Dugout Discussion
31 December 2016 2216 comments
Mark Mark
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Six afternoon kick-offs get Gameweek 19 back underway, with our attention fixated on a cast of key assets.

More than 27% of FPL managers go into these matches with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as their captain.

The Swede needs two goals to surpass Lionel Messi as Europe’s top goalscorer in 2016 across the top flight leagues, with the Middlesbrough defence in his way at Old Trafford.

Diego Costa ranks next in terms of armband popularity, claiming the support of 15% of FPL managers ahead of a meeting with Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.

The striker is recalled following a one-match suspension and is part of a reassuringly familiar Blues line-up that also includes Eden Hazard, backed by 6.7% of FPL managers.

There are teamsheet changes elsewhere, however, with Southampton innevitably shuffling the pack for their St Mary’s meeting with West Brom. Jay Rodriguez, Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte and Ryan Bertrand are among the notable names omitted from today’s Saints line-up.

Tony Pulis also makes a key change to his Baggies starting XI for the south coast clash – Salomon Rondon is benched with Hal Robson-Kanu earning a first Premier League start for West Brom.

Meanwhile, Alan Curtis takes the temporary reins for Swansea City against Bournemouth and makes no less than seven changes, recalling Fantasy favourites Jordi Amat and Leroy Fer, along with Fernando Llorente up front.

Elsewhere, Burnley host Sunderland and Leicester City take on West Ham at the King Power Stadium, as they attempt to end the visitors run of three successive wins.

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

  1. Ryan Naysmith
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    hazard assist for captain makes me a tiny bit happier, everything is going bad otherwise

    1. NATSTER
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      My VC 🙁

  2. Rolls-Royce
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Where are you Zlatan

  3. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Ibra struck late last GW, patience!!

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    nearly 4 for burnley, sunderland all over the place

  5. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    this gw is killing me 🙁

  6. 824545201
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Llorente subbed off.

    1. Neeskens Under Matip
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Scout picks having a nightmare!

  7. Jay_
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Haz not in bonus

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        will be

    • Ravager
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Not even over 10 points yet. What a time...

    • The Royal Robin
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Should have gone Sanchez (C) 🙁

      1. KING_ZLATAN
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Yes .. (C)osta is MIA

      2. bojack
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Plenty of time left (assuming Ibra(c)).

    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Hello siggy, are you there?

      1. SuperMario
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Last half hour in my team.. a parting fk or peno would be lovely

    • Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Heaton on 3 baps? Burnley outfield players aren't good baps collectors.

      1. Richd
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Heatons a bap magnet.

      2. Jay_
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Got a funny feeling it might be Gray

        • King Klopp
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          No Gray is

      3. Somalion
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Another passback not given against Boro

        1. Differentiator
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Think you don't quite know what constitutes a backpass

          1. Somalion
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Well, defender boots ball backwards with only one player, the keeper, left possible to pass to. Nobody else was remotely in his range of passing. Keeper catches it. Yes it was an awkward hit, but either he was trying to get it to the keeper or he was trying to put it over his own net.

        2. afcblegend
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          people would digest the whole 'Utd hard done by' easier if there wasn't BS like this

          1. Somalion
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            I'm not looking for anything, but making the point that the defender had nobody on to pass to, boots it albeit awkwardly in Valdes direction and it's caught by Victor. I've seen similar given before.

      4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        rojo and mata coming on

      5. Rian23
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        on course for 4 captain blanks in a row

      6. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Who will the other players in the dead team that wins this GW be?

        Gray (c), Zlatan, ...

        1. jurgenklopp.8
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          barkely?

      7. SuperMario
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Surely Gray is now an option instead of Carroll, Bentekke or Rondon??

        1. George Sillett
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Rubbish away from home though.

      8. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Cmon Hazard climb those bonus points lad

      9. MidTableFantasy
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Is Payet doing anything? I only saw the Antonio crossbar strike.

      10. Speédy
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        wreck than heaton cs defoe and company

        1. For Fuchs Sake
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          THIS!!

      11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        OMG Crouch

      12. Richd
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        CROUCH

      13. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Crouch.

      14. jam
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Crouch equaliser!!

      15. The Wizard of Ozil
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Siggy and Sunderland goals are most welcome rn

        1. jurgenklopp.8
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          this so much

      16. NATSTER
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Crouch 2-2 !!!

      17. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Crouch!

      18. greghammer95
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        29, 2 to play as it stands lol

        1. greghammer95
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          28*

        2. Bubz
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Thats not even bad

        3. Malcolm Tucker for England …
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          show off

      19. -SB-
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Peter Crouch Goal?

      20. Tom Heat-is-on
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        does it look like costa going to be scoring tonight?

        1. Richd
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          It never did.

          Gonna costa his owners.

      21. For Fuchs Sake
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Crouch 2-2!!! haha