[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. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Sanchez get lost

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

    yessss I LOVE GREEN

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

    LOOOOOOOL

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

    😯

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

    BOXING DAY RUINED

  6. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Lol

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

    Sanchez fail

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

    ya fanny

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

    Team sheets will be interesting come Sunday !

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

      Very. Chester and Yun out don't help

  10. walkman666
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Omfg! Awful penalty.

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

    oh jesus.... I needed that Sanchez hattrick and it's gone there 😀

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

    saved!

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

    It's going to be one of those weeks 🙁

  14. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Wow

  15. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Sanchez off pens 🙁

  16. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Sanchez 😯

  17. MAFC 2014
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    I think a lot of the criticisms against Wenger are subjective, conveniently-selective, or just unfair. But his pig-headedness on playing players whose strengths are in the center like Podolski, Welbeck, Ozil and Cazorla annoys me to no end. We have seen all of those players play a signficant amount in the center and do well. Yes, we have superior players like Giroud and cazorla. He did it with Nasri, Bendnter, Arsharvin, Gervinho, Carlos Vela. They all did poorly out wide and quit. The former three were all pretty vocal about it. It sucks to see players with real talent like the current four and see them wilt. Welbeck has already gotten quiet and Cazorla was quiet for 27 games.

    1. MAFC 2014
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      However he*

    2. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      I don't think this is the time 😉

      1. MAFC 2014
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        But you see my point though. This is a game that even out of position players like Welbeck and Cazorla will do well in because the opposition is so weak. Yet I think they will struggle.

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

    Hahaha

  19. BlueIncognito
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    I hate you Alexis.

  20. RyanFootballChatbox
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    OMG Sanchez

  21. Dušan Citizen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    LOL AT SANCHEZ CAPTAINERS.

  22. GoonerByron
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Awful, awful penalty... Never expected Sanchez to be on penalties without Giroud + Caz on the pitch 😐

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

    YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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

    hahahaha sanchez

  25. Mile Plankton - Myth and Ch…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Thanks for that captain.

  26. Simon69
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Oh man...

  27. The Chosen One...
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    And that's why he doesn't take pens

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

    Wow samchez miss

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

    LOL

    1. Kagawa-san-mia
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      lol

    2. Namtab Nomolos
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      I sold him to get Zabaletta and Cazorla in. I'm sorry if I Uri Geller'd him.

  30. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Why did Caz not take that?