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

    Willock goal

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

      YES! Something positive from today now. More of this, please!

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

        did the same your move lol

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

        Watching the game now, I dont think he is playing as a mid, he is the second striker, always in the box 😆

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

    Willock again

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

    Willock ♡

  4. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Shocking performance from Spurs. Get Ndombele on ffs

  5. Hooky
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Spurs booed off 😆

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

      Good to have fans back 😀

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

      Haha! Warms the heart, don't it!

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

        It's what we've all been missing this season!

    3. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Deservedly

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

    Willock G

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

    FFS

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

    Spurs defence is shambolic!

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

    WILLOCKKKKKKK

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

      unbelievable!

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

    Season over

  11. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Gambled on Willock over Raphina and Torres. Price aint everything.

  12. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Alli and Dier are stinking the place up.. especially Alli, there’s a reason Mourinho wouldn’t dare play him

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

      Hes been awful, it looks like it pains him to have to actually do what hes paid for

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

        He doesn’t look bothered at all. Ruining Kane and Son’s chances of points

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

    Willock vs Raphinha is settled

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

    This gameweeks not going to play…on 5 points currently

  15. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    ofcourse Watkins scores after i bench him

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

      Inevitable

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

    Damn Willock, sorry mate I did not pick you

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

    Spurs fans are revolting

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Why so?

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

      Rightly so, lethargic performance 1st half

  18. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ah, nothing like the sound of good authentic boos from the home crowd.
    It's good to have fans back. 🙂

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

    I feel for Mourinho now.

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He was never the problem

  20. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Obviously went Raphina over Willock.

    Also can’t believe I’m going to lose my ML as leader all season BECAUSE I held Son and Kane and rivals have neither. Amazing.

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

      It's a cruel game we play.

  21. cigan
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Went Pereira over Willock ffs

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

      Got Raphina instead

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

    Willlloccckkkk!

  23. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Tottenham such a JOKE of a team. I'm happy their fans witness that it's actually Lloris Son Kane and 8 farmers

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

      Kane and Son should both leave for better future

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

      they have a kid for a manager, what were people expecting?. Not surprised at all by the Spurs performance.

    3. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      We have to say this Mason dude is hopeless...

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

    Spurs need Ndombele and Bale/Lucas on

  25. Ligdon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ive never seen spurs play this poor oh my word! Kane will be lucky to get a touch in the box at this rate

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

      😆

  26. Jon Snow
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    ASM over Willock classic example of trying to be slick and failing miserably

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

      ASM never a FPL option, great player though

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

    BBC Live updates are unbelievably slow...

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

    Willock is on fire

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

    The only chance for Spurs is immediately bringing Bale back after half-time.

  30. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Season over™

    Fudgy, you need to pay authorship rights from now on.