Dugout Discussion
7 August 2016 3899 comments
Mark Mark
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The first competitive game of the domestic season warrants our first Dugout Discussion.

There is just so much on show to interest Fantasy Football managers, as Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City clash with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United under the baking sun of Wembley.

The form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will inevitably come under the closest scrutiny – the latter begins on the bench but Ibrahimovic starts; his display will surely be crucial to his burgeoning ownership levels over the next 24-hours.

But it’s dangerous to ignore Leicester.

Both Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are on Ranieri’s teamsheet as they bid to play their way into our day one thinking for the potentially profitable trip to Hull City. Again, their performances could change everything, forcing us back to the drawing board in a matter of hours.

It’s a fascinating scenario and a fitting taster to the season kick-off next weekend.

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

3,899 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Bubz
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Bloody hell Arsenal defence looking shambolic

  2. Cheeseoid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Could we get a list of swear words which are unacceptable to be published on this site so I can moderate my comments myself. Sometimes what I consider pretty tame doesn't get through.

    1. Cecil The Lion
      10 years, 3 months ago

      This

    2. Bubz
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Just tried to post the list here but it wouldnt be published

      1. Cecil The Lion
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Fer Fuchs Ake

      2. Epic Fail
        10 years, 3 months ago

        😀

      3. Cheeseoid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 years, 3 months ago

        chuckle

    3. Ayew Serious
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Very frustrating when you put in a long post

      1. Cheeseoid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Exactly. We definitely need a list

    4. HankMarvin
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Have you tried using fück, shït etc?

      1. Cheeseoid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        10 years, 3 months ago

        I don't want to break the rules. I would just like to know the extent I can go to without breaking them

  3. Ayew Serious
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Liverpool vs Arsenal will be 0-0.

    Because all logic suggests otherwise

    1. Jazz!
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Lol

  4. Leaf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 3 months ago

    So we have no defenders 🙁

  5. Jet5605
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hey guys, how is my squad looking? Nothing left ITB. Any suggestions would be welcome.

    Courtois - Jaku
    Valencia - Stones - Evans - Friend - Paredes
    Tadic - Hazard - Firmino - Kouyate - Lingard
    Aguero - Vardy - Carroll

    1. Penzardlife
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Unsure of Courtois as our defence looks pretty terrible atm, not sold on Kouyate or Lingaard but other than that I like it a lot

      1. Jet5605
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks!
        I could do Courtois > DDG but which midfield combo would you have instead of Lingard and Kouyate for 11.5? The latter scored a brace in the Europa and seems good value at 5.5

        1. Penzardlife
          10 years, 3 months ago

          I would go Ramirez from Boro at 5.5 and then Redmond playing OOP at striker from Soton as your 6, but ultimately it's pretty much a gamble in that range

  6. Frank Black
    10 years, 3 months ago

    So, everyone is getting Carroll i suppose?

  7. Beautiful Game
    10 years, 3 months ago

    When will we have the team news tab?

    1. Epic Fail
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Dunno, but team news normally comes out a day or 2 before the game.

  8. antpro26
    10 years, 3 months ago

    First and final RMT of the season. Any help much appreciated.

    Foster (Jakupovic)
    Shaw Souare Friend (Mcauley) (Van de Hoorn)
    Hazard Mahrez Tadic Ramirez (Leko)
    Aguero Ibra Gray

    Any advice on changes?
    1) Is it worth swapping Amat for VDH?
    2) Mcauley for Kong or Mee?
    3) What are people thoughts still on Leko? Change to Capoue?

    Cheers.

    1. antpro26
      10 years, 3 months ago

      2) *for Kone

  9. Leaf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 3 months ago

    After a slow start an now in full tinker mode

    Apreciate some thoughts

    Heaton, Foster

    Baines , Terry , Shaw , Kone , Parades

    Oscar, Martial, Ramirez, Tadic , Fegouli

    Aguero , gray , Kane

    May even get holding for Kone
    .

    1. mad_beer ✅
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Didn't Terry get hurt today?

  10. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Can I get a RMT please. Any advice welcome 🙂

    ------------------------Valdes---------------------

    ------------- Azpi - Shaw - Stones -----------

    Mahrez - Mkhitaryan - Hazard - Deulefeu/Lamela

    --------- Aguero - Gray - Long ------------

    Subs - Jakupovic - Friend - Souare - Hojbjerg

    1. GreennRed
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Nice. A bit light on keepers and double Boro defence mightn't be a great plan. Not sold on Shane.

  11. Cecil The Lion
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Cedric nailed?

    1. BabyB
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Don't think so.

    2. KingoftheRunts
      10 years, 3 months ago

      not nailed no. should start gw1 though

    3. Cecil The Lion
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers fellas

  12. Greenbackbøøg…
    10 years, 3 months ago

    So Zlatan went from Essential to super essential now?

    1. GreennRed
      10 years, 3 months ago

      No.

