Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Sunday

Sunday’s events continue with both Merseyside teams in action as Everton host Leicester City at Goodison and Liverpool make the testing trip to the south coast to take on Southampton.

It’s four home matches without a win for Everton as they host Nigel Pearson’s Foxes – a team that have lost four on the bounce going into today’s meeting. Leighton Baines, who’d notched assists in two of his last five appearances before succumbing to injury, is back in contention after being passed fit by Roberto Martinez on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has registered a solitary goal in the past 11 Gameweeks, but heads into this fixture with momentum, having recorded his first hat-trick for the Toffees in their midweek Europa tie. Likewise, the Belgian’s opposite number, Andrej Kramaric, arrives in fine fettle having netted in the Leicester’s past two matches in all competitions.

Gameweek 26 concludes with a clash between Champions League hopefuls Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary’s Stadium, as Brendan Rodgers’ unit attempt to extend their unbeaten run to 10 league matches. Daniel Sturridge has delivered a goal and two assists in three appearances since recovering from injury, whilst fit-again Raheem Sterling has notched two goals and assists in his previous six league matches. The Reds face a tough task in breaching a Saints backline that has served up a clean sheet in eight of their 13 St Mary’s matches, though, whilst Ronald Koeman will be desperate for Graziano Pelle to get amongst the goals to end an eight-match barren run.

2,758 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Fais
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    66 points off top if the world...that's doable right?

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

      With a bit of luck

    2. Caine & Co.
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      no

    3. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm just over 100 and not given up hope just yet.

      1. Fais
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        It's the hope that kills you but also that keeps you going...

        1. RabMac
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          This is only my second season and my aim was top 10K which looks doable as in top 800 at the moment. However, still a long way to go and I know you can just as easily slide as you can rise.

          Good luck in your quest for number 1 as you are in with a good shout. 😀

    4. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      You'll need a superb end to the season.

      I'm in a similar spot at 63 off the top

      1. Bojaninho
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Sames, jinswick you in the 40s?

  2. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Think this is a good week to wildcard

    Costa, PVA, Wisdom, Jones all out

    1. Seb Wassell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'd say it is a great weekend to do it, especially if you can't get 11 out next week.

    2. sumatera
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Dont sell costa.

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        He is useless

    3. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      why is jones out?

  3. Seb Wassell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    So leading on from the discussion on previous pages -

    In your opinion, who would be give England the best chance in the Champions League next season?

    For me:

    1. Chelsea
    2. City
    3. Arsenal
    4. United (just)

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Chelsea
      City
      Arsenal
      Liverpool

      1. Seb Wassell
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        If between now and August United don't improve and Liverpool do I'd happily concede to this.

        1. Licky
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          The real problem is LVG, he's always worked under a DF for his 'success' seems clueless to me, and it's always ended badly before for him.

      2. mookie
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        +1

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Liverpool over Man United.

      1. Licky
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Depends for me, a lot will change in the summer, and Brenda might not be there (considering a DF may be appointed, which BR doesn't want) and if Rodgers is there he may revert back to his stupid possession football again.

        1. Seb Wassell
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          I think this is what I'm basing my Livepool/United choice on. I can only see United improving, tactically and transfer wise, whilst Liverpool could potentially go either way?

          1. Licky
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            To be fair Liverpool don't need to change much, but the wage bill will have to be reduced and some will be sold, with maybe a GK, Midfielder and a Striker coming in.

            1. Seb Wassell
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              It probably comes down to can the best of the team be kept fit and can BR settle on a consistently successful system and actually sign players that suit it.

              1. Licky
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 1 month ago

                There's the problem and my worry though, great coach as we can see, but not a good manager from his interviews, signings and the fact he keeps reverting to a system that doesn't work and costs us, and may well do this season. We need a top class DF to keep the club ticking over well.

                1. Seb Wassell
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  9 years, 1 month ago

                  Ironically what BR doesn't want and what you need could be the same thing; a quality DoF as you say?

                2. Seb Wassell
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  9 years, 1 month ago

                  Ps. Re-reading my post above, isn't that what all sides need!?

