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. dabber7
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Spurs look absolutely rancid, more by luck than by design ... I'm glad I've still got Nacho for Sunday.

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

      He might be a decent shout to bring back in for dcl actually. Least Leicester have to go for it

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

    Willock the new Lingard

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

    Hahaha. Just waiting for Son red card and Digne owngoal. This season has to end NOW!

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

      lol

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

    Joe Willock (aged 21 yrs & 272 days) is the youngest player in PL history to score in 6 consecutive appearances:
    ⚽ v Tottenham (H)
    ⚽ v West Ham (H)
    ⚽ v Liverpool (A)
    ⚽ v Leicester (A)
    ⚽ v Man City (H)
    ⚽ v Sheff Utd (H)

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

      Form > Fixtures

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

      Post like this are hurt more than "nowhere to hide", "lol at non-owners" and "feast" combined 🙁

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

      Wish I'd jumped on him earlier.

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

      Hopefully we will offer him as part of the Grealish deal

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

        He really couldn't have done any better than this. Imagine Iwobi went for 30m, what would Willock be right now.

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

          Iwobi was 40 I thought. Maybe the worst transfer in PL history. I’ve been surprised at how good Willock has been.

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

      Lingard OUT
      Willock IN
      Was the move 4 gameweeks ago, shame it was Jota i brought in!

    6. beric
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Will 100% blank on sunday after everyone buys him

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

      Think many will get him as an enabler now and combine it with a hit or two.
      Could backfire.

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

    Willock goal giving me a huge red to roughly 3 million rank I'd assume

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

      Marginally better post than season over but only just

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

      A single goal at his 7% ownership is season ending for us non owners

    3. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Everything is giving you red Fudgy.
      Your season was over before GW2 started.

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

    A disaster week. Owning Kane/Bale/Reguilon/DCL/Greenwood seems not a good idea.

    Worse issue is only 1 gameweek left.

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

      This gameweek can double my rank from 60k.

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

    Any chance Reguilon gets an assist? (Clutching at straws!!)

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He already has one assist and a goal

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

        Not seeing the assist but got the goal on the -2 from him so far!

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

      dont be greedy. Goal and an assist already

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

    bale coming on for 1 pointer would be some consolation after this disastrous gw

  9. The Ilfordian
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Does Reguilon get points for the 1000th premier league own goal?

  10. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Kane wants out, fair enough.
    Question is which titles competing team needs central midfielder with glass ankles ?

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

      A bit harsh, if you put him into a team with solid and creative midfielders then he's gonna do ok! Or not? 😛

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

    SIGGY ASSIST ITS BEEN 55 YEARS

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

    Richarlison goal, Siggy assist.

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

    Omg RICHA

  14. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Rich and Siggy - great.

    DCL & Digne owner.

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

    Wait why did siggy take that corner, shouldve been Digne

  16. The Ilfordian
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Ricaaaaaaaaaarlison!!!

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

    Richa out-jumps Boly. Forgetful season for Wolves.

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

    Glad i did Zaha -> Raphinha instead of Willock. whelp

  19. rupopo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Think I'll give FPL a break for a few months after this week

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

    Had Richarlison for 9 straight weeks and I just sold him...yep

    1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Still the right decision

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        This, just a bad outcome

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Forgot there was football on today, wished I had continued to forget after just checking the scores.

    My horrendous luck continues, highlight being that’s now 8 Newcastle goals but no ASM involvement.

    Unbelievable Jeff

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

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/23807312

    the one time i bench Siggy 🙁

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

      I finally get a return from him!!!

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

        sadness. Benched him for Foden

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

          How can you be sad about that bro hahahaha

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

            Just kidding mostly haha

            Brought in Harrison for Jota this week, couldve held I guess. Will take the Foden goal and max BAPs

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Finally get something from him!

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

    Great save Martinez!

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

      First one, unfortunately. Need at least 2 more. But not from (K)ane, though.

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

    Willock is the English Lingard.

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

      But Lingard has time on his side.

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

      Lol, Lingard just doing his best Englishman impression?

  25. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    All my players blanks with Bamford and Rudiger on my bench. Not happy times.

  26. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Martinez hauling!

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

    Everton really being pushed on here by the fans after the goal

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

    Traore's dad was a battering ram.

  29. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Spurs suck. I think they'll finish 8th next year if they don't keep Kane.

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

    Praying Jota starts or is on the bench