[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. Mikeharbrw
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Ton up for Barry!

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

    West brom goal!

  3. DLL18
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Now I don't feel so bad about benching Bertrand.

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

    haha hart owners

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

      Hilarious

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

    YES!!! WB goal!

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

    Newcastle and Palace goals just saved my gw. Rivals had a lot of cs points. Baines still pissin' me off though heh.

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

    Spurs hanging on...... So is my double bet

  8. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    liverpool cs booom!

    cmon sterling one more

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

    bwhahaha City CS gone 🙂

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

    Bony captain
    +
    Bertrand on the bench
    =
    Another excellent week.

  11. AH 🙂
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    MON THE BAGGIES

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

    Spurs doing absolutely everything they can to throw this away and the Foxes doing absolutely everything they can to not take advantage.

  13. DonTheSpecialOne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Zab benched, City CS gone. Lovely

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

      with u there

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

    think there'll be quite a few bony (c) , not too confident over sanchez (c) at mo though :-/

  15. La Roja
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Sagna own goal!

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

    LOLOL @ the CS just pouring down the drain.

  17. Punty
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling got fouled for the 50th time this season today

  18. 1314
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    none of my players so far is having a blank if only clyne kept his CS..

  19. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    faaaaahk, clichy

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

    Spoiler alert: Spurs win the game 2-1

    1. DonTheSpecialOne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      😀

  21. Gobigorgohome
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Wedtbrom goal Godd noo

  22. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Damn u clyne

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

    Come on Coleman. My defense is crap this week

  24. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Come on RVP, tuck one away boy.

  25. Desperate Dan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Heskey goal, Gudjohnsen assist.

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

      What's that, Fantasy memories from 2004?

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

    Joe Hart you tit.

  27. Alan The Llama
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Consolation goals are a right kick in the stones

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

    Now I need Liverpool to lose their CS

  29. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    silva and yaya will both get CS points, won't they?

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

      yes:D

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

      Yes

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

      top of the page twice today haha

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        well played.

  30. Punty
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    United, city and southampton cs gone suddenly.. this is much better than any of my players scoring!

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

      Now Liverpool need to lose Cs