Dugout Discussion
7 May 2017 1382 comments
Paul Paul
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Both Southampton and Arsenal play the first match of their Double Gameweek 36 today, with the former’s trip to Liverpool kick starting the proceedings at 1.30pm.

With six goals and an assist in eight appearances across all competitions since arriving in January, Manolo Gabbiadini boasts the Saints’ main threat in the final third.

Drafted in by more than 108,00 FPL managers for his side’s pair of fixtures, the Italian is also their most captained asset, with over 45,000 handing him the armband on the back of 4.7 points per appearance.

Defensive duo Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida were also subject to significant wildcard investment but the 67,000+ who transferred in Nathan Redmond are ruing their decision as he drops to the bench.

For the Reds, Philippe Coutinho recovers from the dead leg that forced him off against Watford on Monday to be named in Jurgen Klopp’s first XI.

Having scored in four of five appearances prior to limping off early at Vicarage Road, the Brazilian is the most captained player for today’s early kick-off – over 75,000 have handed him the armband.

Roberto Firmino seeks a sixth double-figure home haul against a defence with two away clean sheets – at Sunderland and West Brom – in their last nine road trips.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

  1. Fowler23
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Game is crying out for Lallana

  2. NATSTER
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    “@RobDawsonESPN: Sounds like Axel Tuanzebe is going to start for United at Arsenal today. Possibly at right-back. Not a bad place to make your full debut.”

    1. NATSTER
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Interesting match-up with Alexis

      1. Fred54
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        If Sanchez can't make the most of this then he's outta here...

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Interesting

    3. red devil 7
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Maybe back 3.

    4. A Defender's Nightmare
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Reliable?

  3. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    I need a replacement for Gibson. 4.9 million to spend. Nothing in the bank. Already have Yoshida.

    Who would you get?

    1. Evasivo
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Gabriel?

      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Mustafi might be fit?

        1. Evasivo
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Definitely Huth, forgot he was that cheap even though i have him myself

          1. Bubz
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Even with his fixtures in the dgw?

            1. Evasivo
              • 15 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              BP magnet regardless, not may options with that budget

    2. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Huth?

      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Man City away and Spurs at home in the DGW is the two worst possible fixtures for a defender really

        1. Pariße
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          This, you can't expect anything from these 2 fixtures.

        2. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Spurs will have no chance of 1st place by then and Leicester play counterattacking football and still seem to have some fight in them so will probably do ok against City who attacking a lot

    3. Knowledgeable meerkat
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      In the same position, sounds crazy but I'm actually considering brunt or possibly Dawson

    4. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Same situation pretty much. Looking at Bavies. Is Rose even alive?

      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Think he's on his way back but not sure. I have triple Spurs already though

    5. MikeDuff
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Huth got a double at the Etihad last season

    6. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Axel Tuanzebe

      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        I dont know who that is 😯

        1. Venom Snake
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          look up 😆

    7. Morph - Unbelievable Geoff
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Trippier??

      He'll play at least once and could get both, given how out-of-sorts Walker looked.

      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Already got triple spurs

  4. Clintymints
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Not so happy about Stephens on the bench now!

    Southampton well set up and Liverpool not getting through in any way, shape or form.

    Klopp needs to change or it's ending like this.

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Me neither
      Also have JWP and Pickford on mine

    2. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Hindsight. I have Yoshida playing and Stephens on the bench so I could play Vert and Alonso. I wish I'd played Stephens instead of Vert. However, in the moment it was the right decision. Plus, still 45 mins to go and Liverpool will throw everything at this.

    3. HazardAGuess
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Same. A bunch of people have Southampton defenders in their starting line-ups. Thought I was being sensible with Vertonghen but oh well...

  5. VFORVANDETA
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Gabbiadini Coutinho>Costa Albrighton for hit?

    1. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Costa a SGWer after winning title next week... Batsy in for him in second game

  6. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Guaranteed, my bench will score more this week, than when I bench boost next week 🙄

  7. money face bandwagon
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Come on 0-0 pls

  8. MikeDuff
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Huddersfield reach the playoffs and rest their players just like Prem teams every single week.

    EFL sends a threatening letter so have to play the first team in a meaningless game.

