[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. Iwantmorepointsthanks
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    hahahah.
    Austin so good.
    they said he can't score away lol.

  2. Every Dog Has Its Day
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    50+ here I come 😆

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

      🙂

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

    -4, now thats what I call a captain fail 🙁

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

      Giroud owners can have no complaints today

      1. Sif
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        We didn't headbutt anyone

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

          Nor did Wenger!

  4. faux_C
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Austin, Costa, Kane

    Paying off again!

  5. iCon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Early match I had Terry/Hazard/Costa...late match I've got Austin/Sanchez. The stuff in the middle...meh!

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

      Siggy and Silva!

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

        Well yeah, but not much else 😉

  6. Koflok
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Another one Austin just for the lul

  7. Jump in Micah
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    I'm on 99 🙁

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

      Poor you.

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

      Feck off

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

      Jump out Micah

  8. U-jin King™
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Giroud captain here ouch. who to replace with?

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

      really tough one if you have Costa and Austin.

      Benteke / Jovetic for me.

  9. Long Juan Silva
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    100+ points

    Yaaaaaaaahoooooooooooooooooooo

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

    Sanchez on 3 baps and 1 for Austin 😀

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

      Hurray

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

    Giroud has ruined Xmas

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

      Can have no complaints with that one!

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

    QPR gonna equalize

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

    Benched Austin for Ings, seems hilarious now.

  14. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    So Sanchez and Cota should get the same score now.

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

    Arsenal will feck this up just like against Anderlecht and ruin my acc just like against Anderlecht.

  16. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Support Arsenal.
    Forgot to changed Austin captain to Diego captain.
    Hopefully it stays like this, or Arsenal score again and Austin grabs another ending it 3-2 😀

  17. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Who has the audacity to bench Charlie?!

    1. The ghost of a Pug's g…
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Me...but he's still the lowest scorer of my front 8 atm...

  18. The ghost of a Pug's g…
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Mangala and Silva in yeah?

  19. bialk
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Dosn't matter - Austin starts in 82% of top 1k teams

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

      Always matters

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

      There are only 1000 players in the top 1k 😉

      Not everyone is in it.

    3. Jump in Micah
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      I'm one of the 18% without

  20. U-jin King™
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    c'mon Austin!!! score again!

  21. 1314
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Guys , Kane or Benteke ?

  22. Dempsey
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    austin just won me my cup tie, can't believe my opponent captained eriksen! cheeersss

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

    That sealed my cup win even with a -4, ADM no show and he had Rooney (c) ! PHEW

    1. The ghost of a Pug's g…
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Sexual gamble
      Would never (c) Rooney in his current role

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

        dead team hah

  24. super zlatan
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    My gw sucks again.

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

      Unlucky. Xmas period is always tricky

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

      So much this.

  25. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Austin pk should keep in cup by one point, after Giroud red card knocked me out....phew!

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

    My fpl team: good day despite austin on bench
    fantasy exchange team: double city def gone and had giroud captain 🙁
    mondogal team: double arsenal def 🙁

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

      How's your dinner?

  27. Woy
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    If only sanchez had scored the pen

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

    Have the Spurs game bonuses been updated? Surely Eriksen with winning goal will go above Ulloa

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

    Chambers on. Give us a goal!

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

    Haha Chambers on