634x258 Dugout Discussion
3 January 2016 1747 comments
James Barnes James Barnes
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We train our focus on the capital for the first of Sunday’s two match-ups, as Crystal Palace endeavour to compound Chelsea’s misery at Selhurst Park. The Eagles are unbeaten in six but failed to score in their previous two outings, while the Blues have only won once on the road this campaign.

Palace’s attack has been blunted by injuries to key personnel, as evidenced by the fact they mustered just three goals over the last four Gameweeks and ranked last for shots on target (10). On the flip side, Alan Pardew’s crew proved a tough nut to crack, conceding just once across their quartet of fixtures. Moreover, only four teams have conceded fewer home goals than the Eagles (nine) throughout the season.

Chelsea displayed improvement on the attacking front over the previous four Gameweeks, chalking up six goals, 35 shots inside the box and 11 big chances. However, the Blues have amassed just eight goals on the road and rank third-bottom for shots on target (28) in away match-ups, which bodes well for the hosts’ clean sheet-prospects. Despite permitting the third-fewest shots inside the box (23) over the last four Gameweeks, Chelsea still conceded five goals and managed a solitary shut-out.

  1. Gooner97
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 11 months ago

    Hiddink looks like Santa Claus without a beard.

  2. Nithral
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 11 months ago

    Really rooting for Ward

  3. Ziro Becomes One
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 11 months ago

    Cmon Chelsea! Take away those Palace CSs

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      Yup

    2. TheBusDriver
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      No

    3. Glasner Ball
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      no

      • 12 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      MY sentiments exactly.

    4. FPL Puppy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      And done.

  4. JJeyy
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 11 months ago

    is payet worth getting now?

    1. TheBusDriver
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      No

      1. JJeyy
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        y

    2. TheBusDriver
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      He's very overrated.

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

        For 7.6, if he gets anywhere near the form he was in before the injury, he'll be brilliant.

      2. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        Ban

      3. @persecuted_by_mods
          9 years, 11 months ago

          Very overrated?

        • sleecc
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          😯

    3. TheBusDriver
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      Chances of a Palace clean sheet?

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        Negative

      2. FPL Puppy
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        None now.

    4. Eden Hazardous
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      Zouma and Courtois FTW 😀 (and Chelsea too 😛 )

    5. roghippo
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      Anybody else got Costa?

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        *tumbleweed passes by*

    6. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      I kinda hope Hazard tears it up so I have an excuse to bring him in. Really want a Chelsea mid

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        Oscar , get him. But I would stay away from us for the time being

    7. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      Do we really think Aguero will explode next GW? Really contemplating to go without but ... 🙁

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        EVE and CPL don't know how to defend

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

          CPL are great defensively, but he'll probably score vs EVE.

          1. Eden Hazardous
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            Lets see today. Palace have been very lucky in defence imo...

        2. Glasner Ball
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          2nd least goals conceded in the league, yet we dont know how to defend. lol

      2. Ziro Becomes One
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        Look at Everton defence today and you'll be getting in Kun by midnight. 😉

        1. Jazz!
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          😀

    8. Glasner Ball
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      Come on you Palace!

    9. Numb
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      Is #24 Depay?

      1. Eden Azzzar
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        No smalling

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

          Lol, looks nothing like him apart from being black!

    10. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 11 months ago

      Coutinho has been struggling in recent weeks and a lot has been made of it. But what about other players as well?

      Last 10 PL matches

      Coutinho (5): 4 goals 1 assist. Contributions: Chelsea 2 goals, Palace 1 goal, Man City 1 goal 1 assist.

      Mata (1): 1 goal 0 assists. Contribution: WBA 1 goal.

      Eriksen (4): 0 goals 4 assists. Contributions: Bournemouth 1 assist, WHU 2 assists, Newcastle 1 assist.

      Sterling (3): 1 goal 2 assists. Contributions: Norwich 1 assist, Southampton 1 assist, Sunderland 1 goal.

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        Mate , you are not understanding the criticism. Its not the goals/assists which is the problem . It is the wasting of possession and lack of a football brain that's the problem

        1. Eden Hazardous
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          And the stubbornness to continue doing it.

