634x258 Dugout Discussion
16 August 2015 5914 comments
Mark Mark
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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.

  1. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Cech could help Chelsea win another title.

    1. Eden Hazardous
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      I know!

    2. Shmadz - Le Saux Solid Crew
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      That bad? (No pics! 🙁 )

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

      The view from behind the goal isn't great

  2. The Raging Bull
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

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

  3. AnfieldLad
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

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

    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      I didn't know we were mates

      1. Thick Of It
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 6 months ago

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

        1. Optimus.
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 6 months ago

          McCarthy so I have hope

          1. Camp No No
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 6 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
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      no way do I believe that.

      You don't have a mate

  4. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Maybe Mourinho sent Cech to sabotage Arsenal's season

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      maybe? Its questionable? Its a fact

  5. Sánchez
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Mcarthur assist
    Ward goal on loads of benches
    Arsenal CS gone

    All good

    1. Numb
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Not if you have an Arsenal defender!

  6. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

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

    1. Thick Of It
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Bit early for that

  7. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Arsenal defence essential they said...

    1. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      What did you say?

    2. Would an idiot do that?
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

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

  8. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

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

    1. Shmadz - Le Saux Solid Crew
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 6 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
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 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
    10 years, 6 months ago

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

    1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Who plays you on the big screen?

  10. il Brutto
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Koscielny goal would be welcomed.

  11. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

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

    1. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      You're weird.

  12. Baby Cuties
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    yes!!! Ward on bench!!!!

  13. Hakuna Juan Mata
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Please do something San(c)hez

  14. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Walcott benched again, lol

    1. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Do you want to know the score?

    2. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

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

  15. 3 years & counting
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 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
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Baker

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Only McCarthy until Speroni is back.

    3. Wax
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Nah that takes years of research

    4. The Chosen One...
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      McCarthy, but could lose place soon

  16. Costa in Wengerland
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Cue Ozil goal , Bellerin assist

  17. Norb
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Who's more attacking of Ward and Souare?

    1. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Souare looks good

    2. Eden Hazardous
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Souare ironically

    3. Norb
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks!

  18. Danstoke82
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Any decent defenders for 5.0?

    Thinking of shipping Mert

    1. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah quite a few.

      1. Danstoke82
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers for the help....

        Full of good advice you are aren't you!

        1. Jamelingus
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 6 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
            10 years, 6 months ago

            Good advice, cheers mate

  19. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Is Cech a Trojan Horse

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Ward

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 6 months ago

        failed....

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Clearly

  20. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Need a Sanchez goal.

    1. Hakuna Juan Mata
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

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

  21. dmhomag
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 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
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 6 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
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Bit early to make such a bold statement

  23. The Chosen One...
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Lol @ Cazorla

  24. Reed_Rothchild
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

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

    1. Jax
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      After 2 games seriously...

    2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

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

      1. Jax
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 6 months ago

        Lol

  25. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Nice try goal by Caz.

  26. Billy Gilmore
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Cazorla with the conversion!

  27. Sánchez
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 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
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      But he wont

    2. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Just like last week?

  28. Pinturicchio
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    All three players on my bench have scored.

    1. Ally - Killie Til I Die
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 6 months ago

      Who?

  29. Norb
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 6 months ago

    Cazorla please

  30. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 6 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