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

    How’s my Willock punt looking?

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

      7 involvements/touches

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

        5 accurate passes.

        100%

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

      punty

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

    Imagine if Kane blanks

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

      Is that good for you?

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

        I captained Salah and my rival captained Kane

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

          So you're saying there's hope for Kane captainers? 😉

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

            Betting against my decisions all season would make you a rich man

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

          Good luck fudge.

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

            Thanks

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

      He doesn't look intested

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

        You mean he's had a colostomy?

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

      He will, guess who's captained him ha

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

        Oh my god you are so unlucky

    4. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      he will 100%. only some accident or luck can change that. villa are amazing. and eager to play

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

    Kane captain looks fail

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

      Give it an hour or so.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        we don't need 1 hour sometimes the early game shows what you need to know. Villa looking fluent and eager to play. Kane might bring some point if there is some kind of luck, other than that no chance.

        no chance

        mark my words.

        bookmark it

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

    3 points from triple United yesterday lost me 6k in rank
    Looking like around the same for my triple Spurs today!

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

      What's your rank ss?

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

        21k now

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

          Reason not to moan or question things constantly!

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

            Mini leagues more important, OR means nothing, you can achieve decent rank just by picking the same boring players all season, I left my captain on Salah for the first half of it.

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Villa looking amazing with Grealish in the lineup.

    Kane captain fail confirmed

    100%

    Absolutely certain.

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

      "100% Absolutely certain"

      Basic probability tells you that just isn't true.....

      If he had been subbed off I would give it to you.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        are you watching the game? it's so obvious.

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

          I have watched enough Spurs games to know Kane can score out of nowhere. He is the type of player who gets lucky with a dribbler that ends up going in because the GK makes a mistake.

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            no way no way. they need to play football. they are sleeping on the field. are you watching it? please watch it.

            Kane might be lucky but even he is not that lucky

            god can help us only now from stopping Salah running riot

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

    Anyone understand why Ancelotti persists with 3 centre backs?

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

      Plus Allan

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Super Carlo knows

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

      They usually concede with two at the back because none of them are that good at defending.

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

      We win more games from a defensive position

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

    I dodged a bullet captaining Salah over Kane. I feel bad for Kane cappers because this is a blank for sure.

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

      I hope you're right, but Fudgy mate.....we know how games can change in an instant, and i'm not betting against Kane not scoring still here.

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

        Its a blank don't worry about it. Kane really struggles in these types of games, it's what separates him from the best strikers in the world

    2. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      They’ll get a pen

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

    That last minute captain change from Salah to Kane haunting me

  9. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Doesn't look like Kane wants the golden boot

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

      Kane seems not interested in this game. Just walking around and wait for final whistle.

  10. jimmyharte
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    DCL is the biggest mule in the history of FPL, close with Diagne.

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

      Donkey

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

        DCL= Donkey

  11. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Can’t believe I’m relying on two Everton players as my only mini league differentials tonight. Absolute shite

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

      Same here. They're so bad to watch. All one way traffic.

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Absolutely hate owning them. Such an underwhelming football team

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

      Same here.

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

      Same here

      Even have a third on my bench

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

        I have Coleman and Richarlison. Watching Spurs game at mo and it is depressing me.

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

    The 'Fans Back=Goals' theory hasn't really materialised.

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

    Both Spurs and Everton suck. Extremely poor performance.

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

    Kane Cappers HATE to see it oh yes they do!

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

    His Last home game what is KANE doing there?

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Does anyone know of a hack to the FPL website? I want to change my armband from Kane. I am ready to give away 8 pts or so.

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

      Same here

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

    Watkins goal

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

      Thank you Lanny!

  18. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    WATKINS

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

      REGUILON ASSIST

  19. Party time
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Watkins

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

      Reguilon having a blinder!

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

      Go away Watkins

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

        This.

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

        Yep.

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

        This!

    • WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Reguilon having the worst game of his life

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

        Not really. It's his standard

    • Londongeezaa
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ollie you beauty 🙂

    • 3 A
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Reguilon is so bad. Costs two goals

      1. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        He really is dire 😛

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

      Watkins you beauty

    • BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      D'oh!

    • Limbo
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Ollie!

    • Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Reguilon this genius

    • FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Watkins first on my bench.

    • djman102
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      TFW your first bench scores and your captain hasn't yet...