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Dugout Discussion – Sunday

A sunny Sunday afternoon provides a perfect backdrop for a day of Premier League football and, hopefully, ample returns in Fantasy.

We start with two lunchtime encounters, with most attention drawn to the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal will host West Ham United.

Arsene Wenger’s announcement that he is to leave the club in the summer has undoubtedly given this encounter a new perspective, with the atmosphere and perhaps even team performance likely to be affected by that revelation today.

Fantasy interest is certainly high, with strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacaszette demanding huge attention prior to Saturday’s deadline.

The big team news is that Wenger delivers on his threat to manage Aubameyang’s minutes as he prepares his side for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final with Atletico.

Aubameyang starts on the bench today, despite having scored four goals in his last three home matches, with six in eight Gameweeek appearances overall. He was brought in by over 201,000 for Gameweek 35 as the third most signed, while he sports over 221,000 armbands in this match.

Wenger’s press conference, hinting at Aubameyang’s rotation, created huge late interest in Lacazette and he starts today.

The Frenchman is undoubtedly a key asset for those managers with the Free Hit chip active, with Ragabolly’s article revealing last night that 63.9% of the top 10,000 managers playing the chip elected to recruit Lacazette. He has two goals from his last three Gameweek appearances, including his strike at Newcastle United last weekend.

Elsewhere for Arsenal, Aaron Ramsey earns a recall to a strong starting XI and could prove a key differential for Gameweek 35. But Mesut Ozil, signed by 24,000 prior to yesterday’s deadline, misses out through illness, along with goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Elsewhere this lunchtime, Stoke City host Gameweek 34 favourites Burnley at the bet365 Stadium for what is a crunch encounter for the Potters.

The Clarets assets go into this contest well supported, particularly by managers without the Free Hit active.

Stoke’s asset remain differentials, though, with Xherdan Shaqiri their most popular target prior to Saturday’s deadline; he commanded a modest 51,000+ transfers in, with goalkeeper Jack Butland – back on 7700 – ranking next.

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

2,727 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Kumpulan link gacor online …
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 6 days ago

    DDG/Ryan
    Smalling Morgan Lejeune Van.der.Hoorn Lowton
    Willian Son Salah Mahrez Grob
    Barnes Kaku Kane

    should i bring Sterling or Jesus in ?
    or suggest best move
    1 FT and nothing ITB

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      Kaku to Jesus

      1. Kumpulan link gacor online …
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        As City won the PL, isnt a risk for Jesus to be rot with the somebody else? Kaku should have ensured game time!

        1. My Name Is Pepu
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Aguero injured and Jesus has spent most of the season, out injured. So you know...

  2. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 days ago

    Long 1st sub for Ozil.

    An 'entertaining' 0-0 draw please, with max BAPS for Butland and Long.

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      1-1 confirmed

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Butland peno save and Long equaliser. Yes please!

    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      Got the same lol

  3. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 days ago

    Fabianski - Mustafi - Sane - DSilva - Arnie - JAyew - Laca ‘bloodclart Zette - Jesus for me today

    Cmon boys

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      Laca 'bloodclart Zette? *throws up*

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        😆

    2. Mysterion
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      It's blud, ya get me fam?

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Wenger out blud!

  4. soup natsi
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 6 days ago

    How many Merci Arsene’s been here so far?

    1. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      not enough

  5. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 days ago

    With all the talk of scrapping the chips and all, why not give option of 5 chips out of which you can choose only 3 ?

    There won't be this mass of people following a certain trend .With this there will be many different strategies, different plans , and will add to the fun.

    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      just get rid of chips altogether

      1. Sánchez
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        I'd get rid of baps.
        Always been my opinion

      2. MTPockets
          6 years, 6 days ago

          This

      3. Sánchez
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        I like this idea. But would also make a rule that chips can only be used on general gameweeks. No using if any team has a blank or a double

        1. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Yeah fair enough. This will give us many stories about success and failure

      4. Rash
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        I love this idea

      5. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Maybe a rule that you can't use them in a DGW or at least you have to play one of them in the first half of the season would shake things up.

        1. Sánchez
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Bring back the 1 wildcard only rule

      6. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Yes there would.

        "What are the best three chips to use, and when?"

        1. Sánchez
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Hahaha. Very true

        2. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Hahaha

      7. greghammer95
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        I quite like this idea but still think they'd be used in a double gameweek... Would spice things up a bit though for sure if they cna bring in a chip equally as good as TC, BB & Free Hit. All out attack again just wouldn't be used.

        1. greghammer95
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Also think it adds a layer of complication to the casual that FPL towers wouldn't want to introduce...

        2. Sánchez
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Make it 3 from

          BB, FH, TC, WC and a new one

          1. The Overthinker
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            1 compulsory WC and 1 optional? Or all together 1 WC only ?

