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. Rains of Castamere
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Hazard captainer - not sure how to feel about it

    1. Jay_
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Matched Ibra, Costa only beat him by a point

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

      Glad I captained Sanchez

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

        not playing today

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

          Yes he plays Monday

          1. Chelsea Dagger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Sunday and Tuesday, no?

    3. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      VVD my transfer this gameweek.

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

        Ouch

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

      Alonso > Cahill for a hit?

      1. Kanga roo
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        That's enough posting for tonight mate.

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

        Right now!!!

      3. Thomas Magnum
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Why?

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

        It would be the only logical choice

    5. boc610
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      needs to be a gif of robin williams telling bob bradley its not his fault....

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

      When the dream team front line is two Burnley strikers and Peter Crouch you know it's been an awful week

    7. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      can't believe ibrahimovic is still on the pitch. so dangerous with his high foot.

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

        Not sure if serious or just a United hater.

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

      THE WORLD IS ENDING

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

        Best close fpl account then.

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

        2016 is ending

    9. 1justlookin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Want to say a massive thank you to those that told me to go with Phillips over Chadli.

      Was so close to bringing in Chadli as well.

      1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        No worries mate.
        Just looking out for ya

      2. manutd99
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Similar for me. People advised Phillips over Allen

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

      Dare i say it Swansea are looking good here

      1. Mílanista
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Amat dictating play?

      2. Sess!
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        I'd take an Amat 15 pointer

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

      Need that Bournemouth clean sheet gone

      1. FALCAO & MOU
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        That is the only thing saving me.

      2. CABAYE4
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This.

        The one week Smith doesn't start 🙁

      3. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Shut your dirty mouth.

      4. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Shush!

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

      Walcott to Philips went well:)

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

        Amen brother

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

        Exact same move here wooo

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

      Sanchez captainers to get their revenge this week?

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

        Hopefully 🙂

    14. 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.

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

      VVD off hahahaha!!

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

        Please explain the joke .

      2. Butcher
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        C0ckkkkk

    16. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      AFCON call up for R-Kanu?

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

        He's Welsh, so probably not.

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

          He's actually English.

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

        Racist.

    17. Jimmy Boy
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Did anyone bring in Gray?

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

      Negredo assist

    19. MTPockets
        8 years, 11 months ago

        defoe goal

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

        I bet Jones comes on for 1 minute and Amat gets a CS 🙁

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

          Yeah we knew this was coming, rotation rotation rotation lol.

      • Jay_
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Grant denies Costa

          1. KOLASINA(C)
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Ugh, just go back to Derby mate.

        • FAT PANDA
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Hazard captain was clearly the wrong decision... 😆 I'm so bad at this game.

          1. KOLASINA(C)
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Wait for that penalty.

          2. Over Midwicket
            • 13 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            You deserve a fail after losing hope after 20 mis.. geez..

          3. sminkypinky
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Why?

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

            it has been 20 minutes, you can't expect your captain to score in 20mins every time. Don't worry, there's plenty of time for him to score.

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

            so early in the game?

        • dhamphiir
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Which defender will you have?
          A. Friend
          B. Brunt or other West Brom defender

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

            Considering this also.. tempted by Brunt, how assured of a start is he??

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

              nailed 100

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

                Good to know

          2. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
            • 13 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Sold Friend (albeit for Ake) and have Brunt.

        • TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Ibra denied again

        • TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Fell for the Heaton trap 🙁

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

            Not the Ibra one though

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 16 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Luck there with disallowed goal.

        • TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          -8 on the cards.

        • TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Hate Costa

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

            Love him

        • TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Ibra assist

        • TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Pogba goal

        • TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Rubbish GW.

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

            This

          2. Business Cat
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Phillips off the bench for Jones currently saving me

            Thanks Jose!