Dugout Discussion
26 February 2012 2162 comments
Akers Akers
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Three games wrap up Gameweek 26 today, before Liverpool and Cardiff square off at Wembley. The Dugout Discussion opens for the Premier League games, but will stay open until the Carling Cup is handed to the winning captain.

We start with the televised North London derby, as Harry’s Spurs look to reign supreme over their arch rivals. The Champions are also in action, making their trip to Carrow Road to face all-but-safe Norwich City. The team sheets from both games are in, and are as follows…

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Song, Walcott, Benayoun, van Persie.

Spurs XI: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale, Saha, Adebayor.

Yossi Benyaoun starts at the expense of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the home side, and Laurent Koscielny comes through a fitness test to play. As for the visitors, Louis Saha retains his starting role, which keeps Rafael Van der Vaart on the substitute bench. He partners Emmanuel Adebayor up front, who once again faces his former club.

Norwich XI: Ruddy, Naughton, Ward, Whitbread, Drury, Pilkington, Fox, Johnson, Surnam, Holt, Jackson.

Man United XI: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Welbeck, Hernandez.

For the Canaries, Simeon Jackson gets the nod ahead of Steve Morison, and Zak Whitbred is passed fit for the game. Looking to bounce back from midweek defeat, Sir Alex makes eight changes to his starting line-up. It includes Ryan Giggs, who makes his 900th club appearance today.

Before the final whistle blows in those games, Stoke host Swansea in the last game of the week. The Dugout Discussion is open, and can be accessed right here.

Akers Richard or Akers, as he is known, has been regularly haunting this site since July 2008. He is young and foolish, take what he says with a pinch of salt. Follow them on Twitter

  1. udit
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I feckin love Richards, if I had Kompany I would have never got Shotton's 9 + BPs, thanks Mancini.

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  2. Declan
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    56 with BAPS to come. Sweet.

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    1. Le Gooner
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Good week all around, eh? 😉

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      1. Declan
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        sure is.

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  3. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    No playing keepers. I am so going to have to take a hit.

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  4. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Ok Sorensen to begovic? 😉

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  5. BOOM XHAKALACA
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Typical, Shotton on the bench 🙂

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  6. hvsauce
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Are these possession stats real?? Stoke 26% - Swansea 74%

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    1. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Sounds legit.

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  7. Azzy
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Ronaldo's goal. Wow.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nmq7Om_ekI

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    1. udit
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Class, pure class.

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    2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I agree wow

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    3. Sarnab
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Wow.

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    4. kraftwerker
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Brilliant. Preferred his one for us against Villa though.

      Get him on a plane, bring him back from Spain...

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  8. Gargamel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Fellow Sörensen owners: we're screwed.

    Begovic is twice the keeper Sörensen has ever been. He was on borrowed time and we might as well sell right now.

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    1. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Like I say, so going to have to take a hit. I was suggesting this might happen ever since he made 2 mistakes costing a home win over Brom I think, I just didn't have the transfers to get him out

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      1. Gargamel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        It's a bit of a pain to use a transfer on a goalkeeper, but this was always going to be the case sooner or later so might as well bite the bullet i suppose.

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        1. isacki: full casual
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          After my delightful run of non CS with Stoke I think I might say screw you Begovic, I'm not getting sucked in. It depends on how much of their sloppiness was down to Europa.

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    2. McDog
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I don't think I'll even bother wasting a transfer to get rid of him at this stage of the season. I'll just play Schwarzer in every game.

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  9. Back to Back Ballacks
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    91min: Gylfi - Caulker - Crossbar
    for about the 4th time in 2 weeks!

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Close - but no cigar!!! 😀

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      So Gylfi played good actually? I have him and still he haven't brought mi any points for now.

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      1. Back to Back Ballacks
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        they will come,i guarantee it,,,he was taken down for a possible pen that wasn't given aswell.

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  10. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Johnson doesn't look like he's worth the extra 1m on Enrique.

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Oh yes he does

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  11. PlayPercentage
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I'm a Sorensen-Vorm owner. Oh well, it would have only been the 1 pt if Vorm had played.
    What's the news on Vorm?

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    1. Gargamel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Virus

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      1. PlayPercentage
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Should be back for next week.
        Looks like Sorensen is now No.2 for the rest of the season.

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    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Vorm would have saved at least one goal 🙂

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  12. Scroobius Mac
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Doosra - it's gonna be really close in our tie isn't it. All depends on Simpson assist/BPs by the looks of it.

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      And Etherington, and Adebayor ... and ... Shawcross! 😉

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  13. In Like Flynn.
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Yooohooo Only stupid allocation of BPs can stop me now.

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    1. Wakka Wakka
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      not sure if that is the safest thing to bank on

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      1. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I know what you mean, it's happened before.

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        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          I need bonus to do it. I am 3 ahead ... 🙁

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          1. In Like Flynn.
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            A draw? maybe, or have you better chance of BPs?

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  14. HappyAnkit
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Should I keep Rangel or do Rangel>Evans?

