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

    Bellerin with goal concession and yellow card- 0 points at this point if he goes 60 minutes

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks Statto

      1. Ryan Naysmith
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Haha

    2. Mata-Is-The-Juan
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Ah... The Holebas special.

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

    My current team:
    1. Heaton - Grant
    Alonso - Jones - Brunt - Holebas - Amat
    Hazard - Sanchez - Lallana - Eriksen - De Roon
    Costa - Zlatan - Carroll

    How about these moves.. In the long term or go wild card.

    Carroll --> Kane
    Hazard --> Phillips
    Lallana --> Coutinho
    Eriksen --> Stanislas
    De Roon --> Snodgrass
    Holebas --> Baines

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

      DeRoon to Stanislas or Phillips and play 3-5-2; take one hit if you need to make it work with one other move

  3. Ryan Naysmith
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Bournemouth playing class

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

      A little. But Arsenal not up with the pace today. Not enough fight being shown.

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

    What are Arsenal honestly doing?

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

    Arsenal always second to the ball and not with the pace.

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

    A Bellerin red would be amusing.

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

      Very possible too.

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

      Would only miss FA cup game, no?

      1. Big Mac 24
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Isn't FA and League separate, as in a league cup game counts but not an FA cup game?

        1. The Wise Owl
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Includes all English tournaments.

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

        This is true. But still the negative points...

  7. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Amat's outscoring Bellerin!

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      😯

  8. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    All of this without Wilshere... Bournemouth are playing great stuff. Glad to have got in Stanislas and Ake this week for Hull next.

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

      Wilshere overrated. Done nothing since he was 19.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        For Arsenal maybe, but he's been doing well for Bournemouth.

    2. Mata-Is-The-Juan
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Holebas > Ake my next move after the FA cup games. Especially as the former will just get himself suspended anyway.

  9. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Bellerin is having an absolute mare. Bossed around

  10. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Hopefully arsenal come out roaring in second half for a Sanchez hatty

    1. v12w12
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      3-2 Arsenal. Not looking likely unless they get one before half time

  11. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I think a Sanchez c fail here would break me

    Cannot move up the ranks for love nor money.

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

      I didn't captain him but need something to move up the ranks myself. I've been stuck between 60-100k since October. Just can't break out and move up.

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

        I can't budge from 500k area. Worst season I've ever had

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

          Same, completely stuck in the mud around 500k. Tough season.

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

            I had a good start to the season which got me where I am now, but been stuck since.

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      As a spurs loving sanchez captainer, i'll take it on the chin!

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Very harsh as he was (is) a great captain pick on paper. He's looked so dangerous when played through the middle.

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

    How can Bellerin go from such a great game a few days back, to THIS performance?!

    1. makaveli123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Fatigue

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

      Mustafi back in the team. Prefers Gabriel.

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

      Bournemouth =/ Palace

    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Complaincy, "it's only Bournemouth".

  13. Pards Against Humanity
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    One of those evenings where I end up waiting for ArsenalFan TV to drop some absolute gold.

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

      Great shout. That'll be some consolation at least!

  14. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Imagine captaining an arsenal player

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      ...living the dream

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

      Just did. Warm and fuzzy feels.

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

    Gonna jump on the bandwagon but was thinking t before the game,
    Pedro > Stanislas since Pedro isn't nailed?

  16. swisstime
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    What is wenger doing with sanchez.....he looks so unlively... As no room to show is talent . If Giroud keeps playing i will sell him straight away

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

      Wenger is such a fool, Sanchez was amazing upfront and now Wenger has got him crossing the ball all game... Fool Wenger.

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

      Sanchez is always outside the box this game trying to feed giroud... seems like ramsey is always inside the box but hes useless

    3. swisstime
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      exactly it seems wenger does not want him in the box... he is the kind of player when he touch the ball in the box he often find a way to score.

  17. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Really need Sanchez to get something! Slipped from 80k to 210k last 2 gw's!!

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

      Ouch!!

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

    😆 At the guy who said there was a template this year. You are so very wrong.

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

      Was Arsenal defence ever in the template? Sanchez will still deliver over a season.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Best FPL season ever

  19. Champione
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Arsenal have to play Sanchez up top. GIroud don't move at all

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

      Doesn't ***

  20. Jay_
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Diouf YC for foul on Holebas. Expect him to be seeking revenge

    • VS10_
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Has Wenger said to Alexis to have max 2 touches before having to cross the ball every single time?

    • Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Charlie Adam anyone?

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        None for me thanks

    • Beatle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Lovren to Daniels for -4. Yaya or nay??

    • Jay_
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Llorente YC

      • ILOVEBAPS
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        So is Alonso 100% to play now?

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

          He only misses out if he's dropped. i.e. He'll start

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

          yeh

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

          yes

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

        Get La Donkey off and get Sanchez up front

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

          Not wth that bench

      • It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        How's the other game?

        1. Jay_
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Swansea and Stoke the better teams so far.

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

          Le Donk being back in isn't good for this team.

        3. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Took a hit to take bellarin in, boom gives me 0 points(Probably will)