Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – West Brom vs Middlesbrough

Sunday’s events get underway at the Hawthorns as West Brom seek to end a barren run of results on home turf against a confident Middlesbrough side.

Tony Pulis’ men have earned just a single point from their last five matches in front of their own fans, having lost out 2-1 to Everton in Gameweek 2.

In contrast, the visitors arrive in the midlands having earned their first three points on their return to the top flight courtesy of a 2-1 win at Sunderland in the Wear-Tees derby.

Boro are forced to shuffle their back four in the absence of left-back George Friend through injury, but Daniel Ayala is fit to start and makes his first appearance of the season.

As for West Brom, they shift Jonny Evans to central defence with Jonas Olsson dropping to the bench. Brendan Galloway makes his first Baggies start in the league at left-back, while young Sam Field makes his debut in midfield in what looks to be a five-man setup. Saido Berahino and Craig Gardner make way.

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

1,352 Comments Post a Comment
  1. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    It's Aguero day.

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Happy Aguero day everyone! Especially Zlatan captainers.

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        ,,||,,

    2. BPlease
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Comment of the GW.

    3. Mick J
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Agüoro will get a yellow card and get subbed off at 59. I got 23 total yesterday, so this is the only thing I am missing.

  2. Podge
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Sleep it out ? 😆

  3. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Need more WBA corners

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Does Foster take them?

      1. Jazz!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        😀

    2. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Agreed...need something special from Evans.

      Yes, it's already got that desperate.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Are you planning on wildcarding? Feels like a slow start for most.

        1. Mark
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 17 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          I'm very very tempted. Might happen tonight.

          1. goriuanx
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            Always a good time to use it during the international break. Good luck either way.

          2. Forlorn Hope
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            What is it that's tempting you to wildcard. No sign of it on the Scoutcast or on the FPL videos.

            1. goriuanx
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              I think he mentioned it on the FPL show.

      2. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Why Evans over McAuley?

        1. Mark
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 17 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Puzzled me that one. Somehow my thought process took me to Evans - really can't recall the logic. Seems flawed now, obviously.

          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            A lot on your plate lately, 😉 GL btw.

          2. Smurf
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            I think possible Gareth's age was putting a fair few people off as they thought he may be dropped for a younger model?

            1. Mark
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 17 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              There was talk of him not being as secure as I remember. Then all that Evans to Arsenal talk had me imagining the impossible.

            2. Bunk Moreland
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              Yes, for me it was McCauley's age.

            3. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              A CB in a Pulis side only has to trot forward for the odd corner. No running back required.

          3. RubeRx
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            Most likely because Evans is more BPS friendly..

            1. wh05nxt
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              Very much this. Only reason to get him over oldie McAuley or more expensive Dawson. I went for the latter personally, still waiting for it to pay off.

  4. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Latest article of the week.....

  5. flipperallstars
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    It's rondon Sunday

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Japanese tourist doing a City a day? 😛

      1. flipperallstars
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

      2. Exeter Gently
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        herro

  6. Jazz!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    So if it remains 0-0 till the 90th min and Brom get a corner, will Foster go up for it?

    😛

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      It would be rude not to!

  7. Parm
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Evans leading the early baps race

    1. Jazz!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      *cue injury*

    2. flipperallstars
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Red card incoming

  8. Podge
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    I miss Juninho 🙁

    1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      & Afonso Alves

      1. AC Tomasso
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        I remember when they signed Ravanelli!

        1. Goodricke
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          first or second time?

  9. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    I haven't seen a live West Brom game in a while. Not usually my first choice, but they seem to be playing well!!

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      It's crazy what FPL does to you. I mean, here I am watching WBA vs. Boro. Never did I think...

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      :ozil:

  10. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    McClean, Fletcher, Jacob, Rondon - the embodiment of Pulis. Spare a moment for the West Brom fans who's weekend light relief from living in Birmingham is to watch this team play football.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Harsh on Rondon.

    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Rondon is actually a good player.

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      That's a good one. What self respecting striker chooses to go to West Brom under Pulis? He can't think highly of himself.

  11. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Has Ramirez scored yet?

    1. BPlease
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Not this week bruh.

  12. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    HOLDDDD HOOLLDDDDDD

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      hold the door

      1. Lawrø
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Too soon 🙁

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Holgate

  13. lcfc123
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Need a 6.5 mid. What do people think about Milner? I know he is playing as left back but he is on penalties and has a good cross on him

    1. Jazz!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      No no no.

      1. lcfc123
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Haha strong no then.. Shipping out deu and cant find a decent replacement. Hoping Chadli moves to a decent side though

        1. Jazz!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Redmond probably the best option there. Maybe Mirallas if you can stretch to him?

    2. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Gerrard was golden in that S&S&S season. 10 pens incoming for LFC this year!

      1. lcfc123
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Aready been lots of penalties in the prem this season!

  14. Lawrø
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Is this bunch worth a wildcard chaps?

    Foster / Heaton
    Shaw / Stones / Friend / Pieters / Amat
    Hazard / Coutinho / Townsend / Tadic / Capoue
    Aguero / Ibrahimovic / Gray

    I think the core is pretty good but a lot of the mid price players need replacing and the lack of Arsenal is a concern...

