[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. Baby Face Nelson
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    get in sotton

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

    8 points gone, oops.

  3. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Comeee ooon Burnleeeeyyy!!!!

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

    Wow what a pk

  5. Golaso
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Annnnnnnd Clyne is worthless once again.

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

    Dummett or Wisdom to Zab?

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Link to bp pls

  8. A Defender's Nightmare
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    At what minute Palace scored?

    1. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      86

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

      86

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

    God bless you palace

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

    Your turn to score WBA

  11. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Lovely Dann goal, Jedi assist before he leaves for afcon. We looked terrible today though.

    1. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Asian cup

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

    My CO has Forster and Bert 🙂 Thanks Palace.

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

    puncheon assist v former team

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

    I needed Southampton to loose their CS

    1. Ole Gunnar Kush
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      they just have

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

      At least I cant have Bertrands goal taken away from me 🙂

  15. I-Taught-Danny-Welbeck-How-…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Double UNited and Southampton defence....

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

    Scott Dann. Blast from my fantasy past

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

    Now I need City to lose CS

  18. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    God dann it - have Bolasie and McArthur one of my punts!

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

    Think I'll break 100 if Bony scores. Come on Wilfried puuulease.

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

      Really !

      Well done ...hope that isnt standard my 25 is looking terrible

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

    F********************************

    DDG and Clyne owner here, this game really blows ass sometimes

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

    Come on Pool one more for me wallet

  22. Sánchez
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Ha. That palace goal saved me from cup embarassment

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

      i got slapped in the cup. Almost all of his players got attacking returns

  23. Judeksi
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Stoke is playing some ugly football, pls Everton score!!

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

    Why did clyne come off

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

    City game went crap as soon as Silva and Yaya went off

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

    Gareth Barry first PL player to reach 100 yellow cards.

  27. A Defender's Nightmare
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Robbed! 🙁

  28. Pablitto
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Defo under average here 🙁 Bone a lonely nonscorer wtf!

  29. beric
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Couldnt have gone much worse today, please score six goals giroud

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

      Top of the page, great

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

      As long as he provides 7 assists for Sanchez

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

    Out of the cup for sure, with the Southampton cs gone