White.

Subs: Hoever, Marcal, Rui Patricio, Willian Jose, Vitinha, Dendoncker, Sondergaard, Saiss.

Newcastle United XI: Dubravka, Dummett, Krafth, Fernendez, Shelvey, Ritchie, Murphy, Almiron, Willock, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin.

Substitutes: Gillespie, Clark, Lewis, Manquillo, M Longstaff, Hendrick, S Longstaff, Carroll, Gayle.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Bogle, Stevens, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Fleck, Norwood, Osborn, Jebbison, McGoldrick.

Subs: Foderingham, Lowe, Jagielka, Gordon, Boyes, Lundstram, Seriki, Brunt, Brewster.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Tanganga, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Winks, Hojbjerg, Bergwijn, Alli, Son, Kane.

Subs: Hart, Doherty, Sanchez, Bale, Lamela, Lo Celso, Aurier, Moura, Ndombele.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Mings, Hause, Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Grealish, Traore, Watkins, El Ghazi.

Subs: Steer, Taylor, Luiz, Wesley, Barkley, Elmohamady, Ramsey, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, Mitchell, Townsend, Kouyate, McCarthy, Schlupp, Benteke, Zaha.

Subs: Butland, Van Aanholt, Ayew, Mateta, Clyne, Batshuayi, Kelly, Rak-Sakyi, Riedewald.

Arsenal XI: Len, Tierney, Gabriel, Saka, Aubameyang, Holding, Partey, Pepe, Chambers, Elneny, Smith Rowe.

Subs: Ryan, Ceballos, Lacazette, Odegaard, Willian, Cedric, Mari, Xhaka, Martinelli.

867 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gooner Kebab
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bale fail

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I benched him but can't celebrate too early, anyway.

      He can easily come off the bench & outscore the likes of Greenwood & Shaw who flopped for me yesterday.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      What did you do?

      1. Gooner Kebab
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        One week punt with Bale before the presser 🙁

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Nice idea but I guess that’s why it’s called a punt.

  2. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Kane hat trick would be delightful. Do it football gods.

    1. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kane points are irrelevant to me; sadly, but I'd like a lost Martinez clean sheet.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes please.

    3. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes.
      Also Salah.

    4. dark91
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A Kane blank would be very sweet

    5. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A Bale one-point cameo would be great too.

  3. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Auba!

  4. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Willock please...
    2 goals save me!

  5. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Must say Bale is other worldy looking, not helped by the man bun. For once agree with Graham Souness who wrote off players with pigtails!

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He reminds me a bit of the elfs from Lord of The Rings

      1. Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Bit of an under-bite doesn't help. Reckon he'd look good with a beard.

      2. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Elrond doppelgänger.

  6. Kabaranko
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    anyone now arsenal lineup already?

  7. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Tensed time of the season.

    Only 6 points in it at the top of my ML...

    1. Halftime Lemon
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Same. I'm ahead by 8. 24 points separate top 4. Squeaky bum time

  8. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    If ESR scores again I swear ...

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      You’ll kiss me?

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Those 19 points were sweet - and I picked him too. Sheer joy. And luck.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Silly man. You should have got rid on a free hit.

    3. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He better. I benched him last week

    4. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Dish pick him ?

  9. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Isn’t it strange to have players that you don’t want to score (Kane today, Bruno yesterday)

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No

    2. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Want Harry to get a hattie on his swansong fixture at home.

    3. aborg
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No. You have them there as shields like I do. Your rivals have them as captains so you would not want them to haul, although you still get the points from them, you halven your losses if they haul.

  10. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pick a Euro 2020 Fantasy Team here: https://gaming.uefa.com/en/uefaeuro2020fantasyfootball/create-team

    These are the key points to know about the difference from FPL (please comment if you notice a mistake or I've missed something important):

    Limit for players from the same team:

    Group stage: 3
    Round of 16: 4
    Quarters: 5
    Semis: 6
    Final: 8

    After all matches on a single day have finished, you can:
    - Sub players into your XI from the bench if they are yet to play. (Cannot sub-out players with red cards).
    - Change your captain to another player who is yet to play (even if your original captain DOES get a red card).

    Free transfers per phase:
    Group stage: 2 per matchday
    Before round of 16: Unlimited
    Before quarter-finals: 3
    Before semi-finals: 5
    Before final: 5

    (Only one FT can be carried over to the next matchday. Hits are 4 points.)

