Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Crystal Palace vs Hull City

Sunday’s events begin at Selhurst Park in an encounter that’s crucial from a Premier League perspective but offers only partial Fantasy interest.

Following Swansea City’s victory at Sunderland on Saturday, relegation-threatened Crystal Palace and Hull City will go into the noon kick-off decidedly edgy, with the home side likely to be set up to avoid defeat, while the Tigers will surely need to snatch all three points.

Palace’s Wilfried Zaha is the most owned outfield player on show.

Still part of 12% of squads, the winger has nonetheless been shed by over 226,000 FPL managers over the past three Gameweeks following a dismal run of just seven points from his last five starts. That spell followed huge investment ahead of his two fixtures over Double Gameweek 34 which saw him produce a pair of 1-point returns.

Eagles boss Sam Allardyce will certainly look to Zaha to inspire his side today, along with striker Christian Benteke. The Belgian has followed a similar pattern to Zaha – spiking in ownership ahead of Gameweek 34, only to lose over 183,000 owners over the last two Gameweeks.

Benteke and his remaining owners will take some comfort from the fact that Hull City have shipped 13 goals from corners and the same number of headed goals – in both cases the most conceded in the Premier League.

But Palace have also shown fragility at set-pieces – they have also allowed 13 goals this season – a factor which could be exposed by Marco Silva’s visitors.

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

936 Comments Post a Comment
  1. MALDINI'S EYES!
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Who wins

    A) Bertand cech monreal fabs kdb kane

    B) Alonso DDG Holding Eriksen hazard jwp +4

    1. Rash
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      A

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      B

    3. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      A

    4. unlethal
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      A

  2. Sims
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Didn't think I would be in top 10k with no BB and starting this gw at 9.5k

    6.6k currently.

    Soton manager coming to the rescue for those with no BB

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      TC is better than BB, so...

      1. Sims
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        It isn't

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 12 months ago

          It is... Just because everyone thinks that BB gives more players doesnt make it better chip. BB is all about quantity rather than quality

          1. Sims
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 12 months ago

            Of u have 4 nailed on players on the bench with decent fixtures (that's when u use a BB) they're more likely to outscore your best player in a gameweek

            1. Sims
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 12 months ago

              Something around the lines of sanchez vs pick Ford, Holgate, Stephenns, gabbi

              Obviously TV more beneficial this game week but sanchez could easily be KDB and the bench players could have easily scored around 15 points if managers had been predictable

          2. Mark
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 17 Years
            6 years, 12 months ago

            Not sure I agree, it's far easier to get a return from BB than it is to hit the right captain with TC.

            The TC can deliver more but you can get a 15-20 return from a bench without making exceptional calls, whereas with the TC, you've got to be on the money with one decision.

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      We need to differentiate between BB and this being a DGW, they are two different things.

      BB isn't your enemy its people who have WCed to take advatange of DGW and their actual team selection and captain choices etc. you know the usual stuff.

      1. Mark
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 17 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Yes, the BB is just gravy, not the be all and end all of these last two GW's.

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

    Zaha 12% ownership 😮

    Must be all ghost ships.....

    1. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Errrrr.....

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      hopefully a few benched him

      1. sunzip14
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        with a BB 😀

    3. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      hi

    4. boc610
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      theres plenty who have already said they kept zaha because of the nice fixture ...

      1. Heavy Data
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        I had to ditch him for Albrighton to afford kdb

    5. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      I am alive 😀

  4. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Good idea to have Alonso and Terry for GW38?

    A bit too soon- I know, but I am tinkering with this idea. No C on Terry though- that would be step too far I think 🙂

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Not sure I'd be using a transfer on defence for 38 (other than for injuries). With nothing left to keep it tight for, I think Chelsea will be more in the mood to cut loose and may concede a daft consolation goal.

  5. nkhoughton
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Thought kick off was 12:30 my bad

    1. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Excellent story

  6. Ravager
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Question though, does it even count as a good bench boost if you more or less just place the more likely scorers on your bench to mess around?

    1. Bazzalona
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Nope. I've done it just to make it look better, but I know who the 'real' subs are.

    2. Skid Vicious
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      It's a bit unethical, but great fun to have 3 hard hitters on your bench for BB.
      But does not give anyone bragging rights if you bench lets say Kane, Eriksen & Özil while fielding, Holgate, Holding & T Carroll

  7. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Why was that second Hull corner taken from the near side? Ball crossed the line on the far side. Ref being kind?

  8. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Do you think that Herrera will miss both games - Zaha 1stsub

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      No chance.

    2. Crow
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      I'd say he'll play both. And outscore zaha.

  9. DAN DARE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    There is nothing to be learnt from this weeks apparent wc failure (let's not forget it's not over yet, most still have more games to come). It was the right time to play it. Don't let your judgement be clouded by hindsight

    1. DAN DARE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      *bb failure

    2. Sims
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      The time to wc was 2 weeks ago. Or last week for those with only 1 chip left

    3. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      No one saying its a WC failure. Imagine if WC were only chips, most would have been more than happy with their GW36 WC score and this week.