            1. Sánchez
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 6 days ago

              1 only

        3. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          As Sanchez mentioned above , that along with this have a rule and no chips can be used in a dgw or bgw. This'll spice things up

          1. Sánchez
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            It's gotten too repetitive

            We all save for these weeks now

            1. The Overthinker
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 6 days ago

              Even before the season starts we know we are gonna use it in these weeks 😀

      8. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Would still lead to certain trend...

        Selling chips for certain points would be handy 😮

      9. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Cracking idea that. Main advantage is that players will start to think for themselves a bit more rather than following the pack blindly for fear of being left behind.
        Please give this some consideration FPL towers and look at making it a more open playing field.
        Let's see some support for this idea.

        1. Son is Rising
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          "players will start to think for themselves".

          Mighty optimistic that, more likely that we'd have a whole new set of comments devoted to "rate my chip choice"

      10. Fantastisk
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        No

      11. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Chips are fine. Double and blank game weeks in combination with chips isnt. Something should change, but I think its best if the chips stay somehow.

      12. F4L
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        im just going to say how I see it. If everyone had succeeded with the chips, in BB in DGW 34, and in FH this GW, then everyone on here would be loving the chips. Just because it hasn't worked out as you planned doesn't mean they should be scraped. If you truly want to win this game, you cant just follow the trend anyways, and there were multiple other GWs in which the BB/FH/TC could have been used this year outside of the trend of 34,35,37 and worked effectively

        1. willl
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          but, but, but...

          that would mean i cant blame others...

        2. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Not saying that the chips should be scrapped, I am just saying that to mix it up, what if we get 5 chips and out of those we can only choose 3. There will be variety with that . And if there's a constraint that the chips can't be used in sgw or dgw , we will see a lot of different patterns and strategies which will make the game interesting.

          1. F4L
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            yeah I agree with you. However, no one is forcing anyone to use the current chips the way in which the masses have used them this year. Yes, the probability of them returning the most points are when the masses/trend use them, but you're never going to win the game playing like that anyways. Its just like putting all the most owned players in and captaining whoever wins the captain poll every week, and expecting to be no1.

    2. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      Scenes when Jesus, sterling , kdb gets benched 😀

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Bravo to.play upfront then? 😎

      2. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        They're all in the starting lineup though...

        1. Zladan
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Good to hear.

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      Which is better for heart? 😮

      A) Watching an attacking game with 2 defenders involved
      B) Watching a boring game with 2 attackers involved

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        2)

      2. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        1

      3. 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        C) Go to the park, have some tea and waiting for score update.

    4. Sz21
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 6 days ago

      Seriously regretting not going with Ramsey over Ozil.
      Expect him to do really well.

      Kevin Long it is then.

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Haha same!

      2. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        I got both and Welbz and went Auba less.

        No Ozil means Kevin Long haul incoming. 😎

      3. Volley127
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Easy to say it wasn't now but I think Ramsey was a big risk

        1. MTPockets
            6 years, 6 days ago

            It was - last we heard he was doing non-contact training.

        2. Sánchez
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Ozil is a player I never ever sign
          I think he's useless and just has no consistency

          But on FH for 1 week I gambled.
          Learned my lesson again

          1. G-Whizz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            This

        3. MASTER ROSHI
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Agreed, thankfully getting Ings 6 pts from the bench

      4. Bill Haverchuck
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Why Cech why?

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          In case someone’s behind the curtains

          1. Bill Haverchuck
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            That cheered me up. +1 for you

        2. My Name Is Pepu
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Imagine Wenger's plight. Has to choose between one of Cech and Ospina.

        3. Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Not like he would have kept a clean sheet anyways. Cech has been so poor since start of 2017, really hope new manger brings in a new GK in the summer.

          1. Bill Haverchuck
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            The fact that I have 3 decent outfield subs and just went with Nordfeldt as my sub GK is very annoying. I bet you a tenner they'll keep a clean sheet

            1. Revival
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 6 days ago

              My point is Cech in goal today = No clean sheet
              Ospina in goal today and clean sheet ?????

              1. Bill Haverchuck
                • 11 Years
                6 years, 6 days ago

                You can't categorically say Cech wouldn't have kept a clean sheet. That's like me saying Ozil definitely wouldn't have scored anyway so no point picking him

      5. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        New chip ideas

        What if we had a chip which works like a free hit, the only difference being that it only allows you to get all your players from just one team. Team reverts to normal after that one gw.

        1. My Name Is Pepu
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          So everyone loads up on City then?

          1. FER FUSCH AKE
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            Exactly or pool after AE leaks the line up and they whip Watford 5-0

            1. My Name Is Pepu
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 6 days ago

              Reminds me of Salah's 58-pointer. Orgasm galore!

