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. Fantasy123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Siggy - Stanislas worth a hit or nah?

    1. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Hit no

    2. Slumdog-Mignolet
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Not for a hit

  2. nkhoughton
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Why are people ditching hazard and Costa with Burnley Hull and Swansea in next 6

    1. nobwak
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Because this is the most fickle game/forum on the planet.
      If either of them score tonight against Spurs, it'll stop.

      1. Crow
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        This hahahaha

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Can't have all the big hitters unfortunately 🙁

    3. Top 210 Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Hazard a Donkey might get a goal every 4 games or so

      1. nkhoughton
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        He's still one of the points earners with those fixtures I'd be worried to sell, already own Eriksen firmino Sanchez and Phillips in midfield nobody else in midfield I want

        1. Top 210 Club
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          You have Kun and Zlatan?

          1. nkhoughton
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            I have Costa and Ibra up top

        2. Top 210 Club
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Coutinho back, Antonio looking good too

          1. nkhoughton
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            I have firmino he'll be more ruthless with couts but I'd drop Eriksen before hazard for Coutiniho

      2. nobwak
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        He's one of the best players in the world and he'd get in to any team.

        1. Top 210 Club
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Not my team 😛

      3. My Name Is Prince
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Third best PPG in the league...

    4. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Because they want Alli for Spurs' awesome run later I guess... Depends on who are they selling for obviously...

      1. nkhoughton
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        After tonights game I'm tempted to go Eriksen to alli but a bit sideways

        1. My Name Is Prince
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          I will be having him in soon too (sooner rather than later)...

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

            Not if Eriksen gets some attacking points tonight and Alli doesn't.

  3. Skyarm
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sanchez or Aguero for captain

    1. Top 210 Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sanchez

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      it's between eriksen and sanchez for me ... i'd go sanchez in your case (i've kun btw)

    3. Slumdog-Mignolet
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sanchez

    4. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Alexis

    5. Lawrø
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Probably Sanchez for safety. Just having Aguero should be differential enough. Sanchez's EO will almost certainly be over 100% in the top 10k

      1. Lawrø
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Also including the factor that there's a chance he might not start.

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

      Eriksen

  4. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    doubled up on bournmouth defenders daniels and ake
    next three ( hull WATFORD PALACE ) looks good on paper ....

    madness ?

    1. McQueen
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      As good as any defender. BOU will score and both find a way to be in the points most of the time. I was considering same combo, still deciding...

    2. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Daniels was great last year 😀

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Dont expect any clean sheet though...

  5. Gizmo13
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Foster (Pickford)
    Walker, Azpilicueta, Baines (McAuley, Amat)
    Hazard, Lallana, Phillips, Allen (Fer)
    Ibra, Kane, Benteke

    Walker, Allen, Kane > Daniels, Alli, Giroud for a -4 hit?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No

    2. nobwak
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No.
      Especially not if Benteke is an injury worry?

    3. Slumdog-Mignolet
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Bad moves. Benteke picked up a shoulder injury so you need to sort that if it's bad.

    4. Gizmo13
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks guys. Have too much money in defence and sought to get Alli in due to his form.

      Benteke > Defoe and a downgrade for Walker perhaps (BOU defender due to fixtures?)?

  6. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Any news on jonny evans ?

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      no

  7. Please do not spam post. Once is enough.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Done.

    2. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      are there not 2 star player questions that are identical?

  8. My Name Is Prince
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Right, for me it comes down to this:

    Lukaku or Hazard

    The price difference isn't that much, only 0.7m, with Lukaku obviously 3-4-3 and with Hazard obviously 3-5-2... Hazard's points per game are better, but Lukaku has better fixtures, Lukaku perhaps a bit better form as well, although we'll see tonight how Hazard does...

    How do you reckon?

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      And another thing, should I lose the hat? 😀

      1. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks for the reminder. I'd go with Hazard

    2. Top 210 Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Better options out there for me. I think essential big hitters are Ibra/Costa + Aguero + Sanchez

      1. My Name Is Prince
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Ibra/Costa/Sanchez are already in the team...

        1. Top 210 Club
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Go with gut m8 of those two I would also pick the striker and has better fixtures.

      2. My Name Is Prince
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Will wait a bit longer on Aguero....

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Ideally should have both. Lukaku is better value.

      1. My Name Is Prince
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, but can't have 'em all... If I get them both I can't get Baines, or Alli, or Coutinho later, or so on... Haz is so expensive, I believe Coutinho will match him for points for instance, with 2 million less, for instance...

    4. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I think the loss of Gueye will be huge for the balance of the team and it will negatively impact everything, so Hazard

    5. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Hull Swansea and Burnley is Chelseas next 6

  9. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sky game - Captain Hazard or Kane tonight?

