Dugout Discussion

Villa v Man Utd team news: Ronaldo’s absence explained, Digne starts

The most-captained ‘active’ player of Double Gameweek 22 is absent from Manchester United’s matchday squad this evening as the Red Devils prepare to face Aston Villa.

Kick-off in the Midlands is at 17:30 GMT.

Cristiano Ronaldo was handed the armband by over 1.5 million Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers in Gameweek 22, with 52% of the top 10k doing likewise.

He missed United’s cup clash with Villa on Monday as a precaution because of a hip issue but returned to training later in the week, with Ralf Rangnick saying in Friday’s pre-match press conference that he expected him to be fit for the weekend.

But he’s missing altogether at Villa Park, with FPL owners facing an anxious wait to see if he recovers for the match against Brentford on Wednesday – and Rangnick would only say that he was “hopeful” that that would be the case:

“With Cristiano, it’s unfortunately still the same problem with his hip flexor. He couldn’t train yesterday, and I had a conversation with him. After training, we decided that it doesn’t make sense if he’s not feeling fully fit to take the trip here. It makes sense to have treatment at home and then hopefully be available again for the game on Wednesday at Brentford.” – Ralf Rangnick

Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Marcus Rashford also miss out because of illness and a dead leg respectively, while Harry Maguire, Phil Jones and Jadon Sancho are only among the substitutes after their own recoveries from injury.

“Aaron (Wan-Bissaka) unfortunately is ill, that’s the reason why he couldn’t travel with us.

“Harry (Maguire) was out for two weeks, I’m happy to have him back in the squad again but I decided to stay with the two central defenders that played on Monday. With all the games coming up in the next couple of days, it’s most likely that he will play again then.

“Marcus (Rashford) conceded a dead leg two days ago in training. At first, it didn’t seem to be that bad, but overnight it got worse and he couldn’t train yesterday.” – Ralf Rangnick

All three of Rangnick’s changes from Monday’s cup tie are enforced, with Rashford sidelined and Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay suspended. Teenager Anthony Elanga, Alex Telles and Nemanja Matic come into the side.

As for Villa, one of their new signings starts and the other is on the bench.

Lucas Digne makes his debut and replaces Matt Targett at left-back, while Morgan Sanson is in for the suspended John McGinn in midfield.

Philippe Coutinho has to make do with a place among the substitutes.

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 22 LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Sanson, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Watkins, Ings, Buendia

Subs: Steer, Targett, Young, Coutinho, Hayden, Hause, Chukwuemeka, Archer, Iroegbunam

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles, Fred, Matic, Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Elanga, Cavani

Subs: Heaton, Henderson, Jones, Maguire, Mata, Lingard, Sancho, Van de Beek

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1,580 Comments Post a Comment
  1. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Is it terrible to be considering shifting Gray (after owning for 1 GW) for Jacob Ramsey???

    1. Angelic upstart
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  2. Casual Player
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    This season has officially broken my brain.

    Changed from Bruno(c) -4 to Trossard+Ronaldo(c) -8 after forcing myself to stay up to 2am to catch Rangnick unconvincingly say Ronaldo is probably ok.

    Just completely against how I play when playing well. The wrong kind of risk for me.

    Absolutely cooked myself this season.

    Well done to those who grabbed Bruno, probably one of those decisive moves that can halve your rank.

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

      For every lucky decision like Bruno or Cancelo (c) I’ve had an Antonio or Aubameyang.

      If only I could cut old the bad decisions I’d be great at this. Basically you’re going to have good and bad and a Ronaldo could still get a brace v Brentford.

      1. snow pea in repose
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        The eternal battle of patience versus fear of missing out. Stay with it...

        1. Casual Player
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          I’ve definitely erred towards fear over the last 6-8 GWs and suffered as a consequence.

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Was busy on Friday (for once) so could only log on about 20 mins before deadline and had to make a couple of impulse decisions regarding who to buy/sell/captain bench. There were so many posts to wade through regarding NLD postponements, Ronaldo injury etc and the deadline just came and went. Normally I'm pretty in the loop as can just spend Fridays catching up when it's quiet at work and make (semi) informed decisions. Botched every single decision and am sat at 8 points from 5 players. Class weekend tho.

    3. fish&chips
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I considered Bruno but based on his performances this season and the fact that Ronaldo was meant to be fine I didn't get him. I still think it was the right decision. Just a bit unlucky that Bruno hauled.

      1. Casual Player
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks, you are probably right

  3. Angelic upstart
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    This is to anyone that saw the Villa United game earlier. Was Digne on free kicks and corners? If so, was it most of them or just a few?

    In short, is he going to be an points magnet for Villa!

