Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Tuesday

Tuesday night treats us to three more matches as the festive schedule finally starts to wind up.

Bournemouth and Arsenal go head-to-head at the Vitality Stadium in the 7.45pm kick-off, with Olivier Giroud looking to score for the third successive match – the Frenchman opened 2017 in style, thanks to his scorpion kick effort at home to Palace. He starts for the third successive outing this evening.

Second in our Gameweek 20 Captain Poll, Alexis Sanchez is looking for a fifth double-figure haul on his travels, yet faces a resilient Cherries rearguard that’s served up four clean sheets in front of their own supporters. Sanchez remains on the flank as a result of Giroud’s start but has fired in 17 attempts from that position in the last two Gameweeks – more than any other player.

Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha will look to take advantage of Swansea City’s dire defence in an 8pm kick-off at Selhurst Park.

The Belgian has the chance to play his way into consideration as the schedule turns in Palace’s favour, though Zaha owners will be searching for a way out after tonight’s fixture as he’s set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Finally, Stoke City entertain Watford in the other later match as Joe Allen and Etienne Capoue go head-to-head in the battle of the budget midfielders.

With the likes of Matt Phillips and Robert Snodgrass stepping up in form over Christmas, owners of both Allen (one goal since Gameweek 8) and Capoue (a single strike since Gameweek 5), will surely be considering their options over the FA Cup weekend break.

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

5,318 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gazj11
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Took Callum Wilson out this week for Negredo.
    I give up!

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Silly given the fixtures. Even if he only plays half the time!

      1. Gazj11
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Wanted someone who plays on a regular basis!

  2. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Can tell by Sanchez' body language that this will be a bad night for us captainers. Same thing with Lukaku, can tell by the first 20 minutes if they will have a bad game.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I blame Ramsey. Get Walcott and Ozil out there - they are Sanchez's mates.

    2. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      his body language last match wasnt great too

      he clearly wants the striker spot over giroud

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yes, this may be the case.

    3. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sanchez compared to Trollkaku? Like comparing Hazard to Teke...

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Not comparing their ability as players, just body language.

      2. Crow
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Sanchez blanks 3 games in a row -- I get him out -- 23 point haul! You can thank me

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Have you brought him in again then?

    4. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      You can never tell anything by trollkaku.

      1. Teahupo'o
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Blank v Hull and a nice 11 point haul the following gw. 🙂

        1. FPLtfs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Its not a "week to week" thing i'm refering to.

          1. Teahupo'o
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Certainly isn't. He'd be worthy of many rage transfers if so. 😉

            1. FPLtfs
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              😉

      2. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Just me then 😉

  3. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    ozil and theo absence is hurting alexis prospects

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Agree. Ramsey acting like he is the man. But Sanchez is the man and Ramsey is at best a substitute.

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        ramsey is way too selfish

  4. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Bellerin going to rack up points over next few, yet few will get him

    Excellent

    1. HazardAGuess
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Bought Bellerin one GW back. I hope so. I don't expect tons of clean sheets and I definitely didn't expect one in this game, but last match showed why he's sometimes worth the price tag.

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Come on Sanchez my son, get involved

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Nostradamus, is that you?

  6. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    The 5live phone-in will be appalling tonight if this stays the same. Dozens of whinging Arsenal fans thinking that Wenger leaving will solve everything and they'll win everything.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      It'd be a start.

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I did point out that apart from Sanchez the midfield and attack looks like something they would put out in a league cup game.

  7. MOZIL
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Giroud shouldnt even be starting, sanchez should be upfront... wenger out.

    1. Tansey
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      stop

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Giroud has been anonymous. Really regretting knee jerking him in as cheap Arsenal coverage for their fixs 🙁

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I did as well

    3. FAT PANDA
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Agreed, Giroud an awful option against a team like Bournemouth. Did Wenger really think 90 minutes of nothing but crosses was a good idea? 😆

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

    Alexis > Clayton for a hit? Both are equally useless.

    1. Crow
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      hahaha.

  9. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Coq hurt

    1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Be more gentle.

    2. greghammer95
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Should go to the doctor.

