Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Middlesbrough vs Arsenal

After Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic managed a single point between them at Old Trafford yesterday, all eyes are on Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal roll up to the Riverside in tonight’s final Gameweek fixture.

Recently shuffled onto the left flank, a run of three matches without a goal has knocked our confidence in the Chilean ahead of the Gunners’ double Gameweeks 36 and 37.

Indeed, only 5.9% have handed Sanchez the armband as he attempts to reclaim his spot as top scoring player in Fantasy Premier League, having been knocked off his perch by Romelu Lukaku at the weekend.

Tonight’s team selection looks to have handed Sanchez a change of role. To everyone’s surprise, Arsene Wenger appears to have set up with a 3-4-2-1 formation or even a 3-4-1-2, with Sanchez perhaps joining Olivier Giroud up front – a concern perhaps for the 91,000+ who sold the Chilean ahead of Gameweek 33.

Tonight’s encounter also gives us the chance to run the rule over the hosts as they prepare for a potentially profitable double Gameweek 34 against Bournemouth and Sunderland.

Both Victor Valdes and Ben Gibson currently sit second for transfers in among keepers and defenders since Saturday’s deadline, though in the four matches under new manager Steve Agnew, Boro have been somewhat hot and cold – keeping two clean sheets and conceding at least three times in the other two.

Valdes misses out this evening with a rib problem sustained at Burnley last time out – an injury kept under wraps until tonight: Brad Guzan claims the keeper’s jersey.

Sitting six points from safety, the Teesside team are in desperate need of wins now. Having failed to score in six of their last eight, though, most will likely steer clear of the hosts’ attack unless they can punish the Gunners this evening.

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

4,192 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ScotDougie
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Would you bb Pickford(boro) King (boro) Mawson ( stoke) Yoshida ( Chelsea) this weekend all nice fixtures bar yoshi ?

    1. eamonhegg
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      GW37?

      1. ScotDougie
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        34

        1. eamonhegg
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 11 days ago

          Best to hold it to GW 37 i mean

    2. Sahil Yadav
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      If you don't have WC then yes

      1. ScotDougie
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Don't have wildcard thanks

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Depends if your bench is full of double game week players in 37

      1. ScotDougie
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Won't be , yoshi Hennessy king mawson

        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 11 days ago

          No point waiting, you may as well pull the trigger now if your bench players are fit and nailed this game week

          1. ScotDougie
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 11 days ago

            Thanks man that's what I thought

  2. eamonhegg
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Captain GW34:

    Negredo Or Ibra?

    (ive got both in my team)

    1. The Man Pastore
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      I'd say Ibra if leading, Negredo if chasing

      1. Get up ya bum
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Negredo if giving up

      2. eamonhegg
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Yep leading.

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Ibra, no contest

    3. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Not Negrado.

  3. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Is de Roon an interesting a worth picking player for DGW??

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      This sentence is wrong in so many ways.

      1. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        : lol :

      2. StoichkovFPL
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        but you're smart enough to get it, right?

    2. abreu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      I have him, but probably gonna bench him actually..

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      4 or 5 point likely, so could be worth it if you've got an out of form player or one with a bad fixture.

  4. Mr. Blonde
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Who to bench out of Siggy and King to get Benteke in?!

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Siggy but you've got an opportunity for AOA.

      1. Mr. Blonde
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Used it already unfortunately. For minus points of I remember correctly!

  5. Phil Dagger ⭐
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Point Predictions Time lads 😀

    Strikers

    1) Ibra (Bur, MCI)
    2) Aguero (MAN U)
    3) Negredo (Bou Sun)
    4) Benteke (LIV. Tot)

    Defenders
    1) Baines
    2) Bailly
    3) Gibson

    1. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      1

      1. Phil Dagger ⭐
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        ??

    2. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      16
      6
      4
      12

      2
      7
      4

    3. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      10
      10
      4
      10

      6
      8
      8

    4. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      1) Ibra (Bur, MCI) 7
      2) Aguero (MAN U) 6
      3) Negredo (Bou Sun) 8
      4) Benteke (LIV. Tot) 8

      1) Baines 2
      2) Bailly 8
      3) Gibson 8

  6. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    cheap must have players for wc 36 ?
    gabriel, cedric, yoshida, redmond and anichebe for me 🙂

    stephens ?

