Dugout Discussion
26 February 2012 2162 comments
Akers Akers
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Three games wrap up Gameweek 26 today, before Liverpool and Cardiff square off at Wembley. The Dugout Discussion opens for the Premier League games, but will stay open until the Carling Cup is handed to the winning captain.

We start with the televised North London derby, as Harry’s Spurs look to reign supreme over their arch rivals. The Champions are also in action, making their trip to Carrow Road to face all-but-safe Norwich City. The team sheets from both games are in, and are as follows…

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Song, Walcott, Benayoun, van Persie.

Spurs XI: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale, Saha, Adebayor.

Yossi Benyaoun starts at the expense of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the home side, and Laurent Koscielny comes through a fitness test to play. As for the visitors, Louis Saha retains his starting role, which keeps Rafael Van der Vaart on the substitute bench. He partners Emmanuel Adebayor up front, who once again faces his former club.

Norwich XI: Ruddy, Naughton, Ward, Whitbread, Drury, Pilkington, Fox, Johnson, Surnam, Holt, Jackson.

Man United XI: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Welbeck, Hernandez.

For the Canaries, Simeon Jackson gets the nod ahead of Steve Morison, and Zak Whitbred is passed fit for the game. Looking to bounce back from midweek defeat, Sir Alex makes eight changes to his starting line-up. It includes Ryan Giggs, who makes his 900th club appearance today.

Before the final whistle blows in those games, Stoke host Swansea in the last game of the week. The Dugout Discussion is open, and can be accessed right here.

Akers Richard or Akers, as he is known, has been regularly haunting this site since July 2008. He is young and foolish, take what he says with a pinch of salt. Follow them on Twitter

  1. ★FC Borecelona★
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    At least Liverpool are guaranteed Europa League football next year 🙂

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  2. Pasqualinho
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    English teams always win penalty shootouts when they're taken in the right-hand goal (as the TV camera looks at it). Strange but true.

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    1. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      spain euro 96? it's true

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      1. Pasqualinho
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Not only that - England losses vs Germany '96, Argentina '98, Portugal '04, Portugal '06 - all at the left-hand end. Liverpool beat Roma European Cup '84, AC Milan '05 - both at the right-hand end. It's uncanny.

        Harry Redknapp take note.

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        1. applebonkers
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          outrageous observation

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    2. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      may watch the next one upside down

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      1. Pasqualinho
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I can totally understand why you don't own a mirror.

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  3. Bolt-on
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    That trophy looks like its made out of foil.

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    1. Damo.
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Man it's not going to work.

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  4. paul ince
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    At least Kenny Dalgleish has dressed for the occasion.

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  5. (sir) 'arry from totnu…
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Time to celebrate until reality settles in again hopefully Kenny will get rid of some of the trash so I wont have to jump off a bridge when we get kicked out by some no name team in Europa league again.

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  6. Indalo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Average score predictions after bonus points added?

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      44

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    2. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      π³

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  7. â­ Bemba_Da â­
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    if any of the bigger teams gave a sh!t about the carling cup liverpool would not be winning it

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    1. Waldaz
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah City were not interested at all...

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      1. Granville
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah right they weren't.

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    2. Jukesy
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Didn't they beat full strength United and City sides?

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      1. ReinaMan
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        United was FA cup

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        1. Jukesy
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Ahh, I must've meant Chelsea.

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      2. Jukesy
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Also, you're using my favourite childhood excuse ever. "Ye well I didn't wanna win it anyway".

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      3. zyad947
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        United did not play liverpools in the carling cup!

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      4. Cruicky
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Utd was FA Cup.

        They beat Brighton, Stoke away, Chelsea away, City over two legs and now Cardiff. Decent. However, Europa League qualification awaits.....

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    3. udit
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Untrue actually, I believe MANC played their best team vs liverpool.

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    4. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Do you consider the FA Cup a big competition because they beat United in that?

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    5. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Agree. This trophy paints over the cracks that liverpool are an average team at best.

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      1. Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        We are, but a trophy is a trophy and Liverpool have a great chance at the cup double.

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        1. udit
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Congrats anyway Mull, no matter how critical I and the others, it's still an occasion worthy of celebrating.

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          1. udit
            • 15 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            *I and the others are.

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        2. Bolt-on
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          You won't that lucky twice - average at best

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  8. Back on the horse
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    hollow victory really - so many misses

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  9. zyad947
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Yay assist awarded to Simpson!!!!

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  10. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Any chance for Shawcross baps?

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    1. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      can't see it. upson crouch and shotton

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I guess the 3 last GW was good enough. The only differential with my Mini League leader is my Shawcross/Sigurdsson to his Evans/Sessegnon. Down to 21 points. 🙂

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  11. Cruicky
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Congrats Liverpool. However, with Chelsea and Arsenal winning in the league this weekend, it may be short lived.

    Priorities.

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  12. JK - Cønt â­
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    main rival took a 4 pointer this week

    Valencia and Ade âž¡ Yaya and Rooney

    May come off in the long run, but bad for this week, and by the time it pays off I will have brought have Rooney in for free 🙂

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  13. Cruicky
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    New Post.

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  14. JK - Cønt â­
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    who played Doos this week in the Europa?

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Mac. He has just nosed it with Simpson's assist and Home advantage.

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      1. JK - Cønt â­
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Mac = my new hero 😛

        love you

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        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Goodness. You are turning out to be somewhat of a disappointment. ðŸ˜

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          1. JK - Cønt â­
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            😆 😛

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    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      May the blessings of Allah be upon him. 😉

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  15. adziom
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Classic Carling Cup final fallout

    Winners: Get in we won the Carling Cup
    Everyone Else: Get over it, its only the Carling Cup
    Winners: We beat xxx, yyy and zzz on the way to the final, they played full strength sides.

    Yada yada yada.

    May as well re-read this post 100 times while you're at it, it'll save you reading 99% of posts on all football-related websites and Facebook for the rest of the evening.

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    1. udit
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Haha, This.

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    2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      My Facebook wall is full of abuse from arsenal fans actually.. Tagged in about 5 different piss taking photos already

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  16. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    42 points before bonus without Rooney playing and sold RVP for Aguero with Ba captain. Could have been a lot worse?

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    1. Baby Face Nelson
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      sold rvp? haha

      im guesing you will be buying him back next week

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      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I was considering RVP about 5 minutes before he scored today. I think he has to be kept. There aren't many more who can score 2/3 against any team...

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  17. Ancelotti's Eyebrow
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Who is more likely of getting a bonus? Aguero or Silva? This could decide my league H2H.

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  18. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone reckon Schwatzer might pick up an BP's ?

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    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Hopefully because I have him.

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  19. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I think I kinda fluked 51 points despite captaining Ba.
    I have had a bad fpl month. The doubling up on city's defence with kompany and richards was not a wise choice. I figured Aguero was "not worth it" since he only did well at home. I also brought in QPR cisse and kept Vermaelen.
    Long story short any advice I give do the opposite...
    For the record I am expecting everton and west brom to have strong finishes to the season, based on fixtures and form.

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    1. coriswrasse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      +1 Odemwengie looking like quite the differential

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