Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Middlesbrough vs Leicester

Just 24-hours after waving goodbye to Gameweek 19, we’re underway again as the exhausting festive period draws to a close.

In Fantasy terms, we at least appear to be eased into this next round of fixtures.

Middlesbrough host Leicester City in a match-up that, on paper, harbours little interest for Fantasy managers.

Alvaro Negredo and Gaston Ramirez are perhaps the major attacking assets on show, as we get the opportunity to scout their potential ahead of Boro’s kind run of January fixtures.

Given that Middlesbrough have scored just 17 goals from their 19 matches, Aitor Karanka’s defence is perhaps more likely to offer us profit, with Ben Gibson already backed by 9.6% of FPL managers. He starts today but, elsewhere in the Boro rearguard, a knee injury to keeper Victor Valdes keeps him out of action, while George Friend is relegated to the bench having returned to the starting XI at Old Trafford in Gameweek 19.

They are part of five changes made by both Middlesbrough and Leicester, perhaps indication of a turbulent day for the teamsheets.

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

2,295 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Cleared 7.5 million to move Origi to Kun for next week. May change that plan. Actually relieved not to have so much in one player. Now I can upgrade 5th mid, maybe go back to Kane, get both Chelsea and Arsenal in back line. Much more fun- way to go Pep!

  2. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone have Origi and Aguero?

    1. Tangerine Army XI
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Yup with Kun captain
      And to make the week worse already, I had Barragan

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Damn, hope things turn around for you

      2. makaveli123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Tough luck

      3. Big Mac 24
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Ouch

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      o/
      .. and Friend 🙁

    3. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Here
      And Aguero captain

  3. Ravager
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    In all honesty guys. Am I the only one who thinks the festive games have been a bit crap? More congested fixtures, lower quality of football.

  4. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    This 90min case is ridiculous. This game had total 9 min added ffs

    1. bulbuf
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      the 9 min were added to make up a lost 9 min. use ur brain.

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        But the player wasn't off the pitch. Use your brain.

        1. bulbuf
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          the 9 mins were added at the end of the second half as there were 9 mins wasted in that half. he was there ffs

        2. SAY SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          It's the rule. It's always been the rule. There are, in theory, 90 mins of play. He played 57 or whatever. It's annoying if you own him, but it's not the end of the world.

          1. bulbuf
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            it is for atimis i suppose

        3. Burger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Best you go and learn how to play football me thinks.

          1. bulbuf
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            there should be pre-fantasy registration exams to make sure ppl know their football. especially for those who use the bench boost and triple captain on 1 game per team gameweeks

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Your both right technically they only played 90 minutes but he was on the pitch for more than 60 minutes. Just depends how the rules are written imo he should get the cs

      1. bulbuf
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        it would be a mess if stoppage time counted. imagine all those games with bad injuries and flares etc

  5. Evans
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Great start

    Valdes doesn't play and now aguero benched

    1. squintykid
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      ditto.

    2. UnitedFan
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Rough, meanwhile I did Friend to Chambers 🙂

    3. Evans
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Array

  6. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    You have £13.9m to spend on a midfielder and a striker for 2FT, what do you do?

    Foster (4.0)
    Kosc, Alonso, McAuley (Chambers, 3.9)
    Hazard, Sanchez, ______ , Allen (Can)
    Costa, Ibra, ______

    Will consider a hit for Alonso if he is injured in a significant way.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Prefer this:

      Alli - Lallana - Sanchez - Phillips - De Roon
      Ibra - Costa - Lukaku

      7 of the 8 best teams in the PL in that midfield / attack

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I like that too, but ideally don't want to play my WC yet.

      2. WVA
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Do you have this front 8 diesal? I notice you keep posting it 😉 I nearly do.

    2. Hooky
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Cry

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Haha, seems just as effective to any combination I can imagine right now.

    3. Morgs
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Gray and Alli?

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        0.5m too expensive...

  7. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    How much -BPS is a yellow card?

    1. Sjaugen
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      3

      1. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks!

  8. Henryyy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    When u try to be smart ass and get Kun in and C him....

    Going dullard from now on

    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Wouldn't call it smart or maverick tbh.

  9. Bleach †
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I think it's correct that Friend doesn't get CS points.
    Maybe just me 🙂

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Of course it is. He did not play the required amount of time.

      1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        But he did.

    2. rdamjan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Its by the rules.

  10. nobwak
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Friend owners absolutely robbed.

    1. mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Poor Barragan owners you mean. 🙁

      1. thep025
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Like me

    2. Colonel Klink
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Why was he taken off?

      On another note, why was Nyom taken off the other day?

    3. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      First my wife, now this

      1. Hooky
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Did someone steal her clean sheets?

    4. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Ramirez Owners

  11. Colonel Klink
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    So, owning Cedric the past several weeks has not been the thrill ride I'd hoped. Hang onto him until at least the run of good games?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      yep

      1. Colonel Klink
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        A few more games it is. Cheers.

    2. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      i own both him and friend,having a great time

      1. Colonel Klink
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        The Friend thing is unfortunate. Cedric could still do something this week....hopefully.