      2. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        Coutinho cost £8.5m and is 23 years old. Mata cost £37m and is 27 years old. Eriksen cost £11.5m and is 23 years old. Sterling cost £44m and is 21 years old.

        But yeah, pick and choose on who you like to slate.

        1. Ziro Becomes One
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          Isn't that the point of a football-banter website? 😉

        2. Wirtzle Gummidge
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          Mahrez cost £450k

        • 12 Years
        9 years, 11 months ago

        All four have underperformed this season. Luckily for the others Mata has a good defence so doesnt need to produce as much, Eriksen has Alli, Lamela and Son turning up from nowhere and Sterling is at Man City.

        Nice cherry picking on the gameweeks to get in Coutinho's 4 goals and 1 assist in 3 games spell.

        1. Davido989
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          Even if we go on the totals for the season..

          Coutinho: 5 goals 3 assists. 8 contributions in 1416 minutes
          Mata: 4 goals 3 assists. 7 contributions in 1637 minutes.
          Eriksen: 2 goals 7 assists. 9 contributions in 1284 minutes.
          Sterling 5 goals 3 assists. 8 contributions in 1346 minutes.

          1. Eden Hazardous
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            And Coutinho has wasted 50 times more possession than the other 4

            1. Davido989
              • 15 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              Is that a stat or is that something you just made up and hoped to be true? Fact of the matter is, Coutinho is performing to similar level to the aforementioned. All below par, but only 1 is getting stick. And the one getting stick is the one who has a static striker in front of him and is playing out of position as well.

              1. Eden Hazardous
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 11 months ago

                Here is the 'STAT'

                Ian Baldwin ‏@balders93 · 23h23 hours ago
                Liverpool need to talk about Coutinho
                77 shots
                22 on target
                69 pen box touches
                26 chances created
                That's a lot of poss. lost shooting early

                1. Eden Hazardous
                  • 11 Years
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Phillipe Coutinho, most shots in the PL. But:
                  7th for shots on target
                  15th for shots inside the box
                  =44th for big chances

                  1. Eden Hazardous
                    • 11 Years
                    9 years, 11 months ago

                    Players with more shots (min 20) than touches in the box:
                    Coutinho
                    Barkley
                    Toure
                    Sigurdsson
                    Cabaye
                    Eriksen
                    Shelvey
                    Brady
                    Capoue
                    Adam

                      • 12 Years
                      9 years, 11 months ago

                      these look familiar....

                      1. Eden Hazardous
                        • 11 Years
                        9 years, 11 months ago

                        I have given the source mate , don't worry 😉

                      2. Ziro Becomes One
                        • 10 Years
                        9 years, 11 months ago

                        😆

                2. Davido989
                  • 15 Years
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Yes there's nothing arguing those stats but why is he shooting? It's cos he has a static striker in front of him, not because he doesn't have a footballing brain. That's something silly to say about a player with clear quality who isn't performing.

                    • 12 Years
                    9 years, 11 months ago

                    his stats were broadly similar behind Suarez.

                  1. Eden Hazardous
                    • 11 Years
                    9 years, 11 months ago

                    Ian Baldwin ‏@balders93 · 23h23 hours ago
                    For comparison Coutinho in 1314 behind SAS
                    94 shots
                    27 on target
                    91 box touches
                    64 chances created
                    creation better but still shot early lots

                    1. Ziro Becomes One
                      • 10 Years
                      9 years, 11 months ago

                      EH is in form!!!

                      Berbinho skinned for pace here.

                      1. Eden Hazardous
                        • 11 Years
                        9 years, 11 months ago

                        *Balders in form

                    2. Davido989
                      • 15 Years
                      9 years, 11 months ago

                      And you need context for this as well (!)

                      Liverpool won the ball high up and had a shoot on sight policy under BR. In a season where they scored 100+ goals, obviously their attacking players would have had a lot of shots..

                      1. Eden Hazardous
                        • 11 Years
                        9 years, 11 months ago

                        Ayew serious???? You have lost the argument , accept it

                        1. Ayew Serious
                          • 10 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          Leave me out of this

                        2. Ziro Becomes One
                          • 10 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          I am with Eden here.

