Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Man United vs Stoke City

Gameweek 23 draws to a close at Old Trafford as Manchester United entertain struggling Stoke City.

Up against a defence that’s conceded more goals on the road than any side, the hosts boast three of the top 11 captains in Fantasy Premier League.

Romelu Lukaku (12.1%) remains the favoured attacker among Jose Mourinho’s contingent despite a run of two goals in the last nine Gameweeks.

Yet as evidenced by his goal and assist off the bench against Derby in the FA Cup, an enforced rest due to a head injury seems to have boosted the Belgian’s prospects.

Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba are also highly fancied, with the former drafted in by a massive 567,000+ FPL managers in time to face the Potters.

Certainly, Lingard is the form player on show tonight, with seven goals and a pair of assists in the last nine Gameweeks. He has, however, recorded points in just one of his last four Premier League matches at home.

Meanwhile, Pogba’s 12-point haul away to Everton last time out – his first double-digit return since Gameweek 12 – hints at a return to form. However, tonight’s teamsheet indicates that the Frenchman will be deployed in a deep-lying role alongside Nemanja Matic, with Ander Herrera dropping to the bench.

Having conceded just five goals at Old Trafford, a ninth home clean sheet looks to be on the cards for David De Gea’s 42% owners tonight.

Up against an attack that have scored just three times in their last five road trips, interest in Phil Jones is on the rise – he was the top transfer target in defence for Gameweek 23, earning over 191,000 new owners.

Mourinho also welcomes back the fit-again Antonio Valencia, who makes his first appearance since Gameweek 18 after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Despite missing the last four matches, he remains the fourth top-scoring defender in FPL thanks to two goals and 11 clean sheets in 18 outings.

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

5,281 Comments Post a Comment
  1. GuillermoDickero
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    A or B gents?

    A) Pope, Christensen, RLC ——> Pickford, Maguire, Arnie

    B) Pope, RLC, DCL ——> Adrian, Arnie, Wilson

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

      b

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      a

    4. screamopilla
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B as the attackers are a better option. I'd avoid Everton for the moment, Pickford is a good keeper but they're bottom of the form table and Sam is likely to change it at the back meaning a less settled defence.

    5. OneJuan
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      a

    6. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    7. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      b

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

    Reckon Mahrez form will drop off if he doesn't get the move he is after ?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      yes, he will be feeling sad

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

        Tearful ?

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          more melancholic

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

            Thats fine, as long as he doesn't cry on the pitch

            1. The Knights Template
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              he might become an emo

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

                Haha, an emo Mahrez, quality

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

      Can anyone explain to me why Mahrez can't find a good home (aside from Leicester)? Isn't he good enough to go to most top 4 teams in Europe?

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Just speculating here but I’m guessing his price tag is astronomical.

  3. Jay_
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Choupo on 2 points, I’m sure he went off at 59.45, didn’t he?

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

        Crossed the line bang on 60:00.

        1. Jay_
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Nice.

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

        Walcott to Everton should be done in next 48 hours.

        1. Robe Wan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Poor them

        2. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          did you say sanchez to everton in the next 48hrs?

        3. Third Eye Vision
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          I just came here to post this. Fingers crossed that this works out. Could Walcott, Tosun, Siggy, Bolasie (??) be an effective front 4?

          I think I already know the answer to that question.

          1. Third Eye Vision
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            That’s provided Siggy doesn’t the rest of the season covering the left back position.

        4. TallestJohn
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Don't think he offers anything to Arsenal, although ironically I'd probably be interested in the Walcott of 5 years ago. It's just knowing that he'll only get worse from this point.

          At 7.1m he could be interesting in FPL. Can't believe he actually scored 10 in the league last season which was his second best ever tally. Always used to have spells where he'd be superb value, especially in 2012-13.

          1. gunner 2727
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Wenger has ruined him. Plenty of talent, problem is not sure big sam will be the right fit. Suspect pep would have done to Theo what he's done to Sterling

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

        For the upcoming game week

        Kdb and Aguero or Sterling and Kane?

