[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
26 December 2014 5523 comments
Paul Paul
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After Chelsea strode six points clear at the summit with a 2-0 win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge this lunchtime, we now have a further nine matches on offer today.

Eight of those encounters take place at 3.00pm. Burnley slipped back into the bottom three last weekend and now face a Liverpool side that are hinting at shoots of recovery following a switch to 3-4-3. Raheem Sterling and co. face further scrutiny by Fantasy managers in light of the Merseysiders’ superb schedule.

Southampton have Dusan Tadic, Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama back for the trip to Palace, though of that trio, only the Frenchman starts, with Tadic and Wanyama amongst the subs. Graziano Pelle is edging back to form with two goals in his last three and, with some tough fixtures ahead, the Saints will be keen to kick on from last weekend’s convincing 3-0 win over Everton.

Speaking of the Toffees, Roberto Martinez will be desperate for a response after a disappointing display last time out. Leighton Baines has a chance to boost his stock after serving up five straight blanks, whilst Romelu Lukaku has four goals and an assist in his last five home starts ahead of the visit of Stoke. Kevin Mirallas shrugs off an ankle problem to return to the XI.

Tottenham head to Leicester looking for a third straight league win under Mauricio Pochettino. Harry Kane has earned plenty of new investors over the last few days after netting in each of his last three in all competitions, whilst in midfield, Christian Eriksen has returned 13 points in two of his previous three away appearances.

Man United have a host of attacking options all vying for our affections as Newcastle roll up to Old Trafford. Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao lead the line once again and Wayne Rooney is looking to score in front of his own fans for the third successive appearance. There’s no Angel di Maria for United, though, after he sustained another injury in training – Juan Mata retains his starting role once again.

Sunderland’s recent defensive displays have seen the likes of Costel Pantilimon and Santiago Vergini arrive on Fantasy radars. The Black Cats have four clean sheets in six and host a Hull side with a meagre two goals in their last nine, whilst further up the field, Adam Johnson’s goal and assist in the last two suggests he’s starting to find his form.

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wilfried Bony both return as Swansea host Villa at the Liberty. With the Ivorian soon to depart for African Cup of Nations duties, Christian Benteke has the chance to step up as a potential replacement – the Belgian has two goals and an assist in his last four and has some excellent fixtures to follow.

Man City roll up to West Brom looking for a seventh straight win. As we saw last week against Palace, the champions still have the weaponry to cope without their first-team strikers, with David Silva, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri looking key for Manuel Pellegrini’s side. The City boss rotates his full-backs once again, though, as Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksander Kolarov are replaced by Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy.

In the 5.30pm kick-off, Arsenal will fancy their chances against a QPR side that have lost all eight of their road trips to date. There’s no doubt Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud are the form options for the Gunners, with Captain Poll favourite Alexis Sanchez notching just once in six appearances since a change of formation forced him onto the flank. Harry Redknapp’s side have scored a mere three goals on their travels, and for all his impressive home form, the odds are stacked against Charlie Austin grabbing the goals again.

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  1. Koflok
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Would be happy with a Bony goal and a Kane brace at this point 😉

  2. Citizen kano
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    t costa on for bp?

  3. Give The Todd Some Love
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Didn't realise so many had Sunderland defence

  4. Nobodinho
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Silva AGAIN

  5. Lyonnais
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Barry misses great Chance after nice cross from Mirallas.

  6. Lucy.
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Silva. Goal.

  7. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    SILVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

  8. Mak_Gold
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Silva! 😀

    • Dynamic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Silva goal, Navas assist

    • Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Yesssss!! Hero

    • Waynoo
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Silva!!!!!

    • mgilbert86
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      This is going to be a bad gw for me, epic fails

    • SW6
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Silva ya beauty 😀 😀

    • Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Fecking Silva

    • Jax
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      silva nice!

    • Cbeh
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Silva Captain ftw! 😀

    • Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      My silva / toure double up is working out nice

      1. Ady87
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Ballsy. Nice work.

        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          Ta

    • Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Silva scores

    • Jax
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Silva home to burnley next. rotated

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        A lot of injuries though

    • Nabs Kebabs
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      phew siggy to silva not so bad now

      1. Jax
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        i got them both

      2. UnderstandablyDistraught
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        🙂

    • Podge
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Yesss Silva

    • PogChamp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      I did Sanchez > Silva this GW. Happy 🙂

    • rdamjan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Feck. I wanted Navas, but I went for Sterling... oh well...

    • FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Silva you legend

    • Judeksi
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      about 30 minutes gone and the match is over for WBA, time for City to rest their players.

    • Dynamic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      FS Baines clean through and fouled.

    • Punty
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Sanchez -> Silva this week.. looks like it might pay off:)

    • Nabs Kebabs
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      how is bony playing?

    • jackluhg
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Panti clean sheet 🙁

    • SG8
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      assist for Siggy goal?

      1. Messiah Hazard
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Montero

      2. JD @JDCochran2
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        montero