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

    christ alexis starts

  2. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    What happens if match is cancelled. Fpl-wise

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

      points cancelled

      1. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        That would be devestating

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

        coming from a non Silva and Yaya owner

    2. t3mme
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      postponed and dgw someday

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

      Nothing. Points stay as they are.

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

    Chambers doesn't play means Austin comes on for me - perfect strategy 😉

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

      Zaba in my first XI which means Chambers first sub is useless. Second sub? Wisdom.

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

        Oooh ouch.

  4. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Foster make one more save

  5. Del Griffith
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    City game will not be called off, its just heavy snow

  6. coran2123
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    If the match is abandoned do the FPL points get cancelled?

    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      As if the game wasn't played.

      1. coran2123
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers

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

        Really??

    2. Just A Wooden Spoon
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Yup, who do you have coming off the bench if this happens?

      1. coran2123
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Downing for Yaya 🙁

  7. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Bringing in Vergini in for a hit worked out well 😆

  8. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Kept Siggy

    Bet place on Eriksen anytime.

    Perfect 😎

    1. Demí
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Lies. You aren't old enough to bet

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

        😆

      2. Heydudes13
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Gd1

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

    Yes. Sanchez starts

    1. Yome
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Hoping for a brace now

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

        Aye

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

    eriksen yaya and haz have delivered, alexi boy its on you

    1. Zoom Zoom
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Is he playing?

  11. RabMac
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Leicester 17 shots on goal and still losing. 😆

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

      I'd like to say it's because Spurs are too good... but they're not.

  12. Sheep Flavour
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Chambers rested or dropped?

    1. Demí
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Rested, and will soon be dropped

    2. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Rotated

    3. Sheep Flavour
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks all.

  13. amol
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Chambers not starting and Siggy first sub

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

      You didn't play Siggy at home to Villa?!

      1. amol
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Played Zab

  14. Esalman
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    WBA v City looks like a Russian stadium now.

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Vodka

  15. gtf
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Baines OUT
    Zabaleta IN

    Good transfer??

    1. JedJez
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Hopefully, did it last week

  16. cuterandy
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    now dimaria looks like a panic buy..UTD doing really well without him

    1. JedJez
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      ha, hardly..

  17. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    David Silva's points may leave me. That'd knock me out of the cup and probably produce a red arrow.
    Don't make me cry...

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

      get a grip

  18. Jet5605
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Should I buy Silva or Yaya for the Burnley game?

    1. t3mme
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      if short term then Yaya, but he will have ACON soon

    2. JWF
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Got the same choice at the moment. Seriously considering ditching Sanchez for one of them.

    3. Flynniesta
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Yaya please. It'll help boost his transfer value when I have to sell him soon.

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

    Lamps on for Nasri

  20. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    I'm on 72 pre-baps with Bony as my captain 😆 😯

    1. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Just think of what could have been!

    2. Van Dal
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Wow

    3. Tangerine Army XI
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      78 pre baps, with Baines as capt!

  21. Just A Wooden Spoon
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Accie currently in the money with a cash out of £450. If it stays like this it will return £930.

    Spurs or Pool concede and it'll all be over.

    Cash out or stick?

    1. Skipdipper
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Stick

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

      Wowzer. What was the bet?

      1. Just A Wooden Spoon
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Pool, Spurs, Swans, City, Utd. £50 on, £930 return (potentially).

    3. DF
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      CO man.

  22. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    YES SANCHEZ. Let's do this.

  23. A.T
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Nice to see Southampton turning it around. I haven't got a clue what their fixtures are like.

    1. Call Me Old Fashioned
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      A bit crappy in short term

  24. Van Dal
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Is it just 1 BPS for winning goal?

    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      3 bps

    2. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      3 I think

    3. JWF
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      3 I think

  25. Somalion
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Brought in ADM for Sanchez. Oh dear.

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

      serious fail.

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

        Depends on what Sanchez does.

  26. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    ML leader has Bertrand, Eriksen and Yaya. Very very bad week.

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

      My ML opponent has them as well with (C)osta 🙁

  27. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Zaba bench.

  28. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Any truth in the 'after 60 minutes the points may stand theory?'

  29. Caesar, Hot Mustache
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    okay, this isn't kneejerky. my potential transfers have both done well.

    who do I get?

    A. Silva
    B. Sterling

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

      Silva. City look good.

      1. Caesar, Hot Mustache
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        thanks

    2. Sheep Flavour
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Sliva...but wait for possible injury news.

      1. Caesar, Hot Mustache
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        okay, I can't afford anymore change in price for Silva though.

  30. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    The West Brom v City game will finish

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

      Yup. The snow has died down