    2 Chips are the Wilcard and "Unlimited" (which is the same as Free Hit in FPL)

    Point scoring is the same as FPL except:
    - No BPS
    - Goal scored from outside the box (+1)
    - Conceding a pen (-1)
    - If a player gets a red card, they'll continue to be penalised for goals conceded by their team after they've been sent off.
    - When a goal is scored from a solo run or dribble, no player will be credited with the assist.
    - Players will keep scoring points throughout extra time. However, players can't score points for penalty shoot-outs.

    Check out the rules in full: https://gaming.uefa.com/en/uefaeuro2020fantasyfootball/info/EURO.FANTASY.RULES/0

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Do you win anything?

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        No I'm not very good at fantasy games

      2. JohnnyRev7
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yes. A horse.

        But you're allowed to choose your own name for the horse. It doesn't have to be related to Mary Tourtel's work.

    2. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Are you running a ML Deulofail?

      If so, I'd be interested. None of my mates are interested.

      Casuals, eh? Pfft!

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ah yes shall do: Here's a code: 34AGPQQP04

  11. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ready for Siggy to hurt me on the bench

    1. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Sold him for Raphinha, so I can see it happening

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I was going to sell him for a hit to Bale, and bench Foden. One of the better moves I did this season (or didnt do i guess)

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ready for that Everton defence to let me down one last time.

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I really think (hope) the fans give this Everton team a boost

        Have Digne and DCL

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Just get off the bench then.

  12. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    The fans have had a taste of all football matches being televised. And if you are a fan of PL football (or at least more of a fan of PL football than fantasy football) then it is time for the UK ban on 3pm Saturday matches being televised to be removed.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      That's to protect lower league attendances but they clashed too.

      And if iFollow continues for lower league teams to pay per view their club at a tenner, rather than travel hundreds of miles for some that's an option.

      Goal Spurs....

  13. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Hope everyone enjoys their penultimate FPL of 2020/21 season.

    And all your hopes and dreams are realised, or the video replay works for you...

  14. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    That Everton fan 😆

  15. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bergwijn goal

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Assist?

      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Maybe Regulion..

      2. The White Pele
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        no assist

        1. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Could be Bruno then

          1. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Either Bruno or Watkins

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Fired hone into the roof of the net.

  16. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Beautiful

  17. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Damn, just got home from long day at work to see the Eze news 🙁

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yep.

      Tough for him.

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Rubbish news. At the very least, at least a big portion of his time out will be during the off-season. Unfortunate it will drag into the new season though.

    3. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, awful for him - has just found his stride

  18. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Tot 1:0 Avl

  19. Igz08
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Idk how to feel about Bale. 7 point Ayling on my bench and Bale is bound to come on isn’t he :/

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      he will for sure, get a few mins to say hi to the fans

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      18 mins?

  20. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    lol there goes the Martinez CS

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Plenty of time for 9 saves and 3baps

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lol.

      He still gets points tho which is kind of the point of him.

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Cant wait to play him vs Chelsea and save a Jorginho pen

  21. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Reggy assist, do we think??

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No assist I would have thought

    2. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      nope

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I doubt it but who knows these days.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Who didn't touch it?

    4. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bruno...

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Konsa or Hause touched it first before Bergy. Almost an assist!! Lol

  22. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bruno assist?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      nah Watkins

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If it's not claimed within 10 minutes, he gets it by default.

  23. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What’s this mean , the guy who leaked Carson starting

    https://twitter.com/unit_football/status/1395062920116121604?s=21

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Dyche starting at centre half.

    2. leeboy104
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No Pope? Rotated his strikers?

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Vydra isn't starting, for starters. I'd assume no Pope again. Also sound like another key player or two could miss out by the sounds of that...

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Let’s go Salah C

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

      Salah megahaul imminent

  24. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Why isnt that Reguilon assist?

    How is it any different to the one watkins got?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Berg tackled the Villa player to take it off him.

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        It was the exact same thing as the watkins ine

    2. A. PRISE
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      The difference is that I have Reguilon and not Bruno

  25. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Marvellous, Marty's CS has been wiped!

  26. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who we kidding DCL is gonna blank again smh

  27. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pen Villa

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      top clubs bias continues

      Var is a joke

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        What? AVL or TOT the top club?

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          The European Cup winners.

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No

  28. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I tried to play another keeper. Getting Martinez anyway.

  29. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    How is that not a penalty?

    1. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Watkins punished for previous red card

    2. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      agree

    3. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No logical reason will apply

  30. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    So going Salah over Kane captain has proven to be a horrible mistake

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Erm

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not at all

    3. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Silly panda.