Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Manchester United vs Chelsea

After Roberto Firmino earned Liverpool the points at West Brom, our attentions now turn to Old Trafford as Manchester United entertain Chelsea in the 4.00pm kick-off.

The big news is that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named amongst the substitutes for the home side, with Jose Mourinho conceding that the veteran is “very tired” as he juggles his options ahead of the upcoming Europa League clash with Anderlecht.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also on the bench, though Antonio Valencia’s 15.7% owners can breathe a sigh of relief – he’s handed a first league start since Gameweek 30.

With a double Gameweek 34 against Burnley and neighbours City just around the corner, this afternoon’s match affords Fantasy managers the chance to cast an eye over Mourinho’s side.

Certainly, Ibrahimovic owners will be desperate for more than just a late cameo – he’s the second most captained player for Gameweek 33, with more than 621,000 handing him the armband.

Chelsea pair Diego Costa (7.9%) and Eden Hazard (4.3%) could emerge as differential captaincy picks, though United have been solid in front of their own supporters, conceding just twice in their last five at Old Trafford.

Indeed, that resilient record – allied with two goals in his previous nine appearances – goes some way to explaining why Costa was the most transferred out player last week, with over 121,000 owners looking elsewhere.

Marcos Alonso’s 15.9% owners are left cursing their luck, though, after the top-scoring defender in FPL was forced to withdraw prior to kick-off after picking up a knock in the warm-up.

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2,685 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Cahill close

  2. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Rashford on set pieces!

  3. F4L
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Haz plz score nowwwww

  4. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Decent link up there between Rashford and Linkgard

  5. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Valencia dangerous tackle..YC incoming

  6. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Taxiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii for Azpiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  7. fedolefan
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Who takes United penalties with Zlatan off the pitch?

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Pogba I think took one?

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Herrera surely.

    3. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I reckon Pogba

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

      Rashford would want it today.

    5. dark91
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Pogba

  8. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Fellaini's chest control is the only awesome attribute he has.

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      what about his hair?

    2. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      His elbows make for exceptional dabbing tools

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

      He should play as a striker or very attacking midfielder IMO. His passing and tackling not good enough. He is good to fire the ball long into - bit like when he used to play for Everton under Moyes.

  9. F4L
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    The garden of Eden is looking bleak

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Devil's about

  10. Fowler23
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Azpi fail lol

  11. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Hopefully Ibra will get a 1 minute cameo

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Noooooooo

    2. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      and get a YC to boot

      1. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        for punching Valencia

  12. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Are refs allowed to book Rojo yet?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Nope. No retrospective action allowed on him either!

    2. dark91
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      It will come with Costa's red

    3. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      No

      He kicks whoever he wants

    4. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Kicking Costa is not an offence

  13. tm245
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Lose that ridiculous lid, Conte. They think they are playing for West Brom.

  14. dark91
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Tony Pulis rushed to manage Chelsea

  15. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I'll be glad to see spurs leading the table. So yes CS for Valencia.

    1. TooDifficuIt
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      they will not even if chelsea lose

  16. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Where is my Pedroo brace?

  17. thisisdiz
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    With 4point gap with Spurs, Conte must field the first team in DGW37 right?

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Good point . Cmon United !

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Yes.

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

    Chelsea switch to 4-4-1-1 IMO. Make things difficult in midfield.

  19. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Expecting Fabs to start the 2 half?

    1. QueefParkRangers
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I would

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

      I wouldn't. Need more width.

  20. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Does Conte need some repairs on his rug? Can't think why else he would wear that hat

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

      It's sunny.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        It was raining when they started

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

          Needs to keep the hair dry as well. Perfect for all seasons.

  21. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I am surprised we have heard noting from Granville he usually pops up when United are doing well

    1. Sims
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      lol so true

    2. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe spending some time with humans face to face.

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Depends how his gw is going

  22. Sims
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    @freshy

    no, if united win europa and finish 5th...england will have 5 in ucl next season.

    only way 4th misses ucl is if leicester win ucl on top of united winning europa

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      It happened to Spurs a few years back didn't it?

      1. Sims
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        rules changed since then

        1. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers Sims

  23. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Trashley is so wasteful

  24. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Young hitting the same flood light as Coutinho

  25. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Thinking Rojo Bailly double up for DGW

    Could be gold

    1. timPgoodwin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      You using your wildcard?

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Not a chance. Already have Bailly

    2. fedolefan
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Asked about a defense triple up earlier.

  26. Fowler23
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Ashley young haha

  27. boogle
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Holebas 8 points off the bench is a nice surprise!

    1. Sims
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      same

      we deserve it for having a good bench

      1. boogle
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        *high five*

      2. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        hehe

  28. borat
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    doing Ibra to rashford for a hit then

  29. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    In other more annoying than Ibra news, Celtic draw to a dodgy 90th min pen when they were to complete my 13 match accum

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Wow , that's stiff mate

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah cheers, my own fault. Although not a fan of cash outs in fact positively against them, I would have definitely cashed out with the score at 2-1 in my final leg on a 13 matcher, but unfortunately in the hills in Sri Lanka, still had a nice curry, every cloud and all that.

  30. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    The one time United play well Ibra isn't playing, this is not a coincidence

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Now your being silly
      It's more like "this is the first time utd have played well without Ibra"

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        United have hardly ever played without Ibra. He slows down the play and is a sloppy finisher

        1. Garlana
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Ibra not Rooney

    2. Sims
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      they were prettry crap during his 3 game ban...nobody seems to remember that today

    3. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Was the same first 70 minutes vs Arsenal. For all Ibra's goals he slows down the whole attack. Wouldn't mind if he is replaced by Mbappe or Belotti in the summer.

    4. Cojiro
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Ibra holds the ball up so well though. It Depends what play style the team has. It's not necessarily Ibra's fault for the slow pace.