Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Saturday

As the dust settles on another stunning Harry Kane contribution, we’ve another six matches coming our way this afternoon, with no shortage of potential points on offer.

Struggling Aston Villa entertain leaders Chelsea in one of five three o’clock kick-offs, with Jose Mourinho’s side still without suspended top scorer Diego Costa and playmaker Cesc Fabregas, despite reports that the Spaniard had recovered from his hamstring injury. Despite his absence, new signing Juan Cuadrado starts life on the bench where he’s joined by Kurt Zouma as Gary Cahill earns a recall – much to the disappointment of those who backed the 20-year-old Frenchman to retain his start. There’s a shock on the teamsheet for Villa too as Christian Benteke is dropped with Villa having failed to find the net since Gameweek 17.

Basement-dwellers Leicester City host Crystal Palace at the King Power, with those who invested in the likes of Jason Puncheon and Dwight Gayle hoping for returns after the pair drew a blank against Everton. However, three of the Foxes last four Premier League home matches have yielded just a single goal, suggesting that attacking points could be at a premium today. Nigel Pearson’s side will be hoping Riyad Mahrez can make an instant impact after returning from the African Cup of Nations – he’s handed an immediate recall.

Sergio Aguero carries the armband hopes of many Fantasy managers into City’s home encounter with Hull; the Argentine starts in an attacking City lineup that boasts Edin Dzeko and a recall for Samir Nasri in midfield. David Silva is also highly fancied to deliver against a Tigers side that have conceded six goals in their last two Premier League matches. At the other end, Manuel Pellegrini’s outfit are without a clean sheet since Gameweek 17, but defensive returns look on the cards, bearing in mind the visitors have blanked in seven of their last nine outings. Pablo Zabaleta returns at the back for City.

QPR’s caretaker boss Chris Ramsey takes charge for the first time for the Loftus Road clash against Southampton. Charlie Austin owners will be watching keenly and considering their options as the R’s leading scorer goes into this one having failed to score in his last three home matches. Fantasy managers will also be monitoring Southampton’s Sadio Mane, as he looks to rediscover the form that served up goals in three successive matches before flying off to the African Cup of Nations: Mane returns to the Saints’ starting lineup as Dusan Tadic drops to the bench.

Swansea ground out a surprise 1-0 win at Southampton last time out and face a Sunderland side who will be buoyed by two wins in the past week. Jonjo Shelvey scored the winner at St Mary’s and could thrive again playing in “the hole”, whilst many will be keeping an eye on Jermain Defoe and Adam Johnson as the Black Cats look forward to a pair of plum home clashes: Johnson returns to the bench following a recent thumb operation, with Defoe in the starting lineup alongside former Swan, Danny Graham.

The evening kick-off brings us the second big derby of the day, with Everton hosting Liverpool at Goodison Park. The Toffees have kept clean sheets in their last two Premier League matches, while Romelu Lukaku found the next against Palace last week and scored twice in this fixture last season. Raheem Sterling has produced attacking returns in four of his last five league appearances, with Philippe Coutinho also worth monitoring having grabbed two assists against West Ham last time out. Daniel Sturridge was drafted in by 78,000+ FPL managers, so Brendan Rodgers’ teamsheet will be of huge interest in a few hours time.

3,306 Comments Post a Comment
  1. walkman666
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Sorry to ask a question that must have been covered already, but I just got back from errands to find out Baines is out. I am pretty diligent in tracking news, this site, injuries, etc...

    When was the Baines injury announced? Quite a disappointment. I hope he can play in gw25, but as that is only 3 days from now, I would not be too optimistic. Any information or links would be much appreciated! Thanks.

    1. Demí
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Announced after the lineups, so quite late. Just failed a fitness test:

      https://twitter.com/bbcmerseysport/status/564112034451972096

      1. walkman666
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Demi, thank you very much. So, I can at least feel like I did not completely miss the mark on this one. I now know what to do to decide about gw25. thanks again.

    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Announced just before the game

      1. walkman666
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks Jimmers. My mini league standings leader....

    3. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      two crap upcoming fixtures anyway. id bench but lose if you find out he's out a while.

      1. walkman666
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks Exeter. Good points.

  2. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Manchester City without Yaya Toure:
    6 games
    0 wins
    1 draw
    5 losses

    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      They have 3 draws in their last 4 matches 😕

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        twitter fail

        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          It's 5 draws, 1 loss

          Just backwards.

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Jeez

      They better buy him a pretty special birthday cake this year

      1. Not Irish
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Better be some sprinkles on that beeotch

  3. davies
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Ings > Defoe

    No brainer?

    1. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      yeah go for it

    2. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah

  4. Exeter Gently
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    i bought sanchez at 10.4. if he's out for tues, who do you recommend i add to this mid:

    haz-sanchez-silva-walcott-boyd

    would bring in sterling or coutinho but fixtures not great. eriksen has a blank soon and i already have 3 players not playing gw27.

    any advice?

  5. Ser Football 42
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Kelly, Forster, Ivan, Giroud all stupid Yellow cards...come on fellas get it together

  6. Jonny Sutt
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    a) bellerin
    b) pva
    c) wisdom

    which is the worst choice?