    1. Top 210 Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Probs Kane tough one

    2. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Haz hatty incoming!!! 😀

      1. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Away and at Spurs? I like your optimism

        1. My Name Is Prince
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          I'm having a bad GW, need to be optimistic.... After all, strange or unlikely things do happen in FPL! 😉

    3. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I'm going Kane.

      1. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers, it's on him currently

        1. shirtless
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Transfer in Alli or Eriksen?

          I sold Mane(c) for Zaha(c) last night. Might as well burn another transfer for an extra game then I'm all set for West Brom.

          1. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            I'd go with Alli due to form but both good options

            1. shirtless
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Yeah good shout. Eriksen set pieces though. Tough!

  10. dashdriver
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is this a decent WC-team?

    Foster/Heaton
    Alonso/Walker/McAuley/Akè/Amat
    Hazard/Alli/Lallana/Phillips/Capoue
    Ibrahimovic/Kane/Defoe

    1. Slumdog-Mignolet
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Not bad. Wouldn't double up on WBA defence, maybe Foster out for Mannone?

    2. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, but I think you should have Sanchez in any WC team

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Sanchez over Hazard

      2. dashdriver
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        It's him or Hazard. I'm a Spurs fan, and Giroud seems to be back. I'll go with Eden...

  11. Magic Bean
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    50 with Alonso,Hazard and Costa to go.

  12. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    So what's the consensus today then..
    A) Defoe
    B) Giroud

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Defoe

  13. Scouserso
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is giroud nailed? I want to do benteke->giroud. Worth it?
    Any other suggestions?

    1. A.T
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      He's not nailed. It's a gamble.

    2. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Worth it imo, for a short term punt at least

    3. Scouserso
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Well, I want to play him only next week, then transfer outfor lukaku

  14. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Team:
    Grant - Heaton
    Alonso - Gibson - Ake - Brunt - Kingsley
    Sanchez - Alli - Lallana - Phillips - Stanislas
    Aguero - Ibrahimovic - Defoe.

    Need a way to get Coutinho in for swansea if fit, thinking:

    A) Alonso and Lallana out for Coutinho and Baines, Could later do Pieters and Chambers in for Gibson and Kingsley to give me a full squad
    B) Alli out for Coutinho if he loses form, straight swap
    C) Downgrade either Phillips/Stanislas to Phillps and get him in for Lallana
    D) Downgrade Aguero to Costa, Coutinho in for Lallana and upgrade Kingsley to Baines (full playing squad).

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      C or D for me

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Which do you think will be better?

  15. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone getting rid of Lallana due to their bad fixtures?

    1. We Will Klopp you
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Nope, Liverpool can score against anyone, so he's effectively fixture proof

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Nah, too good value

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I wanted him back, but will hold off due to their bad fixtures

  16. Concrete
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Heaton Pickford
    Alonso Evans Holebas Ake Amat
    Sanchez Hazard Eriksen Phillips Allen
    Aguero Ibra Llorente

    Some obvious players that need to go over the next few weeks...this week

    A - Eriksen to Alli
    B - Holebas to Chambers
    C - Aguero to Costa
    D - Aguero and Holebas to Costa and Baines -4..

    1. We Will Klopp you
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Either B or D to give you a playing defence

  17. vardys party
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Ozil and Aguero to Costa and Sanchez for a hit?

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Not sure on that
      Is Ozil injured

    2. Mulla
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I think long term good moves, Ozil not as explosive as Sanchez and Pep has lost the plot

  18. jamie1972
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Buying & captaining Benteke last week (purely to cash in on him racking a hatty against Swansea) went brilliantly.....

    A) Benteke > Aguero + Hazard > Redmond

    or

    B) Benteke > Crouch + Morrison > Coutinho

    (have Sanchez/Ibra/Costa)

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B

  19. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170103/wenger-on-giroud-lucas-and-coquelin

    Arsène Wenger:

    - on how important Giroud is becoming now
    "Every player is important. I thought Lucas came on and had an exceptional game. I said on Sunday that Giroud can score important goals - he has done that again today because when you play in the box he is dangerous. I think Lucas scored an exceptional goal of pure class. Giroud again scored because we dominated and he can score a header. Look, you have mixed feelings after a game like that because you wanted three points and you got only one. But when you are 3-0 down after 70 minutes you take a point as well."

    - on Coquelin’s situation
    "Coquelin has a hamstring. It’s too early, you have to wait 48 hours for a scan to see. Usually when he sits down and comes up it’s not so good news. It’s just a tightness. The player tries to get on but he didn’t even try to play again."

    - on Bellerin’s night
    "He had a knock, he was uncertain to play. That’s the problem when you have only 48 hours, you have to play some players who come out of a game like Crystal Palace [with knocks]. We had three or four players who we had to wait for the warm up to see if they could play."

