[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
16 August 2015 5914 comments
Mark Mark
Share:

With mid-price assets continuing to deliver, Sunday’s fare finds three of the genuine title contenders in action, allowing us to assess the form of a series of heavy-hitters.

Arsenal get things underway with their visit to Palace and that’s followed by the titanic clash as Man City host Chelsea at the Etihad.

The Gunners arrive in South London off the back of a shock 2-0 reverse to West Ham. They can, however, take comfort from the fact that they are unbeaten in twelve matches at Selhurst Park but will be wary of a Palace side that boasts an array of weapons at their disposal. Alan Pardew’s Eagles enjoyed an impressive away win at the Norwich on the opening day and will be looking to build on that by improving home performances – they have lost half of their 10 home games under Pardew’s reign. The Gunners, meanwhile, turn up having won five of their last six away trips.

The tea-time encounter is, on paper, a classic. Chelsea go into the match still licking wounds from an opening day roughing-up by an impressive Swansea and will be without Thibaut Courtois as a result of his second-half red card in that 2-2 draw. City’s preparations could not have been better – they strolled to a 3-0 win at West Brom on Monday night and, arguably, were the most impressive side on show in Gameweek 1 with David Silva, in particular, dazzling in midfield.

Mourinho will be wary of City’s confidence and is expected to settle on the back foot in a bid to catch City on the break with pace – he can take confidence from the fact that his side are unbeaten in their last four against Manuel Pellegrini’s side. On the flipside, the Chilean will point to a recent home record which states seven straight wins, delivering six clean sheets.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

5,914 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Piggs Boson
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Cech could help Chelsea win another title.

    1. Eden Hazardous
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I know!

    2. Shmadz - Le Saux Solid Crew
      11 years, 2 months ago

      That bad? (No pics! 🙁 )

    3. FrankieTheGent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 2 months ago

      The view from behind the goal isn't great

  2. The Raging Bull
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Got a feeling Pardew and Wenger might have a tussle on the touchline again.

  3. AnfieldLad
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Just checked my mate's team, he had Courtois GW1 and swapped him for Adrian GW2 hahaha

    1. Optimus.
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I didn't know we were mates

      1. Thick Of It
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Ouch Optimus, that is poor luck. Any playing back up keeper?

        1. Optimus.
          11 years, 2 months ago

          McCarthy so I have hope

          1. Camp No No
            11 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah, you just have to wish for him to keep a CS against Arsenal. Oh wait, damn...

    2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 2 months ago

      no way do I believe that.

      You don't have a mate

  4. Optimus.
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Maybe Mourinho sent Cech to sabotage Arsenal's season

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      11 years, 2 months ago

      maybe? Its questionable? Its a fact

  5. Sánchez
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Mcarthur assist
    Ward goal on loads of benches
    Arsenal CS gone

    All good

    1. Numb
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Not if you have an Arsenal defender!

  6. OPTA FPL
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Sanchez -1 BPS LOL, misses so many chances
    Cazorla 12, Coquelin 11

    1. Thick Of It
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Bit early for that

  7. Greenbackbøøg…
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Arsenal defence essential they said...

    1. Breadbin
      11 years, 2 months ago

      What did you say?

    2. Would an idiot do that?
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Who would you have instead? Nobody gets cleanies apart from United and nobody could predict that

  8. Dr Dream
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Palace are gonna cause some teams nigjtmare's this season.

    1. Shmadz - Le Saux Solid Crew
      11 years, 2 months ago

      It's the Pardew way. He gets a lot of stick, but he's fairly tactically astute. He does a lot of work on how to best play the opposition, given what he's got. It makes a few Palace options fairly appealing. Well, Bolasie at least!

    2. Gr3g
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, they look damn quick! Still lack end product but they will have good days when everything will for them 🙂

  9. Daniel Levy- Not the Chairm…
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Koscielny-->Shaw seemed to pay off then!!! Good usebkf an FT

    1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Who plays you on the big screen?

  10. il Brutto
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Koscielny goal would be welcomed.

  11. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Cech watch the new mission impossible Movie and asked Mou to move.

    1. Breadbin
      11 years, 2 months ago

      You're weird.

  12. Baby Cuties
    11 years, 2 months ago

    yes!!! Ward on bench!!!!

  13. Hakuna Juan Mata
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Please do something San(c)hez

  14. Captain Shirokov
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Walcott benched again, lol

    1. Breadbin
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Do you want to know the score?

    2. Bøwstring The Carp
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Oh c'mon your stream couldn't be THAT far behind 😛

  15. 3 years & counting
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Has anyone managed to establish if there are any £4 million goalkeepers or defenders that are nailed on?

    1. Would an idiot do that?
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Baker

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Only McCarthy until Speroni is back.

    3. Wax
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Nah that takes years of research

    4. The Chosen One...
      11 years, 2 months ago

      McCarthy, but could lose place soon

  16. Costa in Wengerland
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Cue Ozil goal , Bellerin assist

  17. Norb
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Who's more attacking of Ward and Souare?

    1. Venom Snake
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Souare looks good

    2. Eden Hazardous
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Souare ironically

    3. Norb
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks!

  18. Danstoke82
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Any decent defenders for 5.0?

    Thinking of shipping Mert

    1. Breadbin
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah quite a few.

      1. Danstoke82
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers for the help....

        Full of good advice you are aren't you!

        1. Jamelingus
          11 years, 2 months ago

          Rather than have everyone else pick a team for you(which will likely get thrown back during an underwhelming performance..), research a few options, then toss the few up...

          1. Danstoke82
            11 years, 2 months ago

            Good advice, cheers mate

  19. Syd.
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Is Cech a Trojan Horse

    1. OPTA FPL
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Ward

      1. OPTA FPL
        11 years, 2 months ago

        failed....

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Clearly

  20. Dynamic Duos
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Need a Sanchez goal.

    1. Hakuna Juan Mata
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Same here, he's just teasing us with all these chances

  21. dmhomag
    11 years, 2 months ago

    So frustrating to be Ozil. So many direct runs and through balls and pass and runs not picked up by teammates.

  22. BMox81
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Think it could be the year of 5m/4.5 defenders again. No value in any premium defenders it seems.

    1. Ally - Killie Til I Die
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Bit early to make such a bold statement

  23. The Chosen One...
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Lol @ Cazorla

  24. Reed_Rothchild
    11 years, 2 months ago

    I thought Cech would result in 5 more CS for Arsenal.

    1. Jax
      11 years, 2 months ago

      After 2 games seriously...

    2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 2 months ago

      it was 5 or more, not 5 more...

      1. Jax
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Lol

  25. Fred54
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Nice try goal by Caz.

  26. Billy Gilmore
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Cazorla with the conversion!

  27. Sánchez
    11 years, 2 months ago

    This is set up for walcott to come on and win the match second half

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 2 months ago

      But he wont

    2. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Just like last week?

  28. Pinturicchio
    11 years, 2 months ago

    All three players on my bench have scored.

    1. Ally - Killie Til I Die
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Who?

  29. Norb
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Cazorla please

  30. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 years, 2 months ago

    How are people blaming Cech for that. It went right in the bottom corner and he was unsighted when the ball was struck