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          latter

        2. Buck The Trent
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          First one if chasing

      4. Francescoli
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Bottomed

        Hey all, what would you do here? I feel like I need to prioritise Salah and Alonso.

        Ryan Adrian
        Otamendi Jones TAA Dunk Lascelles
        Eriksen Sterling Son Arnautovic Lanzini
        Aguero Kane Quaner

        2FT 0.1ITB

        1. Robe Wan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          I’d probably lose Ota and Erik for Salah and Alonso

          Use lingard as an enabler if needs be

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

            I’m 0.1 off being able to afford that - by going Son to Lingard - unfortunately

        2. Neville& Sons
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Drop Eriksen keep Son.

      5. Winners900
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Damn, captainsy tough.

        A) Kane
        B) Sterling
        C) Salah

        What are people going for?

        1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Salah

        2. Only a Hazard of time
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Salah

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

          Kane.

        4. Root
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Not Richarlison or Lingard

          Probably Salah

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            You sure?

            Lingard last 5 away scores 12 15 10 5 8 and 13pts in 45 mins against Burnley

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

          Salah

      6. CelticBhoy1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Any thoughts on what to do with my team are much appreciated, got 0.8ITB and 1FT

        De Gea Speroni
        Christensen Jones Ogbonna Mee Kenny
        Salah Lingard Sterling Loftus Cheek Carroll
        Aguero Kane Rooney

        1. Robe Wan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Rooney to wilson

        2. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Probably save that FT

      7. George James
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Why is Ben Chilwell not suspended? Did he not get sent off against Chelsea Saturday?

        1. pjomara
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          fa cup replay

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

          Fa cup replay

        3. Third Eye Vision
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          He’ll miss the cup game instead.

      8. Kim Jong Kün
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Any thoughts on how to get Salah into this team? I am thinking of maybe going 4-4-2 because of cost of fourth defender instead of 5th M.

        DDG
        Azpi-Alonso-Jones
        Son-Lingard-Arnie-Lanzini-Sterling
        Kun-Kane

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

        Is Christensen still a good pick?

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          It's Conte that needs to answer this.

      10. NestorC
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Lingard to Mahrez?
        Good or bad move?

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Bad

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

          Good

      11. Rate My Tome
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Morata and Maguire to Alonso and Firmino worth a -4? Can't afford to do it later if Morata drops tonight, and I'm fed up of him stinking up my team.

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          yep

        2. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Maguire has Watford Swansea Stoke at home in next 5. I would buy him now

        3. Schwarzer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Yes

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

        Gary Neville losing the rag 😆

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

        It could be an interesting DGW season this year.

        Very often the dream is 11 DGW players...but there are a few players who seem better having for one GW than swapping for somebody with two...

        Kane, Salah, Son, Pogba, Firmino, Alonso etc....

        Strange times...

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

          Just bench boost to have the max dgwers and keep the best sgwers on the main dgw

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

            Aye maybe. My point really is that it's not clear cut this year what to do...

            Has anybody done any studies of double digit scores this season amongst the top players...I bet it's much higher than usual...

      14. The Alli Way
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Thoughts on these moves over the coming GW's, would mean doubling up on Azpi and Alonso over the next four but that should prove fruitful

        Lloris (Elliot)
        Azpi Otamendi Ogbonna (Mee (Duffy))
        Salah Sterling Arnie Lingard (RLC)
        Kane Firmino DCL

        GW24: Duffy > Alonso
        GW25: Lloris > Pickford
        GW26: DCL > 4.5
        GW27: Save FT
        GW28: Azpi > Shaw & RLC > Son

        Leaves me with:

        Pickford (Elliot)
        Alonso Otamendi Shaw (Ogbonna (Mee))
        Salah Sterling Son Arnie Lingard
        Kane Firmino

      15. abaalan
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Best 3rd striker? Replacement for DCL, got 2M ITB (and could get abit more by downgrading elsewhere)?

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Ayew or Wilson. Not a great deal around for the extra cash unless you want to punt on Tosun.

          1. The Knights Template
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            this

        2. C-Dawgg
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Callum Wilson

        3. abaalan
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Or worth downgrade to 4.5M striker and upgrade Richarlison with ~3M

          1. ENZO SZN™
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            That's what I'm doing. DCL to Mcburnie, Richarlison to Mahrez.

