Dugout Discussion
31 December 2017 4044 comments
Mark Mark
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Sunday’s pair of Gameweek 21 matches get underway at midday as Crystal Palace welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park.

The latest teamsheet twist from Pep Guardiola sees both Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling drop to the bench, with Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus joining Bernardo Silva in the front three.

Ranked fifth and seventh top captains for Gameweek 21, Aguero and Sterling have been backed by 7.2% and 4.8% with the armband against the only side yet to register a clean sheet in front of their own fans.

Over 219,00 FPL managers drafted in Sterling on the back of three successive double-digit returns, though it’s worth noting that he’s emerged from the bench to score in two of his three sub appearances this season.

A big haul from the ever-present Kevin De Bruyne could have an impact on the FPL standings – 4.05% have handed the Belgian the armband as he goes in search of a sixth double-figure haul of 2017/18.

City arrive with the league’s best defensive record on the road, claiming more shut-outs (six) and conceding fewer goals (five) away from home than any side.

Yet the Eagles have proven a reliable source of goals at home – indeed, they have scored exactly twice in seven successive matches at Selhurst Park, which includes clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal.

With a goal or assist in all but one of those seven encounters, Wilfried Zaha has played a pivotal part in their renaissance under Roy Hodgson.

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

  1. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    so who to take out for Alli?

    1 - zaha
    2 - Richardson

    1. skriniar
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      both

      1. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        i'm not sure life works like this

        1. El Lobito 10
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Take out Rich. Zaha is one of the most dangerous players in the league.

          1. Lord Flashheart
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            cheers

    2. Elwood
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      1

    3. Bees4Lyf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Zaha

  2. Claudio555
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Thinking of taking a chance on wc for tomorrow, what about this:

    Adrian

    Ogbonna, jones, schindler, Ota,

    Arnie, Sterling, Eriksen, Son

    Kane, Aguero

    Foster, Christensen, Atsu, Quaner

    0,3 left.

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Is this your second WC ?

    2. J T
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Too short sighted. Half the season still go go and you’re using your most valuable chip in order to set up for one gameweek. Not a good idea

  3. Pacer.
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Commentators talking this game up like game of the season instead of merely a surprisingly competitive match where CPL weren't absolutely crushed by the financial might of city as have been almost every other team

    best league in the world

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Which league is better? You could say exactly the same when Barcelona or Bayern Munich don't win.

      1. Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Or Juventus.

        1. Forza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          (Not this season though, apparently)

      2. Pacer.
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        any of the leagues below the premier league

        1. Forza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          There's a clear drop in quality if you look below the top league though.

          1. Pacer.
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            so what?

            1. Forza
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              8 years, 1 month ago

              I don't think it can be a better league if there's less quality involved.

              1. Pacer.
                • 11 Years
                8 years, 1 month ago

                how did you arrive at that conclusion?

                1. Forza
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  8 years, 1 month ago

                  I'd rather be watching the likes of De Bruyne and Salah over their Championship equivalents, and so would most football fans.

                  1. Pacer.
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 1 month ago

                    those are football players, who play for teams, who play in leagues. the league is a competition and the competition constitutes 20-24 teams, and cannot be judged purely on the quality of the top four teams.

                    I would rather be watching the players that you mention than the championship equivalents, but as a league i would rather be following the championship, league 1 or league 2 than the premier league

                    it sounds like you have fantasy football-itis and tbh i'm not surprised you are defensive of the obvious truth that the PL is barely even a competition and cannot possibly quality as a great 'league' as you are a city fan, and I wouldn't not expect you to be able to see past that

                    the sooner the top teams are fu**ed off into their own little european super-mega-richboy league and half the games are played abroad the better and we can begin attempting to fix what's left of the game

                    1. Forza
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 11 Years
                      8 years, 1 month ago

                      Southampton and Leicester gave United and Liverpool problems yesterday, and Palace gave City huge problems today. It's not that uncompetitive. There are always a few teams that can't compete, but outside the top 4 the quality and excitement is definitely there.

                      1. Pacer.
                        • 11 Years
                        8 years, 1 month ago

                        it's uncompetitive and getting worse. Number of winners in 25 seasons since 1992/3:

                        Premier league L: 6, of which MUN have won 12/25 (and Leicester are the single 1 in 100 year freak anomoly)
                        Championship: 19
                        30 seasons prior to PL: 13

                      2. Forza
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 11 Years
                        8 years, 1 month ago

                        You told me that a league cannot be judged purely on the quality of the top four teams, so I'm not sure that the history of the top 1 team is completely crucial, but you do have a point there. Even so, the top Championship teams leave the league after they've won it or come close, so it's easier to have a larger variety of winners when the competition has a revolving door at the top.

                        Even when a team dominates, the discussion on the way they play and why they're so good keeps it interesting too. How and why City are running away with it is a fascinating topic in itself.