    3. thep025
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I am holding

    4. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I'm an owner. Sucked in again after having him for a less than stellar period last season.
      Ownership is 1.7% (seemingly mainly FFScouters) so has to say something about his potential.
      Seems to be a theme pick on here rather than a real FPL point gatherer.

  12. KJT123
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Aguero(C), Origi, Nyom, Alonso.

    Team is going down the drain.

    1. Ravager
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Wait for the Alonso news at least?

  13. Bleach †
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    No point having Brunt as he's back to LB?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Disagree - still on set pieces. Better than Holebas the YC magnet

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Doesn't he still take cks and fks?

    3. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Still on set pieces and get clean sheet points so no reason to ditch him.

    4. Ravager
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Still on set pieces.

    5. Bleach †
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks all. Thought maybe 5.0 for a Brom defender would be too much

    6. Hooky
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Better for assists I think as he's able to whip the ball in much better from the left. Didn't get many crosses in from open play when playing RW.

    7. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      still a solid pick.
      With fixtures CS possibilities plus set-pieces and will still get forward from full-back.

  14. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Well I feel like a Kun now

    1. MTPockets
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Me too

    2. Big Col
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      That's the Aguero bubble well and truely burst! With Pep in charge he's no longer the fantasy asset he used to be.

      Pep - best manager in the world, I don't think so!

      1. squintykid
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        its starting to look like hes not even the best manager in manchester. Utd on a good run, after poor start.

    3. Slam
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Aguero(C) and no Sanchez.
      Uh oh...

    4. Back on the horse
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Annoying Friend didnt start, although he is on my bench.

      1. Viprin
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Playing LB

        1. Viprin
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Lol ignore

    5. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Brunt(c) for a brace!

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        From left back? You never know. Is he still on pens?

        1. JustPark
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          No but on set pieces and great at crosses.

    6. FantaCity
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No Bertrand again .... ???

    7. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      So if a team scores in the 94th minute, that means the opposition defender that started gets a clean sheet??

      1. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Good point. Rigged system

      2. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Not if he's still on the pitch

      3. Respect My Authoritah
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Well it counts as a 90th minute goal in FPL

      4. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        yes.

      5. liiusions
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        There's so much inconsistency in the system this year it seem, not sure if it's just people pointing it out more

      6. Big Mac 24
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        No, because in the same vein, the 94th is within the 90!! There is no such thing as a clean sheet if the opposition scores!!

        1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Unless the player hasn't conceded if he is taken off after 60 minutes

      7. Big Mac 24
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        If he's subbed out before the goal (but after playing 60+) then yes

      8. Crow
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        No..

      9. Conk
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Added time makes up for delays during the game, so while the clock may show 94 minutes played, only 90 minutes of football has actually been played (in theory at least)

    8. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hope I haven't dropped one starting Evans ahead of Can. Really thought he'd be benched!

      1. liiusions
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Playing the #6 role anyway, won't get forward too much

    9. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Huth saying he thought he gave a pen away - honest.

    10. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      There has to be a friend pun somewhere

    11. Dr Mantis Toboggan
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      KDB or Mane to do better today?

    12. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Not the first time my player got subbed in around 30min mark and didn't get cs. 😐

      Wish this season would be already over.

    13. Champione
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      3 jammy points from De Roon on my bench. Don't think Origi will match that as a sub, so hoping that he'll stay on the bench

      1. Bun Rab
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Sturridge to play the full 90? Can he even do that?

        1. Champione
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          haha, I guess you're right

    14. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sturridge going to run riot today!

      1. Lone Wolf FPL
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        blank and subbed for origi who will score

      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Odds on Mark giving Friend owners a clean sheet like Alonso owners got that freebie assist the other day?

      1. Slam
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        😆

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        0% chance

      3. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Friend only played 57 minutes. 60 required for a CS.

        1. Are you Shaw?
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          mate he played 62 minutes.. why are goals and assists allowed after the stoppage time but not CS ?

          this doesn't make sense at all

      4. Jazz!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Depends. Does he own Friend by any chance?

          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          good question, do any of our top spies have his link?

        1. Are you Shaw?
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          I emailed mark about it just now, so he can forward the issue to the FPL people if he wants..

          regardless of what happens, one can't argue that Friend did not play 60 mins.. in fact he played 62 minutes

          he deserves the 6 points easy.... goals and assists and yellow cards.. and everything is counted in stoppage time, then so should playing time and the resulting CS that comes with it

    15. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Was ment to play Phillips but benched him by accident for De Roon not pressing that save button before the deadline is gonna hurt me this GW 🙁

    16. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Chambers clean sheet and 2 bonus points good start