Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Middlesbrough vs Arsenal

After Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic managed a single point between them at Old Trafford yesterday, all eyes are on Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal roll up to the Riverside in tonight’s final Gameweek fixture.

Recently shuffled onto the left flank, a run of three matches without a goal has knocked our confidence in the Chilean ahead of the Gunners’ double Gameweeks 36 and 37.

Indeed, only 5.9% have handed Sanchez the armband as he attempts to reclaim his spot as top scoring player in Fantasy Premier League, having been knocked off his perch by Romelu Lukaku at the weekend.

Tonight’s team selection looks to have handed Sanchez a change of role. To everyone’s surprise, Arsene Wenger appears to have set up with a 3-4-2-1 formation or even a 3-4-1-2, with Sanchez perhaps joining Olivier Giroud up front – a concern perhaps for the 91,000+ who sold the Chilean ahead of Gameweek 33.

Tonight’s encounter also gives us the chance to run the rule over the hosts as they prepare for a potentially profitable double Gameweek 34 against Bournemouth and Sunderland.

Both Victor Valdes and Ben Gibson currently sit second for transfers in among keepers and defenders since Saturday’s deadline, though in the four matches under new manager Steve Agnew, Boro have been somewhat hot and cold – keeping two clean sheets and conceding at least three times in the other two.

Valdes misses out this evening with a rib problem sustained at Burnley last time out – an injury kept under wraps until tonight: Brad Guzan claims the keeper’s jersey.

Sitting six points from safety, the Teesside team are in desperate need of wins now. Having failed to score in six of their last eight, though, most will likely steer clear of the hosts’ attack unless they can punish the Gunners this evening.

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

4,192 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Thought this before the game but I am tempted to get Ozil in for GW36 just not sure how I'll afford it

    1. jam
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      instead of Sanchez?

  2. Tronity
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Anyone's GW34 plans changed following this game?

    1. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      yes, maybe get Barragan or Friend instead Gibson

    2. Orange Roughy
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Waiting on Valdes news

  3. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Negredo and Bailly or Benteke and Rojo -4?

    1. Marquis-Cha-Cha
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      B & R

  4. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    BAPS are joke but I tnik we all know it already... 😉

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      They are only a joke when people don't get their way tbf

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Yo saw the game ? Ramsey has more then Alexis lol 😀

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 28 days ago

          He deserves more.

          1. Atimis
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 28 days ago

            Wouldn't say so

            1. Epic Fail
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 28 days ago

              Well he did the things necessary to get him more BPS, that's all you can ask for.

        2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 28 days ago

          If Ramsay outplayed Sanchez and Sanchez got the baps I think we wouldn't be having this conversation .

  5. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Top 10k average up 3.4?

    Will take that an someone with no players involved.

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      9 for me
      I'll take that

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Wait for autosubs

  6. Kanteisking
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Grant, Jaku
    Valencia,Stones, Alonso, Stephens, Holgate
    Sanchez, Ali, Siggy, Zaha, Davies
    Lukaku, Aguero, Kane

    1FT 0ITB
    Thinking possibly Lukaku and Siggy for Negredo and Hazard?

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Think again. Lukaku loves a goal against West Ham

  7. JayBomb
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Keep or sell Wally?

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Sell

    2. Tim Canterbury
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      If he gets me snodgrass bench points every week I'll keep

  8. Pep says
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Is Sanchez essential for 36 and 37?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Nobody is.

      1. Pep says
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Is it highly advised to have him in your team then?

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 28 days ago

          Yes.

    2. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      No probably not but you'd be a brave man to go without

  9. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Ozil, 2 goals and 2 assists in last 4 games. Might be worth freeing up some funds and switching from Alexis to him. What do people think?

    1. karvs155
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Looking at Ozil over sanch for dgw36 and 37 now

  10. RealSocialDads
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Repost:

    A. Rojo and Townsend
    B. Gibson and Zaha

    Already have Chambers

    1. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      A

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Too much of an ask for Mark to get Sanchez a BAP and get Ibra's price held till after EL?

  12. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    in fairness to sanchez haters he has fluked that 210 points so far

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      This

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      😛

    3. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Aye he's useless really.

  13. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    I dont think that formation made a difference.

  14. Corona Macallan
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Choose one transfer.
    A Pedro to zaha/Townsend
    B Gabbi to Negredo

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      A

      1. Corona Macallan
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Cool. Cheers

  15. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Which one of my no show defenders to get rid of? I guess Nyom or Jones??

    Alonso - Nyom - Mustafi - Jones

    Alonso the most likely to play next GW?

  16. dvdguy
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Ozil over Sanchez for the upcoming 2 DGW?

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      No

    2. jackhammer1
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Never for me

  17. Martial Law
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Sell Lukaku to get Sanchez, Y or N??

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      N

    2. karvs155
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      No

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      No

  18. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Just remembered Adama Traore played for Barcelona... I'm now going to La Masia tomorrow to see if they'll take me in.

    1. Funkyav
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      he has got world class hair

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Yes, probably the reason they gave him a contract

    2. Martial Law
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Brought out the old FIFA 14 last night and also remembered Sanchez played for them too

  19. the snazzy viking
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Foster -> Hennessey or wait to see if Valdes is fit?

    Have no Palace and have Gibson

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      For free yes

      1. the snazzy viking
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        it's FT

  20. Jim Moriarty
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Middlesbrough will have to play similar to tonight in every game now, surely there will be no clean sheets for the potential defenders we are about to bring in ?

    1. MFC86
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Agreed as a Boro fan, we had more attempts than Arsenal tonight, negredo is a better fantasy option than our defence

  21. John wick
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Friend or ayala...
    B. Teekers or negredo

  22. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Benteke or Negredo?
    Have Zaha and not Boro!

    1. S.Agueroooooo
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Tekk

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Cheers! 🙂

  23. S.Agueroooooo
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    If you dont have ibra are you getting him in?

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Don't think so

    2. We Will Klopp you
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      No, I'm not convinced he's worth a hit, which I'd have to take to get him in as I'm not losing Kane

  24. TLF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    If you could have one for GW34:

    A. Negredo
    B. Zaha
    C. Townsend
    D. Siggy (currently in my team so would mean a DGW defender coming in for free if i keep)

    1. Mattymo23
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      B

    2. Jethrik
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      C.

  25. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    51 all out 🙁 My 2nd lowest score in last 10 GWs 🙁

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      🙂 😛

      1. Jazz!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Safety score roughly?

        1. Lawrø
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 28 days ago

          You're clearly safe!

      2. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        71 wow.Awesome form,go for the title TM 🙂 You can't afford to put a wrong foot..

        1. Jethrik
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 28 days ago

          67 Don't forget the hit!

  26. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Guzan was sound letting that FK in

  27. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Quote from wikipedia, if you didn't think Tim Sherwood was 100% clueless: Tim Sherwood, Adama [Traore]'s manager at Villa, compared him to both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

    1. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Hahahaha

  28. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    How's this for a plan?

    This week: Vert (Have 3 spurs players) and Wally to Rojo and Son (-4)
    GW35: Origi to Gabby
    GW36: Zaha to Redmond

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Not keen on Redmond but the others seem sound

      1. Mattymo23
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Why not?

  29. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Bailly likely to start all for games in the two doubles?

    1. Jigger & Pony
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Yes

  30. Jigger & Pony
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Would you play de Roon in GW34 over regular attacking 7?