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. SheBangsTheDrums
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Anything worth doing with this lot? Was planning on bringing Ibra but think I'll take a rain check on that for the time being. Also not mad keen to get any Boro or further Palace assets. 1 FT 0.2 ITB

    Foster Grant
    Alonso Valencia BDavies Robertson Lescott
    Sanchez Alli Zaha King Clayton
    Kun Kane Kaku

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

    A. Sanchez + Origi > Ibra + Coutinho
    B. Siggy + Origi > Ibra + 4.5m mid

    Grant Jaku
    Valencia Jagielka Robertson Stephens Chambers
    Sanchez Alli Eriksen Zaha Siggy
    Kane Lukaku Origi

    1 FT 0.2m ITB

    Appreciate for your help

    1. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Dropping Sanchez? I assume you have your WC left still to bring him back for 36

  3. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    A 70 point lead in a mini league.

    My main rival has his wildcard but I have used mine.

    Both have used our triple captain but still have our bench boost.

    How do you rate my chances?

    1. EDEN THE MAN
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      High

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

      Very High

    3. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      70 points is quite comfortable.

      Don't make any punt captain choices for the rest of the season.

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

        Lukaku for next game week then rather than Zaha or Gibson?

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

    Top 10K up 4.8
    Overall up 8.1

    Including autosubs.

    1. bentekesrightfoot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      whats the LMS safety score?

  5. Tommo1888
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    After watching game tonight should I get ibra or negredo for upcoming GW?

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

      Depends who for

      1. Tommo1888
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Origi

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

      Negredo assured of starts and weaker opposition and we HAVE to score. Ibra might only start one of the two

    3. Visionaries
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Ibra, easily

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

    Hopefully Klopp wont waste £35m on Ox now 🙂

  7. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    A repost from earlier today...

    Alonso owned by 38% of top 10k...

    Bench numbers...for auto subs

    1st sub...
    King 15.5%
    McAuley 5.3%
    Valencia 4.4%
    Yoshida 2.3%
    Gibson 2.0%

    2nd sub
    McAuley 8%
    Valencia 5.8%
    Yoshida 5.7%
    Gibson 4.1%
    Brunt, Stephens. King...all 3.1%

    Assuming most play 3-4-3 then 2nd sub would usually be the figure to watch...

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

      spot on for me at 5k mcflukey in for alonso

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Happily I get Valencia. Even happier is that he's more than today's avg pts.

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

      HoleBAPs the hero of the GW 🙂

  8. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Robles (Pickford)
    Alonso, Baines, Stephens (Fabio, Olssen)
    Sanchez, Eriksen, Alli, Coutinho, Zaha
    Lukaku, Ibra (Origi)

    1FT 0 ITB

    A - Alonso, Baines, Origi > Rojo, Valencia, Benteke.-8 (5 DGW)
    B - Alonso, Origi > Bailly, Benteke -4 (4DGW)

    Cash ML leader (70pts'ish ahead) has Bailly with no WC left i am WC'ing in 36 so Valencia and Rojo will both be likely diffs.

    Any help much appreciated, thanks.

  9. GE
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Walcott playing against Leicester? :/

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

      Hard to say. Wenger does rotate a lot.

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

        Worth it do Walcott and Diomande -> Towsend and Benteke (-4)?

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

          Means bench Tadic

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

          Probably yeah

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

      Yeah, confirmed. 😐

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

        ? 😉

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

          So of the attacking players only Özil and Sanchez nailed?

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

            Probably :/ Walcott out for me

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

    Llorente » Negredo
    Yay or nay?

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

      Tekkers

    2. Tommo1888
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Yay for me

    3. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Same dillema

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

    Anyone playing de Roon in GW34?

    1. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Me

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

      My rival who is somehow 70pts ahead

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 28 days ago

        Your rival isnt Gudjohnsen a few posts above?

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

      Porobably with chip

    4. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      might use aoa and play him, yes.

