Dugout Discussion
14 January 2017 1780 comments
Mark Mark
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We return from an FA Cup hiatus with an opening fixture that could easily make or break Gameweek 21 for many Fantasy managers.

An in-form Spurs, off the back of five straight victories, will host an equally buoyant West Brom with a cast of major assets on show.

Dele Alli is unquestionably the headline act.

Subject to more than 560,000 transfers in ahead of today’s deadline, there is huge expectation on his shoulders as he bids to maintain form that has seen him fire seven goals in his last four Gameweeks.

Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane look capable of overshadowing even Alli from their supporting roles.

But Kane has been a source of major frustration of late, blanking in his last three White Hart Lane encounters, including plum fixtures with both Burnley and Hull City.

In contrast, Eriksen has been a consistent force by his previous standards. Five double-figure returns from his last eight Gameweeks suggests that he will again be major figure in today’s Baggies clash.

West Brom have their own major Fantasy asset.

Matt Phillips has emerged as a key value target for our five-man midfields, notching seven assists and four goals in his last ten outings; he has been subject to more than 450,000 transfers in since Gameweek 19.

It remains to be seen if he can continue such form against a Spurs backline that has shipped just five goals in 10 home matches.

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

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  1. Flynniesta
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Kane to Kun on New Years Day isn't looking like one of my better moves at the moment 🙁

    1. Manani
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      got aguero instead of kane for WC myself.

      I got kane for his dry spell as well lol

    2. Flynniesta
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Top of the page has cheered me up though 🙂

  2. Business Cat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    If Spurs win @ City next week (and they should batter them in this form), they've gotta replace Chelsea as title favourites

    1. MarvelouSuccess
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      remember last season. look how well that went. XD

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Leicester battering City about the same time last year was the moment they started looking like potential champions.

        Don't think Spurs will fall apart this year...they've got the experience now.

    2. Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      but they're 7 points behind a team that stitched 13 wins in a row. no replacing yet.

  3. Numb
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Where is my Alli brace???

    1. Ridcully
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      On his teeth?

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Lucky ml rival has Kane c, walker and eriksen

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      So lucky 😀

    2. CaptainObvious
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Maybe you are just crap at this game.

    3. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Chadli score then?

    4. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Omg he's in for a big rank rise

    5. Numb
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      What a stroke of luck!

    6. DLL18
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      "Lucky"

    7. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      link to his / her team. Want to see what monster score looks like

  5. Bellerinmondo
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Fabio and friend wing backs for boro ?

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

      1. Bellerinmondo
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Nice

  6. GreenArrows
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    It hurts only having Eriksen, need to triple up on them, alonso out for walker/rose and kane in for lakaku for -4 seem a good idea? Or am I knee jerking?

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      City next game ... calm down

      1. GreenArrows
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Shouldn't be worried about City, they concede

      2. Zebras
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        But City have a porous defense

    2. Crystal
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Seems sensible and not knee jerky at all. Anyone else played yet?

      1. GreenArrows
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Na only Eriksen

    3. evilfish
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Does it hurt as much as only having Alli?

      1. GreenArrows
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Not in that case no. But hurts when ML leaders have Kane, Alli and Walker or Rose and I was only 12 and 18 points behind them

        1. evilfish
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          Similar in my ML. At the end of GW 20 was 4th. Used my FT to get Ake in. Was happy with my front line of Costa, Ibra, Defoe. What a difference a break makes!

      2. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Does it hurt as much as having none of them?

  7. TorresMagic™
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 17 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Enjoying the Kane and Eriksen differentials in the Mods League 😎

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Well Done TM!

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 17 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Lawrø
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Getting worried about you in LAWR main now... think Defoe and Hazard could also score big 😀

      Good stuff

    3. Clump
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Nice

  8. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Eriksen gets a double figure haul and I'm still gutted

    1. XabiAlonso
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Same here :crying

    2. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Same 🙁

  9. Numb
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Ville Ronka sees Costa is out. Transfers to Kane. He just knows!

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yep - hopefully he knows Sanchez(c) too

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Ronka stalkers should have their own thread

      1. tm245
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Ronkers

      2. Moin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Agree

    3. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Give the guy a rest. This place is obsessed with the guy.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        It's bizarre

      2. rivercityransom
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        he is the best player in the game. why wouldn't people be interested in his moves?

        1. S.Kuqi
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          This. And only TM knows his true ffs nickname. He is like batman to us

        2. BananaNose Maldonado
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          I guess you didn't read this week's articles.

          1. rivercityransom
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 6 months ago

            he'll bounce back

          2. Camp No No
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 6 months ago

            Why? What was in them? Because I didn't read them. Link to the one that had something interesting in it. There cannot be more than one.

    4. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      On a plate... very lucky

      1. XabiAlonso
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        He could have chose giroud, Aguero, lukaku. He's pretty good at this

        1. Numb
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          Look on here last night. Most were getting Giroud. OK Giroud could score the same or more yet.

          1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 6 months ago

            I don't look on here much these days Mr T 😉

            1. Numb
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 6 months ago

              Probably sensible

        2. Spg76
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          Could he have chosen Aguero??? Funds???

      2. George Sillett
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Very lucky ? I think not.

        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          If Costa issue hadn't of occurred he wouldn't have done the move, therefore lucky..

