Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Middlesbrough vs Manchester United

We drop by the Riverside in the first of three Sunday fixtures before yet another international break is thrust upon us.

Middlesbrough attempt to regroup after parting company with Aitor Karanka, as the Teesside team look to improve a dire run of form that has harvested two goals in their previous eight Premier League matches.

United are, of course, without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Marcus Rashford leading the line as the big Swede serves the second of a three-match ban.

Despite being without Paul Pogba due to a hamstring problem, Jose Mourinho has opted to bench Henrikh Mkhitaryan for today’s clash, frustrating the 17,000+ who drafted in the Armenian for this one.

Juan Mata – with two goals in his last three league appearances – potentially has the chance to play his way into Fantasy managers’ plans as United prepare to face 11 league matches in the remaining nine rounds of fixtures.

At the back, Antonio Valencia has been transferred in by over 57,000 FPL managers this week – three assists and a trio of clean sheets in United’s last six league matches highlight the Ecuadorian’s points potential at both ends of the pitch.

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959 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Egyptian Giza
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    If I do a FT this week but then decide to WC. would that affect my FT in the next GW?

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

      Saved FT's don't carry over if you WC.

    2. afcblegend
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah you lose the saved free transfer after a WC if I remember rightly

    3. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      You've just been told this on page 1

  2. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    lvg's combo of young fellaini working like a charm

  3. drughi
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    great cross

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Negredo close

  5. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    *Fellaini Wagon*

  6. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Normally Young can't cross his own legs! Where did that ball come from?

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Harsh, he's one of the better crossers in the squad

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Not sure if you are actually serious?

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Do you watch football? Haha

        2. afcblegend
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Not sure if you're serious, crossing is one of his best attributes!

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            With both feet I suppose

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Young is very good crosser actually

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah I do.

        I read the first comment as "in the league" not squad.

        Still not very good

  7. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Fellaini vs Fabio was always a non-contest in the air anyway

  8. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal currently 7th =

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      *6th....better Goal difference by 1 than Everton

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        *7th = on points 😉

        1. Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          rules are that final position decided by GD if 2 teams are level on points do....so 6th 😉

  9. Can’t beat em so&hell…
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Funes Mori has to go now I think.... best replacement?

    Foster/pick
    Alonso/Walker/Robertson/Pieters/___

    A) Jones
    B) jagielka
    C) Cédric
    D) Dawson

  10. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Come on Jones my son, go up for the set pieces.

  11. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Gotta grab a second and make sure to put some real distance at half time

  12. Sweetboi
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Middlesbrough is a guaranteed CS.

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

      Indeed they just don't do goals

  13. drughi
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Eriksen haul would be nice today

    1. BALOOO
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Im not sure, but i would bet 5 bucks on that you have him in your FPL team? :>

      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        maybe

  14. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Fairly irrelevant FPL goal there with Fellaini and Young. Man Utd clean sheet the big points it seems in this game.

    1. Sims
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Every United goal is irrelevant if valencia or ibra are not involved

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      My Bernado CS gone, so its relevant 😳

  15. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Why is Mkhy not playing? I was tempted with a punt next week. Mata is his equal on the rotation list I fear.

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

      He's not nailed.

      The whole not playing for 3months at the start of the year was a bit of a giveaway.

      1. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        But been a while since the start of the season, no? Plus he seems to get better every game, then gets randomly benched and is back to square one again.

    2. AZERTY
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Not 100% after Europacup

  16. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Young to Fellaini
    Lvg had some success using that in his 1st season

  17. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Best Soton defender to bring in?

    Is Yoshida nailed?

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Stephens?

    2. AndyCook
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Caceres likely to take Stephens spot, Yoshida should keep his with Van Dijk out

      • AndyCook
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Bertrand best option if money no object. Yoshida when considering cheapest source of clean sheets

        • manu4life99
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Do we know when VVD is back? Will dictate whether Yoshida keeps his place for the DGWs later in season

          Considering Baines/Mutch > Yosh/Redmond

          1. AndyCook
              7 years, 1 month ago

              I doubt he will be back this season. Almost certainly not for GW34. Redmond isn't a great player to have for 9 games though and bear in mind they have awful rearranged fixtures that will unlikely yield and clean sheets. Full squad? And WC intact?

              1. manu4life99
                • 14 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Good points.

                Wildcards used but bench boost available:

                Jaku Valdes
                Williams Baines Daniels McAuley Brunt
                Siggy Hazard Mane Coutinho Mutch
                Costa Lukaku Carroll

                Defence is poor for next week so debating AOA chip and upgrading Mutch (hence Redmond idea)

                1. AndyCook
                    7 years, 1 month ago

                    Mutch might cause benching headache. Redmonds price isn't going to move so there is no rush on that. I would consider Brunt and Baines to Valencia and Yoshida. Pickford of bring in soon too, he has two doubles.

