Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Sunday

Although Sunday beckons in just two Premier League fixtures, there are plenty of points at stake as four sides rich in Fantasy talent do battle. Everton play host to Manchester United in the lunchtime kick off, with the Red Devils looking to cast aside their defeat to Chelsea and snap the Toffees’ five-match unbeaten streak. Arsenal’s home clash against the Blues caps headlines the weekend’s action, with Jose Mourinho’s men all but securing the Premier League crown in the event of an Emirates win.

Everton welcome United to Goodison Park in search of their fifth victory in six outings. Roberto Martinez’s side have been particularly resilient at Goodison in recent weeks and have served up five clean sheets in the last six in front of their own fans, as Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman make a late scramble up the Fantasy standings. United are now enjoying goals from midfield, with Juan Mata (three in four), Marouane Fellaini (two in five) and Ander Herrera (two in three) all contributing to the cause.

The team news from Goodison is significant for both sides. Everton hand a start to striker Romelu Lukaku after he saw action as a substitute in the win over Burnley last time out. Leon Osman also returns to the teamsheet as Kevin Mirallas and Arouna Kone drop to the bench. As for United, they are able to welcome back Daley Blind to the midfield engine room, allowing Wayne Rooney to shift to the attack against his former club: Radamel Falcao makes way.

Sunday’s main event promises to be a tight affair that could become attritional; Arsenal and Chelsea have both conceded just seven goals in their previous 12 matches and it’s fair to say that Jose Mourinho’s side will be containing the Gunners threat as a first priority. Arsenal have recorded eight straight wins since a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur back in early February, with Olivier Giroud’s red-hot form (seven goals in as many starts) driving their success. With two goals and three assists in four league outings, Aaron Ramsey is showing glimpses of least season’s breakthrough star. Eden Hazard has delivered attacking returns in 13 of his last 17 appearances and promises to keep Arsenal occupied at the back.  

2,794 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Kshitiz Basnet
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez Gooooooooal.......
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .Kick

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      SANCHEZ GOOAAALLL

      yesterday

    2. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Kool

  2. The ghost of a Pug's g…
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez seems a bit off the pace today.

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      He's also being bullied by Ivanovic

    2. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe Ivan breaking his leg has a bit to do with it.

      1. The ghost of a Pug's g…
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Barely touched him.

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

    It says a lot about this game when most comments are about the ref

  4. Jar Jar Dinks
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal job interview:

    "Do you have good first touch?"

    "Yes."

    "You are hired. Well find a place for you somewhere."

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

      Koscielny didn't have an interview

  5. Demí
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Imagine Chelsea's defence when John Terry finally retires

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

      Won't be half as good. He's still so good

    2. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A bit less racist.

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

        That's unfair mate.

        A LOT less racist

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

        A bit less "shaggy"

    3. The Machine
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ivanovic zouma cahill azpil

      1. Camp No No
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Or Ivan Zouma Kalas Azpil.

    4. The Nuttman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Someone else will take his place.

    5. Blue Lion
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      🙁

    6. The Light Knight
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Zouma will be allowed play 😉

    7. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I was just thinking this. He organises it so well.

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

      Reads the game exceptionally well

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

      Can't be far off the best defender in the world?

  6. AIRMILES
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    After three years of long hair and pony tail, I've just had it all cut off.

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

      be prepared for the quizzical looks

      when you do "the nod" at another guy with a pony tail before remembering you don't have one anymore

      1. AIRMILES
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Yep, I know. It's sad. I'm no longer part of that select club. What have I done?

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

          you'll adapt in time... can always grow it back later (see below)

          i've saved all three of my pony tails so i can make a wig for myself later if i go bald 😉

          1. AIRMILES
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Haha! Yes, I should have asked to keep it!

        2. Gaz Downright
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          you have just had it all cut off

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

        i've gone through this process three times now... generally grow a pony tail out in years that end in 8, and then cut it in years that end in 2... it is kind of interesting going back and forth through the decades.

        1. AIRMILES
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          I just hope my hair is still able to grow when I next decide to grow it.

        2. Blue Lion
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          You did??
          😯

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

            I do and did... got a few more years before I go for round 4 😀

            1. Blue Lion
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              Aah..this explains Jr and S.Jr's long hair. 🙂

    2. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Leave the top long for one of those undercuts with a top knot, you'll be in the club again.

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

    How many people here have doubled up on Chelsea defence?

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

      As a Terry owner I wanna know if a Chelsea cleanie is even good for my rank lol

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

        Yup, only Che def I have is Ivanovic so wanted to know the same.

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

      Me

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

        Also have Giroud playing though, so I'm not sure whether a Giroud goal would suit me more.

  8. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    If Chelsea win this, league is over right?

    1. The Light Knight
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Right

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

      Yeah , but seems done and dusted anyway

    3. Red Star Toro
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Not really

    4. MMN
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No

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

      I think they have to beat Leicester

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

        Ok, so I can wait until then, to dump my three Chelsea

    6. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      If they also win midweek they've won the title officially.

  9. Blue Lion
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Bring on Drogba!!

  10. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who makes up the staff on a teams bench?

    Manager, assistant, GK coach and physio/Dr?

    1. The Machine
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Keeping defending etc

      a diving one too in chelseas case

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Defensive coaches too?

