Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Monday

The Gameweek concludes with a clash of the titans. The first “humdinging” encounter of the season finds Man United host Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, handing David Moyes a huge test in his first Premier League match in front of the Old Trafford faithful.

In Fantasy terms, our focus will be on Robin van Persie after he started the season in devastating style with a brace at the Liberty Stadium. With thousands backing the Dutchman with the armband and ownership of Chelsea’s assets still high after their double Gameweek, tonight’s outcome could provide the catalyst for a big mini-league swing.

The team news is in and, once again, there’s a couple of surprises in store.

Wayne Rooney starts for the hosts in the only change from the team that swept aside Swansea at the Liberty in Gameweek 1. Ryan Giggs drops out for the former Everton man, who is likely to line up on the left, with Danny Welbeck tucking in behind Robin Van Persie and Antonio Valencia out wide on the right.

Jose Mourinho names nine of the same XI that started against Villa last Wednesday evening. Juan Mata makes way for Kevin De Bruyne on the right, while Demba Ba is replaced by summer signing Andre Schurrle as the visitors line up without a recognised striker in their ranks – Romelu Lukaku once again misses out for the third match in a row, with Ba left out of the squad completely.

Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open and will be available throughout this evening’s match.

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

2,205 Comments Post a Comment
  1. PGR
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    GO UNITED!!!

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    1. Large Hardon Colluder
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      damn, no down vote 😉

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  2. Nice1Cyrille
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Hazard to score plenty tonight! C'mon!

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  3. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Good luck those with nobody playing 😀

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    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      godspeed 🙂

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    2. AAAAA
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Best of all luck to all 4 of them on my part 🙂

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    3. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Raises hand.

      1-1 please.

      Carrick and Shirley scorers.

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      1. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 6 months ago

        OGs

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  4. Alan The Llama
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Cmon Mickey Hazard

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    1. GlasgowFF
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      +1

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  5. Hakuho FPL
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Welbeck!!!!!!

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  6. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Crazy starting 11. Crazy.

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  7. Back on the horse
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    These dugout pics have definitely gone up a league. Well done, FFS... oh and good articles and analysis and all that shit.

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    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      😛

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  8. heeljames
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Lukaku owners, who are you replacing him with?

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    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Anyone

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    2. r0nh
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Keeping

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      1. Back on the horse
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 6 months ago

        keep him until he scores a hattrick. that'll shwo Mourinho, then he will be undroppable. it's just a matter of time

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    3. DLL18
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Giroud, done yesterday.

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    4. An Púca
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Grioud...tonight was last chance!

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  9. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Masterstroke playing Rooney tonight.

    He even looks like he can't be arsed against Chelsea and Old Trafford will crucify him.

    Well played Moyes.

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  10. rohan
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    C'mon Chelsea

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  11. HellasLEAF
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    0 - 0 please

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  12. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    chelsea bid this afternoon is the reason rooney starts. Be interesting to see how he performs

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  13. sigaam
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    on another topic...

    What is the situation with the TOT defence? Dawson nailed on ?

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  14. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Score predictions, guys? I'm going to go for a 2-2 draw. I can see goals at both ends!

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    1. Exilizer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      0-2 to Chelsea. No RVP joy.

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  15. Exilizer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Predictions?

    0-2 To chelsea.

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  16. .
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Chelsea to expose Cleverly as the poor midfielder he is tonight.

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  17. Jack Frost
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Bony, Lukaku, Anelka are 8-10th most owned strikers around 10.5% each. Each worth an aspirin.

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    1. Exilizer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Actually aspirin gives you less of an headache than having those players!

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    2. heeljames
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      This was my starting XI for the season 🙁

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  18. Portsmouth Bubblejet
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Schürrle is most effective on the counter-attack, when opposing teams have left spaces in their defence by having the confidence to attack. So tonight's match against strong opposition is precisely the kind of game he's suited for, as he's often stifled and forced out wide when weaker teams pack the defence.

    The problem is that Schürrle hasn't played centrally too much recently for Leverkusen (and Mourinho hasn't really given him enough game time before a big game such as this.) Nevertheless, the team selection isn't as strange as people are making out.

    Very much looking forward to seeing de Bruyne too, who deserves a starting place for Chelsea.

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    1. rohan
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Post of the day

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    2. Back on the horse
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      yeah de bruyne has been added to my watchlist. not that means anything in real life...

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  19. The one who has a knock
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Bizzare to have 3 strikers and play none

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  20. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    This whole Mata thing smacks of a classic Mourinho ego-trip.

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    1. AAAAA
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      It really does, doesn't it.
      But its baffling why he hasn't taken to him - class player and comes across as a nice bloke too

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  21. John of Arc
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Please no Lukaku minutes at all!

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    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Hat trick

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    2. CarelessGenius©
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      - plenty. Without his appearance I've fielded only ten. In gw2?

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    3. DLL18
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      +1 Collins waiting patiently with his 7pts on my bench.

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  22. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Earwig 0 ...

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  23. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Valencia just 7.5M, anyone with me?

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    1. FPL Touches
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Valencia and Schurrle could both emerge as mid-price midfield options tonight!

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  24. FISSH
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Lampard to shine once again

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    1. SuperOsçarBaby
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      he will fail to impress and will subbed off for v ginkel.

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  25. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Rooney's got a new barnet......

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  26. SuperOsçarBaby
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Schurrle will play as Drogba role, counter attack 😀

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  27. Matt
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    The Garden of Eden was named after Hazard

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    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Mmmmmm.....

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  28. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Proud moment for Moyes. He looks chuffed.

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  29. Acquafresca
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Fergie only lost 34 of 405 home matches 😯 Holy fook.

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    1. Acquafresca
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      talk about big shoes to fill....

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