                  - Their best players fit, more and better players and a good tactic. I'll make a manager yet 😛

                  1. Licky
                    • 11 Years
                    9 years, 1 month ago

                    Haha, true, that's why I'm guessing BR could still be out in the summer, he has a long way to go to make a great manager. 😉

    3. Not Irish
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It's all up in the air between us, Pool and Spurs. Arsrenal's run in is rather favorable so they'd need to really screw the pooch to miss out.

      1. Seb Wassell
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Agreed. Often seems to go this way for Arsenal, probably the safest bet.

        1. Not Irish
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          I don't think anyone but Ruth read your question. 😆

      2. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Us?

        1. Hibbo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Big United fan.

        2. Not Irish
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Manch Yoonited 😎

    4. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Are we talking about winning it?

      In that case only Chelsea would have a prayer and even they would need to strengthen in the summer.

      1. Seb Wassell
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        You're probably not wrong, but by the laws of UEFA you gotta have three others in there, and you never know.

    5. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      None of the English teams are good enough to win the Champions League if that what you mean?

      1. Granville
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I think Chelsea are. Tactically Mourinho can make sure every game is low scoring and they can sneak it.

        1. The Mighty I
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Agreed, and this year in particular there looks to be no dominant european giant.

        2. Seb Wassell
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          The Mourinho-factor definitely gives them a chance.

        3. Hibbo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Just my opinion Granville and we will see how it pans out.

          Everyone keeps telling us how good Chelsea are but what i've seen recently myself i'm not convinced.

          Courtois kept them in the tie vs Paris. And to me they are fairly weak opposition in comparison to the big hitters.

          I think they are defensively quite suspect for a classic Mourinho side.

          1. Seb Wassell
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            What you describe above is almost exactly what happened when they won it however. Cech did more than his fair share.

            1. Hibbo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              Haha fair point.

            2. Wilshere Knowledge
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              That Chelsea run was really a one off. Incredibly lucky to win the CL. If you use that as an example, you could make a case for Monaco winning the CL.

              1. Seb Wassell
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 1 month ago

                My point however is that they "did a Mourinho" without actually having Mourinho. The chances of a repeat performance must be increased with the genuine article at the helm.

      2. Seb Wassell
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Quite possibly so. In that case I suppose "best chance" translates to semi-finals/quarter-finals/not embarrassing all us lovely English folk.

      3. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Of course they are. That's not to say they are the best teams in the competition, they aren't, but with some luck along the way they are all capable....unlikely but capable.

        1. Hibbo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah luck, chance, all planets aligning at once yeah but i wouldnt rate any of them in the top 3 or 4 teams in the competition is what I mean.

          1. Dr Dream
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Yep...you're right...Cup competitions can be strange creatures though...

          2. Seb Wassell
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            At first glance I would put Bayern, Real and Barca (+ maybe Atletico) ahead of them. But on reflection I could see Mourinho beating every one, and recently each of them have had slips in their respective games.

            1. Dr Dream
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              Arsenal have a chance of being underestimated by opponents...which can actually be a good thing...Works better if it was just one leg instead of two of course.

              1. Hibbo
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 1 month ago

                If Arsenal have a back four and a holding midfielder theyd be the boys to watch. I just think again defensively they arent strong enough. Christ im starting to sound like some kind of Alan Hansen cliche.

                1. Seb Wassell
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  9 years, 1 month ago

                  On their day Arsenal are one of the absolute best. Unfortunately, down to the reasons we all know, those days are few and far between.

    6. The Mighty I
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Chelsea
      City
      United (With investment)
      Arsenal

  4. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Thinking about this:

    Terry to Koschielny

    and

    Oscar to Di Maria

  5. Voodoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    What are people doing next week:

    A) no hits
    B) -4
    C) -8
    D) -12

    I'm going for B

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      1 transfer, carrying 2 over for the DGW.

    2. Wiz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A (2 FTs) 😎

    3. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. mgilbert86
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      prob a -4 that's prob a -2 if in fact pva is dropped

    5. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      (-4)...same as every week.

    6. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A and playing with 10 if PVA doesn't feature.

    7. mookie
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A or B

    8. nosejob
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

    9. The Mighty I
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A (2 FTs)

    10. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A 2 FT

      1. Bojaninho
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        A

  6. el_haf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Wasilewski and PvA out for Bruce and Aldy for free?

