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, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      instead of Sanchez?

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

    Anyone's GW34 plans changed following this game?

    1. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      yes, maybe get Barragan or Friend instead Gibson

    2. Orange Roughy
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Waiting on Valdes news

  3. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Negredo and Bailly or Benteke and Rojo -4?

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

      B & R

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

          He deserves more.

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

            Wouldn't say so

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

    Top 10k average up 3.4?

    Will take that an someone with no players involved.

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

      9 for me
      I'll take that

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

      Wait for autosubs

  6. Kanteisking
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      Think again. Lukaku loves a goal against West Ham

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

    Keep or sell Wally?

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

      Sell

    2. Tim Canterbury
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

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

  8. Pep says
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Is Sanchez essential for 36 and 37?

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

      Nobody is.

      1. Pep says
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

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

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

          Yes.

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

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

  9. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      Looking at Ozil over sanch for dgw36 and 37 now

  10. RealSocialDads
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Repost:

    A. Rojo and Townsend
    B. Gibson and Zaha

    Already have Chambers

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

      A

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

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

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

      This

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

      😛

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

      Aye he's useless really.

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

    I dont think that formation made a difference.

  14. Corona Macallan
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      A

      1. Corona Macallan
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Cool. Cheers

  15. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

    Ozil over Sanchez for the upcoming 2 DGW?

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

      No

    2. jackhammer1
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Never for me

  17. Martial Law
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Sell Lukaku to get Sanchez, Y or N??

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

      N

    2. karvs155
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      No

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      No

  18. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      he has got world class hair

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

        Yes, probably the reason they gave him a contract

    2. Martial Law
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      For free yes

      1. the snazzy viking
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        it's FT

  20. Jim Moriarty
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

    Friend or ayala...
    B. Teekers or negredo

  22. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Benteke or Negredo?
    Have Zaha and not Boro!

    1. S.Agueroooooo
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Tekk

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

        Cheers! 🙂

  23. S.Agueroooooo
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    If you dont have ibra are you getting him in?

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

      Don't think so

    2. We Will Klopp you
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      B

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

      C.

  25. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      🙂 😛

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

        Safety score roughly?

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

          You're clearly safe!

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

          67 Don't forget the hit!

  26. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Guzan was sound letting that FK in

  27. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month 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, 1 month ago

      Hahahaha

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

      Not keen on Redmond but the others seem sound

      1. Mattymo23
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Why not?

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

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

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

      Yes

  30. Jigger & Pony
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

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