Dugout Discussion
21 April 2013 3775 comments
Mark Mark
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Park the lawnmower and throw the kid next door a fiver to clean the car. Let nothing tear you away from the couch as Sunday presents a double bill that will surely keep us out of the sunshine, warmed only by the rays of our telly screens.

It all starts at White Hart Lane, where Spurs take on Man City in what looks a vital encounter for Andre Villas-Boas’ side. With rivals Arsenal stealing a somewhat unconvincing march on third with the win at Fulham, it’s over to Tottenham to see if they can navigate past second-placed City to earn a precious three points. As for Roberto Mancini’s side, they’re surely fighting for pride, regardless of the maths at the top of the table.

The big news from the Lane is that Gareth Bale is fit to start for Tottenham after making a rapid recovery from an ankle injury. Aaron Lennon misses out altogether, though, and with Jermain Defoe taking his place on the bench, Villas-Boas hands Clint Dempsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson places in the attacking midfield three behind Emmanuel Adebayor.

For City, Sergio Aguero only makes the bench and David Silva misses out altogether due to a hamstring problem sustained in the recent Manchester derby. Mancini opts for Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko up top and brings back the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Matija Nastasic and Gael Clichy after resting the trio in the midweek match with Wigan.

That ample lunchtime treat is followed up by a trip to Anfield for the four o’clock kick-off, as Rafa Benitez returns to the venue of former glories. His Chelsea lineup take on a Liverpool side that’s stuttered of late and with Luis Suarez blanking in the last four, Fantasy managers will be looking for the Uruguayan to get back on track, although Daniel Sturridge, against his former club today, will also be looking to crash the party.

Our Dugout Discussion chatroom has been fired up and is ready to take you right through to the evening roast.

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

  1. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    how did fellaini play yesterday i never saw the game?

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      cheers all

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      1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        😆

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    2. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      wanna answer but was watching the swansea goal-fest. everything suggests not great, 1 shot to go with 0 in the dgw

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      1. Optimus.
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        cheers..hmm

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  2. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Great game of football...Gareth Bale is the best player in the prem, and by quite a distance...fantastic.

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    1. The Gambler.
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      ROFL

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    2. Mary
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Fact

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  3. COMH
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    -8

    Pienaar > Lampard

    Cazorla > Bale

    Rooney > Tevez

    Bebratov > Lukaku

    Any issues with these transfers?

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    1. charlie1X
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Lampard usually plays against poor opposition. Chelsea have Man Utd and Spurs for DGW
      Mata & Hazard, from the attacking options, are likely to get the most minutes.

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    2. Slaps
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      I've just done 2 and 3 - but will keep Peanut for a week...

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    3. ManTree(v2!) or just JAY!
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Not Tevez or lukaku

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    4. Mr.B
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Don't think the Lukaku one is necessary

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  4. Wings of Steel
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    At anfield today its like seeing your ex with an old large bloated boyfriend who you know she's only with for the money.

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    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Torres is your ex girlfriend?

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      1. Wings of Steel
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        I wish

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    2. COMH
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Does any of that really matter when you have wings of steel?

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      1. Wings of Steel
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        They struggle to heal a broken heart

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        1. COMH
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          Have a word with Tony Starks.

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    3. Zinedine
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      to stretch the metaphor surely the old large bloated boyfriend also used to be your dad?

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    4. Somalion
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Even as a United fan, I wish Torres was back at Pool. One of my favourite players back then.

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  5. Viper
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    I'm playing my wildcard this week but should I bring in Defoe for Suarez this week or wait until dgwk and use it as my free transfer?

    Defoe (wig)

    Suarez (new)

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    1. Portuguese&Proud
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      i would see how Suarez performs today and then make that decision, but Defoe is a nice shout for next week and DGW, i know i would be tempted...

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  6. Bullet Tooth Bony
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Is it worth hanging on to Silva? Or ditching for Lampard?
    I feel like City attackers are cancerous to my side now.

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    1. bdwhite91
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Dzeko is cancerous. He needs to go

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      1. Zinedine
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        trivialising the word cancerous unnecessarily

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  7. Beautiful Game
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    vertonghn or kompany for the rest of the season???

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    1. bdwhite91
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Kompany, or Hart if you can get him.

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      1. Beautiful Game
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        i'm thinking of doubling up on city defence!!!

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  8. Slaps
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Downing 16/1 FGS, good price i think....

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Do you own a betting company by any chance? 😉

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      1. Slaps
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        If i did i would recommend Hendo at the same price

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  9. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    seriously pissed with bale's 2 pointer. yeah i saved 8 points in transfers keeping him, and a tonne of money saved, but today's game was the only time he'd be a differential, now everyone will buy him back. opportunity missed

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    1. Declan-
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      🙄 🙂

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    2. Pratik
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Don't push it....We are all prone to mistakes, and making early judgments.

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  10. Wings of Steel
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Ivanovic red

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    1. SuperOsçarBaby
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      he wear blue jersey.

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  11. COMH
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Mata or Hazard?

    And why?

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    1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Mata - set pieces and will get more assists then haz and about the same amount of goals

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Hazard. Better form, more fit and on penalties when Lamps isn't on the field. Also more of a differential

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    3. charlie1X
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      If you buy this week Hazard is in better option

      1) better form and

      2) 2 of the next 3 fixtures are homes. Hazard gets more home minutes and more points per minute than Mata. For aways its the reverse.