    Would have 11 for next week then.

    1. nosejob
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Wait for presser re: Toby

    2. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      who is aldy ??

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Alderweireld.

  7. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Guys, Who are best 2 Defenders for next GWwith 10.6 M ?

    1. Jay10
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Rojo & Bellerin

  8. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    With only Kane today, that went about as well as I could have hoped for. Sterling the only negative.

  9. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Has Ben Davies been playing in the CoC so far?

  10. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    is toby a back next week?

    1. Lucy.
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Koeman hopes so.

  11. Jay10
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    10 of my 15 players played less than 60 mins
    Only 51..just when I thought I was progressing.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      That must be a record

      I hope must of them were on your bench

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      You still beat plenty who had 11 x 60+

    3. Jay10
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      8 of the 10 didn't even start

  12. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    A) Terry -> Aldy/Wolly
    B) Oscar -> Sterling
    C) Terry & PVA -> Aldy & Wolly
    D) Terry & Oscar -> Aldy/Wolly & Sterling/ADM

    Lining up Eriksen and 1 of Lloris/Vert/Austin next week

    Foster
    Clichy, Bellerin, Haidara, PVA
    Sanchez, Silva, Santi
    Aguero, Ayoze

    Myhill, Terry, Hazard, Oscar, Kane
    Bank 0.6m, 2FT, 1WC

    1. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      D

      1. 50 Shades Oshea
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        my post below. not sure if you should get rid of terry. would get rid of pva and wolly for aldy and sterling

    2. Ready Manager One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'd go for B and keep Chelsea defence for double gw

      Btw, is clichy playing? I'm thinking of getting rid of him for next gw, prob for bellerin or Aldy.

  13. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hi lads only had one reply. i am in a serious mess after today. any advice please.

    Foster
    pva, naughton, kosielcny, baird
    Silva, ADM, Cazorla, (vc)walters
    (c) Aguero

    long bench Kane, costa, vlaar, hazard.

    pva and baird likely not to feature.

    1FT what should I do??? 8 players likely only to play next week.

    A) out costa and vlaar for haidara and sturridge.

    B) save and play with 8 players and bring eriksen and toby for adm and baird next week.

    c) benteke/giroud/ings/cisse//sakho and toby a in for costa and baird?

    thanks

    1. Odikostar
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Baird> someone you can afford. PVA could play and not worth -4 for anyone.
      Costa> Giroud if you're not getting him back any time soon.
      +1 for the name btw 😉

      1. 50 Shades Oshea
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        haha thanks mate

    2. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      C

      1. 50 Shades Oshea
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        thanks emp

  14. Lucy.
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I'm pretty sure some of you are being so harsh about Saints because you got carried away in the first place. I always said top 6 would be dream world. Some of you said top 4 and now our limitations are disappointing you. We don't have the squad to compete with our rivals, nor have we spent much, in terms of net sales.

    1. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      ye i agree with you lucy, top 6 would be amazing considering you sold 3 players to liverpool...

    2. Zombie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It's sad that you or any other Saints fan need to justify themselves. It's amazing what they have, they have lost at season start and what they have done with it.

      Same goes for West Ham fans

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It would have been a fairy tale to finish in the top 4 - but be happy because you're doing much better than most expected. If Pelle could just recover his confidence and form ......

  15. New Article Posted
  16. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Which defender to choose to replace Wisdon?

    A) Colocini

    B) Trippier

    C) Taylor

    D) Other suggestion for 4.9 mil

    1. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      toby a for me, should be back

  17. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    best costa replacement. brought him in for burnley...

    views

    A) save

    B) cisse- second best goal ratio to mins after aguero with villa at home

    C) rooney- if van is out... although i have di marie already.

    d) sakho- will play 90 and west ham looked good

    e) giroud- my last choice

    thanks

  18. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who to swap Colback for?

    A) Downing

    B)Siggy

    C) other for 7 million

    1. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      mane or hendo other decent options or walters and upgrade elsewhere

      1. 50 Shades Oshea
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        b as downing fixtures are awful after this week

  19. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    is anyone going for a rooney punt next week if van is injured?

    thanks