January
30

Wednesday Dugout Discussion

Filed under: Dugout Discussion - Posted by: Mark

Six more Premier League encounters bring Gameweek 24 to a conclusion this evening, with a plethora of heavy-hitting Fantasy talent on show. While Robin Van Persie sports the Fantasy armband for thousands against the Saints at Old Trafford, our remnant Arsenal double Gameweek assets face up to Liverpool at the Emirates. With Juan Mata and company looking to deny Reading their third straight victory and Everton facing an enticing home match-up with an out-of-form West Brom, there are points in the air tonight as Phil Collins might say.

Our Dugout Discussion chatroom now has its net cast wide, looking to gobble them up, along with the joy and agony of those within its virtual walls.

The big team news tonight is that Rafa Benitez chooses to stick with Fernando Torres up front for the trip to Reading; the Spaniard keeps his starting role having notched from his 90 minutes against Brentford in the Cup, Ba is presumably being preserved for the weekend trip to former club Newcastle. There’s no John Terry in the Blues lineup either, while Ryan Bertrand retains a midfield role in the absence of Eden Hazard.

Elsewhere, David Moyes makes the decision to drop Nikica Jelavic following his poor run of form; the inclusion of Johnny Heitinga is likely to see Marouane Fellaini restored to his advanced role in tandem with either Victor Anichebe or Kevin Mirallas. At Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson tweaks the ire of Fantasy managers by resting Rafael – Chris Smalling comes in at right-back as United take on Southampton who themselves make a change at full-back: Luke Shaw is replaced by Danny Fox. Chris Hughton brings back Seb Bassong, Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington as Norwich look to end a dismal run of results as they host Spurs. Andre Villas-Boas rings the changes from their FA Cup at the hands of Leeds – Jermain Defoe is fit to return, whilst Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson and Mousa Dembele are also drafted back in.

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“Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.”

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  1. Do we think Anichebe will keep his place?

  2. got dawson and zaba as current main pairing,
    gibbs>5.9

    which one?

    a) JEnrique
    b) JEvans
    c) Nasty
    d) Azpil
    e) Sagna
    f) Huth

    1. if you had to pick one of those, evans

    2. enrique for double - thats my plan anyway

  3. Ramirez injured or taken off for tactical reasons?

  4. BAPS tonite or tomorrow?

      1. thank you GB

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 understand you don't consider Dempsey a striker. He has developed into playing in different positions, but for me he is a pure striker. ”

Andre Villas-Boas reveals his views on Clint Dempsey's best position.