Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Sunday

Although Sunday beckons in just two Premier League fixtures, there are plenty of points at stake as four sides rich in Fantasy talent do battle. Everton play host to Manchester United in the lunchtime kick off, with the Red Devils looking to cast aside their defeat to Chelsea and snap the Toffees’ five-match unbeaten streak. Arsenal’s home clash against the Blues caps headlines the weekend’s action, with Jose Mourinho’s men all but securing the Premier League crown in the event of an Emirates win.

Everton welcome United to Goodison Park in search of their fifth victory in six outings. Roberto Martinez’s side have been particularly resilient at Goodison in recent weeks and have served up five clean sheets in the last six in front of their own fans, as Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman make a late scramble up the Fantasy standings. United are now enjoying goals from midfield, with Juan Mata (three in four), Marouane Fellaini (two in five) and Ander Herrera (two in three) all contributing to the cause.

The team news from Goodison is significant for both sides. Everton hand a start to striker Romelu Lukaku after he saw action as a substitute in the win over Burnley last time out. Leon Osman also returns to the teamsheet as Kevin Mirallas and Arouna Kone drop to the bench. As for United, they are able to welcome back Daley Blind to the midfield engine room, allowing Wayne Rooney to shift to the attack against his former club: Radamel Falcao makes way.

Sunday’s main event promises to be a tight affair that could become attritional; Arsenal and Chelsea have both conceded just seven goals in their previous 12 matches and it’s fair to say that Jose Mourinho’s side will be containing the Gunners threat as a first priority. Arsenal have recorded eight straight wins since a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur back in early February, with Olivier Giroud’s red-hot form (seven goals in as many starts) driving their success. With two goals and three assists in four league outings, Aaron Ramsey is showing glimpses of least season’s breakthrough star. Eden Hazard has delivered attacking returns in 13 of his last 17 appearances and promises to keep Arsenal occupied at the back.  

2,794 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Heels_Over_Head
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    honestly find it hard to believe i got 197 in last year's late season DGW... seems totally impossible anyone will crack 150 this week the way things are going

    1. Heels_Over_Head
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      * winces at getting top of the page... dire... dire dire dire

    2. Wouter
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      197??????

      1. Heels_Over_Head
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        yeah... it was a weird thing... luckily i had been terrible all season and that just helped me get back to a vaguely respectable rank at the end

    3. Would an idiot do that?
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Congrats

      1. Heels_Over_Head
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        last year

    4. Richd
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      There should still be some decent games. So much still to happen and some big scores for skrtel schmeichel mOrgan. Vardys been respectable too.

      1. Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Leicester won't do anything against Chelsea though. It was basically a normal GW for them

    5. I am 42
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      i have 11 dgw players and i think i have trouble cracking 100 lol

        1. Heels_Over_Head
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          Nice group. Love the cojones of putting Aguero as first sub. I have Sanchez as first sub myself http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/253/history/

      1. Heels_Over_Head
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        myself as well... but i botched things... Ulloa instead of Vardy, Costa, instead of a player, Harper instead of Schmeichel...

        1. I am 42
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          made the right selection for lei or hull
          sch + vardy, mcshane + ndoye

          as for pool and cfc, currently look disappointing

    6. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Some on here have never got 100 points 😆

      1. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Peasants.

      2. Billy Gilmore
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        They can't not have if they played last year, surely???

        Suarez(c) alone was 50...

        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          I mean the overall average was 107 and top 10k was just shy of 150

      3. Heels_Over_Head
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        i think that was actually my first time over as well... it was one of those things where a crappy player (me) has an extremely lucky week...

    7. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      My highest ever is 90...

  2. spartannn
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Any chance Ospina be suspended after this game due to the Oscar incident? I have him for the DGW.

    1. Tiki-Taka
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      No not retrospectively

    2. AlCapwnUK
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      nah

    3. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Lol

    4. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      You can only be retrospectively banned for violent conduct. No chance of it happening.

    5. Would an idiot do that?
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      More chance of being replaced by Seaman

  3. Would an idiot do that?
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Who's on pens for arsenal?

    1. Demí
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Santi

    2. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      caz I think

    3. Nobodinho
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Cazorla I guess

    4. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Santa

  4. Demí
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Been a cracking grame according to yer man Graeme Souness. Agree?

    1. Richd
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      No

    2. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yea

    3. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Was doing the dishes so I don't know anything but I'll disagree.

    4. AlCapwnUK
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      i'd agree. best two teams and arguably best two managers playing a tight tactical game

    5. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Hasn't been bad at all. Hope an early goal in the second half will really open it up.

    6. coran2123
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Sure, if you're on crack

    7. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Decent enough considering our low expectations. Chelsea could do with a proper striker though.

    8. The Light Knight
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yes, I enjoy seeing the misery of Gooners and Chelski alike

    9. tm245
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      I thought it was a good half. Tactics often take over when the big clubs play each other.

    10. dmcqt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yep. High tension, high skill, and quite strategic. Makes for good viewing. My fantasy interest is in a Chelsea CS, but emotionally I want Arsenal and Giroud to score. Real conflicts!

    11. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      i agree that it's been a cracking game to souness

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        A cracking game to Souness ?

