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

    4 points in defence, not bad.

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

      Jealous! I have 3

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

      2
      0-0-2-Bellerin

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

      I have 2

    4. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      1 from my 5 defenders combined.

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

      0,0,0 Bellerin for me :/

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

    Looking forward to checking Mkhitaryan's stats to see what could have been after the match

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

    Cahill goal

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

    Fabregas assist

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

    I can see why this was given out but what a finish - https://twitter.com/sema_nare/status/815222461235101697

    1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah valdes did us proud cheating lol

    2. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      6ft5 with the agility of a panther, at 35. Superhuman. 😀

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

        the agility of a man with a black belt. its still a high foot as nice a finish as it was

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

      They need to start disallowing overhead kicks for high feet as well. If you think about it, had that exact same situation occurred but Ibra overhead kicked it, that goal would have stood. Either both are dangerous or neither are...

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

        Good point

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

        yup, its as clear as mud. one difference might be that ibras stud are showing with a kick like that and could cause more damage than top of a boot

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

          Possibly the stud argument is fair, but the counter might be that an overhead would have more force behind it, therefore more likely to cause a concussion?

          It just seems entirely inconsistent that a certain type of high foot is allowed because it looks cool.

      3. Camp No No
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Wouldn't have necessarily. I've seen overhead kick goals refused for the same reason.

        You can use them, if you have clear space. If it comes so close that other players must avoid competing for the ball with head because of you kicking it, then it's disallowed and possible yellow/red card.

        In this case, the rationale would have to be that my dear boy Victor Valdes would have dived for and got the ball, if not for threatened by Zlatan's kick. That is an acceptable interpretation, although imo wrong: Zlatan didn't risk to kick him. If it was refused basically because of the way he kicked the ball as such, it means that this would be a "illegal" way to kick the ball in general, which imo is a dead wrong interpretation. Zlatan has had finishes like this accepted everywhere else with no complaints.

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

          Interesting point, taken on board. Your last part on Zlatan having them accepted elsewhere, I've seen him score some like that before as well and they've stood no problem. Just seems like a rule that is inconsistent in its application.

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

    Chelsea concede! Scenes

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

    Chadli off before 60 minutes

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

      FFS

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Off form

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

      Can this mean he'd start against Hull?

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

    Hazard assist for that Willian goal

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

    Need Phil Jones....

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

      Rashford. Subs done.

    2. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      This*

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

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

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

    Costa again

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

      Points for everyone!

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

    Martial scores!

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

    Ibra assist 🙂

  14. Geoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Mason I mean.. maybe I'm biased.

    Some of these non-calls and calls are baffling

  15. Geoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Finally

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

    C'mon Amat 🙂

  17. tm245
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Just reading through the overnight articles, this was a great comment, shame it wasn't stickies.

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2016/12/31/the-stock-check-gameweek-19-friday/?hc_page=6#hc_comment_14758360

  18. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Good luck everyone.

    Come on United!!!!

  19. camarozz
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Jones you knob.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      LoL

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Surely you should vent your anger at Mourinho?

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

      My thoughts

  20. Monkey Hanger
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Leadbitter back for Boro. Negredo could lose pen. duties.

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

    I'll watch the weakest game at 3pm - Soton-WBA just because I have Foster and Brunt.

  22. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Come on Costa!!

  23. HamezMace
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Kane and Sigurdsson to Aguero and Philips -4?

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

      Everyones doing it!

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

        They are?

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

      Enjoy the games

    3. Hazardous1983
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Do it

    4. HamezMace
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks guys

  24. Hazardous1983
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Ibra capt fail

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      He's not my captain

      Hatrick today.

  25. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Jones no-show an early kick in the nuts.

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

    Good luck all.

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

    No Rondon and JRod start. Add in Holgate and its not going well for the picks that where being touted.

    Also there's this new guy Aguero, wonder how he will do.

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

      Could include Phil Jones as well I suppose. I wonder if the person I told not to take a hit for him listened...

    2. JIM BOB
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Cool kids have captained him.

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

    Lol. Boro 3 vs 1 but bottled it.

  29. _Gunner
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Traore what are you doing !

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

    That is why Traore plays for Boro and not Barca. Terrible decision making

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Seems to have everything but end product. Most players pass there.

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

        Always his issue. Surprising just how poor his decisions can be. Most amateur players would pass there.

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

      He has half the brain cells of most humans. Huge deltoids though

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

        They're glorious really