January
19

Saturday Dugout Discussion

Filed under: Dugout Discussion - Posted by: Mark

Despite Mother Nature’s best efforts, today’s Premier League schedule remains intact which means we’ve seven matches to look forward too and seven opportunities to harvest Fantasy points. There are some big names with big prospects on show, as both Man City and Liverpool encounter friendly opponents at home, while Michu targets the Stoke defence and West Ham play the first of their two fixtures in the Gameweek. Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open for those looking to come in from the cold. We can’t promise a log fire but we can warm you with shared joy and agony as the ninety minutes roll by in today’s matches.

The team news from today’s three o’clocks finds Roberto Mancini select an unchanged side from the starting XI that earned the points at Arsenal, which means that both Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero fidget on the bench, gloves ‘an all. Daniel Sturridge is given his full debut in front of the Anfield faithful as Brendan Rodgers rings the changes for the clash with Norwich. Suprisingly, Martin Skrtel drops to the bench to make way for Jamie Carragher, while Pepe Reina is out of the squad through injury, as Brad Jones comes in between the sticks. Raheem Sterling gives way to Sturridge, while Jordan Henderson starts ahead of Joe Allen. The Norwich lineup at Anfield is also interesting, with Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington dropping to the bench; Seb Bassong is out of the squad although did travel according to reports: an injury of some kind presumably is at play.

Down in London, Loic Remy gets his QPR debut at Upton Park as expected; the home side make a string of changes as Marouane Chamakh earns his debut in place of Carlton Cole who drops to the bench. Mark Noble is back, as is Joey O’Brien who earns an instant recall to left-back as Dan Potts drops out. At the Stadium of Light, Alfred N’Diaye is another making a full debut today – he comes into the midfield for James McClean who drops to the bench; David Vaughan keeps his start and Seb Larsson looks set to shift to a wide role.

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Scout Picks

Team of the Season 2012/13

  • Jääskeläinen
  • Baines
  • Vertonghen
  • Zabaleta
  • Davies
  • Walcott
  • Mata
  • Michu
  • Bale
  • Suárez
  • van Persie
  • Evra
  • Cazorla
  • Benteke

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Goalkeepers

Player Club Factors
No Change Hart MCI B, Vs
Up Cech CHE B, Vs
Up Robles WIG C, Vs, £
No Change Lloris TOT C, Vs
No Change Foster WBA C, Vs
No Change Vorm SWA C, Vs
No Change Mignolet SUN B, Vs
No Change De Gea MUN A
Up Boruc SOT B, Vs, £
No Change Jääskeläinen WHM A
No Change Begovic STO C
No Change Howard EVE A

Defenders

Player Club Factors
No Change Kompany MCI B, Vs, Rest
No Change Vertonghen TOT A, Vs, Rest
Up Luiz CHE A, Vs, Rest
No Change Baines EVE A
Up Boyce WIG C, Vs, OoP
Down Bassong NOR B, Vs
Up McAuley WBA C, Vs
Down Johnson LIV B
Up Jones MUN A
No Change Sagna ARS B
Up Huth STO C
No Change Cuéllar SUN B, Vs, £
No Change Rangel SWA C, Vs
Up Clyne SOT B, Vs, £

Midfielders

Player Club Factors
Up Bale TOT A, Vs
No Change Mata CHE C, Vs, Rest
Up Walcott ARS C, OoP
Up Hazard CHE B, Vs, Rest, Inj
Up Maloney WIG B, Vs, £
No Change Y Touré MCI B, Vs
No Change Silva MCI B, Vs, Inj
No Change Fellaini EVE C
No Change Coutinho LIV B
Up Morrison WBA C, Vs
Down Cazorla ARS C
No Change Snodgrass NOR B
Up Kagawa MUN B, Rest
Up Walters STO B
Down Lallana SOT C, Vs
Down Sissoko NEW C

Forwards

Player Club Factors
Up Tevez MCI A, Vs, Rest
Up Koné WIG B, Vs, £
Down van Persie MUN A, Vs
Up Sturridge LIV B
Up Lukaku WBA B, Vs, Rest
Up Benteke AVL A
Down Aguero MCI B, Vs, Inj
Up Rodriguez SOT A, Vs, £
Up Defoe TOT B, Vs, Rest
Down Lambert SOT C, Vs
Down Rooney MUN C
Up Carroll WHM A, VsX
Up Ba CHE C, Vs, Rest
Down Berbatov FUL C
Up Cissé NEW B
Down Remy QPR B

Selection Factors

A, B, C Current Form
Vs Favourable Fixtures
VsX Unfavourable Fixtures
Rest Rotation Risk
Inj Injured/Returning from Injury
OoP Out of Position
£ Potential Bargain
Sus Suspended/Near Suspension

“I love to attack and I love to go up front...It is a little more difficult than when you are playing centre-back. If you play the way that I want to play, I think my influence is better as a left-back. For the team, it is best that I play as a centre-back. I like to bring the ball out. You need to move the game quickly, and that is one of my qualities as well.”

Jan Vertonghen outlines what he feels is his best position for Andre Villas-Boas