        1. Gaz Downright
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          his type of game obviously

  5. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Should have been 1-2 or 1-3

    Let's keep the pressure boys. Oscars doing a terrific job OOP.

    1. The Light Knight
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Haz having an off day or just marked out of it?

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Playing deep

      2. Elniñorules
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Playing very deep. Almost LCM in a 4-3-3.

        Willian trying to get Bellerin OOP but not quite working yet.

        1. The Light Knight
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          Weird. Will be interesting if it opens up a bit

  6. The Light Knight
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Quietly impressed with Smalling again today

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Unfortunately he might as well have played on his own in that back four.

      1. The Light Knight
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Definitely agree there, but he's really turned it around this year

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      He's been impressive for a while now. Developed well this season.

      1. The Light Knight
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Smaldini finally living up to the name

  7. tm245
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Can't wait to get Ramsey in my team. He looked lively in that half.

    1. Tiki-Taka
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Need to decide which 2 out of Sanchez/Ozil/Ramsey, getting Sanchez for the DGW would take a hit down the line but I feel he has the best chance to explode so it's between Ozil and Ramsey. I'm worried over the double Wilshere or Walcott might start on the right instead of Ramsey for 1 game

      1. tm245
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        I think I am getting both w Giroud.

        1. Tiki-Taka
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah Giroud is a definite I think, especially because I need to remove Vardy for someone. Just deciding which 2 mids

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      This
      But in my case (eriksen→rambo for a hit)
      What do you think?

      1. tm245
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Eriksen is a Never Again for me. I would do it but I'm biased.

  8. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Just realised my closest rival (9 points behind me) has double arsenal defence including ospina

    Suddenly agree with all the ref hate 😯

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      😀

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    drogba getting ready

  10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    oscar off
    drogba on

  11. Would an idiot do that?
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Oscar playing well.... Brings on Dogba

    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Ospina wants to kill him though 😉

    2. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      On his way to hospital according to TV announcers.

  12. AIRMILES
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Don't like Coquelin being on a yellow.

    1. Tiki-Taka
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Agreed, can easily see that 2nd yellow coming on a Chelsea counter attack

  13. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Drogba winner I hope.

  14. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Should've waited with that sub.

  15. drughi
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    1-0 arsenal FT

    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks Marty

  16. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hazard more advanced now perhaps

    1. Would an idiot do that?
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Lwb

  17. Would an idiot do that?
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Drogba coming on to bow out ungraciously committing countless fouls and bad passes.

    1. AlCapwnUK
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Dat pace though

      Mertesacker should be able to keep up

      1. Jar Jar Dinks
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        There's a first time for everything.

  18. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Bad news for Oscar owners

    1. Tiki-Taka
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Do they exist? 😀

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        People go crazy for DGW after all

  19. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2015/04/26/the-dugout-discussion-sunday-54/?hc_page=16#hc_comment_10183282

    I said that straight away he went stiff! HONESTLY HORRIFIC BY STAFF allowing him to stay on!!!!

    1. Heels_Over_Head
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      it's offensive that you can see that on telly and they can't in person

      1. Heels_Over_Head
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        i.e. I'm mad at Eva

      2. Would an idiot do that?
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Oscar could have covered it up to stay on

    2. RubeRx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Definitely a concussion but the test/protocol for determining one is way outdated.

    3. Richd
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      stiffy lol

  20. ZTF
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Oscar possibly concussed following collision with Ospina.

  21. JÆKS ⭐
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Liverpool 0-0 Wba
    Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal so far

    I guess we expected some more attacking returns from these games...

    1. Esalman
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      yes.

    2. The Light Knight
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Not much, 4 defs here.
      The next games are the ones for attacking returns imo

      1. JÆKS ⭐
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        I was waiting for some Coutinho and Sterling magic in the last game 😀

        1. The Light Knight
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          I was waiting for Stampy G magic 😆

    3. Nobodinho
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yup, benched Bellerin and Dawson.

      1. JÆKS ⭐
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Also got Dawson on my bench, will come on if Moreno/Schlupp stays on the bench next game, doubt it actually

    4. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      From the first one certainly

  22. Telpuialion
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    I have Oscar 🙁

  23. Celt Abroad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Want to see an entirely improbable goal fest this half

  24. Esalman
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    This is turning out to be nightmare of a dgw...

    1. RubeRx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 😥 😥

    2. Heels_Over_Head
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      N'Doye knew this going in. It always had all the signs of being a Hazard. Huth didn't know it wouldn't be Sterling was in denial.

  25. The Light Knight
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Gotta feel for the 135 new Solanke owners this week 😆

  26. Oxford Comma
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Monet rival has Bellerin so I need Chelsea to score, preferably Hazard.

    1. Oxford Comma
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      money*

  27. Richd
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Koscielny is Steven hunt

  28. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Awww poor Ospina got clattered did he?

  29. Piggs Boson
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    I need those Chelsea CSs ruined. C'mon Coquelin.

    1. The Light Knight
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      You can stick your Coq where the sun don't shine.
      😯

  30. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Kos just making sure his GK doesn't step outside his box.

    1. Jar Jar Dinks
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yes. I enjoyed that!