    1. Chelsea Rangers Loyal
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Love the name, although personally I'm more of a UK Subs man myself.

      1. Angelic upstart
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        We are the endangered species! Subs are good too.

        1. Chelsea Rangers Loyal
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Unfortunately FPL is usually a Crash Course for me! Good to hear from a kindred spirit.

    2. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      He was on a lot of them. I can’t remember what happened after Coutinho came on but I imagine he will get the lions share eventually

      1. Angelic upstart
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Excellent thanks. He's on the watchlist for the next couple weeks as I've a pile of non performing players to lose first. Whilst trying to wade my way through near weekly dgw's whilst not taking too many hits.

        1. NorCal Villan
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          He looked much better than I expected but way too soon to say he’ll be a “points magnet”

          1. Angelic upstart
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Points magnet is probably a little extreme, but I'm toying with the idea of 4-5-1 and need a couple of semi left field choices that can bring in some points. Digne seems a decent shout in theory.

  4. FPL Brains
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Hey fellow posters. A couple questions;

    - Is there a possibility of a DGW23?
    - Would it have to have been announced by now for logistics purposes?

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yes
      No

      1. FPL Brains
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Any idea on what they potentially might be?

        1. Alcapaul
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Villa, Leeds and Leicester potentially i think

  5. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Is FPL now basically taking -4s every week due to canceled fixtures and sudden DGW’s?

    Would love to start planning long term again (even with a WC to get rid of short term picks) but it seems it’s all about the very next GW with all the uncertainty

    1. Angelic upstart
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Agree, It's a massive headache and my choices are generally rushed and poor as a result as they're all a bit punty.

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Agreed, and in 2 weeks time you look at your team and it’s like- wait, why does my team look like this ?

        1. Angelic upstart
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Yes! I've currently got 2 spurs and 2 Brighton players.
          Two weeks ago, I had one and that was a placeholder for Reece James.

    2. Totti
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yes you’ve to deal with this situation
      I’m every week taking -4 and this week -8 and i was lucky with bruno

    3. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      It's such a pain.

  6. Totti
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Any hope ronaldo might not playing against brentford as my vice is bruno 🙂

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Certainly a chance

      1. Totti
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I hope so 🙂
        Fingers crossed

        1. mixology
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          But knowing Ronaldo- he’ll be eager to get back in the team to say “I’m the star- I score and get the victory “

  7. Alcapaul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Best City triple up going forward?

    1) Cancelo Laporte KDB
    2) Cancelo Foden KDB
    3 Cancelo Dias Foden

    1. Totti
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      1

    2. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      1 for me

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      1

    4. Casual Player
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      1 with Foden instead, or 3.

      I don’t see how KDB is worth the extra outlay over Foden. Feels like the cash could be put to better use.

  8. NorCal Villan
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59944993

    Martial refuses to be part of Man United lineup. Who does he think he is? Kyrie Irving? Standard issue diva NFL wide receiver?

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Players have the power these days. Yes- I’m in disagreement with the current state

    2. lugs
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      his attitude stinks, i'm not sure what club would want him, its crazy to think i had him in my gw1 team, thankfully sold him gw 2

    3. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Never heard of Kyrie Irving but I find it difficult to have much sympathy for the club here - paying them 3-4 times the wages they’d get anywhere else, you can’t be surprised when their attitude is all kinds of wrong.

      1. NorCal Villan
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Kyrie Irving is an NBA diva/flat-earther/anti-vaxer/young athlete who thinks rules are for others. On top of that, he went to Duke

        1. Grande Tubarão
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks - sounds like some specimen!

        2. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Kyries talent is off the charts though
          Not to excuse

          1. NorCal Villan
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            True but he’s more trouble than he’s worth (at least in my book)

      2. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        And now makes a loan move prohibitive as no one will stump up and pay those wages in full let alone with a fee attached. Can't believe it's got this messy.

        1. NorCal Villan
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          I find the nature of player contracts the PL/top football in general to be ungodly perplexing & fluid, especially compared to the relatively “cut & dry” contracts in pro sports here in the USA

  9. vova
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    best defender 4.5 and below?

    1. lugs
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Ait Nouri easily

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Ait Nouri got the most points of all of them today so him

      1. Casual Player
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        In fairness it was probably Ait Nouri before today. Few sub-4.5 in good defensive teams, also offering an attack threat, with decent JS.

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

    i had a successful WC i think, squad scored 70pts so far this week, its just a pity 30 of them were on my bench 😆

    DDG
    TAA,Coufal Lamptey
    Bruno(c), Bowen, Maddison, Jota
    Kane, Maupay, Dennis

    Foster, Coutinho, Ait Nouri, Cancelo