Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Watford vs Chelsea

Gameweek 26 draws to a conclusion this evening as Watford welcome Chelsea to Vicarage Road.

Although the Hornets boast the league’s worst home defensive record, conceding 25 times in front of their own fans, the arrival of new manager Javi Gracia has hinted at an improvement at the back.

Watford have conceded just one goal in their subsequent two matches across all competitions, though on the downside, they have yet to find the net since the Spaniard was appointed.

But their previous lack of resilience bodes well for the visitors’ Eden Hazard tonight.

The Belgian has served up double-digits in each of his last two road trips, producing a total of three goals and 26 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points over visits to Arsenal and Brighton.

Indeed, with four of his five double-figure tallies delivered on the road, Hazard is the ninth top captaincy pick for Gameweek 26, handed the armband by 2.1% of FPL managers and nine of the top 100.

Hazard is joined in a front three by the fit-again Willian, who has collected three lots of 10+ points returns in his last five league starts.

Elsewhere for Antonio Conte’s side, new arrival Olivier Giroud could get the opportunity to play his way into contention among the mid-price frontman.

Costing 8.2 in FPL, the Frenchman is named on the bench in the continued absence of Alvaro Morata.

But the big team news involves Marcos Alonso, who misses his first game of the season for the Blues as a “precautionary” measure. His absence is a major blow, with the top scoring defender owned by over 1.5 million managers.

Victor Moses looks set to play on the left tonight, with Davide Zappacosta on the right and new signing Emerson named on the bench.

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

3,583 Comments Post a Comment
  1. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    The only way I can see Hazard scoring in this match is Watford giving away a penalty

  2. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Zeegelaar back on the head impact 🙁

  3. TOPCAT1960
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Son & Lingard > Walcot & Ramsey for -4 any good ?

    1. Regin
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      TOT fixtures improving. Wouldnt sell Son now. U should have sold him 2 GWs ago.

    2. Crispo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Don't think I'd even do it free nevermind for a hit.

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Says alot Conte is just sitting on the bench

    Usually running around waving his arms like a madman

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Maybe its a precaution.

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Conte is a one-dimensional manager. All he knows is 3-4-3. Worked with Juventus because he had the best GK and defenders. Where is the variation when things aren't working? All he does is change the player and hopes they have a better day than the player subbed off.

      1. Regin
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        wow. Nobody complained about Conte when he won the league last year. Probably they shouldnt have Costa.

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          That's because Plan A kept working and they had no European football. In a more competitive league and with CL football he has been found wanting IMO.

  5. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Please don’t deny me my Zegelaar CS..

  6. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Time wasting.

  7. RASPUTIN
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Totally unrelated but...

    Child psychology question..
    My 4 year old loves Michael Jackson, watches moonwalked and dances every day and talks about him all the time, my wife told him that Jackson died just before bed time and it seems to have ruined the boys world...

    What have we done? ,!

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Taught him the harsh reality of life.

      1. RASPUTIN
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        I feel we should have waited when he was less fanatic...

    2. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      You've taught him that people do indeed die.

    3. Elvy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      He's four years old. Will recover when offered a biscuit.

      1. RASPUTIN
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        I know but he's a softy like, and he really does love him.... any advise on how I rationalize it tomorrow?

        1. Elvy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Speaking only from my own experience as a parent, I tended only to make it worse by trying to guess how a four year old should be talked through something like this. I'd just leave it with no mention at all for a day or so (unless he raises it) and see if he can work through it himself.

    4. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Good prep for when his first pet dies.

    5. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I'm sure your wife will tell him Santa isn't real soon by the sounds of things which will make him forget all about MJ

      1. RASPUTIN
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Lol.... maybe I'm just over thinking it, but he did seem to be crushed

    6. Hooky
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Maybe you should get him into Prince instead?

      1. RASPUTIN
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Hahaha

  8. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Bird shit rubbed in and he's good to go again!

  9. Toffeeman (A retired FPL ma…
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Giroud warmed up yet? I don't want Watford CS provided no Hazard / AZP goal/assist.

  10. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    https://twitter.com/FootballCliches/status/960618518428430336

    Another ban for Deeney coming up 😆

    1. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Oh dear

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Deulofeu #10, Rich #9

    3. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Lashing out at the world cos he looks like an Amardillo

    4. Ghost Gooner
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Why is he still captain? He is so reckless 😆

  11. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Eden Hazard. You absolutel troll

  12. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Best defender after new gameweek? Thinking Davies or Nacho, crazy right ?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Vert

  13. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    This is the GW that keeps on giving 🙂

  14. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Alonso would have been on the back post 1-1

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      He would have probably been the one subbed after the red.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Nah, Christensen.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Nah, Willian.

    2. tm245
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Is he even on the bench? Missed the first half.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Nope.

      2. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        No.

      3. tm245
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Dropped already?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Scout tweet

          1. tm245
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Cheers. That's a bit cryptic.

  15. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Luiz next to see red

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Said this every game since he moved to the PL until this season. I was never right

  16. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Dirty Luiz

  17. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Dead teams from the early season weeks with Ramsey, Mkhitaryan, Hegazi and Lukaku (C) the winners this week

  18. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Sancho Bob YC

  19. DARE
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    When is the blank (GW) supposed to take place for City & Arsenal, due to the Carabao Cup final?

    Thanks!

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Plot Twist: It won't unless Wigan/City draw.

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      There i sno blank gameweek now, League match got moved to the midweek after the cup final

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      They play GW28 midweek if Man City don't draw vs Wigan.

      1. DARE
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Aah...okay, thanks guys. 🙂

  20. Football Heaven
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    I’m fed up of this game. Alonso, chilwell, Jones no shows with ibe on bench tbf, but jones and Alonso are stupid reasons. Kane as captain when had Salah vice. If he had scored the penalty I’d be 12 points richer. People in my ml have Lukaku in their team and because they are being carried by gross and hegazi have scored a lot of points this week. Last year was more tactical, this year is pure luck. Yes I’m salty but I feel like everyone here had poor scores this week because we’re all tactical about it.

    1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Classic Norwich

      58pts here. Happy enough despite a Alonso no show
      This game is part tactics part luck

  21. Harper (No more Penandes)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Richarlison has quite a large nose

    1. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Hit the nail on the head.

      Interfering with vision, hence why he misses so many chances.

  22. tm245
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Deu not far.

  23. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Delly looks essential.

  24. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    This is crap

  25. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Richa loves a shot off target

  26. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Widecharlison

    1. Toffeeman (A retired FPL ma…
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      and now he exits the pitch! he shoots everywhere but in the net since GW12. must have wasted at least 35 shots since then!

  27. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Lol luiz

  28. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    I hate owning Richarlison

    1. FPL Puppy
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      See below 😆

    2. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Well at least you know you picked well but it just isn't happening. Not sure what more you can do than pick a player playing this well...

  29. FPL Puppy
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Does anyone still own Richarlison? And what's the reason behind it; other fires to put out or still thinking he's good value?

    Not trying to be rude, I'm just curious. 🙂

    1. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      how rude

      1. FPL Puppy
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        😀

  30. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Ross Barkley will change the image of Chelsea FC. You heard this first 😉