    1. FPL Emu
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      No.

    2. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      you could do with ars everton and spurs in there

    3. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Townsend is your main concern. Then potentially Gray if he gets banned. Apart from that the team is good. No way worth wildcarding IMO.

      1. Lawrø
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Yup I agree, Townsend is the priority

    4. FPL Emu
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Foster, Heaton, Shaw, Stones, Friend, Amat, Hazard, Capoue, Aguero and Ibra are definitely good picks. Tadic and Gray are decent too, though price is an issue. That is more than enough to hold off

    5. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      I'm not keen on Stones (because of Williams), Pieters, Coutinho, Townsend, Tadic and Gray.

      Arsenal looked pretty decent yesterday. Fiddle around with transfers and see if it floats your boat 🙂

      1. Lawrø
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        If I did wildcard that is my exact ditch list as well as one of the 'keepers. 🙂

        Baines > Williams

    6. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Why have Tadic? That team doesnt score. He hasn't scored or assisted. He may be creative, but fantasy wise, he hasn't done much to support a draft in a new wild card.

      1. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Re-read and then re-post.

        1. walkman666
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          Ah, thanks teach. My bad.

          I wouldn't WC, but I'd make a few select readers based on the advice you got above.

    7. Lawrø
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Thanks everyone. I found this pretty reassuring and helpful!

  15. King Carlos
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Is Boro's Friend out or on bench?

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      By out I'm guessing out on the pitch, in that case he's neither.

    2. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Out I believe.

    3. Shearer & Sutton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Out

  16. BPlease
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    15 more points needed for this week go on top and win the weekly prize! Starting with a goal from McAuley!

    1. Big Sum
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      So, all you need is a goal from Kun?

      1. BPlease
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        One game at a time bruh.

        But yeah, got McAuley on the field and Captain Kun and Stones to finish the job and claim my prize money.

        Then I will disappear for a bit.

  17. TheBusDriver
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Come on Middlesbraiotroe

  18. ramunas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Where can I find some easily navigable heatmaps (team and player)? Can't seem to find them in members section, anybody got a direct link to elsewhere?

    1. GARYNEVILLESTASH
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      whoscored . com

  19. GARYNEVILLESTASH
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    My flatmate (Boro fan) has Negredo as captain and I have Foster playing, tensions are high in this household.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      He doesn't sound like he'll be much of a threat

  20. liiusions
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Foster - Jaku
    Shaw - Stones - Evans - Friend - Amat
    Haz - Barkley - Townsend - Tadic - Capoue
    Ibra - Aguero - Gray

    1FT, 0.8ITB

    Do I need to WC? No real way of getting Ozil in without a hit who I really want

    1. Clump
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      I'd take a hit. WC seems a bit excessive.

  21. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Ha, nice! I have both playing... think I want a penalty miss (saved by Foster), then a Negredo hat-trick.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Reply fail to HJB15

  22. AJCash
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Who would you rather for the next couple of weeks, Tekkers or Defoe?

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      JD

      1. AJCash
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers! Been swayed the same way.

  23. davies
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on Sunderland defence?

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Love, actually.

    2. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Planning to buy a Sunderland defender on my wc gw6

  24. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Even Pulis' wingers can win headers 😀

  25. Jonathan Feddema
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Foster/Robinson

    Williams/Morgan/McAuley

    Capoue/Barkley/Mane/Pogba/tadic

    Aguero/Ibra

    Walker/Collins/Diomande

    Pogba/Tadic/Walker > Ozil/Lamela/best remaining 5 or below def

    Would result in a -8

  26. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    need a wba cleanie to have a chance at winning my monthly ML

    1. BPlease
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      It's on the way.

    2. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      nice i need 2 goals from kun to win mine

  27. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    If you were me would you WC?

    Foster
    Friend Azpi Shaw
    Redmond Ramirez Barkley Haz
    Gray Kun Ibra

    (Jaku Stones Hojbjerg Amat)

    1. Big Sum
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      No

    2. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Def not

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        What would you change though? Ramirez feels like dead wood.

  28. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    How to get a new keeper, Haz, Sanchez, and maybe striker in please? .8 itb and 2 ft.

    Forster
    Terry. Stones. Kone. Amat. Morgan
    Oscar. Theo. Barkley. Mahrez. Capoue
    Vardy. Gray. Aguero

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Can you do Mahrez, Oscar, Theo and Forster to Hazard, Sanchez, King and Pickford?

      By my maths, it's close to being on the money.

  29. Zoostation
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    A: Barkley & Lamela

    B: Bolasie & Ozil

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Latter, easily.

    2. The Royal Robin
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      A

    3. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Hmm A for now, or are you on a wc?

  30. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    What are the thoughts on Mourinho playing Pogba in the #10 role vs Man City? Aren't they a touch open with just Pogba and Fellaini vs the likes of Man City?

    He could go:

    Ibra
    Rooney - Pogba - Mikhi
    Carrick - Fellaini

    If it was Sir Alex, then I'd expect the "we'll score more than you approach" but Mourinho usually tries to be solid defensively first.