    1. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Ox

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Yosida and King, I'm also planning to have Jak and Ward-Prowse

  7. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    is valdes injured??

    1. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Check the tweets

      1. FCSB
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        so annoying... i bought him in for the dGW 🙁

    2. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Rib injury apparently

    3. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Rib injury. Touch and go for next game.

  8. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Who's your captain this week?

    I was tempted by Kane & Sanchez but the fact that they play on Sunday there's a chance that they might not even feature because of injuries mainly.

    I don't own Ibra and I can't transfer him in unless I take a (-4) which I think is not worth it as there's a slight chance he might not even play both games.

    So this leaves me with Lukaku who has home form and looks confident but is playing away against a side who he loves to score against and can't defend this season.

    I can get one of Benteke/Negredo which I probably will but I can't think putting the armband on them.

    So I'm probably going with Lukaku right now.

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Sanchez or Tekkers out of those.

    2. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Kaku against West ham.Could be very good captain u know

  9. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    7 DGWers is too much right? 🙂

    Funes Mori, Sanchez, Lukaku

    To

    Gibson, Pogba, Ibra

    Leaves me with Gibson, ward, Zaha, Benteke, Valencia, Pogba, Ibra

    Could then bench boost to play Heaton, Alonso, King, and Mawson.

    Thoughts?

    1. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      I will bench boost . Just feel wk37 will be fools gold

    2. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Never too many DGWers, depends what the plan is going forward to 37. Wildcard I presume would be lovely. The great thing is that United and Palace have great fixtures in 35 too.

    3. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Pogba?! Lukaku out?!

    4. Brian (Not the Messiah)
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      😆

    5. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      just Mori to Gibson imo. Sanchez and Lukaku both likely to be in.points again

    6. Individual
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Surely just RFM to Gibbo is decent enough??

  10. timPgoodwin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Worth a -4 to do Aguero and Carroll to Ibra and Benteke? Other forward is Kane.

    1. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      prrrrrrobably

    2. Individual
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Yeah I think so

  11. Brian (Not the Messiah)
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Which dgw34 players is everyone going with?

    I've only got Valencia and Gibson at the moment...

    1. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Everyone getting Tekkers for his Lpool destruction

    2. Individual
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Got Hennessey, Barragan, Tekkers and Zaha.. will probably get Bailly/Rojo in for Vertonghen too. No idea who I'm captaining though, no Ibra so maybe a Zaha punt!

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Ibra Valencia and Zaha so far

  12. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    1 FT 1.6m ITB

    Jaku (Foster*)
    Valencia Alderweireld Alonso* (Holebas Brunt*)
    Sanchez Eriksen Coutinho Siggy Zaha
    Aguero Origi (Diomande*)

    Aguero to Ibra seems to be the obvious move for me but should I ditch Diomande for Negredo or Benteke for a -4 hit???

  13. Gameweek 34 Scout Picks Lottery
    J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Scout Pick Community Champion Lottery – Gameweek 34

    Once again we are on the look out for a champion to represent the community to take on the Scout Picks and win the chance of a prize.

    If you want to take part please email your FFS name and FPL ID number to community@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk .

    The champion will then be selected at random shortly after the deadline of 9am tomorrow (Wednesday) and then be asked to submit their XI by Friday 12noon by emailing me at jonty@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk

    We only need 11 picks and please be mindful of the 84m budget. There’s no captain in the picks either and please stick to a designated FPL formation, including no more than three players from one team. No captain or chips will be applied.

    At the end of the season the champion who beats the picks by the highest margin will win a £100 Amazon voucher.

    The champion will be revealed in a midweek Scout Squad article, which will outline our initial thinking around the picks. Our and the champions picks will be revealed as usual the day before the first match of the Gameweek.

    Should the community “Champion” fail to provide an initial or final Scout Pick selection, then an “Assistant Manager” chosen by us, will gain control of the selection to represent the community for the Gameweek in question.

  14. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Play De Roon over Alonso in GW 34?

