Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Spurs vs West Brom

We return from an FA Cup hiatus with an opening fixture that could easily make or break Gameweek 21 for many Fantasy managers.

An in-form Spurs, off the back of five straight victories, will host an equally buoyant West Brom with a cast of major assets on show.

Dele Alli is unquestionably the headline act.

Subject to more than 560,000 transfers in ahead of today’s deadline, there is huge expectation on his shoulders as he bids to maintain form that has seen him fire seven goals in his last four Gameweeks.

Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane look capable of overshadowing even Alli from their supporting roles.

But Kane has been a source of major frustration of late, blanking in his last three White Hart Lane encounters, including plum fixtures with both Burnley and Hull City.

In contrast, Eriksen has been a consistent force by his previous standards. Five double-figure returns from his last eight Gameweeks suggests that he will again be major figure in today’s Baggies clash.

West Brom have their own major Fantasy asset.

Matt Phillips has emerged as a key value target for our five-man midfields, notching seven assists and four goals in his last ten outings; he has been subject to more than 450,000 transfers in since Gameweek 19.

It remains to be seen if he can continue such form against a Spurs backline that has shipped just five goals in 10 home matches.

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

1,780 Comments Post a Comment
  1. jia you
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Guy 2nd in one of my mini leagues hasn't looked at his team since GW1, looking like demoting me to second this week...why do I bother haha 🙂
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/967229/event/21

  2. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    So much for not giving the armband to a player in the early kick off 🙁

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      The only time I'll ever choose not to captain someone because of an early kick off, is when I can't choose between 2 players and there is nothing else in it. That can be a deciding factor.

  3. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Any news on Alonso starting or not?

    1. GreatCarragherReef
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      He better, not keen on McAuley off the bench...

      1. _Gunner
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        haha

        I have McAuley playing and Alonso

        my bench: Amat and Kone 😀

      2. Pep says
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I've McAuley coming for him too. I think he'll start. Conte said he wants Aké to get a mindset for their style of play before he plays him. Alonso plays 90 mins every week, and with the hectic schedule over Christmas, if the injury was imminently worrying, he wouldn't have played all those matches.

  4. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Just wait until Aguero bags his hattie tomorrow

    1. Sylas
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Okay.. 🙄

    2. bojack
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Hope so 😀

  5. Sonic Huth
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Costa-Lukaku? 1.8 itb Any answers appreciated. I want to do it quick before price falls again

    1. Smoky Johnson
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Costa is playing Hull next week.....

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Chelsea are. Not sure about Costa.

      2. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Costa is playing Majhong next week...

      3. Venom Snake
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        About time you gave us more info, Conte.

      4. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Hangzhou Hull?

  6. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Wee bit of casual racism on Soccer Saturday! 😀

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      What was it?

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Jeff Stelling accidentally called Charlie Nicholas 'Charie' and he replied, "Am I going to China?!"

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          I'm going to hell.

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

      Haha! Saw that! Was funny though..

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Not as funny as this.

        https://youtu.be/Uo8mP7XHq1E

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Haha Charlie was genuinely peed off there. 😀

          1. Cilly Bonnolly
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            It's one of my favourite clips ever, he's genuinely raging. And we've all done that thing where you start trying to give someone a slagging, realise you haven't really thought about what you're going to say and wish you'd never started but have to plough through to the end. Hahaha.

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

    I played McAuley

    -3 🙁

    1. Bouncebackability
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      You can't be moaning after that!!!!

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Ouch. Bad luck. 🙁

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

        Thanks Doos. The Kane captaincy more than made up for it 😀

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Good man. I have 3 Spurs, thankfully.

    3. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      same here,

      but I had no other option, I have Amat and Kone on my bench

    4. Lawrø
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Great advice to get Kane in yesterday RCA, shame I didn't follow through with it but it was a great shout all the same! 😀

      Awesome start for you so far 😉

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

        Cheers Lawro 🙂

    5. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Same. Should have just punted on Ake turning up!

      BTW Roy I remember you saying you were ditching Chelsea coverage for Spurs and others. Working out well so far!

  8. Venom Snake
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    All I want this GW is a Cedric goal or assist, accompanied by a CS.

    The joy it will bring.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      If I owned him I'd be happy to see him pass the 60th minute mark 🙂

  9. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Ibra 4th on transfer out at the mo! Guy hasn't even played

  10. I Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Obviously Holebas 15 pointer incoming right?

    1. Bouncebackability
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Red card or yellow one inevitable.

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I've played him, so it'd be nice 🙂

    3. MTPockets
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Got rid so probably.

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

        Since I have Holebas and Valdes, I would like that, right after that missed penalty from Deeney ofcourse

    4. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Poch giving impression that Vetonghen injury is serious. Bad news for their 3-4-2-1 formation. Eriksen, ali and clean sheets will all be effected

      1. Venom Snake
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        That's what the reserves are for

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

        If he's out for a while surely they just sign a CB?

        1. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Hopefully

        2. Scholes Balls
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          they will just play with 4 def walker aldi dier rose

      3. I Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        They kept the same shape when he went off. Davies might fill in there.

        1. I Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Or Wimmer or Carter-Vickers

    5. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Breaking News

      The Chinese Government have announced they will be using FPL to track potential targets. Any player who scores 10 points or more will be subject to a £100million bid.

      1. MarvelouSuccess
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        seems legit

      2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        😆 😆 😆

      3. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        😀 😀

    6. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Come on defoe!
      With my FT I did origi to defoe yesterday & left costa as I didn't want to take a hit (Kane just ruined that logic)

      1. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        News on costa

        1. fiveyears
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          As suspected, he's a 28-year-old diva.

          Possibly a blessing though, as looking at his record in the second half of the season the last time Chelsea did well I may keep Kane. Hide behind sofa time next week though.

        2. Lawrø
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Probably after his golden handshake as well

          But I hope this is true as a keeper!

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

      Come on Giroud... Anything Kane can do...

      1. Zebras
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        This...

    8. Danstoke82
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Non Kane owner. Had him in as capt last night but swapped him out for Kun. Gutted.

      1. Venom Snake
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Lol? You might have made history.

        Never ever heard of someone having selected a potential captain and then selling him

        1. Danstoke82
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Forgot to mention I was on my WC

      2. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Went from having him as captain to not having him at all 😀 Dafuq

      3. fiveyears
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        You sold him?!

        The Aguero factor seems to be reputation over form at the moment, which isn't good. Bit like Hazard last year. Sort of hope he does well for you after that though...

        1. Danstoke82
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Had him for Costa in my WC draft but got seduced by Kun's reputation and believing Alli would be enough Spurs cover.

          Got burned bad by Kane in those two home games a few months ago

    9. Venom Snake
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      New post

      New fail

    10. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Hands up who has 2 playing goalies again \o/

      1. Werkself
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        o/

    11. Redcat1
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Can someone tell me what happened to Vertonghen ? only brought him in this week

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Injured.

      2. Shultan
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Twisted his ankle badly off the pitch! Likely to out for a while with ligament damage but not been confirmed

    12. Goodricke
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      What is the Kane ownership/captain stats? I'm against the average in my H2H

    13. Conte Cristo
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Jakupovvic earns place!!! But is that permanent?

    14. Lizard Lips
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Whose Bournemouth penalty taker?

    15. Conte Cristo
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Penalty BOU

    16. Tomm
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Stanislas yess

    17. Sif
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Daniels off pens? Just got him in 🙁

    18. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Dear Stan
      You're the man

    19. Vinyl78LP
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Mannone transfer in fail 🙁