  12. Nazz
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    are people saving wildcard for weeks 36+37 to maximise those crazy fixtures

    1. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Yes

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

    Should I do my transfers tonight that enable me to get Son before price rise or hold in case Valdes is injured?

    1. Lukakuna
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 27 days ago

      How much do we know about this Valdes thing?
      Think I'd say wait and see

  14. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Buy?
    A) Benteke
    B) Rashford
    C) Negredo

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

      I think I'm going C, but have Zaha for Palace cover

  15. Pigeon
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Pick one;

    A) Valdes
    B) Hennessey
    C) DDG

    Have Valencia but no Palace or Boro defence

    1. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      DDG

  16. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Planning sucks this season....

    Just seen my Middlesbrough defence due Valdez, Fabio, both out today......

    Anyone got any information on their injuries?

  17. Nazz
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    the amount of games in 36+37 .... is this defo gonna be the case?

  18. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    No Sanchez for me this week, just didn't need him for my ML so no worries.

    Considering Ozil in for the back to back DGW's instead which allows keeping Hazard. Got to be hasn't it?

    1. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Looking at Özil as well if Arsenal still look like fighting for a top-four place.

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

    Pick one:

    A. Llorente, McAuley -> Benteke, Barragan (-4)
    B. Llorente, McAUley -> Negredo, Gibson (-4)
    C. Llorente, Kun, -> Benteke, Ibra (-4)
    D. Llorente, Kun, McAuley -> Benteke, Ibra, Gibson (-8)

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

    Does Bernardo still count as a DGW player? LOL

  21. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Carroll to Negredo for -4?

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

      I just did Carroll --> Benteke for a hit. I like his chances better despite tighter fixtures. GW35 is nice too.

  22. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Friend back has ruined my plans for AOA. Had him all season but sort of forget about him. Have the ultimate bench headache now. 0.5 ITB, 1 FT. Need some help please.

    Pickford (Heaton)
    Valencia Rojo Friend (Olson, Holgate)
    Sanchez Firmino Alli Zaha Siggy
    Ibra Llorente Lukaku

    A) Llorente-->Negredo, and bench Siggy
    B) Llorente +Siggy-->Negredo/Benteke+Townsend, and
    i)AOA, bench Friend
    ii)bench one of the big boys, probably reluctantly Alli
    C) Other

  23. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    GTG for GW34?

    Grant
    Valencia - Baines - Davies
    Sanchez - Alli - Eriksen - Zaha
    Ibra - Lukaku - Benteke

  24. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Shipped Sanchez out this week ... you are welcome Sanchez holders...

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

      Thanks for your input

      1. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Here to help

    2. EDEN THE MAN
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Thanks Jallegre
      Finding the positives

      1. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 27 days ago

        Here for you- who else can I ship for good karma... ??

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

    Can't believe I am seriously considering Negredo over Zlatan!!

    1. SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      Me too. I just hope Man U beat anderlecht then we can pretty much guarantee Ibra will be rested v burnley, and only start v man city. Would make the Negredo decision easier... However Ibra has Swansea in gw 35 ..... Arggggggh

  26. EDEN THE MAN
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Pick 2 on Wc

    A)Alli
    B)Eriksen
    C)Hazard

    A or B

    A)Gibson(-4) (Opens up third Spurs slot for Harry)
    B)Save

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

    Do we think Wenger keeps that formation next week?

  28. balint84
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    were any good mborogh players during against arsenal?

  29. Oscar Slater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Negredo THRUSTS himself alongside Benteke in total points & ppg. Two EASY games for 'boro coming up against opposition that Senor Negredo relishes (averages 7.5 ppg against them this season).

    Wake up and smell the points everyone!

    1. BadgersBoys
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 28 days ago

      They're Sthinkin

  30. BadgersBoys
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 28 days ago

    Will Chambers play next week or do we not have a clue??