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. JustPark
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    YES!!!!

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

    Vvd red card. 2nd yellow.

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

    Omg my rank...

  4. MTPockets
      8 years, 11 months ago

      vvd 2nd yellow

    • Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Swansea are dying

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

      Swansea are so bad. Cant wait to drop the two players I own!

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

      Vvd sent off.

    • Bubz
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      VVD red? This is unbelievable.

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

      Carroll to Benteke? Swansea is joke

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

        And (c) I reckon.

    • Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      VVD 😆

    • Coaly
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      So my 5 defenders have combined for a grand total of 0 points. Excellent.

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

      VVD confirms transfer request with a red.

    • tm245
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Southampton defenders are brutal.

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

      Alonso almost

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

        Always almost...

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

      VVD 15% owned

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

      alonso close

    • Rainer
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yes Virgil!!!

    • SirStevieG
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Payet is trash time to trade.

    • BobB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Is there any remote chance any of Hull, Swansea or Sunderland can survive?

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

        Swansea are done anyway imo. Sunderland have shown they can win matches, need some work in Jan and it is against them. Hull really were unlucky not to take the 3 points against Everton.

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

          But who look like finishing below Sunderland or Hull? I suppose Watford are a dark horse

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

        Yep.

        Of those 3 Hull are the only ones I'd b confident of saying will go down.

        Sunderland do this every season and manage to stay up, just like Wigan used to do.

        Swansea can still do it too, but they really need to get someone like Harry Redknapp in asap who can turn the ship around for them.

        At the moment none of these 3 teams have been cut adrift yet and you'd expect Palace to get beat tomorrow so there is unlikely to be any great gap opened up between them and the team 4th from bottom.

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

      I dreamed of VVD goal today morning, it came true, I also dreamed of Aguero hat trick. Own both.

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

        the latter wont come true unfortunately

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

        Might have to go have another sleep lad!

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

        *red card.

    • Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yes VVD 🙂

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

      Jaysus, really wanted attacking points from Brunt

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

      Daniels Assist!!!!!!!!

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

      No chance of Alonso gettiung Costas assist?

    • Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Pogba and captain Costa bringing home the bacon. Get in.

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

        Fair play bro, Pogba wagon is leaving the station

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

      VVD owned by 23.8% in the top 10k 😀

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

        Wow that is surprising!

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

      LOL VVD

    • sambyy
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Got VVD in for a hit... Sums up my season

    • The Enlightener
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Chambers yc

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

      Reply would be very appreciated

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

      Heaton
      Koscielny / Brunt / Luiz
      Siggy / Sanchez / Hazard / Lallana
      Ibra / Anichebe / Kane

      Bench: Jaku, Amat, Barry, Love

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

        I'd do that all day long.

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

          which one the first option

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

            Sorry yeah, the two transfers you mentioned.