                    1. AndyCook
                        7 years, 1 month ago

                        It keep Baines and lose a different one if you can.. fixtures not so bad after next two

            • internal error
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Any truth to the rumours that Somalion has paid for a plane to fly over Old Trafford in Utds next game, saying 'Jose Out'?

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

                Somalion completely lost the plot earlier having a football opinion.

                Mad man hi.

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

                  I read them aftee seeing some of the comments on here. Cant have an opinion on here i guess.

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

                    Tube central on here.

                  2. Somalion
                    • 14 Years
                    7 years, 1 month ago

                    I have returned from my re-education experience.

                    Everything José does is the right decision. It is everyone else's fault. United are the best team in the PL. Joke, donkey refs have agendas because they are jealous of our handsomeness and many women. Our finishing is never poor, it is just that all the goalkeepers we play suddenly become 10x better than they actually are.

                    1. ★Kuntheman★
                      • 8 Years
                      7 years, 1 month ago

                      That's more like it 😉

                    2. KingNidge
                      • 8 Years
                      7 years, 1 month ago

                      This 🙂

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

                      Hahahaha

                    4. Sims
                      • 7 Years
                      7 years, 1 month ago

                      Oh dear. Fergie really spoiled some fans. Dear oh dear

              2. Sims
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Typical United fan thinking they have a right to be managed by fergie for an eternity

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

                  Lol, what? All i saw him do was condemning Jose for the line up. Justified in doing so, wasnt he?

                  1. Somalion
                    • 14 Years
                    7 years, 1 month ago

                    😆 Honestly, I don't know about some of the people on here.

                    Criticism of José wasn't even my main point, it was more an aside. It was that if someone like LVG was still in charge and left out Mkhitaryan there'd be United fans calling for his blood.

            • Numb
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Young at wing back anyone?

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

                Rusty nail and hammer.

              2. Team Cruel
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Competing with Rojo, Blind, Darmian.

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

                  Not really if they have switched to 352

                  1. Team Cruel
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 1 month ago

                    Been playing 3 at the back for 4 games now. This is Young's first start.

            • Sjaugen
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              What the latest on Firmino?

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

                Klopp was confident he'd play

                1. Sjaugen
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 1 month ago

                  Fingers bloody crossed

            • VFORVANDETA
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Vardy or Costa next few week?

              1. Team Cruel
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Vardy for me

              2. Mick J
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Vardy!

              3. VFORVANDETA
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                No Vardy no party.

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

                  No Hardy no narcotics.

              4. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
                • 14 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Vardy is back playing for the 'dream move' to arsenal 😀

            • Jafooli
              • 12 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Any rumours about Kane starting? 😛

              Mr Cat, this is Ms Pigeon.....

              1. Revival
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                apparently Kane himself wanted to play.

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

              Valencia was open you stupid Rashford

              1. @ocprodigy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Yep, through on goal too.

            • Bruno Bruno!!
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Valencia is always in space but rashford and lindgaard only look to shoot

            • fedolefan
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              If this Rashford really had Valencia in his FPL team, Valencia would be on for a hatty by now.

            • CrouchDown
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Would you guys WC this team?

              Pickford Heaton

              Coleman Baines Nyom Robertson Amat

              Mane Firmino Siggy Sterling King

              Aguero Llorente Lukaku

              1. VFORVANDETA
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                No

              2. Team Cruel
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                No just do Baines, Firm > Valencia, Alli

              3. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
                • 14 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                no - it is only Nyom Robertson Amat who look like weak players
                You could downgrade Firmino and get a better defender then one of them

            • Viprin
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Does Rose have an "expected back"?

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

                I'm pretty sure he has a back.

                1. ★Kuntheman★
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 1 month ago

                  Is it expected though?

              1. Bartowski
                • 13 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                1. Great Journalism...

                2. Since when do you have to register your fpl side to your house?!

            • Baked baines
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              Any news on Walker!?

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

                They help your children walk.

              2. AA33
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Expected to start today

            • Knowledgeable meerkat
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 1 month ago

              The scenes if Kane if named in the starting 11

              1. ★Kuntheman★
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                And then they sub him off in the first minute. Psychological warfare 😮

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

                Pretty obvious he won't be..

              3. fedolefan
                • 9 Years
                7 years, 1 month ago

                Looks like no Kane. Son starts per NBCSN.