          Granted he could have chosen someone else

    5. Ayew Serious
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Lol at that new guy

    6. Pep bites Kun
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Not a lot of love on here for Ville Ronka I notice. Any particular reason?

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
        9 years, 6 months ago

        It's not about him it's about how people keep mentioning him and his every move

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          You mean the media or ... ?

  10. Shultan
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Surely after that spurs game conte should get costa on uber to leicester!

    1. Scholes Balls
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      more like a private plane or helly

  11. Pep bites Kun
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Bit of time between games lads - If YOU were Costa what would you do?

    A. Stay and win the title
    B. Go to China

    I had a quick look at his bio -

    Despite regularly playing street football, Costa did not believe as a child that he would turn professional, in part due to the remote location of his hometown. He has since set up a football academy in his hometown, where he pays all the costs.

    At age 15, he left home and moved to São Paulo, to work in the store of his uncle.
    Although he was never a professional, his uncle had connections in football and recommended his nephew to Barcelona Esportiva Capela,
    a team from Ibiúna in the south of the city set up as an alternative to drugs and gangs for youth of the favelas. Before joining this team, he had
    never been coached in football. He turned professional at the club, earning around £100 per month.

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      B) for two years

    2. Numb
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Take the £30m honestly.

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah, I'd love to say I would do the 'right' thing and stay to challenge for the title, but if someone was waving 30m at me ... well come on. If he doesn't take it someone else will and who's to say it will still be there is the summer? That's a gamble!

    3. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Obviously A, but the title is anything but guaranteed.

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        I agree - I should have said 'challenge'.

    4. Sz21
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      don't care..
      He wont be coming back into my side this season anyway.

    5. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      A because I will never be in this situation myself and I love to take the ''moral high ground'' over strangers .

  12. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    West Ham could swoop for Swansea city star Gylfi Sigurdsson as a replacement for Dimitri Payet - reports

    As if we did not see this coming
    West Ham=scoundrels

    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/west-ham-could-swoop-swansea-12454074

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      West Ham have no intention of buying these players - just trying to unsettle them. If I was Defoe, Snodgrass or Siggy I would put them to the sword when I next play them.

    2. JAC THE CAT
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      4 Million bid?

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        £20m they might be serious this time

    3. Ayew Serious
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Time to make a Zaha and Gaston offer

    4. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Surely Snodgrass would be the drop-in replacement.

  13. ILOVEBAPS
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Still puzzled why Walker got so many nap points for an assist.
    Anyone got a clue?

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      *bap

    2. Numb
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Plus CS

    3. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Succesfull crosses, take ons and chances created.

      1. ILOVEBAPS
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Sure but they didn't exist before the assist. At least according to the Bap updates.

  14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Ville ronka going back to the top of the hall of fame?

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Did he cap Kane?

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Not sure I don't have his team here but I'd imagine him or Sanchez

    2. Differentiator
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Hope so. I brought in Stanislas too 😉

    3. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      He did th same transfers as me

    4. TorresMagic™
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Decent chance depending on the 2 above.

    5. XabiAlonso
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      By the end of the season at least

    6. XabiAlonso
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Giving a mid season hof rank is bizarre imho

  15. JAC THE CAT
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    2 played

    I'm on -5 with my hit 🙂

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      That's shocking.

    2. XabiAlonso
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Ouch

    3. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      I'm on 0 with 3 played, if one of Cedric or Bertrand doesn't play

    4. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah my minileague leader's the same. Phillips and McAuley played.

  16. ElliotJHP
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Kane (C) Rose and Alli, dece start x

    1. JAC THE CAT
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Can't get much better than that

  17. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Starting on -8.

    Had 5 players from this game.

    -3, 2, 11, 10, 6.

    18 up I think. Head hurts so much can't even do basic maths lol.

  18. Syd.
    • 17 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    West Brom have had some hammerings this season

    Such an overrated bunch of Penguin Tossers

    1. Differentiator
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Brunt a nice differential going forward 🙂

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Next 5 GWs will determine WBA's season. Same with Arsenal starting today - need to get 12 pts from the next 5 games.

  19. Shultan
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Jakus back!!!!!

    1. Bellerinmondo
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Just saw this too. Brilliant!

  20. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Chances of Eriksen knicking 2 bonus? Walker's bps seem high

    1. Syd.
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Zero

      CS & Assist for Walker

    2. Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Dont hold your breath

    3. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Zero .

  21. JJJ
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Only 8 saves? I swear I saw 5 in 5 minutes...... poor 2 points for foster, deserved more.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah deserved 10 points for conceding 4

      1. XabiAlonso
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Haha

  22. Bellerinmondo
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    0 from 1 here, not a great start

    1. XabiAlonso
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Get some spurs

    2. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Brunt I assume. Its all relati e though. McCauley would have got you -3.