    Keeper straight red 20mins in, get battered and he's now out of the playoffs. Brilliant

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      That's a joke really

    2. Disco Pat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Should have been allowed rest and rotate ahead of play offs. They rested for one game so why send letter and make play first team in nect game...would it not have evened the playing field to rest in both games? Sending off could now cost them for promotion. And for what to please the people in relegation battles who are there because they have no form and after a years campaign have struggled. League table reflects your years work.would Chelsea get a letter about fielding weaken team for second match in gw 37...as it'll affect all our plans for the mini levies that are due to be sorted over next two weeks?

      1. Disco Pat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Ps joking about our mini leagues, but feel for Huddersfield if they don't secure promotion having aimed to rest and rotate ahead of playoffs and now pick up a potentially costly sending off. That said their squad will have to cope with the suspension and potential injuries over next few games.

    3. MikeDuff
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Agreed. Same second team drew 0-0 with Man City in the FA Cup too.

      Hopefully we get some luck against Wednesday. Need it

  9. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Feeling really old about Cech and Kos cleanie this week vs Soton... keep parking that bus lads

  10. Lyonnais
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Watching this game, PL quality really has dropped in the last years. I remember the times when three english clubs reached the semis of the Champions League...

    What went wrong since then? Not having a winter break? Too many games (two cup competitions)?

    I think they all have so much money but are buying so many poor players for ridiculously high prices. Also there's no quality in the squad depth imo.
    Many clubs have some good players but no world class players.

    1. red devil 7
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      It is end of season, so expected drop in intensity.

    2. MikeDuff
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      The best European teams play against Sunday league teams though. Gives them so much rest and confidence when they're winning 5-0 every week.

      I take your point but this makes a big difference

    3. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      The depth of the league is stronger so even playing the 'lower' clubs takes it out of top clubs.

      Do agree with too many games, I know most teams play reserves in League cup, but its still extra games at the top end of the competition. The scheduling is silly at times, not just around 'Winter break' but how teams playing in Europe aren't helped with kinder scheduling. e.g playing Thursday/Saturday.

    4. Sif
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      IMO it's better because clubs are becoming slightly more equal, the money given to all teams allows them to be competitive and the enjoyable sense of 'anyone can beat anyone on their day'. In Europe one or two super clubs dominate a league and hence steamroll through the CL.
      Naturally some players will go chose to play at those teams over the EPL, particularly natives of those countries.

    5. Paramaribo
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I can tell you what - clubs in PL started to think more about money and making profit than getting better in football.

  11. Evasivo
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Current BB team, and have 2 FTS... Any suggestions? May carry one over for last gw.

    Willy Pickford
    Yoshida Gabriel Alonso Vert Huth
    Sanchez Hazard(C) King Sane Albrighton
    Kane Costa(vc) Anichebe

    Maybe Kane>Vardy & Gabriel>Kos/Kompany

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I'd prefer Jesus to Vardy who has two poor fixtures.

    2. MTPockets
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Selling Kane & keeping Anichebe looks so wrong.

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Anichebe to Jesus would be ideal, but how do you accommodate him ?

          1. MTPockets
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Guess you don't unless think say Jesus + Pedro will outscore Sanchez + Anichebe (quite possible).

          2. Evasivo
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Lol

      • Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        If Southampton get a cleanie it completely undermines my investment in an Arsenal and Chelsea defensive double-up, not to mention my carefully applied strategy of building TV to afford such assets for the DGW's.

        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Life sucks eh?

        2. XabiAlonso
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Don't worry goal reds will score

      • andy85wsm
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        What an EXCITING first half that was

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Double up on Soton def?

          1. andy85wsm
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Yup, but only played Yoshida.

            Tadic on too.

            So boring to watch though, FPL aside.

      • In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        OK I've stopped crying over Villa's last minute goal.

        At least we're going up if not as Championship champs.

        Well done Seagulls 😀 and you Toon too (slightly begrudgingly). 😉

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Can't believe Newcastle piped you to the 1st position..

          1. In Like Flynn.
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            In fairness Newcastle looked to have won it at Christmas.
            It was good to give them a run for their money.