                          You are a Pool fan trying to defend one of your own. Fair enough that others are equally bad maybe, but you just have to accept that he is wasteful and currently not suited to Liverpool

                        3. Ziro Becomes One
                          • 10 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          Maybe loan him out to improve his decision-making?

                        4. Davido989
                          • 15 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          What argument? My point is that Coutinho has contributed to a similar level of players in the original post and they deserve stick too cos its not good enough.

                          You decided to bring up Coutinho shooting and I said why he's been shooting a lot this season (Benteke being static) and shooting a lot in 13/14 (high press, shoot on sight). Yet you continue to disregard my point.

                          I myself think Coutinho has been poor AND wasteful, but there's reasons for it. I just don't understand why the others don't get stick.

                        5. Davido989
                          • 15 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          I agree he's been wasteful, but im giving reasons as to why. And my point is, the other players deserve stick too.

                        6. Ayew Serious
                          • 10 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          You're mad Ziro

                          No way Coutinho doesn't fit in

                          Benteke doesn't fit the system, Coutinho needs to learn to shoot a little less from distance, that's all

                        7. Eden Hazardous
                          • 11 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          Others are not wasteful , that's why

                          There is no reason why one shoots from outside the box regularly , NO REASON at all unless he is YYT/Schweinsteger or someone of that class!!!

                        8. Ayew Serious
                          • 10 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          Schwei doesn't even have a good long shot...

                        9. Davido989
                          • 15 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          Benteke is the bloody reason. I've given up with your silly comments. In the last week you've said Coutinho shouldn't start for Liverpool and won't get a game in any top 4 side.

                        10. Ziro Becomes One
                          • 10 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          I agree others deserve stick. But on a site like this you cannot fault someone for not equally giving stick to all players/ 😆

                          We would not be able to comment then! Like if you want to slag Cout then include Mata / Sterling etc. in the comment???? 😛

                        11. Eden Hazardous
                          • 11 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          If the reasons are as you say they are , please buy a midfielder who can shoot,, otherwise drop ihim

                        12. Ziro Becomes One
                          • 10 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          I was overstating. 😀

                          You are right. He reins himself in a little bit and becomes a bit more aware of others around him and he could be a great little player himself.

                        13. Eden Hazardous
                          • 11 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          Ttyl , I am missing Chelsea match for this . So bye!

                        • 12 Years
                        9 years, 11 months ago

                        Whichever way you cut it though, its long-range pot shotting at a consistently low shooting accuracy. All of the CAMs on the top teams year after year get into box so much more than he does. Whether its Rodgers or not who's told him to shoot that often from range, he doesn't seem to be learning at all under Klopp.

                        1. Eden Hazardous
                          • 11 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          I agree with Balders so much..anyway bye!

              2. Debauchy
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 11 months ago

                Yeah , good point. That static lump will damage most creative mids

              3. @persecuted_by_mods
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Rooney not static? Plus Mata is on the right wing. Agree with your point about coutinho, applies to Mata too

                  1. Davido989
                    • 15 Years
                    9 years, 11 months ago

                    Same problem for Mata as well. Though Mata had Martial in front for a small sample.

                    1. Eden Hazardous
                      • 11 Years
                      9 years, 11 months ago

                      Coutinho can atleast do a favour to Liverpool by shooting reasonablly

                    2. @persecuted_by_mods
                        9 years, 11 months ago

                        I agree with your point, in the context you're saying. I'm sure Coutinho probably had Sturridge for a small sample too, coutinho has played in his preferred position more than mata though and i would argue Rooney and Fellaini are a lot more static than Firmino/Benteke. Like i said, agree with your point just feel it applies more to mata

                        1. Davido989
                          • 15 Years
                          9 years, 11 months ago

                          fair points. we're on a similar page

                • 12 Years
                9 years, 11 months ago

                Yup, all much of a muchness. They're ticking along as second tier players and that's okay if you're not the fulcrum of your attack (Eriksen & Sterling), the problem is Coutinho is and he's so so wasteful.

                1. Davido989
                  • 15 Years
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Not disagreeing with that at all, I'm just saying the others deserve stick to because their output has been below par, and output is ultimately what these players get judged on. And Coutinho has been wasteful because of Benteke being static in front of him, which most aren't mentioning

                    • 12 Years
                    9 years, 11 months ago

                    Boats and rising tides Berbs, whilst the other players are in the top 4 they get shielded by their results.

