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. Lawrø
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Great save Adrian from a Cahill effort, would've been a Fabregas assist.

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

    Chelsea pressing. Just a matter of time. Has and Fab looking dangerous.

    1. meerlight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      and costa looks off the pace, and misdirecting passes

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

    Cahill first sub :0

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

      :-0

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

    CAHILL 😯

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

    It's about time Ivanovic scored isn't it

  6. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Did Fpl discivery uodate it already..?

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

      Post expected at 4 pm

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

    Good pass Costa, just try pass it to the blue men

  8. BONZ
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Chelsea are definitely knocking on the door but nothing falling to Costa as yet.

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Who assisted Cahill.?

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

      Cesc

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

      No one. No goal.

  10. Big Sum
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Big Sam should have start with Sakho. Carroll is useless at counter attacks

  11. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Nice that we have a house pet, too bad he's a flea.

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

    If performance is anything to go by I'd say Ivanovic to be rested next game

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

    Jenkinson getting torn a new one

  14. Sz21
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    What are we making of Chelsea so far..

    Thinking far from good with Costa again not looking great..

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

      Chelsea - good. Costa - not.

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

      Thinking West Ham looking organized and good defensively, Chelsea looking solid

    3. Ser Football 42
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      they are looking far better than WHU though

    4. Stephen - Robot Daniels
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Hazard looking good, Costa poor but he's never really looked good in the game, he just brings goals.

    5. Lawrø
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Looking very assured to me but West Ham are defending well. Costa hasn't touched the ball much.

    6. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea looking good. Costa not had much involvement.

  15. PogChamp
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Early days but West Ham looking defensively sound. Got Hazard and Apzil but would take the 0-0.

  16. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Courtois is a bloody bargain at 5.9

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

      Terry at 6.3 for goals and gaps tho 😉

      1. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Azpi offers arguably the best value though at 6.2M. He's a BAPS magnet compared to the others due to the face he stays back a little more. Can get the odd assist too.

        1. Dr. Rog
          • 16 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          Cahill is more of a goal threat. Im looking at ditching cost to pick up another chelsea defender

        2. piquiblanco
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          It's Azpi for me, as I'd rather have a goalie from the worse team (for saves) and a defender from the better team (for assists/goals) than conversely. Courtois is just wasting Chelsea spot for a guy who'll get 6 points tops.

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

    #:-S

  18. Griezlad
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Generally costa this season hasnt been playing like he did at Madrid. He is scoring tap ins from hard work from team mates except against Everton

  19. Willis.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Azpi's got Downing in his pocket

  20. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Azpil doesn't get the headlines but he's real quality

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

      Best full back in the league

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

        after Tony Hibbert

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

      Think Mourinhos "team of 11 Azpis" got some headlines..

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

        ... And Gary Neville calling him the best defender the league

  21. Willis.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Oscar territory here

    1. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      he wishes..

  22. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Oscar is so bad

  23. RÏɠBY
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    oscar you arrogant tw@.. that was never going in

  24. GreennRed
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Get up Costa ya big girl.

    1. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      😀

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

    I don't deserve to be anywhere near my rank. Made some absolutely terrible decisions the last month or so.

  26. SGTMacaroni
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    This is horrible to watch only owning hazard

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

      It's ok as Azpi terry haz owner.. bit nervous about fabregas

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

        I think I'll get Fabregas in he takes everything

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

      ':-(

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

        :'-(

  27. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Come on Costa. Just one. Please.

  28. Stupendous
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Keep this up please Adrian!!!

  29. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Why is Wilian so selfish?

  30. Bolivian Seaman
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Are you going to watch the team news from 1.55 to 2 and see all the trolls or waiting a little big longer?