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    4. Grubby
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      neither - oscar!

      Money is better spent on other teams. Chelski have awful double gameweek fixtures

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  12. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Thanks u Silva. I have u for 3 weeks and you brought me whole 1 pt !!! Fak u. That's all

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    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      He'll deliver next week onwards. Keep the faith, Special One.

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  13. Viper
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    So Bale (c) in dgwk 36 for everyone? Or will there a big variation?

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  14. Declan
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    A Suarez goal would push me over the 20pt mark. 😎

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    1. COMH
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      😆

      Good luck

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      1. Declan
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Ta.

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    2. Declan-
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      I'm on a cool 11 😎 😀

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  15. COMH
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Nadal spanked by Djokovic.

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    1. kaz 96
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Nadal just couldn't finish Novak off in the second. He needs to get over this mental barrier against Novak

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      1. COMH
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah Novak has mind control over him. Nadal needs a run of injury free Tennis to have any chance of returning to anything like he was. Doubtful I reckon.

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  16. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    De Gea to Hart and Evra to Kompany this week.
    Wilson to Luiz and Rooney to Defoe next week.

    Sound moves? Eight point hit in total.

    Gives me Hart, Kompany, Luiz, Davies, Mata, Michu, Bale, Maloney and Defoe for the double.

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    1. bdwhite91
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      why Luiz?

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      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Actually I could go Ivanovic.

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  17. jas5sk - Youtube channel
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Early MOTM predictions:

    Jordan Henderson

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    1. COMH
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Gerrard

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  18. Somalion
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Wow I was wrong about Bale not being fully up to it this week yet. Fair play to everyone who had him 😀

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Not fair play

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      1. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Well I think it is.

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    2. Pratik
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      There are quite a few who were moaning about not making the move despite being so close.............But when you are so close to making the move for 5-6 players, should it even count? I have seen guys here contemplate on 5-6 midfield targets, before going with the obvious Michu. Isn't the probability of one of the other guys doing well very high?

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      1. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Well I think Bale was a fairly obvious choice but what threw me off him was the recent return from injury, City's renewed form and their defensive ability so I decided against it, brought in Mata for Caz and can only hope for the best. To those who kept Bale or brought him in all I could say is well done, I was clearly wrong when I was posting about it being a bad choice this week.

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        1. Pratik
          • 16 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          Playing against City is never a great fixture.....Still thing getting Bale was not a good move this week as Michu clearly felt the better option. But I guess it's the results which matter at the end of the day, the logic comes second. That's FPL for you.

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          1. Somalion
            • 16 Years
            12 years, 9 months ago

            Exactly, I think the reasoning was sound but footbal and FPL don't listen to reason.

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    3. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 19 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      We took a bit of a hit from some when we named him in the picks. I took a punt on him because he's just too explosive - when he plays, he's hard to stop and I just don't think match fitness was too much of a concern with him.

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      1. Pratik
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Spurs didn't look so good in the first half.....That comeback was quite unexpected.

        But well done on both the scout-picks and your team. Bravo!!!

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      2. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        I was one of those giving out I'm afraid. You're completely right about his explosiveness, it is truly incredible. I guess I looked at City's form, his injury and assumed (foolishly) that City would mark him as a main threat and keep him from playing. Great pick Mark, even if a punt a very good call!

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  19. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Why no one was posting Bale Bale in Bale in. Just like Michu in? And now suddenly everyone has him. I really don't get it

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    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Good point there, Daniel. You really are the Special One with your sharp observation skills.

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    2. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      You took your eye off the Bale.

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      1. Nopli
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Great job Granny .
        We can do it 🙂

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    3. Little Dancer
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      It is all anyone was saying on Saturday morning. I didn't listen as it happens.

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  20. Glasvegas
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Dempsey DGW King????

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  21. सनकी
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    so any further news on Turner ?

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  22. Podge
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Whats the story with the Anne banners ?
    Someone died I assume

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      1. Podge
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Ah very good, cheers.

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  23. Burd Turglars
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Bale is such a thoroughbred and has a spell in every single game now where he is completely unplayable. Next season he will start at £12m and score more than CR7

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    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Steady on now.

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    2. jas5sk - Youtube channel
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      There is no universe where this happens 🙄

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    3. Kostja
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      he would need to switch teams for that. Tottenham are too shaite for that to succeed

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  24. Bullet Tooth Bony
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Silva to Lampard
    Sissoko to Sess

    Yes? No? Maybe? (I don't know can you repeat the question)

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  25. DelPuich
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    FORZA JUVEEE. cant wait to see all the milan fans crying after the game!!

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  26. Viper
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    What is Mata doing? Gave it away straight away!

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  27. Nopli
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Cmon Chelsea . 🙂

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    1. b3- bish bash bosh
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Cmon Liverpool 😀

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      1. Wings of Steel
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        +1

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  28. New Ghost
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Big win by Spurs 😯

    Go Liverpool.

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  29. Billy Gilmore
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Ouch, Agger!

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  30. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    In fairness its hard to beat the Liverpool fans for passion i wish we had a atmosphere like that at Old Trafford

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