      1. Epic Fail
        10 years, 3 months ago

        This

    2. JÆKS ⭐
      10 years, 3 months ago

      For me he went from a doubt to a def no after that awful performance

    3. Cheeseoid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      You missed the stage in the middle when everyone took him out.

  13. Davido989
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Maybe Wenger goes in for someone who's ready for GW1. Evans? 😉

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      10 years, 3 months ago

      sakho

      1. Davido989
        10 years, 3 months ago

        He wouldn't join a small club mate.

      2. Frank Black
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Which one? (Fair question).

        1. Davido989
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Haha, I see what you did there.

    2. Ziro
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Over cold dead hands of Pulis? No chance

      1. Davido989
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Probably rush Koscielny back, if possible.

    3. Licky
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Season ticket holder lottery. 😉

  14. Hobolicious
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Unreal. Now we not only need one CB, we basically need two...

    Firmino/Mane is coming into my team for sure.

    1. Frank Black
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Now? Koscielny, Mertesacker and Gabriel have always been rubbish, Arsenal has always need two CBs and at least 2 more players.

      1. Davido989
        10 years, 3 months ago

        This. Agreed

      2. Hobolicious
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Koscielny rubbish? One of the best CBs in the BPL.

        As for the other two I do agree, but Arsenal did keep 18 CS last season, so something right must have been done!

      3. 824545201
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Arsenal had the best defence last season.
        Stop talking nonsense.

  15. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Wenger to push through with signing a CB. Mustafi the preferred choice according to AFCamden

  16. Ziro
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Iirc Wenger with Coq at CB

  17. Bøwstring The Carp
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Arsenal 3⃣️-2⃣️ Man City match report

    ⭐ players: Sanchez, Ramsey, Iwobi, Walcott, Sterling

    Notes
    - Xhaka and Ramsey sharing indirect free kicks. Cazorla came on and took corners.
    - Silva on right-sided corners.

    Arsenal 1st half team (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Holding, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Iwobi; Sanchez.

    Man City 1st half team (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Zabaleta, Fernando, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernandinho, Delph; Nolito, Silva, Sterling; Aguero.

    12’’ Sanchez swings a cross to Ramsey in the box but his header loops over.
    18’’ Xhaka slips Oxlade-Chamberlain through and he dinks it over Caballero but it’s wide.
    20’’ Aguero dribbles past three players but his shot deflects off Bellerin and Cech catches it.
    22’’ City lose the ball outside their box and Caballero comes out to try close Ramsey down. The ball is squared to Coquelin whose shot is blocked. Huge chance not taken!
    25’’ Sanchez plays an excellent ball through to Ramsey on the left who forces a save from Caballero from his shot in the box. ♜
    30’’ Zabaleta plays a ball down the right wing to Sterling who gets to it. He whips in a cross that meets Aguero 5 yards out to tap in for the opener! ⚽

    Arsenal 1st half team (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Chambers, Monreal; Coquelin, Elneny; Walcott, Ramsey, Iwobi; Sanchez.

    Man City 1st half team (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Fernando, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernandinho, Delph; Nolito, Silva, Sterling; Aguero.

    50’’ Arsenal equalise! Walcott gets the ball on the right and whips the ball to Iwobi at the back of the box. He adjusts himself, lines up a shot and shoots before he’s closed down. Hart gets a touch on it but it goes in - he should really be doing better there. ⚽
    53’’ Cech saves a Delph shot with ease. ♜
    55’’ Aguero is deservedly booked for a foul on Chambers. ⚠️
    59’’ Sanchez is pushed over on the edge of the box by Fernando. He takes it himself and it cracks against the crossbar. Very unlucky!
    63’’ Zabaleta, Fernando, Silva and Nolito subbed for Sagna, Adarabioyo, De Bruyne and Navas. ↩
    64’’ Ramsey subbed for Cazorla. ↩
    64’’ Low shot driven by Walcott forces Hart into a fingertip save to concede the corner. ♜
    66’’ Navas curling shot parried away by the gloves of Cech. ♜
    68’’ Delph and Aguero subbed for Yaya Touré and Iheanacho. ↩
    69’’ Iwobi subbed for Campbell. ↩
    73’’ Beautiful goal. Walcott turns his marker and passes to Sanchez before continuing his run through the line of defence. Sanchez hits a return ball to him and with a single touch he dinks it past the onrushing Hart to send Arsenal into the lead. ⚽
    77’’ Bellerin and Monreal subbed for Debuchy and Gibbs. ↩
    78’’ Sanchez subbed for Akpom. ↩
    80’’ Clichy, Fernandinho and Sterling subbed for Angelino, Zinchenko and Tasende. ↩
    85’’ Walcott challenges for the ball outside the box after a bad pass back by Adarabioyo. Cazorla is played through and Hart rushes out to try and get to it first. The ball is spilled and comes to Akpom who slots it home. ⚽
    87’’ Instant impact as Navas races down the touchline and floats a ball to Iheanacho who heads the ball down and pulls one back for Man City. ⚽
    90’’ Toure gets space, turns and unleashes a powerful shot that makes Cech work hard to save low. ♜
    92’’ Navas gets a chance to equalise from Zinchenko’s low cross but he leans back too much and it whistles over the bar.
    93’’ Gabriel goes down after a challenge with Iheanacho. The stretcher is called on for Gabriel and the injury looks like a bad one. Seems to be his knee that is causing him serious pain. There is a brace on his lower left leg anyway. ☠
    98’’ Gabriel subbed for Bielek. ↩

    Match rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

    1. Garlana
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Quick update. Thanks

    2. Bøwstring The Carp
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Second set of teams should be the 2nd half teams.