  10. Parm
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Wilfried Zaha is a hard one to pick, so many blanks at home in 'easier' games, 2 home goals all season in fact.

    1. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      He let me down a few weeks ago and had to go eventually.

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Of course, the consistency isn't there. Apart from his assist streak earlier this season(followed by away goals against Swansea & Hull) I haven't owned him.

  11. Sims
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    If hull lose are they relegated?

    1. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Yes

    2. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Don't be so lazy

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      yep cause Swansea won yesterday

  12. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Kept Siggy and Zaha amongst all the DGW hysteria. Happy bunny.

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      😉

    2. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Lucky you haven't kept or even captained Lukaku.

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

      Shame about Jaku and Maguire though. 😉

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Jaku may get a save pt or two...he's fine....Maguire may have over stayed his welcome though.

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

      Was going to keep Lukaku for that very reason. Both sides of the coin I reckon.

    5. jam
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Yeah I hung on to Zaha instead of bringing in Sane for a hit, needed that goal!

  13. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Only 1 player today (Kane). How many for you?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      5

      2 down

    2. Ravager
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      5. One currently

    3. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      2, Kane + Eriksen

    4. lordkippe
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      2. kane + zaha

    5. Optic1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Kane & Alli.

      64 points so far.

    6. Parm
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Triple Spurs with Davies, Alli & Kane.

    7. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      5
      Kane, Alli, Bavies, Cout, Zaha

    8. unlethal
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Kane, Alli, Bailly

      73 so far

    9. RedMarks 赤的
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      1, Kane

    10. LakhaneeFC
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Kane(C) Vert and Maguire.

      Not going well so far. Captain Kane to the rescue hopefully! 🙂

    11. abreu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Kane, Alli and Eriksen

      Hoping for a open 4-2 game after early spurs goal =)

    12. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      3.

      Vert, Alli and Eriksen.

    13. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      3. Davies, Eriksen & Alli.

    14. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Five.

    15. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      4 - Lloris, Davies, Eriksen & Herrera

    16. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Only 2

      Kane and Davies

  14. boc610
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    do people think zaha is better than Sterling?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Anyone is better than headless chicken

    2. abreu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Nah would take Sterling any day

    3. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Yes....by a very long way.

      Better offensively and defensively. In fact I'd put Zaha in the very top bracket of players for covering the entire pitch.

      Playing with a better team he'd be a monster pick.

      1. Dreams
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        +1. He's been brilliant this season.

  15. Abel Xavier
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Reclassification - Yay or Nay

    James Milner - Since GW2, Milner has played as a left full-back in a back 4.
    How can he not be re-classified as a defender?
    The kicker of course is that if he plays next season, it will almost certainly be as a midfielder, with Liverpool in the market for at least one genuine left full-back.
    If he had been a defender this year, he would be on a minimum of 163 points now, plus any additional bonus points. He would likely slot in as the 3rd highest scoring defender behind Alonso and Cahill.
    6.5m defender for mine next season.

    Alonso/Moses - Since GW7, these two have played as the wing-backs in a midfield 4, slotting in as defensive wide players in a back 5 when necessary.
    As Chelsea have dominated games, their average position has become more advanced. As they've played with a 3 behind them, they're more at risk than Walker/Rose who play in a back 4, albeit very advanced as the holding midfielders allow them to push on. Not clear cut, I'd suggest FPL will start next season with both as defenders, Alonso at 7-7.5 and Moses (who would be on a minimum 154 plus additional bonus points as a defender - 13 more than Walker) at 6.5-7.

    What do you think, any others in the frame?

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      King

      1. Abel Xavier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Would you change his classification?
        I think his default position is still the 10, and he seems to have played enough games there to remain as a midfielder.

        1. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 12 months ago

          I wouldn't but it would be typical FPL which will kill his appeal.

        2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 12 months ago

          It's a tricky situation, he has almost been forced to play up front due to the Wilson/Afobe injuries throughout the season

    2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Josh King will likely be reclassified as a forward

    3. boc610
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      reclassify sanchez as 'everything but goalkeeper'

    4. Brap.
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      No way to say yet -- what if Milner goes to, say, Fulham and they say he's gonna play midfield?

      1. Brap.
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Repeat for all others

      2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Doubt he will drop into the championship

      3. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Why would someone say what position a particular player is going to play? 😳

        1. Abel Xavier
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 12 months ago

          Just Mourinho on Rooney - For me he will be a 9, a 10, a nine and a half but never a 6 or an 8

    5. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Firmino as forward

      1. Abel Xavier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Very good shout

      2. Legomane
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Could be the 8.0-5m striker we've been missing this season..

    6. James H
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      It is going to be interesting - I think Milner should be classified as a defender in the 7.0 - 7.5 bracket much like Alonso. King likely to be a forward IMO.

    7. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      I'm thinking the opposite with Alonso...he should be a midfielder next season

      1. Legomane
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        No way, premium defender or he loses his appeal. Jus look at Dier this season. Semi tempting as a defender last year , complete waste of space in FPL as a mid.