  23. Ziro
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Just for reference. Earlier lineups had two teams missing 😳

    Full 3PM KOs:

    Burnley: Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Hendrick, Marney, Defour, Boyd, Barnes, Gray,
    Subs: Tarkowski (26), Darikwa (27), Flanagan (4), Robinson (17), Kightly (11), Barton (19), Vokes (9)

    Southampton: Forster, Alves Soares, Yoshida, van Dijk, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Romeu Vidal, Højbjerg, Tadic, Long, Redmond,
    Subs: Sims (39), Taylor (28), Stephens (24), Clasie (4), Rodriguez (9), Reed (18), Martina (15)

    Hull City: Jakupovic, Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Clucas, Mason, Huddlestone, Robertson, Snodgrass, Hernández, Diomande,
    Subs: Tymon (28), Marshall (23), Livermore (14), Goebel (40), Bowen (29), Niasse (24), Weir (17)

    AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Cook, Mings, Daniels, Arter, Surman, Stanislas, Wilshere, Fraser, Afobe,
    Subs: Wilson (13), Federici (23), Gosling (4), King (17), Smith (14), Pugh (7), Ibe (33)

    Sunderland: Mannone, Denayer, O'Shea, Djilobodji, Love, Larsson, Rodwell, van Aanholt, Borini, Defoe, Januzaj,
    Subs: Honeyman (39), Simões Domingues (12), Embleton (40), Maja (35), Asoro (29), Jones (2), Manquillo (21)

    Stoke City: Grant, Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters, Whelan, Adam, Shaqiri, Allen, Arnautovic, Crouch,
    Subs: Given (24), Afellay (14), Imbula (21), Ngoy (45), Muniesa (5), Taylor (42), Bardsley (2)

    Swansea City: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Kingsley, Ki, Cork, Dyer, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Llorente,
    Subs: Fer (8), McBurnie (62), Rangel (22), Nordfeldt (13), Fulton (56), van der Hoorn (5), González Tomás (10)

    Arsenal: Cech, de Abreu, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Xhaka, Sánchez, Özil, Iwobi, Giroud,
    Subs: Maitland-Niles (55), Ospina (13), Holding (16), Reine-Adelaide (31), Pérez Martínez (9), Oxlade-Chamberlain (15), Welbeck (23)

    Watford: Gomes, Kaboul, Prödl, Britos, Kabasele, Capoue, Behrami, Holebas, Doucouré, Deeney, Okaka,
    Subs: Zuniga Mosquera (18), Watson (23), Pantilimon (30), Sinclair (19), Cathcart (15), Ighalo (24), Cleverley (8)

    Middlesbrough: Valdés, Chambers, Espinosa Zúñiga, Gibson, Friend, da Silva, de Roon, Leadbitter, Forshaw, Stuani, Negredo,
    Subs: Traoré (37), Clayton (8), Gestede (29), Guzan (12), Downing (19), Fry (22), Fischer (11)

    West Ham United: Randolph, Collins, Reid, Ogbonna, Antonio, Noble, Obiang, Cresswell, Lanzini, Feghouli, Carroll,
    Subs: Fletcher (24), Quina (36), Calleri (28), San Miguel del Castillo (13), Byram (22), Oxford (35), Fernandes (31)

    Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Dann, Delaney, McArthur, Ledley, Townsend, Cabaye, Puncheon, Benteke,
    Subs: Kelly (34), Fryers (19), Lee (14), Remy (8), Speroni (1), Schlupp (31), Flamini (4)

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks Parm

      1. Ziro
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks Jafooli. Always a pleasure.

    2. tm245
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers.

    3. rivercityransom
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      high time to bring me some points cedric

  24. Hurricane Gilbert
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Kane back to his best again? Didn't watch the game

    1. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Scored a hat trick.

    2. Cocky Spaniel Alves
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Could've had about 6 first half alone.

    3. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Could have had 5

    4. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      So unlike other games Spurs looked to set him up?

    5. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      A lot better than a month ago...looking ominous

  25. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    I couldn't get Kane in because I tripled up on Spurs before it was cool.

  26. davies
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Valencia > Walker a no brainer?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Rose

  27. Cocky Spaniel Alves
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Had Kane c until this morning. Well s'pose having him is good enough.

    1. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Having him as captain after the deadline is what counts.

      1. Cocky Spaniel Alves
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers!

    2. Lizard Lips
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      In the exact same boat. Why did you change? I tend to bottle it whenever there is a runaway poll leader, so I switched to Alexis last minute (literally 🙁 ).

      1. Cocky Spaniel Alves
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Pretty much the same. Just hadn't thought about it really before and left it on Kane.

        Asked who to go for here this morning. People said Alexis. I thought fair enough.

  28. Ziro
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Kane, Eriksen and Walker triplers group-hug? 😎

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Rose,Walker, Eriksen owner here standing aside watching you guys hugging 🙁

      1. Ziro
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        You did ok. Spurs triple up is looking good atm. So attacking and lots of goals.

        1. Ziro
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          Not to mention the defence being water-tight as usual.

          1. Camp No No
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 6 months ago

            And neither CL nor cup fixtures.

  29. Syd.
    • 17 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    I only have 1 player tomorrow

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Big day for you today then. 7 for me tomorrow.

  30. The Overthinker
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Costa to Kane bandwagon let it roll !!