              1. FER FUSCH AKE
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 6 days ago

                plus 5 cleanies and a couple of assists + baps. could be double ton score in one week

          2. Zladan
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            Well no... rotation risks.

        2. Somalion
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Why not have a game where we have a squad of 15 chips and we pick one player to apply 11 of the chips to every week, with one of the chips becoming our "captain" and its effect doubled?

          1. Rash
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            Too complicated

            1. Somalion
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 6 days ago

              Mission accomplished then

        3. Bill Haverchuck
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          That would be fairly pointless, everyone would choose City against one of the bottom teams

        4. greghammer95
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          I like it, perhaps just a "LOAD UP" Free hit where you can simply select as many players as you want from any team, so doesn't have to be 15...

      6. Captain Vantastic™
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Agueroooooooo

        1. Les Bleus
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          AguerNOOOO

        2. My Name Is Pepu
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          *Raaaheem Sterlingggggggggg

      7. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Auba warm up yah turd. Need you on asap.....

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Why’s the dugout open when the game hasn’t started yet?

      8. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Nice that Arsenal have a Sunday game for once. Can't remember the last time it happened.

        1. Fantastisk
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Banter

        2. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          LOL

      9. Zladan
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Mané over Özil actually paid off.

        As did not getting Cech or Chambers. The smooth.

      10. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Teams out at the Emirates...

      11. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Sunderland relegated for a second time in row.
        Harsh.

        1. Somalion
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Deserved

        2. Duffy Dunk
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          HOWAY!

        3. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Here's hoping they make it a hat-trick.

        4. Andy'81
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Darren Bent sending them down was an extra cherry on top moment for me.

          1. Epic Fail
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            That was rather good. He celebrated too.

        5. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          That Netflix documentary should be good then...

        6. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Alex Ferguson in 2013: "Those Sunderland fans who were cheering for City, remember the day. We won't forget that, I'm telling you."

          Karma is a beech

      12. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Lacazette twisted his leg?

      13. willl
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Just watch Arsenal get spanked today.

        It's great preparation for Atletico.

        1. JustPark
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          2 from Laca before West Ham pull a West Brom.

          1. The Overthinker
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            2 from westham before Laca does a sturridge

      14. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Scenes when Lacazette gets injured

        1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          I'll be ok with that next week after the free hit

        2. TAT
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          That's low…

      15. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Ugh can next season start already! Having a FPL nightmare this year, bloody Ozil and Aubameyang not playing now, feels like there is a curse on which ever player I bring in

        1. FER FUSCH AKE
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          you knew auba would have been benched

          1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            Was hoping he'd start alongside Laca, not on FH so couldn't put out a Full XI

          2. Legomané
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            Nobody 'knew' for certain - Wenger said "he didn't know" what he'd be doing with Auba...the only thing we were certain on was that Laca (and Bellerín) would get minutes.

      16. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        kick off

      17. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Nice of FPL to flag Ozil with an illness about 5min ago...

        1. Bill Haverchuck
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          No one knew until the team was announced, you can't be blaming them

      18. 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        ML rival (neck to neck) looks like will C Kane in gw 36.
        What should I do, C Kane, Salah or G Jesus?

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Ignore your rival seeing as it's neck and neck.

      19. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        James Collins sittzing amongst the fans love that

      20. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Lowton looking very lively...

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          😉

      21. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Picking Ramsey instead of Zaha.
        How good would that have been?

        1. Duffy Dunk
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Zaha is up by 1 point so far.

      22. Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Wenger taking a massive risk playing his Europa side this avo...anything other than a win will breed a sense of dread ahead of Atletico... 😯
        Anyway - come on Laca!!!
        Hope Auba gets half an hour to lap up some points later 🙂

        1. dark91
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          He is just looking for an excuse for when he loses against Atletico 😉

          1. Business Cat
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            I think Wenger's looking for a dead cat bounce against Athletico 😆

      23. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Roy Hodgson and Arsene Wenger very similar in their understanding of the technical aspects of the game and how it has evolved.

          1. Legomané
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            🙂

      24. Football Heaven
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        Had Auba then laca the changed back to Auba last minute cos I thought, why wouldn’t you start him? My fault obviously but still annoying since I have Barnes on bench and Auba will come on for 1 pointer and Barnes will score

        1. Sailboats
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Why did you change to Laca ?

          1. Football Heaven
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 6 days ago

            Cos everyone said he would start. Should’ve listened but I thought Auba should start and I still better than laca so more likely to score points

      25. hspin
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 days ago

        I like the chips in the Eliteserien fantasy.

        Striker rush: 3 strikers all get double points

        Double capt: capt and vice capt get double points

        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Yeah I like the sound of that. Better than triple captain

        2. yakirh
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          Nice

        3. FER FUSCH AKE
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          double cap is betywr

        4. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 days ago

          You would still use them in a DGW though. The chips are a symptom of the fact that we have DGWs and BGWs.