Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – West Brom vs Chelsea

Champions Chelsea roll up to West Brom in this evening’s 8pm encounter as Jose Mourinho’s side look to continue a run which has seen them drop just two points in their previous seven road trips.

The main worry heading into this one was, of course, the extent of Mourinho’s rotation. Despite suggesting he was set to start a number of youngsters, the Chelsea manager keeps faith in his big-hitters for the Hawthorns, with Diego Costa returning to lead the line and the likes of Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic all named in the XI. In total, Mourinho makes three changes from the Liverpool match, then, with Costa, Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill replacing Willian, John Obi Mikel and Kurt Zouma.

With a single goal conceded in their last four, though, the Baggies’ return to resilient ways has been key to clinching their top-flight survival for another season. Tony Pulis also makes three alterations to his starting XI, as James Morrison, Callum McManaman and Saido Berahino come in for Youssuf Mulumbu, Craig Gardner and Victor Anichebe.

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

1,164 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Red Star Toro
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Well I thought for a moment about Costa for my GW38 punt.

  2. You Must Be Jokin Ere
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Brunt could easily have been killed.

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe that's why RvP is rubbish now, Williams hit the talent lobe in his brain...

    2. RÏɠBY
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      shocking aggression

  3. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone reckon Cahill will play in defensive midfield GW38 with Ake at CB?

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I imagine it will be a first choice team + Cech.

    2. Ludo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Nope. Mourinho said he'll play his strongest team against Sunderland, as they still have something to play for - out of respect for the competition.

      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        But I'm sure that changes now with Fab's red?

        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          It will be their strongest team, minus Fabregas. Cahill in midfield isnt the strongest solution to losing Fab. Probably Loftus Cheek deep and Cuadrado/Remy.

  4. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    The look on Terry's face when Fabs was sent off

    Priceless

    1. Ziro Becomes One
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Gif?

  5. Four Four Boyz
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    A genuine lol moment

  6. Heels_Over_Head
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    They've replayed the Fabregas red card incident 4 times already during my halftime show on a big screen and are analyzing where players were standing about when it happened.

    Really?

    At least get an interview with Fabregas dressed in tar and feathers to make it interesting.

    (i.e. stuff happens, move on)

    1. RÏɠBY
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      it should have been a yellow

      1. Jax
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Red card mate. You can't do what he did

    2. BUZZBOMB
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      What do you do on your half time show on a big screen? Forget about Fab. Focus. Jazz Hands at the end!

      1. Heels_Over_Head
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        not sure you keep highlighting inappropriate play for 10 minutes

        they manage all the time with more boring halves

    3. Heels_Over_Head
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      wow, another 5 minutes on it after the commercial

  7. Sif
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    The thing I'm looking forward to most about the end of the season is not having to see that Alan Shearer Barclays Advert again.

    1. John t penguin
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Will be fun watching Barclays chap on the kids door and ask for tickets back if Newcastle go down

    2. RÏɠBY
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      who thought alanSNOREshearer could sell anything?

  8. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I wonder how many suspensions Costa will get next year. I think I'll be avoiding next season...

    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      He's the opposite of a bap magnet too

    2. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      this is the issue with Costa

      capable of massive hauls, but also a card magnet with dodgy hammys

    3. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Not with Mourinho crying over every decision against them.

      1. Syd.
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        This

    4. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Until he scores a hattrick of course.

  9. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like costa could get a ban as well.

  10. Jay_
      9 years, 1 month ago

      TFF owns Lescott, CS here plus Cazorla big midweek could he be back in with a shout ?

    • Syd.
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Fabs was aiming that at the ref

      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        no chance

        If Cesc had wanted to hit the ref, he'd have hit the ref.

        1. SW6
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          This, he was trying to take the best player on the pitch out of the game.

      2. Ziro Becomes One
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Pirlo could have done it.

      3. RÏɠBY
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        yep

      4. Werkself
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Could you imagine the scenes?

    • Wings of Steel
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Totally 100% red

      1. Wings of Steel
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        That ball could easily have been a dog

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          😆

        2. Optimus.
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          😆

    • Royal5
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Fabregas is obviously stupid. What an embarrassment.

    • Sif
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I wonder Mourinho will take off Costa and send on Brown & Ake for a half.

    • Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Hazard assist for the red card

    • JayBomb
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ye gotta luv Carragash laughing his ass off! 🙂

    • Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      There have been some cracking goals in this Budwieser dream goals competition 😀

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Dynamo Kebab's was a cracker.

    • Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      What did Fab do?

      1. Jay_
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Kicked the ball at Brunt's head

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Why?

            1. Royal5
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              Thinks he's Gothams protector.

            2. Heels_Over_Head
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              that will be asked for a while

          1. Heels_Over_Head
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            doesn't quite capture that after the Costa incident Fabregas takes the ball and lines up and gives it a good whack

            very odd

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              Yeah. Looked pretty harmless on that vid.

        • RÏɠBY
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          itchy face

      2. JayBomb
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Scholes used to hit players in the back of the head in training while they were taking a whizz. It's the sign of a world class player!

      3. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Been out walking the dog due to no Hazard....Have I missed much ?

      4. Cousin Greg
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Unreal tactics by Mourinho. Making 10 men Chelsea practice against 11 Without their most creative player. Preseason already

        1. sinik
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Hazard is playing though 😉

      5. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Penalty

      6. The Light Knight
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I've owned Fab all season, and this was the first time he was 3rd on my bench

        Gotta love him 😀

      7. JayBomb
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Delightful! Sigh

      8. Red Star Toro
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Peno

      9. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        hahaha

      10. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        2-0

      11. SamH123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        not even a yc for terry???

        1. Heels_Over_Head
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          immune apparently

      12. Syd.
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        That should be a red card

        The ref bottled it

      13. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        How the hell is that not a card