                      3. Pacer.
                        • 11 Years
                        8 years, 1 month ago

                        It's a fair point that being the second tier means it's inherently more likely to have more unique winners but there are plenty of other pointers towards the premier league being basically dead as a competition. The bottom 8 in the PL is averaging

                      4. Pacer.
                        • 11 Years
                        8 years, 1 month ago

                        ... less than 1 point per game! The championship has four more teams yet only the bottom 6 is scoring so poorly. In the PL it's 16 points to mid table from 4th, in the CH it's 6.

                        It's just redundant as a competition.

                        Right now about 8/20 teams are set to finish the season on about 40 points!

                      5. Forza
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 11 Years
                        8 years, 1 month ago

                        There are gaps between groups of teams, but the battles within those groups should intensify. They might lose most of the time, but 6 points separating the bottom 9 teams means that those teams still have a lot to play for. Then there's the 3 way fight for 4th, whether Burnley can hang on, and the potential resurgence of the bottom 4 with their new managers. It might not be the closest competition in the world, but for many it's less redundant than interesting.

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Liverpool - City coming up.......

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Best league in the world because it is the most competitive. Yes City have run away with it this season, but look at prior seasons. Teams in the PL fight. Teams in many of the other top leagues don't. You only have to see the quotes from Ronaldo and Bale about how much harder the PL is physically and competitively to know that.

      1. Pacer.
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        It's a joke league as are most top leagues. they contain the best football but are nowhere near the most competitive.

        the PL isn't even vaguely a competition

  4. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Help needed here! Here's the thing guys:

    Foster
    Walker, Jones, Hegazi
    Hazard, Salah, David Silva, Xhaka, Dier
    Kane, Quaner

    bench: Speroni, Naughton, Mbemba, Lukaku

    Im already on -8, then Lukaku got injured, was thinking about triple captaining Kane, catastrophy I know.

    What do you say, should I hit the wildcard button or maybe go -12 with replacing Lukaku ?

    1. Andy1
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Naughton likely to get a ban too?

    2. *sigh*
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Hit that wildcard button!!!

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

      Foster, Hegazi, Xhaka, Dier, Quaner?! Seems like you haven't touched your team since GW2.

      1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        nah, 30 transfers, got them all back this month

  5. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Courtois,Hazard,KDB,Rooney > Adrian,Son,Arnautovic,Kane for -8?

    Leaving enough in the bank for Christiansen > Alonso in wk23

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Considering Rooney to Kane is a massive upgrade and KDB could be out for awhile I’d say yeah. Is the hit for the GK necessary I’m not so sure. Hart could get a game.

      1. The 12th Man
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Hm. Courtois and Elliot at the moment.
        Courtois has Arsenal away. Wanting to free up funds from keeper.
        Will Hart really get a game?

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I couldnt tell you I was just reading comments on here recently quoting Moyes to have said that Hart will get games. Wether that’s going to be just cup I don’t know

          1. The 12th Man
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            Thanks

  6. Weilong7
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    when will the kane news be confirmed any idea?

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Unlikely to be confirmed before deadline

      1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        and how can we risk triple captain with that

        Jesus this game is annoying

    2. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      this!

  7. Professor Abel X
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who’s the injuries guy on Twitter?

    1. Matamatics
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ben Dinnery

      1. Professor Abel X
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ben dinnery

    3. Spike ⚽️
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ben Dinnery

    4. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ben Dinnery

    5. agueroooooney
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Den Binnery

    6. CostaCoffee
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Dean Binary

  8. GXNG
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard no longer a differential now with Coutinho and possibly KDB out?

    1. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      More will sell than buy Hazard

    2. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      differentials work both ways as haz owners learned lately

    3. Pompel
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Couthino out - source?

      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Now unemployed Nike web designer.

  9. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    61-4 with Bellerin to go.

    1. mrwinner
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      but will Bellerin start? He's been awful lately

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Played every minute this season. What makes you say that I thought he was very good in the last few games I’ve seen him.

        1. Miro
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Almost every Arsenal fan wants him benched for at least few games for Maitland-Niles

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            Will whinger bench him though? I don’t see it.

  10. Ask Yourself
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Like this free hit?

    Adrian // 3.9

    Stones Maguire Masuaku // Mbemba Long

    Arnie Son Erik Sterling Mahrez

    Kane Aguero // Crouch

    1. lasmons
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good!

  11. mrwinner
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    How long does it normally take until the bonus points get finalised? Is it around 1 hour after full-time? Just not sure if Otamendi can hold those 2 Baps.

    1. JJJ
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      about an hour after final match of the day, so about 4 hours from now

  12. TheCurseOfRaheem
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Going out of the cup by 1 pt as a Zaha owner is brutal. Such a poor penalty.

