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. Master J.
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    What’s the best midfield 4/5 to finish the season with? Need big changes to my squad because a rival is pulling away.

    Bale, Walcott, Hazard, Sessegnon sound good?

    Possible to go without Bale or Walcott?

    Any help appreciated!

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

      I'd prefer to be without Hazard

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      1. Master J.
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Rival has Mata and I need the differential :/

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

    Spurs defence being ripped up apart here

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

      We are going to miss that top 4, unless Chelsea and Arsenal slip up. We sure aren't gonna do it all on our own.

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

        And with that, any hopes of retaining Bale. I'm on your side though, Arsenal can slip methinks.

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  3. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    COYB.. well Sky Blues for next 85 mins..

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

    *checks nasris price

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

      8.0

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

        same as yaya..interesting

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    2. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Reading my mind.

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

    Nasri does it for his former club.

    #WengerIn

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

    Cool hearing what AVB is saying 🙂

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

      Ohhh that's what it is 🙂

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  7. super zlatan
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Naughty nasri.

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    1. DLL18
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Did he even touch him? Didn't look like it to me.

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  8. Yes Don
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    any ideas on when Silva will feature again?

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

    Harsh challenge by Nasri

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  10. Rafabio
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Nasri is still on after that?

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  11. Viper
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Honestly was considering nasri for a dgwk punt. I don't think he is important enough to rest before the final.

    8.0m, its an option. He could so easily burn me though..

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    1. wah1berg
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Haha, same here. I literally text my mate 5 mins before KO saying

      "I'm thinking of

      caz > Bale (obvious)
      Baines > Luiz / Vertonghen

      then
      Fellaini>Nasri

      Will have like 8 dgw'ers and a midfield of

      Nasri Bale Maloney Michu Mata"

      Then 5 mins into the game he bags ;_(

      Hopefully people still opt for Yaya/Silva

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

        He could be a good option. He has the ability to score big. He just hasn't reached those heights this season.

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    2. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      If you have 3 other good dgw midfielders to play with nasri it could be worth the risk.

      Eg. Hazard. Michu. Nasri. Maloney.

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

        I will have Michu, Mata, Bale

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  12. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    With FPL moving their stats to Opta next year, wonder if they'll change their assist definition to their "key contribution" model? Eg Tevez would have got one for that goal.

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

      I like it the way it is tbh. That will make it more controversial than it needs to be

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      1. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        They do it in the TFF game (can have more than one KC for a goal, or none). Would cause loads of debates on here!

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

      and Milner wouldn't?

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      1. DLL18
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        No they would both get points.

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

          we'd have 100 pt GW's every GW 😆

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      2. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah, they both would.

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    3. Viper
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      That would throw up all kinds of arguements i.e what makes a key contribution etc.

      As in, in that would all players who 'assist the assister' be a key contributor?

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      1. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        It's actually a more realistic allocation of points. But controversial.

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

          I agree, but it reintroduces subjectivity when they are obviously trying to adopt an objective automaton model

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

    As expected, Parker pulling off a Towelie in this game.

    "I have no idea what's going on."

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

      Bit harsh, at least Parker makes some contribution

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  14. boc610
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    walkers hair cut haha.

    the 'just had a lobotomy look'. all the rage.

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

    Yaya yc

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  16. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Yaya YC

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

    I did mentioned Milner for a cheap punt for the double.

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Not consider nasri?

      Are u getting in tevez?

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

      He is becoming pretty essential for Citeh. 😯

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

      And I disagreed 🙂

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

        Yes you did.

        Yaya seems a more favourable pick but Milner delivers a good ball from the right and he does have a good shot on him when he goes for it.

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

          He does, looks to be in favour atm. Yaya seems to be playing deeper as the weeks go on, very irritating

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

      Been saying this for a while. Better choice than Yaya Toure.

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    5. JELLYFISH
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Looks a good option for those who can't afford Nasri/Yaya

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  18. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    bloody Vert!

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  19. boc610
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    adebayor playing well. finding his teammates every time 🙂

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    1. Siva Mohan
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      ex-teammates

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

        😀

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      2. boc610
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        you ruined my joke 🙁

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

    Bale clutching his hamstring and grimacing.

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

      Spoof

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  21. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Dawson YC

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  22. Pinoche
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Dawson Yc

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  23. Crouch Potato!
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Vert booked.

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    1. Crouch Potato!
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Correction, Dawson booked.

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    2. Rafabio
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Dawson. Thought it was Vert at first myself...

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      1. Crouch Potato!
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Do they look the same, maybe its because I'm sober 😉

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

    dawson yc 😉

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

    Did Adebayor retire and not tell anyone about it he has totally given up on the game

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

    Two players today, Dawson and Yaya - good job lads

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  27. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    The twatish posts on here will soon outnumber the good ones.... 🙁

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      soon? 😛

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

      I blame twitter

      to twit, to twat, (have/had) twatted,

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

      does this count as a 'twatish' post^?

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      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Touched a nerve?

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

        Of course it is are you an idiot?

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

      Other way around. the new comments system will see to that.

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      1. The Shadow
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Here's hoping. I know I'm not the only one who rarely comes here during matches anymore because of the crap posts.

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  28. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Hart!!!!!!

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  29. Rafabio
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Great ball from Dempsey!

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

    Bit of a tip for Bright Abbey in the 2:10 if anyone's interested.

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

      Nice work chief!

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

      Won easily, cheers.

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