634x258 Dugout Discussion
26 December 2014 2089 comments
Paul Paul
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Brace yourselves. Sift your way past the turkey stuffing leftovers and half-eaten tins of Quality Street and cast aside the regret brought on by that one mince pie too many – as Fantasy managers, we’ve got work to do.

Boxing Day begins a feast of football that allows us to gorge on a trio of Gameweeks over the next seven days, leading us into the New Year. For starters, our lunchtime encounter at the Bridge sees Chelsea square up to the Hammers as Sam Allardyce’s side look to breach a backline that has served up five clean sheets in their last six league outings.

Jose Mourinho’s best attempts to play Scrooge with a pre-deadline refusal to face the press and update us on Eden Hazard’s dodgy ankle meant many Fantasy owners went into the Gameweek sweating over the Belgian’s fitness. Fortunately, Hazard has been passed fit and starts once again as he looks to net for a sixth successive appearance at the Bridge.

Like Hazard, Diego Costa has preferred home comforts and has netted in all but one of his seven home appearances in front of the Chelsea faithful. Cesc Fabregas, with returns in 11 of 16 league matches, is joined by Oscar in the XI – the Brazilian returns to the role in “the hole” as Fabregas drops into the double-pivot once again.

Yet to earn a clean sheet on their travels, West Ham look unlikely to arrest that record today. Given the recent form of players such as Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll, though, Allardyce has the attacking potency capable of spoiling the hosts’ hopes of a home clean sheet – only Chelsea and Man City have scored more times on the road than the in-form Upton Park side. Big Sam makes a trio of changes for this one – Alex Song, Diafra Sakho and James Tomkins are replaced by Mark Noble, Enner Valencia and James Collins in the XI.

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  1. VougieDipond
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Great game from Costa today. earned a rest for the next match hopefully

  2. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Performance of the season so far?

    I think so.

    1. mouldy_uk
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      ?

    2. Gimli son of Gloin
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Up there..really hasn't been a blip

    3. Ludo
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Did you see them against West Brom? This is up there though.

    4. Punty
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Maybe, difficult to judge against a West Ham without Sakho and Song

  3. Voodoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Chances of Zabaleta coming off the bench?

    Have Cahill first sub...

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Not in the squad I think.

    2. Sánchez
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Why is cahill on anyones bench?

      1. Voodoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Squad too good.

  4. davies
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Contemplated Dummett > Terry (-4) all week. 😥

  5. RabMac
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    C'mon Cesc, show Maureen you are the man for number 10 position. 😉

  6. Hibbo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Hi Costa's really shite isn't he?

  7. SPorting
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Mikel on. Fab moves upfield.

  8. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    I predict Azpil will be rested next GW

    1. Jebiga
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      hes not zaba

  9. Kevtheotter
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Is Zab among the subs?

    1. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

  10. Sánchez
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Hazard to silva
    Terry to Zabaleta

    Got to take this game by scruff of the neck
    Only the proactive players get the points early

    1. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Oscar to Silva here.

  11. big oak
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    great!
    i have a sleeper opponent in the cup who happens to have terry

  12. FPL Notebook (John)
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Quite happy to see Costa go off. At least he can't be booked now!

    1. Van Dal
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Or sent off

  13. Prince of Persia
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Thank God I sold Oscar for Silva.

  14. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Despite costa's 12 point haul...

    still glad i sold him 6 odd weeks ago...has been a differential not having him.

    think its time to bring him in again now that his mojo seems to have returned..

    1. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I still won't bring him in

    2. Sánchez
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Will be 11 now he didnt play 90 and JT gets winning goal bps

      1. 4-4-who?
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Correct

    3. Gimli son of Gloin
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Ditto.
      Having Terry makes up for not having Costa for me today.. I'll get him in again over the next few weeks.

    4. Seb Wassell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Time to bring him in last week ideally 😛

  15. Just A Wooden Spoon
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Is Zab on bench today?

    1. Arctic monkeys
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

      1. Just A Wooden Spoon
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        ooh

    2. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

    3. Azerbaijan Shopping Centre
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      out of squad i thought

  16. Arctic monkeys
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    whats with Dimaria ?

    1. Gideons Rolling Another One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I'm wondering the same question.

      1. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Injured in training.

      2. Jebiga
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        injured on training

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Injured

    3. 1314
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      injured in training

  17. Azerbaijan Shopping Centre
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    fabregas in the hole now ?

  18. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Willian off, Ramires on.

  19. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Ramires On
    Willian Off

  20. Prince of Persia
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Is Costa 3 BAPS secured?

    1. Jebiga
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      terry

    2. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      No

    3. Azerbaijan Shopping Centre
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      no of course not ... if Hazard scores then he will probaby have 3

    4. darko
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      If Wham score, probably

  21. Elfozzie 42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Costa captain...till 1127. Bony better get something!!!! 😉

    1. 4-4-who?
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      A seat on the bench?

  22. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    haz full 90

  23. Randy_Marsh
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    BAPS?

    1. Van Dal
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Costa
      Terry
      Haz

      1. Van Dal
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        3
        2
        1

      2. 4-4-who?
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        No

    2. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Terry
      Hazard
      Cahill, Ivan

      1. Van Dal
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Wrong

      2. 4-4-who?
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Correct

  24. enrico.palazzo
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    According to total fpl. No baps for Costa. How?

    1. Every Dog Has Its Day
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      He had a fight with BAPS.

      1. enrico.palazzo
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        I don't mind. Haz possibly 2 (my c). I have Terry and Costa so all good!!!

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

      Why on earth use totalfpl?

    3. Elfozzie 42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Total fpl is wrong?

    4. mouldy_uk
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      He's on 3, ignore that site

      1. 4-4-who?
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        But will drop to 2

  25. Ady87
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Didn't realise the cup had started. Got a dead team with players like Moreno, Shawcross etc with Hazard 3rd sub. Surely I can't cock this up,..

  26. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Why the feck wouldn't he take Haz off

  27. A Defender's Nightmare
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    When I asked earlier today about (C)osta it had mixed to poor reviews. Always follow your gut unless it's very irrational. 😀

  28. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    I was begging for that to go in.

  29. Art Vandelay
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    I just can't catch a break. My transfers in the last 3 Gws have been Dzeko (injured in warm up), Bony (rested), Zaba (rested). FML 😆

    1. Judeksi
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      the luck has to come back soon.

      1. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Zab will repay you

        1. Art Vandelay
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          I hope so. Mangala goal incoming. My the lad at the top of my ML (on 21st OR) brought him in.

      2. Art Vandelay
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        I brought Zaba in because I thought he has already had his rest and was secure. I give up...

  30. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Come on haz