    - on who the other three players were
    "We had Koscielny, we had Gabriel that I didn’t start in the end because I was not in a position, and then I did not start Oxlade-Chamberlain because I did not take a gamble with him because I don’t know who we have to take off. You cannot take the fresh player out but then you cannot, the players who have played 48 hours before, you cannot take them out. It complicates a lot, the job. But we have to shut up and cope with it."

    - on why Koscielny came off
    "He was tired, he had cramps in both legs and that’s why I decided to take him off."

    1. pompeyfan
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      'Coquelin has a hamstring' - good to hear! 😉

      Am I being too pedantic in hating this very football way of describing injuries?!

    2. McQueen
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks bud. Giroud not going back to bench is what I got from this.

      1. A.T
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Really? 😀

        1. McQueen
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Haha, we all see what we wanna see. 😉 But yes all the players are important...tells you something else also. 😉

  20. Sarri-ball
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Origi got to go best replacement

    A) lukaku
    B) giroud (got sanchez)
    C) defoe

    1. nobwak
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      A or C are both good options. Flick a coin on that decision really! C if you need the extra cash elsewhere though.
      Not B.

  21. GGMU!!!
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Randolf | Grant
    Jones Brunt Ake | Amat Kingsley
    Sanchez(c) Eriksen Lallana Philips | De Roon
    Aguero Ibra Costa
    0 ft , 0.9 itb

    A. De Roon > Stanislas(hul) to bench Lallana(mun) or Philips(tot).
    B. Not for a hit.
    Any other suggestions?

    1. Daddy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I'm doing De Roon to Stanislas to bench Phillips

      1. GGMU!!!
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Already used my FT on Cedric>Ake. Do you think it'll be worth the hit?

  22. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    1.2m in the bank, 1 FT.

    Foster/Heaton

    Alonso – Baines – P. Jones (A. Smith/Amat)

    Hazard – Ozil – Alli – Phillips (De Roon)

    Ibrahimovic – Lukaku – Carroll

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Looks ok

  23. white lightning
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    So who's the better fantasy pick:
    (a) Ake or
    (b) Daniels

    Over the last 8 games (which is when Ake started playing 80 regularly) Ake has matched Daniels output. Ake also has a ppm of 5.1 which exceeds Daniels ppm of 4.9. However the last 2 games Daniels has outperformed Ake scoring 23 points to Ake's 9 points. Ake & Daniels have both scored 3 goals & Daniels has 3 assists to Ake's 0 assists.
    Thoughts & thanks.

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      If you want extra cash Ake
      If not Daniels

      I went Ake

  24. Ivanov Itch
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Monumental transfer error, think I had an out of body experience or something..

    Got Gabriel in forgetting Mustafi returned. Liked the look of Arsenals fixtures defensively (which doesn't look as promising after shipping 3 last night!) and he was the only one I could afford.

    Used my only FT doing so and forgetting that Zaha won't be able to play as he's off to AFCON!

    Anyway I have a half-decent team

    Grant, Azpi, Walker, McAuley, Antonio, Lallana, Sanchez, Giroud, Ibra, Costa (Jaku, Francis, Gabriel, Fletcher, Zaha)

    Is it worth pulling trigger on WC now?

    1. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No you still have a strong team, just take a -4

  25. Farcelona
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Benteke, Allen and Capoue --> Pogba, Gray and De Roon a good move?

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I like Pogba and Gray looked okay v City...Burnley poor though

  26. Jayben23
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Pickford, Boruc
    Friend, Amat, Aké, Fonte, Alonso
    Hazard, Lallana, Sánchez, Fletcher, Zaha,
    Costa, Ibrahimovic, Origi

    Need to take Zaha out but for who?

    Whats fontes chances of playing ?

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Phillips
      Stan
      Cabaye (maybe)

      Not sure

  27. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Alli or Lallana?

    Appreciate your thoughts!

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Alli... looks back to his form last year. I'm jumping on probably

    2. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      It's annoying to have to think about buying either of them back.

  28. Concrete
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Heaton Pickford
    Alonso Evans Holebas Ake Amat
    Sanchez Hazard Eriksen Phillips Allen
    Aguero Ibra Llorente

    Some obvious players that need to go over the next few weeks...this week

    A - Eriksen to Alli
    B - Holebas to Chambers
    C - Aguero to Costa
    D - Aguero and Holebas to Costa and Baines -4...

    1. We Will Klopp you
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B or D, Baines would be more of a long term pick though

  29. Stock check
  30. Carlton P
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    So Ive kept hold of Walcott!
    Now what do I do? .2 short of Walcott > Ali now
    Walcott + foster > Valdes + Alli -4