    1. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      all decent shouts for cheap D. bellerin>wisdom>pva imo

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Bench Wisdom, but all are good options this week

  7. Kshitiz Basnet
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Sanchez might be fit for Leichester game

    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      OMG

    2. Ser Football 42
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      but he might not too

  8. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    stream on, let the goals commence, preferably sterling

  9. Mull
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Yaya's off to Barca then
    https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/ad_158970341.jpg

    1. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      🙂

    2. Not Irish
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Funny but WTF is Neymar's getup about there.

  10. Game of Stones
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Austin -> Defoe

    Yay or nay?

    1. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      austin apparently has broken a bone in his foot. see twitter. yay

      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Source

        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Link*

          1. Ser Football 42
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            on previous page

  11. Stannage
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Hi all...quick q.......if Sanchez isn't in Tuesday s starting line up, it it worth taking him out, replacing with ozil, and then bringing snchez back week or 2 later for loss of half a million......my 5th midfielder is Boyd who has United away on Tuesday....

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      The time to sell him was 2GWs ago when we first heard he had a slight problem with his hammy. If I still had him, I might consider keeping, defo will be back for CPL if not Leic

  12. Davros
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    What the average score before this evening's match?

    1. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      mid 40s, low 50s im guessing

      1. Not Irish
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        😯

      2. Lanley Staurel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Nowhere near 50. Top 10k will be tho.

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Think it's gonna be red arrows for me then, 46 incl Baps with Jones, ADM and Boyd left. Hoping for a ADM haul to get green arrows..

          1. Mull
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            I think you'll be surprised.

            1. RamaJama
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              A ADM haul will be a surprised... But happy I didnt sell him for Silva or Walcott, today, but might not tomorrow 😉

          2. Lanley Staurel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            That's a good score. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the top 10k avg was sub 50.

    2. davies
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Not sure it's on FPL Discovery, yet, has it?

  13. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Wtf was that Coutinho just pass it to Sterling

  14. # Young Gun SEAMUS #
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Will Sanchez play against Leicester ??

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Bench appearance maybe imo

      1. davies
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        In which case, keep?

        1. Mikeharbrw
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          You'll know before the deadline

  15. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Sturridge coming on

  16. Not Irish
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Studge ready to come on.

    1. Ser Football 42
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      not if i can help it

  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Get coutinho off he has been awful

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Nice pass tho

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Wow. Is that your considered opinion?

  18. davies
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Ings > Defoe... Done.

    Thoughts? No brainer?

    1. Exeter Gently
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      regret? good move

      1. davies
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Regret?

        1. Exeter Gently
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          as in you're asking whether it was a good move, yet you've said that its done already

          1. davies
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Made my own decision, just interested in people's thoughts.

            1. Exeter Gently
              • 9 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              sun have much better fixtures than burnley, so id have done that move as well

  19. Not Irish
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling almost never picks the right option in the box.

  20. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling is going off

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Lol wut?

      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Yep

        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Nope

      2. Not Irish
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Tired

        1. Ser Football 42
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          did he stay up past his bed time again?

          1. Not Irish
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            😀 Coutinho off 😆

    2. Ser Football 42
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      no way, id be shocked

      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Prepare to be shocked

        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          * coutinho

    3. Billy Gilmore
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Nope, Coutinho

    4. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      🙄 is this necessary?

      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Well when the commentator says it on being sports then there was a chance...

        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Obviously he got it wrong but was just repeating what he stated

          1. Your Mum's Athletic
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            okay fair play

      2. Billy Gilmore
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        The commentators did say it was Sterling coming off.

        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Merci

  21. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    1 point for Coutinho

  22. Tony Warner Fan Club
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling on only 1 BPS o.O

    1. Not Irish
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      No chips for you.

      1. Tony Warner Fan Club
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Except the ones I bought at half time 😀

        1. Not Irish
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          😀

  23. ktk_interista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    It seems like Austin is dropping tonight and more so after the news. With Defoe on around 80% to rise, do we expect him to rise tonight?

  24. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    What exactly does Gerrard offer?

    1. Not Irish
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Little to not.

    2. For Fuchs Sake
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      History!! Which Liverpool seem to base all of their seasons on

    3. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      passion and loyalty to the club, doesn't exist in modern football anymore

    4. Tony Warner Fan Club
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      He's a father figure. Which is a pretty rare sight in Liverpool...

      1. Mull
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        SHOTS FIRED!

      2. Not Irish
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        lol

      3. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        🙂

    5. Billy Gilmore
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Next to nothing on the pitch.

    6. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      3 sports socks for a pound every Tuesday & Thursday afternoons on Bold St. He's set up for life I hear.

    7. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Not about what he offers now , its what he has offered over many years

  25. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Cout off Sturr on, interesting change, glad I didn't get Cout in

  26. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Is Bruce nailed on for the hull defence? Need a defender of them for the next four gws

    1. Ser Football 42
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      you want a hull defender?

      1. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Yes

  27. davies
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Are Sunderland suddenly creating more chances?

    1. Ser Football 42
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Well they arent creating less than they were

      1. davies
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        True. Wonder if Defoe is a flash in the pan.

        1. Granville
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Where have you been for the last 15 years? Defoe makes his own chances.

    2. For Fuchs Sake
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Have a striker to finish off any chances now

  28. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Are Everton just playing for a draw here?

  29. Stannage
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Will Sanchez start Tuesday?

  30. Crouching Tiger
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Mirallas 1 pointer