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

    Top bants.

  2. Reedy
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Giroud red!

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

    Giroud 😯

  4. Bobby Crush
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Giroud RED!

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

    Everyone captain giroud they said

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

      I tried to say no no

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

    Bad luck all.

  7. 420king
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Giroud(c) haha, nothing can help me win my cup now...

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

    The final nail in my coffin

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

    FFS

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

    giroud lol

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

    Giroud was a popular captain choice this weekend

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

      12.9% of the top 10K

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

    Boom

  13. Timtastic03
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    And before the 60!

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

    Unbelievable.

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

    Now thankful I put benteke in over giroud

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

    AHAHAHAHHAHAHA

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

    Insanity. Wow.

  18. FionnMac
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    1FT and £0.6m in the bank
    Baines > Hutton
    Siggy > Silva for a -4?

    Or just Baines > Zaba for free?

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

    What a prat

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

      1st and last time I see that idiot in my team

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

    3 game ban

  21. Chambo
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    f off!

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

    Intend to go 3-5-2 for the next couple of weeks

    Hazard- Yaya- Sanchez- Silva- Downing

    Diego Costa-- Austin

  23. Pedram
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Why people are selling Bony ?

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

      African cup

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

    giroud sent off! omg

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

    Over to you Austin 🙂

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

    Siggy and sanchez to fab and cazorla -8 failed hard

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

    Sanchez definitely not getting rested Sunday

  28. davies
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Giroud (C) 😎

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

      should have stayed with Sanchez

  29. Zeeco
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    What a c**k giroud

  30. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    and now Sanchez (with Giroud out) shall flourish again.