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  15. andyd
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    what do ye reckon for next week?

    Krul Sorenson

    Cahill Rangel Richards Clark Santon

    Bale Dempsey Silva Sess Ben Arfa

    RVP Sturridge Yak

    Over 2m in bank, 2 free transfers

    Need to get rid of Ben Arfa/Clark/Sturridge/Sorenson

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  16. AIRMILES
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Schwartzer and Shotton coming off my bench for 17 points. 😀

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    1. Spike ⚽️
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Jammy bugger. That'll shoot you up the rankings by thousands!!

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      1. AIRMILES
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I know. I don't deserve it. But in my defence (literally) I had Richards not play, and Kelly as third sub (unused), and Sorensen who may have kept a clean sheet if he played.

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    2. Call Me Old Fashioned
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      that is almost half of my total points including those on my bench

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  17. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I'll give you this one JohnD, i'll beat you next time.

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    1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Hahaha, like it. When's the rematch?

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      1. Parm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Matchday 6, Gameweek 31.

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        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          I will have wc by then 😀

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    2. King Eric, in America
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      The 4 point home advantage should prove decisive considering the homogeneity of the teams ...

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      1. Parm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        My team is far from generic,

        Vorm,Sorenson
        Richards,J.Evans,Caulker,Simpson,Turner
        Nani,Silva,Sess,Barfa,Dempsey
        RVP,Aguero,Fletcher.

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  18. THE SQUARE ONE
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Siggy - Best Swansea player on the pitch today. Sad to not get more than 2 points.

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  19. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    And with that Slovan Bratislava record their first upset of the competition against Athletic Bilbao

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    1. HappyAnkit
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      And Legia goes to hell 😥

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      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        chin up, you have 5 more games to go

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        1. HappyAnkit
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          I won't come here often now as my exams are about to commence.

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    2. CatMac
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      And Lille have a comfortable win over CSKA Moscow in what was a closely fought tie. 🙁

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      1. Chris_White
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        good game, small margins as expected!

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        1. CatMac
          • 16 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Yes. It went pretty much as I expected as well, although that was a stroke of luck McAuley coming on for 6 points for you.

          Good game though, well done 🙂

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    3. King Eric, in America
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      2 weeks, ginkapo ... 2 weeks 😉

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      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        And in 3 weeks too, curious situation that one with the gw29 fixture schedule

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    4. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Udinese enter week 2 with a easy win over Rennes.

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  20. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    More on the conspiracy, bring Huth in on the WC for these 2 fixtures, Stoke get a CS in the 1st, but he can't play becasue of a ridiculous red card and the even more ridiculous decision by the FA to not rescind it.

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      That decision was weird in the extreme.

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  21. HappyAnkit
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Funkyav's 50+4 points Vs 44 points[11 points on bench]

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    1. udit
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      11 😯 ? Don't count all of your bench obviously

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      1. HappyAnkit
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        McClean-2
        Shotton-9
        Kelly-6[Will come on for Richards]

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  22. Henry Hill
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    £75 million for Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll 😆 Stay off the drugs Kenny

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    1. kraftwerker
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Throw in Charlie Adam and you get the worst £80million spent in football transfer history.

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  23. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2012/02/12/suspension-tightrope-a-new-lowe/comment-page-3/#comment-2731697

    Well, I got Shotton's points at least. Had I saved my FT my defenders points off the bench plan would have worked beautifully 🙂

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    1. udit
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Tekkers.

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  24. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Lindegaard to 5.0m keeper. Would you pick Krul?

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  25. HappyAnkit
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Shotton coming off my bench in ESPN FF.

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    1. HappyAnkit
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      & Schwarzer too.

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  26. Sly Fly
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Amazing. Lee Westwood's drive ends up in the back of some old woman's jumper. While she's wearing it. WTF? 🙂

    That's weird. 🙂

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  27. AIRMILES
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    57 points (once points off bench) and hopefully another three for Simpson assist. 18 green arrows in 19 weeks (after appalling start). How are others doing before BP's?

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    1. McDog
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      54 for me. Fairly happy with that.

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      1. AIRMILES
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Our teams are very similar.

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        1. McDog
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Great minds...

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    2. Call Me Old Fashioned
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      36 another game week that sucks

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      1. AIRMILES
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        That's probably bordering on average for the week.

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    3. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      40 for me with 6 to come off of the bench and no keeper at all.

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    4. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      55 for me pre BAPS

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  28. jas5sk - Youtube channel
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone considering a bet on the England friendly mid-week?

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    1. AIRMILES
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I always bet against them to cover my bases.

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      1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        haaha:lol

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        1. AIRMILES
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          ....and because I make more money than I lose...

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  29. udit
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Don't want to say I told you so but while everyone was predicting a Spurs win, I was repeatedly predicting an arsenal win or draw, while it wan't as close as I expected but still... Sorry to gloat, it's just so rare for me 😉

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    1. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Nice, do this more often please 😀

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  30. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    why have I still got walters?

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      ????????? Nope I give up. 😉

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