        2. MikeDuff
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Deserved mate well done. Dunk straight in my side next season. Huddersfield fan

          1. In Like Flynn.
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            I thought Huddersfield were going to stick us in the play-offs again when their form was so good about 8-10 GWs ago.

            Good luck for them.

      • Knowledgeable meerkat
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Matip on 16 bps? What's he been doing? (Not watching)

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Marking the only Soton attacking man.. Gabby!

      • El-Kloppico
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Liverpool so toothless without Mané..
        Can't see anyone scoring in this team.. Origi just making false runs..
        So frustrating as a LFC fan

        1. Knowledgeable meerkat
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          I'm not a Liverpool fan and yet I always find it frustrating to watch origi

          1. El-Kloppico
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Another Welbeck mould player..

            1. Knowledgeable meerkat
              • 9 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Origi even further off the ball than welbeck I feel... Seems to lack a basic understanding of the game along with technique that's good enough

        2. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          If he brings Lallana on I reckon there may be a goal in it

        3. MikeDuff
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          He always seems slightly off everyone's else's wavelength. Tries hard though

        4. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Origi is like a "false" false 9

        5. liiusions
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          We have no pace, if we don't sign at least one other top class winger in the summer questions have to be asked.

          Origi doesn't do it for me, works hard and has his moments but don't think he's good enough for Liverpool

          1. Venom Snake
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Need a lethal striker, a genuine left winger, left back, and Coutinho playing 10 week in week out.

      • sunzip14
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Spreading the risk by not starting both Yoshida and Stephens doesn't look good now. Started Bavies ahead of Stephens.

        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Ditto but Vert. Hindsight is wonderful but that was still the right decision.

        2. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Alonso instead of Stephens here.

        3. Optimus.
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          My defence is so bad that I had to start both Yoshi and Stephens

        4. Fred54
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Surely the smarter play was to at least start one of them...

          1. Fred54
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Never mind, misread it, you did start one of them. Most have done that.

      • Win'dian
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Narine you beauty..
        15 ball 50

        1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Wow

        2. EmreCan Hustle
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          😎

      • gorilla
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        liverpool cant create chances versus teams who defend deep. milner and clyne needs to be further forward. I think the problem is milner. because of him we keep dropping points

        1. gorilla
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          clyne is awful in atack too

      • F4L
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        KKR KKR KKR unreal

        1. Win'dian
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Unreal is RCB tbh

      • Mark-O
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Congrats to Newcastle 😮

      • tm245
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Am I lucky to have missed the first half?

        1. Venom Snake
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Very

        2. Bubz
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Yes

        3. Viper
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          I stopped watching after 20 mins.

          Awful

        4. tm245
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Only five pages of comments so far doesn't exactly scream excitement, either.

        5. El-Kloppico
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          You saved 45min of your life doing something more fruitful

      • Sandy Ravage
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        help with my dgw37 dilemma:

        A - Kompany + Pedro
        B - Holgate + Hazard

        1. Mark-O
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          B

        2. VFORVANDETA
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          A

      • Goodricke
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This game is going to be setteled by 1 moment of mediocrity!

        1. Super Silva
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          YOSHIDA goal

      • Venom Snake
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        My bench so far

        Pickford, Albrighton and Stephens in play..

        CMON LIVERPOOL!!

        1. VFORVANDETA
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Pickford Company Stephens here.

          1. Venom Snake
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Ouch.

      • Viper
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        As a Gabbiadini owner & bencher of Yoshida/Stephens, that first half was horrific.

        Hard to see a goal in this one! Need a Liverpool goal big time, more than a Gabbiadini one

      • SKENG
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Double Saints defense over Alonso looks good

        1. Super Silva
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          plsss holdddd

      • Super Silva
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Team news in half n hour

        1. A Defender's Nightmare
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Does Axel starting news have any credibility?

          1. andy85wsm
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Yup

      • nygunner
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Do Southampton know how to utilize their striker. Last 2 games I've watched, Gabbiadini has barely seen the ball.......que hattrick in 2nd half. Lol. (I wish)

      • rnrd
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Still 45 min to play Guys.
        Cant see Pool not forcing a win today

        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          This