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. _Ninja_
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Digne 8 pts... cheers.

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      good

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      lovely - probably wouldve taken 9 points from him and bale before the lineups today

  2. Drexl Spivey
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    DCL % heading south.

  3. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Keane cleanie woohoo

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      and a bap as well 😀

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Hopefully he holds onto it

  4. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Everton 1-0 Wolves Full Time.

    Phew

  5. Fudgy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Thanks Digne

  6. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Son + Kane + Lloris = 6 points ... lovely!

  7. diesel001
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Richarlison (36)
    Digne (30)
    Keane (27)
    Mina (27)
    Pickford (26)

  8. not_astarte
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    DCL blanks, sweet........

  9. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Luca Digne has been so good the past couple of GWs

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      gunna play him against city?

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        nope straight to the bench lol

        1. beric
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          haha same here - although tempted to switch with reguilon after today

          1. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            The value with Digne is that he is locked on for at least 2 BAPs if Everton gets a CS

            Everton attack too inconsistent to expect attacking returns

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I may have to start him or Mitchell vs Chelsea. Or get -4. Transferring AWB to Maguire on WC is causing this issue. At least he got assist last time vs MCI.

  10. BIG TONES
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bruno & DCL > Mane & Nacho? (2FT)

  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Why is it only my defenders who are loosing their cs just before the whistle blows...

  12. Better off with a pin and a…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    All set for Andy Carroll to be the top scorer next gw now.

    1. djman102
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      TC?

  13. beric
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    just need a salah blank now to complete the set

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I need a hatrick to just get close to average score…on 11 from 7!

      1. beric
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        ouch! unlucky man - who else you got left?

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Double pool and double West Ham left. One of those weeks

          1. beric
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            well good luck man, sucks to have a bad week this late in the day

            1. Pat Bonner
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Cheers. Could’ve done with season ending after the double in 35!

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He'll haul , ML rival has capped him

  14. EmreCan Hustle
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Villa may regret not putting this game to bed.

  15. Muscout
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Villa and Watkins absolutely useless on the counter

    1. BIG TONES
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I've owned Watkins for most of this season, you have to expect around 1/10 chances to go in, but he always seems to pick up 5 points or so a game

  16. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    At least going with double EVE defence for the last 2 wasn't a complete fail.

  17. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Now for a Salah hatty

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Please no

  18. _Ninja_
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chuckwuemeka off the post.

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bless you

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Gesundheit

  19. pjomara
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Man City with B team v Everton?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      C team

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Even Pep doesn't know what his B team is tbf.

  20. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Shaw 1 pointer, Godfrey laughing on the bench!

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I have Rudiger & Watkins on bench. Shaw on field.

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Dallas, Alioski and Nacho on mine 🙁

  21. Salan
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Spurs simply doesn't want to win this match. Both from players and manager.

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You really believe that

      1. Salan
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        It's true and you choose to be blind.

  22. Dakers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Just wow... pretty much every wrong decision this week.
    Kane(c)
    Watkins first sub
    Brought in Raph for Jota rather than either playing Watkins or getting Willock...

    Ffs man. Looking forward to the season being over at this point!

    1. DickFranDyke
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Karma. Top lad,lmao.

      1. Dakers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        For?

        Bore off

    2. CBonci
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Every decision for me was the same as you...it was a tough one!

  23. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Kane will not be at Spurs next season looking at this mess

  24. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Player EO Live Score Effective points against you
    Kane 99.72% 2 1.99

    Scary times

  25. Pep Roulette
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Kane 🙁

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Did you take the -8?

  26. not_astarte
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Son learning the ways of Kane, ffs!!

  27. Dakers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Screw you, Harry Kane. Pish

  28. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    TAA and Creswell my ML differentials tonight. Haul please

  29. Old Man
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    You can see it coming, can't you? Bruno is going to end up top score of the "three big captains". The irony, is of course, because of assist-gate that he probably ought to have been the lowest.

  30. Fudgy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Time for Salah to end seasons.

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Salah to end hopes and dreams.