    3. Tansey
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Feel for you bro

    4. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Bangkok

  10. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Coquelin dead

  11. Bring the Cavalry
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    As soon as Ozil and Wally are back Sanchez will be back up too and Giroud is going back to the bench, even though he does get a goal a game he's awful, slows everything down

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      If Giroud does hold down the spot I'd rather Ozil to Sanchez. He massively damages the appeal of Sanchez.

      1. Bring the Cavalry
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah if Giroud does keep it I will be going to Ozil also, but there's no way giroud will keep it

  12. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Cue coq related jokes by Jafooli

    1. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hihi

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      😆

  13. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Coquelin doing Xhaka a favour..

  14. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Cabeye playing in the hole, ya?

  15. KING_ZLATAN
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Holding onto Kosc for the past 10 weeks lost myself so much points over this period ...

    1. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Holding him for all those weeks, but selling him right before the last two clean sheets for Toby and then Cedric (neither of whom have even played) has cost me!

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Don't get rid now, good fixtures on the horizon. Mustafi back too

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Mustafi back too? I'm not sure if that's a good thing, we always concede when he plays

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Don't think Montreal mustafi kos and Bellerin have played together all that many times this season

          2. KING_ZLATAN
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            That's what I always tell myself after every arsenal game .. better and cheaper options emerging , Baines, VVD, ake etc

        2. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Swansea next #keepthefaith

          He's due a goal too... 😆

      • greghammer95
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        This has shades of Southampton 4-0 Arsenal.

        South coast festive game.

        Felt so optimistic with San(c)hez today.

        1. Yome
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Yes another captain fail for me then

        2. Hurricane Gilbert
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          XD

        3. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          same. was hoping for a highscoring match at both ends. has been one sided so far

        4. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Agree. Think they would have learnt from last season. But Ramsey also being average. Missing Ozil and Walcott now.

        5. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          banking on a francis autosub clean sheet now since my ml rival has san(c)hez to my sanchez.

      • HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        hope ox on will bring some spark to arsenal and alexis.

        there is no pace in arsenals atatck atm

      • FAT PANDA
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        How many of us benched Bournemouth defenders... :/

        1. Hybrid.power
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          I played one! Smith....

        2. Evasivo
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ake 2nd sub after Capoue ffs!! At least not Daniels and early days still. Sanchez brace incoming

          1. FAT PANDA
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Hopefully Arsenal come out better in the 2nd but a goal definitely isn't happening this half.

        3. ILOVEBAPS
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          o/

        4. Teahupo'o
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ake third sub.

        5. MidasBoys XI
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ake

        6. MTPockets
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Ake

        7. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          At least Ox might get a clean sheet unlike Friend.

          1. Evasivo
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Only if goes to pens 😉

        8. Sp0rting
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Wengers Coq is broken.

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Coq gone up the tunnel

            1. Sp0rting
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Coq is in the bath washing the balls

        9. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Could C.Wilson be the 3rd striker solution? Struggled so much to find a good option. Great fixtures coming up

          Carroll > Wilson for free?

          1. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I wouldn't lose Carroll before the next game but if Wilson can nail a spot he's a good option.

          2. HazardAGuess
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            He's unfortunately not even nailed-on.

          3. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Agree! I'll monitor for now then

        10. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ox on good move

        11. BrockLanders
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Might sell Sanchez. He looks so disinterested it's unbelievable.

          1. FAT PANDA
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Sanchez > Alli likely my plan.

            1. BrockLanders
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Already did Mane to him..

          2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Hope he gets a 2 pointer... Couple of price drops during the break so i can finally catch up & get him in

        12. mad_beer ✅
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          I can't believe I benched Adam Smith and he is 3rd on my bench too. Typical.

          1. Seb Wassell
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Pretty sure he's not playng

        13. Lawrø
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Oxlade too late to get CS, unlucky owners

          1. Lawrø
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Wow I am so dumb sometimes

            1. Bleach †
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              What do you mean, sometimes 🙂

        14. ILOVEBAPS
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Hate you so much Cedric

          1. La Roja
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Daniels benched?

          2. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            hate but holding. gotta pray.

        15. Ógie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          We might see some more overused players pulling up with hamstring injury's before this game is over

        16. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Oh hello wingback Pieters, please stay.

        17. Nicks93
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Just checked in

          LOL Arsenal