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

    Reguilon showing the Spurs fans what they have been missing

    1. Party time
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Haahahahaha

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

      Should have benched Son for Watkins. I was considering it to be fair

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

      If Watkins has a chance of getting in the England squad, then Bamford has to have a chance of getting in the England squad.

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

      Wtf is Regiilon doing

      Horrible defender

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

        Either give him Red card or sub off

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

        He's a WB. Like Doherty. Spurs should be playing 3-4-3 and getting in a manager who can work with a back three.

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

      Watkins looks more promising than Kane

    6. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Watkins is the most under appreciated fantasy asset on here.

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

      Chelsea will have huge problems against this Villa team.

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

        I concur

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

        No matters we have Werner to deal with

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

      I told everyone to start Watkins based on the fact I have Lloris in goal!

    9. Party time
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Reguilon is on fire. Congrats to Owners

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

          Cheers

      • Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Lol Reguilon. Where did they get this clown from?

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

          Real Madrid

          1. Forza Papac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Yup. That's the joke.

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

        Oh come on Spurs do something. This is absolutely pathetic!! No urgency, no movement, no interest, nobody running!

      • Bada Bing
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Breaking news: Reguilon is terrible at football. Shocking stuff from him.

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

        Yeah, and I benched Watkins.

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

          I did too. Should have benched DCL. He never delivers

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

        I told ya Villa are looking amazing and Kane is captain fail, don't know why it is so hard to accept it,

      • Hooky
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Lovely scruffy finish that. Just like watching Super Pippo Inzaghi

      • F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Took a hit to sell Watkins. Knew he would score vs us but couldn't bring myself to play him

      • My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Rank plummeting

      • Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Should have benched Kane for Rudiger.

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

        Reguilon so funny to watch....

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

        Watkins EO 10% in top10k. But highly owned in my ML 🙁

      • Grounderz
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Reguilon having the nightmare of a game.

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

        Remind me why I benched Watkins for DCL? Oh yes, it’s because I’m an idiot.

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

        Reguilon assist Watkins goal

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

        I am never playing DCL again for the next season. No chance. Blocking pts from lovely Watkins

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

          You probably will. Carlo will likely get them sorted out in pre-season and DCL will go on a goalscoring run at some point.

      • Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Watkins only 10% EO

      • BeaversWithAttitude
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        My week is shaping up like a pear...

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

        Watkin 14 goals and 9 assists this season. Impressive and i've never owned him.

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

          How have you never owned him?

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

            opted for Grealish instead

        2. Philosopher's Stones
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Owned him for 4-5 GWs, with just an assist in return. But when you look back in hindsight, he's had a decent FPL season given his price.

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

          Same. Don't think I have ever owned Bamford and Watkins

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

          Benched Watkins... Started bale

      • Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        This is why I am keeping Iheanacho for final GW. Spurs defence is cr#p

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

          he is

        2. Party time
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Nacho(C) on the cards

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

          My rival has a bench of Iheanacho, Rudiger and Watkins with TAA, Salah, Lingard and Bale still to make an appearance. Chances he doesn’t get any of them?

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

          Tottenham's defence has been in the bottom third for basically every stat for the past 10 games or so.

          Hardly a surprise that a Villa team with Grealish starting can do well