      Would be nice to get through one of these without an error 😆

    3. Cheeseoid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Top work once again

    4. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Live from NYC: You are a tribute to this site with these recaps. Thank you!

  18. Garlana
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Is either having hazard and Oscar or firmino and mane too much if they are your only attacking players from each team? I'm worried it may be....

    1. Clumsy Sakho
      10 years, 3 months ago

      What?

  19. Kizza_10
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Who will start out of Chambers and Holding ?

    1. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Chambers

    2. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Probably both now

  20. ★Kuntheman★
    10 years, 3 months ago

    City looked lethargic on the attack today apart from Sterling and Aguero.

    1. Tatty Bojangles
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling is nice and rested after doing absolutely nothing this summer.

  21. pundit of punts
    10 years, 3 months ago

    A. Kane+Oscar+Walcott

    or

    B. Gray+Alli+Hazard

    1. Trae44
      10 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Ziro
      10 years, 3 months ago

      A. Because Walcott

    3. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      B but with erikson

  22. Clumsy Sakho
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Foster | 4.0
    Shaw | Valencia | Fuchs | Nsue | Kingsley
    Hazard | Alli | Firmino | Ramirez | 4.5
    Aguero | Vardy | Gray

    Is this the one? Doubled up United defense to counter the fact I lack a united attacker

  23. ★Kuntheman★
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Lessons I learned today about City:

    1) Hart was truly awful. Horrendous.
    2) The team seem to be overwhelmed by Pep's ideas.
    3) Lack of direct attacking play apart from KDB, Navas, and Sterling.
    4) CBs are a joke.

    1. Clumsy Sakho
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Caballlero bandwagon?

      1. ★Kuntheman★
        10 years, 3 months ago

        I'd be willing to take a punt if I was gutsy

    2. Davido989
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Slow start to the season on the cards.

      1. ★Kuntheman★
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Staying away apart from Aguero if I'm honest. I think Guardiola needs three games to finish his experiments

        1. Davido989
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Sheeesh! 🙁

          1. ★Kuntheman★
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Worried about UCL qualification now 😐

    3. Pariße
      10 years, 3 months ago

      His pressing tactics really didn't work. They were too exposed once a long ball was played.

      1. ★Kuntheman★
        10 years, 3 months ago

        He's expecting a bit too much tactical creativity from some fairly average players

    4. Ohhh Shola Ameobi
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Any idea who'll start against Sunderland from that?

      1. ★Kuntheman★
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Sterling for sure.

  24. Pariße
    10 years, 3 months ago

    What a moron Wenger is though. You've got all the time in the World to sign a CB, he waits till the last week before the season starts and another injury makes it even worse.

    1. FPLHaggis
      10 years, 3 months ago

      ARS - LIV could be any score next Sunday

      1. Pariße
        10 years, 3 months ago

        I'm sure Arsenal aren't going to be an easy game for Liverpool, still some great players are fit and ready to start, but the fact that Wenger refuses to improve them with his stubbornness is getting more and more ridiculous. If he wasn't stubborn last year, they probably would've won the title and with a lot of clubs in transition this year, they should be challenging for it as well, but I can't see it with him in charge.

    2. Lebowski85
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Classic Wenger

  25. Dušan Citizen
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I am getting Ramsey.

    1. Bubz
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Why?

  26. Cecil The Lion
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Moreno anyone?

    1. Ayew Serious
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Liverpool can't defend, and a lot of it is his fault

    2. Bubz
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Back to back to back away games

    3. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      No way.

    4. Cecil The Lion
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks guys

  27. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 3 months ago

    knowing Wenger he'll offer £50mill plus a penny for Stones, a CB so bad he got dropped by Martinez

    1. Big Sum
      10 years, 3 months ago

      knowing Wenger he will go for Evans

    2. twoplustwo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      That'll be the most ridiculous signing since... Sterling...

  28. pundit of punts
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Vardy could be great in GW 2 if Koscielny isn't back by then.

  29. ryacoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone doubling up with Mane and Firmino?

    1. Davido989
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Eh. Easier said than done in my opinion

  30. Sandy Ravage
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Lallana or Siggy?

    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Neither - Lallana is a rotation risk and Siggy hasn't played a single minute during pre-season.