    8. Crow
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Mane and Firmino as fws on the top of my head.

      1. Abel Xavier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Firmino playing so many games in the middle of the front 3 makes all the difference for me. I can see him being made a FWD, but not Mane. Even though Mane is often the most advanced.
        As Parm says below, it's difficult without knowing the criteria being taken into account.

    9. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Hoping Moses is a defender next season

    10. Parm
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      I don't know what FPL classify a player based on, average position, position in a formation, how large the sample size needs to be, one FPL blokes gut instinct etc.

      Would be interesting to know.

    11. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      I'd like to have every player priced in such a way to allow people have a team of 11 goalkeepers. Would get rid of template teams!

      1. Abel Xavier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Sweeper keepers, naturally

  16. Goodricke
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    DGW transfers: Jags to Clichy (mistake)
    Zaha to Fabregas (mistake - so far)
    Kingsley to David Luis (+2 points only - so far)

    Rest of team
    Cedric, Tadic and gabbi - erm....
    San(C)hez - doubtful for a second game.
    I hate this game!

    1. Skid Vicious
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Auch, some harsh transfers there! But you have to play these things that way.
      Only.thing to learn from this is NOT to take a hit for a dgw'r if the single gane player you are removing has a plum game

  17. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Coutinho to Barca rumour really twisted my head.Is he really that good/matured to play for them? I somehow can't see it, not consistent enough and should commit himself to Liverpool.

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

      No he isn't. As a Barca fan, I can enjoy his play but he isn't what we need at all. Majority of our issues stem on the right hand side of play (need a RB and RW) but media are twisting Coutinho to be "Iniesta's heir'

    2. FirminoIsBetterThanYou
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      I agree with this but I think the start of this season shows he could be consistent enough for that level of football, injury severely hindered that

      1. barracuda
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        I don't want to sound too disrespectful to Liverpool FC but they don't have a single player who could walk in Barca or Real Madrid side at the moment (not saying it can't happen in the future). He is at the right place and playing for the right manager right now.

    3. Dreams
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      He's good enough imo to play for any team in the world. Having good players alongside him is what is missing in Liverpool atm.

    4. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Not for me. I think he's a very good player but not at that level yet.

    5. abreu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Still waiting for that player of the year season where he dominates games and score 15-20 goals.
      Think we are getting closer to it tho.

    6. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      I think the issue is that at Barcelona the role he would play would be considerably different to that at Pool. If he is to inherit Iniesta's role he'll have to adapt his play significantly, I'm not really convinced he's the type of player to take over that job tbh.

      However, the Barcelona Brazilian contingent are strong and loyal throughout the club, they certainly would try and influence it.

      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Though I should say latest chat is Barcelona are looking at Ousmane Dembele.

      2. Ravager
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 12 months ago

        Exactly this. Coutinho has been playing winger a lot for Pool this season, if not that, AM. For Barca, he'd have to play CM which is a whole lot different. Especially if it's to 'replace' Iniesta, he'd have to work on his distribution, tempo etc. Needs more tactical discipline than I think he currently has.

        He's a great player, but I see him as a luxury. Like buying Arda Turan when we needed a CM to try to fill the gap left by Xavi leaving. Not a player we currently need.

        1. AdamB
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 12 months ago

          Klopp said Coutinho could be used in the n°8 role next season, with a genuine winger on the left.

    7. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      David Silva

  18. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    There is more in this game for Zaha. Spaces opening up

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      I hope he atleast gets another attacking return and full bps

  19. F4L
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Alli Eriksen Kane better show up today 😡

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      0-0 incoming

    2. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      3-0 Kane2, Toby1 (Alli2, Erik 1). asking much? I do not own Erik&Toby.

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

      Got Kane captained so 0-0

  20. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Hull blew it big time when they lost at home to Sunderland do

  21. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Arsenal have secured the signing of Sead Kolasinac from Schalke. He has signed a 5-year contract with the club. [Raphael Wiesweg]

  22. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Hull relegated

  23. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Goodbye Hull!

  24. Sims
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Benteke goal

    Puncheon assist

  25. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Tekerrrrrssss

  26. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Benteke ownership is 9.5%

    Dead teams I suspect......

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

      .. as well as teams like mine, using WC before GW34 and kept him for the games vs Burnley and Hull at home as well 🙂

  27. A Defender's Nightmare
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Any rumors regarding Liverpool/West ham line up? Is Firmino fit?

    1. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Think I read somewhere that he didnt travel.

    2. Fantasyamateur
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Confirmed out.

  28. Fantasyamateur
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    BENTEKE!! And people here told me to transfer him out. Glad I trusted my own instinct 🙂

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Was no brainer I think, why would you take out someone playing Hull 😮

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

        They told me to replace him with Jesus which would cost me a hit. If it wasn't for Yaya's present yesterday I definitely think Tekkers would outscore him!

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 12 months ago

      Life is very different when you not a WC and every transfer matters...

  29. jam
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Won't need Llorente next week after all then

  30. Dreams
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 12 months ago

    Feeling sad for Hull. Hope they make a comeback now.