Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Chelsea vs Southampton

The third day of Gameweek 34 action brings us to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea entertain Southampton at 7.45pm.

Both Eden Hazard and Diego Costa return to the Blues’ first XI after appearing off the bench in the weekend FA Cup win over Spurs.

The Belgian’s goal and assist in last Saturday’s 4-2 triumph continued the form that has produced points in five of his last six league outings.

Costa attempts to address a run of two goals in ten appearances – indeed, he was the second most transferred out player for Gameweek 34, with over 136,000 sending the Spain international packing.

Pedro’s owners are left frustrated as the Spaniard’s run of nine successive Gameweek starts comes to an end this evening. Willian also warms the bench despite his Wembley double, as Cesc Fabregas comes in for the hosts instead.

Southampton, meanwhile, afford us some early scouting ahead of their back-to-back Double Gameweeks 36 and 37.

Up against a defence without a clean sheet in ten Gameweeks, Manolo Gabbiadini has the chance to catch the eye as a third forward option, while attacking midfielders Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse could also play their way into our wildcard plans.

Nathan Redmond’s 6% owners are given cause for concern, however, as the winger drops to the bench for Sofiane Boufal.

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2,941 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ramboros
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Such a shame I wasn't bold enough to bench Valencia for Gabbiadini. Hopefully Valencia is too unfit to play in the derby.

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldve been pretty ridiculous to bench Valencia who had a DGW for Gabbi who isn't nailed on playing Chelsea away

    2. makaveli123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      He'll play 😉

    3. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Valencia is gonna start. Rest was fatigue related.

    4. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      You played 4 defenders over a good striker?

      1. Ramboros
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Mawson, Gibson, Bailly and Valencia.

  2. Hobolicious
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Is there any point in keeping a Chelsea-defender on your WC?

    1. MTPockets
        7 years, 1 month ago

        You'd think so with the fixtures, but too expensive for mine.

      • Limbo
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Only Alonso — get's goals/assists and Chelsea are still one of the best bets for a CS this season

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Any chance of one of the Spurs attacking trio no show? Gabbi laughing at me from the bench.

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        No

      2. Point-one short
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Negredo to Gabbiadini is going to be a popular transfer this week.

        1. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          The cool kids skipped Negredo and went straight to Gabbi.

      3. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Eriksen might be benched. Has played an awful lot of games. Unlikely though.

    3. Sjaugen
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Fabregas sighted

    4. Lingardium Leviosa.
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Sod fpl. We could have a proper title race at the end of April 😀

    5. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      If Chelsea don't win those who have 3 spurs players are the big winners tonight

      1. Point-one short
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        #prayforthesaints

    6. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      That Chelsea defence is more ropey than a few of my ex's

    7. tm245
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Two Chelsea attack
      Two City attack / one City def
      Two Spurs attack / one Spurs def
      Sanchez / Ars def
      5 others...

      1. Lingardium Leviosa.
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Lost me at City def

        1. Point-one short
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          They've got great fixtures - bound to get some clean sheets just from games they dominate possession against rubbish teams

        2. tm245
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          King Kolarov ftw

    8. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      De Roon owners now buying Romeu? 🙂

    9. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Good game.

    10. Spg76
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      If I wasn't leading in two of my three mini leagues, I would have already called it a day this season

    11. Jigger & Pony
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Holgate smiling from the bench. Played Alonso and Valencia over him.

      1. Lingardium Leviosa.
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        U wot m8? I got Baines and Holgate giving me the finger.

        1. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Worst threesome ever.

          1. Lingardium Leviosa.
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            😀

          2. Point-one short
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Lol.

        2. Jigger & Pony
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Ouch

        3. Point-one short
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Holgate's bound to make a fist of it. 😀

        4. Cilly Bonnolly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          I've got Holgate, Tom Carroll and Adam Smith.

      2. NATSTER
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        I got Baines smiling from there too.

      3. Clump
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Try benching Daniels for 14 🙁

      4. Arn De Gothia
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Ranocchas 8 pts here

    12. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Pedro just rested? Thinking of getting him on WC.

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        He covers Hazard right?

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          LOL 🙂

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

        Recent form suggests different.

    13. SamH123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Southampton fans seem a lot louder than the Chelsea ones despite being outnumbered

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Its what happens When the Saints go Marching on...

    14. Sterling is £11Mill..…
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Whenever I see Puel he always seems to be ranting about something. Is he ever happy?

    15. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Why oh why is Fabregas in the front three

    16. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      1-0 Huddersfield

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Who are they playing??

    17. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Chelsea can no longer keep CS, it seems.

    18. Jay_
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Saints on top, hopefully they get another before HT

      • TheTinman
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        More Hazard. More.

      • That Was Easy!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Seriously contemplating an uber cheap defense + Alonso on this WC as I am chasing...I know it's not a proper place to post this, but wanted to open the discussion on cheap defense going forward.

        Pick - Jaku
        Alonso - Yoshida - Stephens - Holtgate - Holding
        Sanchez - Hazard - Alli - Sane - King
        Kane - Gabbi - Costa

        Then, if needed, from 35 > 37 I can bring potentially drop Costa and strengthen up any of the above defenders that get dropped. Thoughts?

        1. MTPockets
            7 years, 1 month ago

            I'll probably have cheap defence, but another spurs/ars mid + cech.

          • Legohair
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Holding is going to drop ones mustafi gets back...

          • FFSbet.com
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            I would do opposite,go with premium defenders and downgrade Costa.
            Dont think Costa will outscore his replacement and better defense.

        2. Caleb's Kitties
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Getting hazard..sell jwp or zaha?

        3. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Gabbi is up for it 🙂

        4. Stupendous
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Bring in Hazard now for -4 or wait for WC one more week?

          He got 19 points in a 5 nil drubbing of Everton last time they met...

          ?

        5. Desperately Seeking Dusan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          LOL at myself... dunno why I keep Alonso and keep expecting a clean sheet when it continually fails to happen. Isn't that the definition of madness, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

          1. Dirty Harry
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Surely you kept him for his attacking threat

        6. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Costa pathetic dive

        7. FPL ZB
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Azpi is still sprinting to this moment

        8. SuperMane Returns
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Costa Red Card incoming

          1. Point-one short
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            The dream. 🙂

        9. VS10_
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Costa should have been booked and Soton free kick. Instead Chelsea almost score...