[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
26 December 2014 5523 comments
Paul Paul
Share:

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.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

  1. big oak
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    thats it
    sterling and austin in
    giroud and downing out

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

    LMAO AT AUSTIN BENCHERS

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

    😀

  4. emperikal
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Damn Austin and all his jammy points

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

      nothing jammy about his pts

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

    Austiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

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

      ONE MORE goal pls

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

    No wimpy Sanchezian penalty kick!

  7. SW6
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Love you Austin 😀

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

      dat was a crucial goal for both pr and me 🙂

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

        *qpr

  8. Rödallegabomb á´¿á´®
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Austin. Essential.

  9. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Have Debuchy, benched Austin.

    Clean tackle. Complete BS.

  10. Lanley Staurel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    This gameweek just keeps on giving!

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

    nice, -1 for sanchez!

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

      not nice -2 for cappers

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

    I'm going to bring Austin for next GW to stop his run.

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

    Austin powers

    1. Back to Back Ballacks
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      How u know about ADM missing rest of xmas games?

      1. Back to Back Ballacks
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        source me up

  14. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Did Debuchy get booked for that ?

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

    Never bench Austin

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

    Good thing or bad thing Austin scored for a non Austin or Arsenal owners

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

    Everyone has him and no one captained him. Meh

    1. Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Wild Rover did I think...

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

    FT used.

    Giroud > Tekkers for a hit?

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

      I would wait till after match for these types of questions. Benteke does look a gd option though

    2. 1314
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      am thinking of Kane..

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

    Austin....My Man!!!

    Through in my Cup Round!!!!
    Even after scoring 80's, needed Austin's goal or assist

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

    AUSTIN WHAT A MAN

  21. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    As a Arsenal fan but Austin owner I didn't mind that goal too much. No more goals now do.

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

      Same here 🙂

  22. mouldy_uk
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Yes Austin!!!

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

    yes, have Sanchez (C), Austin and Green

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

    + 100 here I come !!!

  25. Lawrø
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    What a week! High 90's could have broken a century if only I hadn't captained Hazard but these are the gameweeks that make FPL so fun to play! 😀

  26. Spatburgunder
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Austin goal result . Should push sanchez up on the baps as well !

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

    Austin scored but Arsenal are in trouble.

    Not sure if I should be happy or not.

  28. SW6
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Delighted with those points but that was a million miles from being a penalty.

  29. Tim Canterbury
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Average creeping towards 100

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

      What

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

      Eh no way. Not even for top 10k

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

    Junior Hoilett you're a toss pot. You just got a yellow card for doing nothing wrong at all then managed to win a penalty for cheating yourself. Glad you got booked now...from an Austin owner.