      16. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        What's the average boys?

        1. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          71.9

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

        Pickford
        Christensen / Otamendi / Ogbonna
        Arnautovic / Sterling / Salah / Son / Lingard
        Kane / Agüero

        Adrián / Calvert-Lewin / Mee / Tuanzebe

        What would you do with 2FT and 0 ITB?

      18. Schwarzer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Who would you rather transfer in?

        A) Aguero
        B) Firmino
        And
        1) Mahrez
        2) Arnautovic

        Cheers

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

          A2

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

          A
          2

        3. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          b2 long term

        4. TallestJohn
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          B1

        5. Schwarzer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Tough call, thanks lads.

      19. EL tridente
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Pope
        Van dijk - Alonso - Jones
        Richarlison - Lingard - Sterling - Son - Lanzini
        Kane - Aguero
        Bench: Elliot - Ayew - Zanka - Ogbonna

        What to with this squad for next GW?

        1. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Sweet F.A.
          Looks pretty decent squad !

      20. GuillermoDickero
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        If you had the template midfield of:
        Salah, Sterling, Lingard, Son, Arnie

        Would you downgrade or upgrade DCL?

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Have same mid. Did DCL>Wilson yesterday

        2. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          I want a starter if possible with league cup final weekend in mind.

        3. Coaly
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Quaner good chance of 2 points a week

      21. Evans
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Best 3rd striker slot if playing 3-5-2 ?

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

          McBurnie if you need budget

        2. Coaly
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Quaner / Ayew

      22. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Potential Lingard buyers - would Sanchez arrival deter you??

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

          No

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

          Lingard owners may also want to ponder.

          That No10 position has been a thorn in Mourinho's side. Lingard doing it at the moment but I can see Sanchez nicking that spot and Lingard joining a Hokey Cokey out wide again...

          1. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Lingard's completed 90 mins twice all season, and I can't see the little throw-in-blocker's arrival helping that stat.

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

          Sanchez probably comes in for Mata don't you think?

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

            See above.

            Sanchez prefers wide but he could play anywhere...

          2. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            No idea. Mourinho rarely seems to know what his best team is.

      23. Patch
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Play Richarlison (lei) or Ayew (LIV)

        Gut feeling suggests Ayew...

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Having polished off too much balti tonight, I think we should both question what our guts are telling us.

        2. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Both junk

      24. FPL Maldini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Which transfer would you do?

        A) Morata, Christensen and DCL —> Firmino, Alonso and Quaner

        B) Morata, DCL, Eriksen —> Vardy, Firmino and Arnie

        C) Morata, RLC and DCL —> Firmino, Richarlison and Quaner

        1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          A

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

            A Because Alonso has been very good to me and losing Eriksen is not great unless you have another spurs mid

      25. No Pirlo No Party
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Thoughts on where to use the 2FT?

        Pickford - Elliot
        Otamendi - Jones - Mee - Ogbonna - Long
        Salah - Eriksen - Sterling - Arnautovic - RLC
        Kane - Morata - DCL

        Unsure if I should do Morata > Firmino
        or Downgrade Eriksen and do Morata to Aguero

        Firmino enables - Morata/Eriksen/Ogbonna > Firmino/Lingard/Alonso

      26. CelticBhoy1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        A) Rooney > Wilson

        B) Loftus Cheek > Doucoure

        C) Hold

      27. Coaly
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Son (sot) to:

        a) Mahrez (WAT)
        b) Pogba (bur)
        c) Lingard (bur)
        d) Sane/Silva (NEW)
        e) Keep Son one more week

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

          E

        2. CelticBhoy1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          E

        3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          E

      28. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Ugh, that Lingard YC cost me my FPL Cup match, lost by a point and would have won on more goals rule for the second time had he not lost that point.

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

          Unlucky, just saves the pain later.

          1. waldo666
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Indeed, at least it was a team ranked above me and not a dead one.

        2. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Mickey Mouse competition. Concentrate on the league.

          1. waldo666
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Oh for sure and that I have been.