    1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I feel for you bro

  13. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    KDB injury might not be so serious

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSYWfo3WsAAxb38.jpg

    1. Matamatics
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers Bemba, owners will have to sell still though

    2. SirStevieG
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      That could be anything. Luckily not broken.

    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Back in the day players used to play on with broken bones.

      1. El Lobito 10
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        What day and what players?

        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Back in the day of warriors and warriors.

          1. El Lobito 10
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            It's not the players that have changed. It's the game. Mainly the fact that every game has about 8 cameras on the pitch, so there is no escape. And stricter rules.

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      That is good to see very luck escape for the lad.

  14. Matamatics
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    57 all out - about 12k in the world, hopefully maintaining the green arrow but might be small red

  15. Patch
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Did any transfer Hazard to KDB last night...I do think Hazard will drop tonight tho...

    1. Andy1
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Schoolboy error

  16. Maddi Son
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    No Christensen & Hazard was a killer this week. Sad times because Hazard would've destroyed Stoke yesterday.

    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I saw the score of 5-0 with Haz(C) Christensen and Morata playing, was imagining a 40 plus score only to log on to find out I had 2 points.

  17. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Watching back in slow motion on Puncheons tackle on KDB.

    I think KDB may have been lucky to escape a broken leg although his foot was planted when Puncheons knee came crashing into his ankle which caused the injury.

    I suspect an ankle ligament injury for KDB but it could have been a hell of a lot worse and there was noting wrong with Puncheon he was only looking for the sympathy vote from the ref to avoid what should have been a red card.

    1. Sz21
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      here it is-https://twitter.com/Anasaziiiii/status/947471615125794816

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        That link is a bit grainy for me it looked a bit clearer in UHD.

    2. threeputt
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      in your opinion of course, stretcher for Puncheon too

    3. TooDifficuIt
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      link?

  18. olidooley
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    What happened RLC today?

    1. El Lobito 10
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He didn't play.

      1. olidooley
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Any known reason? Not on bench either right?

        1. El Lobito 10
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Probably just rested.

  19. El Lobito 10
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Kun essential or too pricey?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Neither

    2. We Will Klopp you
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Too pricey. Has to be either him or Kane with the value available in midfield.

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Assuming Jesus is out long term (which he hopefully won't be)

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      How can he be essential?

      1. El Lobito 10
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Because he is one of the best strikers to ever play in the premier league and he is probably nailed now Jesus is a goner. We will klopp you, good point, cheers.

  20. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Today the most successful day of Pogba's United career with two City players getting injured?

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Huh?

  21. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Coutinho+Richarlison+Kiko >> Son+Arnie+Vertonghen (-4)?

    Fabianski
    Masuaku • Otamendi • Duffy • Vertonghen
    Salah • Son • Sterling • Haz • Arnie
    Kane(C)

    (Elliot / Christensen / Depoitre / DCL)

  22. Jebiga
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    kdb injured ?

    should i keep sane and ditch richarlison ?

  23. threeputt
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    So with all City injuries, [possible team to face Burnley ?
    Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Mangala, Danilo, Fernandinho, Gündogan, Delph, Sterling, David Silva, Aguero.

    No Sane or In Sane ?

    Disclaimer, I am no manager !

    1. Matamatics
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He won't play Delph and Danilo. Sane will start for sure, they are a bit short now in depth. Bernardo Silva may be given another run out though he hasn't been great.

  24. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Can't decide on Son. I'm pretty sure he'll get rotated but he's so explosive.
    Punt on Son or go with Alli?

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Alli, 9.0 is a great price for him.

  25. KJT123
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Bernardo Silva has been a big disappointment from an FPL perspective.

  26. Gizmo13
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Is it confirmed that Coutinho is out? In that case, what do you think of Cout, Kaku and Lingard to Son, Firmino and Arnie?

    1. BENFICA É MERDA
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Where's this story of Coutinho out?

      1. Gizmo13
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        A lot of people on here mentioning that Coutinho and Salah are both out...

  27. dhamphiir
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Keep Rooney or sell him even if I have DCL?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Sell for whom?

      1. dhamphiir
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Vardy or Firmino

        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Sell

    2. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Selling for Kane.
      Hope Roo gets the winner against United though.

  28. A Team Of James McCleans
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A) Groß >> Son
    B) Richarlison >> Alli

    (Will Son start both games)

    1. le flem
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      b

  29. le flem
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Morata Richarlison Carroll > Quaner Alli Arnautovic (-4, and making the switch to 5 in mf)?

    1. le flem
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I NEED ANSWERS DAMMIT!!

      1. El Lobito 10
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Ask nicely and you might 🙂

    2. Celt Abroad
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes good move.

    3. Patch
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Looks fairly god, but Richarlison due a haul after MCI

      1. le flem
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers both.

  30. Swinner
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    KdeB walking pitchaide with assistance from physics. Perhaps no break

    1. Celt Abroad
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Physics is integral to how we all walk.