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. Vinyl78LP
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Rondon stay on the bench....!

  2. Fred54
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Ashley Barnes.

    FPL.

    Bloody hell.

  3. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Defoe and Siggy in my team. Don't know whom to get rid off first.

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

      Siggy!! Defoe has decent fixtures ahead.

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

    The boy in Kelechi's shadow coming on to try help United!

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

    Anyone else's defence doing really really badly?

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

      My back 4 on 0 points.

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

    Leadbitter was "due" to be fair

    1. Bellerinmondo
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I would've captained him but everyone here told me not to 😉

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

    I'm on 17 points from 8 and captain.... wow

    1. Dušan Citizen
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      28 from 9 here

      1. GREENDREAMS11
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        That could be number 1 g/w rank this week Dusan lol

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      24 from 8

    3. Lawrø
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      18 from 7 and captain is comparable

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

        Noooooooooooo

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

          Make that 14

          1. GREENDREAMS11
            • 16 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Counting chickens lol ouch

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

              and now Origi doesn't start 😆

  8. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Any sign of Rondon coming on?

  9. Kane Train
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Would you do Siggy & Kane > Phillips & Aguero or find a way to upgrade Anichebe?

    1. Sz21
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      yep.

      Doing Aguero- Costa and Siggy to either Phillips (likely now) or Cabaye

      1. Kane Train
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        So just bench Anichebe?

  10. money face bandwagon
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    If utd loses i will take a ibra(c) fail

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

      Not if it finishes 2-3 and Ibra gets 2.

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

    Smalling won't play again for a while

  12. liiusions
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Mannone over Valdes wasn't my greatest decision this season

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

      Have you *seen* the Sunderland defence!?

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

        Pickford did well for me 🙂 It was more for budget reasons, looks stupid now though

  13. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    This is nuts. My defense is absolute cack!

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

    To be fair to FPL the site registers goals a lot quicker than last year, when you had to wait 15 minutes.

  15. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Oh wow Smalling off for Rashford... Utd going all out

  16. FPL_Hazards
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Its all about kane this GW

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

      Sanchez

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

    rondon on

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

      Fantastic news

    2. Vinyl78LP
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      bollox, 1pt misery.

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      We do ron ron ron we do rondon

    4. WVA
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Nooooooooooooooo

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

    HRK off
    Rondon on

  19. Jolly Good
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Wow planned to get Jrod and Matt Philips over two weeks to get kun in.

    Guess which one I got it last week 🙁

    1. Grand Thibauto
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Matty Phillips?

      1. Jolly Good
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        I wish

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

    Fabregas off
    Matic on

  21. JustPark
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Oh come on!

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

    What a dreadful GW.

  23. andy85wsm
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    No Origi

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

      Bench?

    2. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Damn

    3. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Oh great

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      It was in the post with a while now

  24. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    20 mins left in utd game, still plenty of time for ibra brace & assist

  25. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    United will score

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

    Alonso and Amat both on 0. Oh dear oh dear.

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

      Heaton CS gone..

    2. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I respect it from
      Amat...

    3. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yup...

  27. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Its just not Zlatans day is it?

  28. andy85wsm
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    In fact Origi and Sturridge are on the bench. Can starts.

  29. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Ake on max baps at the moment. FPL gold.

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

      Coming on for Jones. Would be awesome.

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

    Minimum of 10 minutes stoppage time at Old Trafford.