      2. Blue Lion
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Shut up already!

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

      The IT guy
      Kit man
      Magic spray man
      Walcott
      Physio

      1. Mull
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Walcott 😆

  11. Kshitiz Basnet
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Is Hazard playing as False 9 or DM?

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

      GK

      1. Kshitiz Basnet
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Thought so..

  12. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal need more Hleb

    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      what a player!!

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

    Another top 10k ownership question - if I have 1 Chelsea defender, do I want them to concede?

    1. Mull
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It probably doesn't matter either way. Average is probably 1 Chelsea defender per team.

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

        A fair few (c)'s though too I reckon?

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

          Not many at all. A couple of percent for the sum of all captains.

        2. The Light Knight
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          3.5 % not Haz and Sterling

          1. The Light Knight
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            That's 1k actually

        3. CABAYE4
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Barely any.

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

      Probably just hope your def gets bonus

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

        This is very true.

    3. The Light Knight
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      1 is average

    4. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, but only just. Terry 50%, Ivan 44%, Azpi 8%, Cahill 2%, Courtois 5% so average is about 1.09 defs.

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

        Cheers.

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

    Turn of the season from Ozil.

  15. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard playing weirdly deep

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

      It seems people were right about no striker being bad for Hazard.

  16. LMFAO
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Tik Tak Tic Tak

  17. Would an idiot do that?
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Chelsea have the league all tied up now. Why does Mouriniho insist on playing boring football that takes away from Chelsea's achievements. People respect them less when they win like this and they don't need to.

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Its not over yet

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I don't think he cares. When he retires, his trophy cabinet will be remembered, not public opinion.

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

        Public opinion will be remembered just as much.

        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Not for very long.

    3. JJO
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Cause he is a poor manager that doesnt know to play different

  18. Klopp's Kids
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Classic Chelsea game.

  19. Trigg ⭐️
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    So far, so good! Keep it up, defences and refs.

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

    0-0 at HT

    Non Shocker

  21. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    so eh Schmichael is my top points scorer..........:)

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

      Mine is Cork and he's on the bench.

    2. Nobodinho
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Same 🙂

  22. Kshitiz Basnet
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard worth 200 million....
    Looks like he is not even worth 2 million at the moment

    1. LMFAO
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I have met some pricks in my life, but you sir "is a cactus."

  23. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Frustrating too see Hazard playing so defensively.

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

      Said Mourinho..........never

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        True.

        If it were Pulis he would have been slaughtered for these tactics. However as its Mourinho it will be a stroke of genius.

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      told you about that double decker bus

  24. Numb
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Azpi nailed on for 3 baps here I guess?

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

      He always is unless someone scores 😀

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

        Baps Hoover

  25. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    So Ozil or Rambo for the DGW?

    1. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ozil for me

    2. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ozil playing better I reckon so I'll prob go for him

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Plus he's on set pieces

  26. Scratch
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Bellerin on Oscar - There's contact, not enough to make Oscar go down, dive, no pen right call
    Ospina on Oscar - Ospina clatters him, no advantage gained, that he got shot off is irrelevant, stone wall penalty.
    Cazorla on Fabregas - There's contact, not enough to make Fabregas go down, dive, no pen right call
    Cahill hand ball looked a clear cut penalty but he'd be a brave ref to award Arsenal one after the 3 shouts before it.

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

      Agree

    2. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      All of them were penalties IMO

      1. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Except for Bellerin on Oscar.

      2. Pariße
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Oscar and Fabregas never, clear dives.

        1. JÆKS ⭐
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Indeed

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

      Ospina on Oscar may have been a PK but GKs normally get the benefit of the doubt. Rarely see those called.

      I remember the West Ham vs Man U match this year there was a similar scenario where Adrian knocked out Falcao after he took a shot and it wasn't called either.

      1. Billy Gilmore
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        You almost never see penalties given if the player got their shot off, regardless of whether it was the GK or an outfield player. The 'fouled' player rarely appeals either.

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

          Agree.

          Chelsea players didn't even appeal because they know they will never get that call as well.

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

      I agree except for that Cahill handball
      On target clear handball clear penalty

  27. dmcqt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Have to say I'm enjoying the game. Very strategic. Arsenal pushing with skill and fast passing; Chelsea trying to close down space. A few brilliant moments from Ramsey, Özil, and Sánchez have almost opened it up. Very skillful and tense so far. Good viewing! Not so great for fantasy football with both Fabregas and Hazard sitting deep.

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It's a fast paced game but certainly nothing interesting. Very dull IMO.

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

      Amazing match. Very intense and some crucial intricate plays.

      Too bad everything on here is judged from a fantasy perspective. I'm certainly enjoying it.

  28. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Ozil miles ahead in the Baps 😯

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      not 60 mins yet

    2. The Light Knight
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      He's so MoneySupermarket

      1. The Light Knight
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Most touches, 100% Shot on target (1), 3 Key passes, 5 Dribbles, 1 Tackle, 95.7% Pass completion

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

      he's been solid today. but the cleanie points at full time will push him down the list

  29. Big Bad Barry
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling @ prayers being answered so far! Fabergas goal please

  30. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Carra says the first pen claim was a pen

    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      how do you now that's what he said?