Dugout Discussion
4 February 2017 1681 comments
Mark Mark
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As mid-season encounters go, this is as crunchy as they get.

Arsenal make the trip to Stamford Bridge knowing that, should they falter, their own title bid would likely be irreversibly de-railed. Meanwhile, a victory for Chelsea would surely come as the latest evidence that they are truly champions elect.

For Fantasy managers, there is also plenty at stake.

Alexis Sanchez starts in the central striker role and in 36.5% of squads, having returned a goal or an assist in ten of his last eleven Gameweeks. In opposition, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard also remain hugely popular assets, despite the alarming recent regression from the latter. The Belgian has supplied just three assists in his last five, with a single goal in eight Gameweeks – a penalty against Bournemouth back in December.

With Marcos Alonso also a key asset, there will be mixed emotions heading into this clash for the neutral, with a high-scoring contest perhaps the optimum outcome for many.

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

  1. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Hazard down 😮

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Back up...

    2. Lallana_
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Playing with an injury. Imagine when he's back at full force.

  2. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Arsenal defence has gone poor this season. I think it is Mustafi. Bellerin is not confident with him playing. You can't go from having one of the best defences last season to a poorer defence this season with only one change in it (Mustafi).

    1. JustPark
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Have you look at Leicester?

      1. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 day ago

        Leicester's defence was based on pure motivation. That motivation has gone now, except in the CL.

  3. :
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Hazard not dead.

  4. La Roja
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Mustafi destroyed Hazard there

  5. jayzico
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Nice Bellerin. Nice.

  6. afcblegend
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    What the hell was Mustafi thinking there? Literally no need to go in for the tackle there.

  7. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    But what if Mustafi was in the process of scoring a goal while making that challenge...

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Arsenal getting tonked here....

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      You sound surprised

  9. Cok3y5murf
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Rose to Alonso has been the worst transfer.

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Alonso to Rose*

      1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 day ago

        Shambles

  10. Respect My Authoritah
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Come on a Costa goal now and I'll be a happy man

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Snap mate

    2. Dirty Harry
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Yes please

    3. Rh4ziel
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      +1

  11. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    You got to love the way Hazard waits and wants to be fouled

  12. La Roja
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Alonso vs Gabriel

    Nailed on for a brace

  13. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Any other Toby put Alonso on the bench?

    Nah just me, thought so. Doh

    1. GreenArrows
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      I did too Danno. Played Coleman, Baines and McAuley

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 day ago

        Arrrr thanks mate, I feel a tad better ha. Coleman and Brunt for me but chose PVA instead of Alonso hmmmm

  14. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Well Hazard is certainly in the mood.

  15. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Hazard is in the mood

  16. Respect My Authoritah
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Hazard. Mood.

  17. twoplustwo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Haz vz. Walnut isn't fair

  18. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Its an illusion seeing someone like Alonso as defender and play Phillips on the popular reason "always play the attacker"

    1. Legendary!
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Alonso may be classified as a defender but is essentially a winger in the current CHE formation. Check out his involvement from the stats and he is as dangerous as a winger. Also consider that he plays for a stronger team compared to Phillips so likely to see more of the ball. Was convinced to get him after seeing a few games and was sure he was nailed on.

  19. itwaswritten
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    I really hope Chelsea doesn't concede. It would be amazing.

    1. itwaswritten
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      + a Costa goal. Whew!

    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      True Gunner.

  20. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Costa moody

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

      Moodie Blues

  21. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Hard to see anybody challenging Chelsea for the title now,

    1. Somalion
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Yup. Need Arsenal to nab a win (or possibly a draw) to keep any semblance of a title race going.

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      No European football makes a big difference. I expect Liverpool will start their charge soon now they are back to full strength (Mane, Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana, Henderson and Wijnaldum all fit).

  22. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Ozil loves to get stuck in 😆

    1. Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      He really is pathetic at that side of the game sometimes.

  23. King H
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    3rd best player in the world ?

    Suarez
    Bale
    Neymar
    Griezmann
    Hazard

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Suarez

    2. itwaswritten
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Suárez.

      Players with a ''á'' in their name always win!

    3. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      No Sanchez on that list?

      1. Respect My Authoritah
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 day ago

        Lol

      2. King H
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 day ago

        Was thinking bout him Lewa and Pogba too. Lol

    4. Somalion
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Hazard shouldn't be there.

      Suarez methinks. Lewandowski another good shout. Aubameyang must deserve a mention as well.

    5. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      George Boyd 😉

    6. Pedro's snacks
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Aguero

  24. ♤TeddyBear♤
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Does anyone think this Chelsea team and set up could do some serious damage in the Champions League?

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Only if they increase their squad depth. Different game playing twice a week.

      1. ♤TeddyBear♤
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 day ago

        Agree

  25. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    right, need to swallow my pride and get alonso...thinking of saving my FT and do the following in gw26 (when chelsea play swans @home)

    Heaton
    Valencia Holebas Mcauly Smith Robertson
    Alli Barkley Philips Sanchez Fletch
    Kane Ibra Kaku

    gw25: save FT
    gw26: valencia + holebas + sanchez >> coleman + alonso + hazard (-4)

  26. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    SCOUT: 4th goal of the season for Alonso, the most of any #FPL defender. He was benched by 52,417 managers for GW24 #CHEARS

    Simply disgraceful. 52,417k...what were you thinking

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Never bench, never captain.

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      All must be ARS fans

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 day ago

        I'm an Arsenal fan, I didn't bench...

    3. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Ouch 😆 😆

    4. Speédy
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Baines brunt PVA ,no room for Alonso

    5. Dirty Harry
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      They werent

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

      How is is disgraceful? I had over 5 people in here tell me to play McAuley over Alonso.

      I'm not complaining and blaming them as it's my team. But you can't say ts disgraceful when people on here advise it

  27. Fowler23
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Costa so,selfish

    1. jayzico
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      love it

  28. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Don't think Alonso meant to elbow bellerin, but could have been given as a foul

  29. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Lukaku not even in the top 5 of OVERALL captains. WTF?¿

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Casuals

    2. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Thats good..pretty much makes a differential captain..where do you find this ?

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Not trustworthy enough IMO. He is the type of player you buy and just leave in the team as he will rack up the points. Bit like Alonso, Coleman and Walker too.

  30. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 day ago

    Costa going blind?

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 day ago

      Senile maybe, he is 40 odd after all.