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. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Assist?

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

      It was Marvelous.

    2. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Marvellous?

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

      Nakamba cross.

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

        Excellent

  2. WVA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Guess who I have in goal lol Lloris WTF

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

      You can be relied upon most weeks tbf!

  3. Alan The Llama
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    He's shanked that

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

    Lol that was a beautiful own goal ! I must say.

  5. Party time
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Iheanacho to feast on that Spurs defence

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

      Does Brewster start Sheffield United's final game of the season?

    • WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      That freak own goal has cost me at least 5 points ha I can't help but laugh at this season, unbelievable

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

        Same here.

    • FootballDog
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      where the fans for spurs game?

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

      Ha ha

    • Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Just knew my Reggie would score

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

        Yesh I had a feeling as well

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

      What the hell are spurs defence doing. They're all over the shop

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

        They've been awful all season

    • Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks Reguilon! What a great differential

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

      Everton still look awful with the fans back.

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

      Reguilon is definitely in a ML, and his rival definitely has Lloris.

      Done this a few times recently!

    • Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      At least Regulion scores.

    • Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      At this rate arsenal might qualify for europe

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

      Who could blame Harry for wanting to leave?

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

        Not many do. Even Spurs fans understand why he wants to go.

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

        Nobody.

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

      Where is Son?

    • Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Villa look so much better with Greliash back

      Wont be easy for chelsea

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

      Reguiown goal

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

      Time to target Everton

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

        Foden punt

    • Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      And I thought supporters would make tot play better.
      Guess Im wrong.

    • Big_Andy_GAWA
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Awful first half as a Martinez, Kane, Son and REGUILÓN owner. Brutal.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        is it half time already?!! Not able to watch game, when was kick off?!

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

          People overreacting, KO was at 6.

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

          half hour**

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

            Meant to write "half time" - apologies.

    • Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ramsdale save of the season

    • Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      As a Reguilon owner, that first 20 mins feels like my fpl season in a nutshell lol.

      Can we expect some consistency ref the spurs assist being awarded to reg? I remember a Watkins assist being awarded in almost identical circumstances.

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

        You know the answer to your consistency question already.

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

        Fpl towers don't own Reguilon so no assist

      3. xuwei
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I benched him last minute - better to be lucky than good as they say.

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

        Nit almost identical. Completely identical

    • Ginola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Had to take a risk in my ML with Kane C. It’s going to end in tears right?

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

        Yep he hasn't even got near their box

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

        He always scores one late in the game.

      3. Jindaljain
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Same here

    • Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Neither Spurs not Everton want the conference league

      Who could blame them

      1. djman102
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yes, but 7th gets that spot, so Spurs need to win to stay 6th. Unless they don't want UEL either.

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

        I would if I were the owner tbh. One of the things that these teams who want to get in the CL can't cope with is the midweek / weekend grind of Europe / PL football.

        Use the EL and ECL as weaker competitions to learn how to cope. Then while your club learns the 'culture' of playing in Europe ingrained into it, improve the squad to compete in the PL

    • WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Should be a Watkins booking.... ref having a mare

    • Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      When will Kane come on ?

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

        Waiting for Son too

    • Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kane can't even have a shoot