                    1. Davido989
                      • 15 Years
                      9 years, 11 months ago

                      agreed, ah well these players don't give an F about us so screw them 😛

        2. The Brummie
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          Quick question, can you use the wildcard and another chip say AOA during the same weeK?

          1. Eden Azzzar
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            Nope

            1. Royal5
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              You can't? A WC and tripple captain would set you up perfectly for a dgw.

          2. sleecc
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            No

        3. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          Anybody here worse than 19 this week.

          1. Eden Azzzar
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            Yes

          2. The Red Devil
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            Yes, just a bit less

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

          Need Palace to score!

        5. Venom Snake
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          Crazy to sell Silva for Siggy? Could be the ultimate differential with upcoming fixtures, and we know what he is capable of

          1. Rolls-Royce
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            Yup, Siggy can do well with upcoming fixtures.

        6. zencro 42
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 11 months ago

          Ramsey seems set to drop, anyone doing an early transfer out?

          1. Exeter Gently
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            many have

          2. Alittude
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            oo o

        7. Jay_
            9 years, 11 months ago

            I sold McCarthy for Rudd and benched Hennessey, Rudd was on for a 10 pointer until he got booked 87th minute for time wasting, was buzzing until then, my luck Hennessey will beat Rudds 6 and it will have been a wasted FT, come on Chelsea !

          • twoplustwo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 11 months ago

            Barca 3.5 and Arsenal 2.25 to win the CL and EPL respectively. Worth a double? Almost 8s.

            1. Debauchy
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              Which site ? I like this very much

            2. Jay_
                9 years, 11 months ago

                Worth 15 quid I'd say, nice little ton towards summer holiday if it comes in

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

                  Wedding for me! That's done then. Cheers chaps.

              • twoplustwo
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 11 months ago

                B365

              • twoplustwo
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 11 months ago

                Barca at 3.5 alone seems generous

            3. Debauchy
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              The beauty of playing UFPL

              Haz Captain , fails , a chance of an Hennesey CS in FPL .

              Probably miss on both , but yeah

              1. ILOVEBAPS
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 11 months ago

                No I don't play UFPL. I have no life as is!!

            4. Colonel Shoe 肝池
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              hoping for a 1-1

              fab and zaha scorers

              1. Debauchy
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 11 months ago

                Booo

                1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
                  • 14 Years
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  yay

            5. Alittude
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              Traore to score a hatrick off he bench!

            6. The Red Devil
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              Is a palace CS & dann goal too much to ask?

            7. LewanGOALski
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              Chelsea CS is all I need. Wouldn't complain if Palace lose theirs too.

            8. Revival
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              Hazard's last Chelsea goal was against Palace...a good omen for the day. C'mon Eden!!

              1. ★Kuntheman★
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 11 months ago

                About that...

            9. Numb
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 11 months ago

              Footballer lookalike...

              https://newsandfeatures.wordpress.com/about/

              1. Jay_
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Older Cazorla, younger Rafa 😀

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

                    Santi Cazorla is correct.

                    I would also have accepted Keith Harris.

                    1. Jay_
                        9 years, 11 months ago

                        😀

                • Alittude
                  • 10 Years
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Should I get on payet for Ramsey but then won't be able to get in Aguero for palace, or get in Ali so I can get Aguero in for palace.

                • Alan-M
                  • 11 Years
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Hi,
                  WC team thoughts appreciated:

                  Gomes, Schmeical
                  Toby, Ward, Monreal, Dawson, Williams
                  Mahrez, Payet, Ozil, Ali, YaYa
                  Kane, Kun, Lukaku
                  0 ITB

                  Kun too early? Igh for next GW?

                  Thx

                • Danno - Emre Canada
                  • 10 Years
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Does everyone have Kane and Lukaku or shall I still be cheering on them both to make a slight difference?

                • Alittude
                  • 10 Years
                  9 years, 11 months ago

                  Costa will score

                  1. Yankee Toffee
                    • 10 Years
                    9 years, 11 months ago

                    *won't