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      yess

    2. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      No

  15. Gruu
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Morning FFS. Need your help here

    A. Sanchez + Origi > Coutinho + Ibra
    B. Siggy + Origi > 4.5m mid + Ibra
    C. Siggy + Origi > King + Benteke
    D. Sanchez + Siggy > Coutinho/Hazard + King

    Grant (Jaku)
    Valencia Jagielka Chambers (Robertson Stephens)
    Sanchez Alli Eriksen Zaha (Siggy)
    Kane Lukaku Origi

    1 FT, 2.4m ITB

    1. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      C

  16. Albert Cole
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    George Friend back and nailed on?

    1. torshov_bulls
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Would assume so

    2. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      As he came on as sub for injured player, 'nailed on' would be a stretch

      1. torshov_bulls
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Fabio "suffered a new knee injury" last night. Await pressers closer to the weekend, but I'd say it's a good chance Friend is back

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      He's the captain of Boro and usually plays when fit. Versatile def/mid

  17. bigbudgie
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Finding stories from two weeks ago that Gabriel Jesus was back in light training. Must be getting close now. Watch the train leave the station when he comes on in the second half against Arsenal at the weekend 🙂

  18. Individual
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Hi lads

    Inadvertently got triple palace but never mind... Hows this looking?

    HENN / Pick
    BARRAGAN Vert Holgate / Stones Yoshi
    ZAHA © Sanchez Alli Eriksen Hazard
    TEKKERS Kaku / Anichebe

    Thinking of doing Vert out for one of the United CBs too so I can get Kane in for the NLD. Don't want Ibra really! Worth doing after Europa?

    Thanks!

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      good plan mate

      1. Individual
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Nice one Phil 🙂 worried about no Ibra and it looks weird no united, so I think I'll get one of the defenders at least. But yeah such a weird dgw

        1. Phil Dagger ⭐
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 11 days ago

          yep no ibra will be a worry due to his ownership but your team is good enough without him so not worth it to lose Kaku .yep getting a defender looks good as you want kane

  19. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    anyone thinking rashford might be a decent option for the double?

    1. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Could well be. Or could be a trap.

    2. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      They don't have names suggesting they are City fans though.

  20. torshov_bulls
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Gibson v PvA for DGW 34?

  21. bigbudgie
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Not many seem to have Chambers 🙁

    No chance of an appearance we think? He's not flagged any more, was totally nailed before injury?

    1. Individual
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Was the centre back with Gibson wasn't he? Who knows at this point, but it seems Gibson and Barragan are the two that are playing for Agnew

      1. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        Chambers has been injured since Agnew came in

    2. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      I'd be keen on Ayala if it wasn't for Chambers hanging around.

    3. Mr. Blonde
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Just think Gibson is the better option

      1. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 11 days ago

        certainly, but he's not the one I've got.

  22. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    WC to play later
    For this GW strikers are

    Kun Zlat Lukaku.

    Lukaku -> Benteke?

    1. Individual
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      Kun - Tekkers if you have your wildcard. Check out Kaku's record V whu

  23. Just Been On Loan
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Worth a -4 to bring in Ibra for Aguero?

    And using my FT on McAuley > Boro defender (Friend or Gibson) is the right move with the below isn't it?

    Pickford / Foster
    Yoshida / Valencia / Walker / McAuley / Amat
    Eriksen / Pedro / Zaha / Siggy / Capoue
    Kane / Aguero / Lukaku

    1. Greek Flair
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 11 days ago

      I have that exact front line and considering taking a defender out but im no longer sure I want Ibra. I may go without. I've already used my WC so I need to focus on getting 37 doubles in I think

  24. Hipstermanc
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Choose 1 for the DGW

    A) Benteke + Downing/Ramirez

    B) Negredo + Townsend

    Already have Zaha. TIA!

  25. GE
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 11 days ago

    Bench boost 1) or 2)? 🙂

    1) Heaton (United home), Baines (West Ham away), Robertson (Watford home), Tadic (Chelsea away)

    2) Jaku (Palace away), Chambers (Soton home), Towsend (Hull home), Robertson (Palace away)

  26. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    Would you get Negredo (-4) and play instead of any of Alli / Son/ Kane/ Sanchez / Lukaku/ Coutinho?