Dugout Discussion
2 September 2018 2514 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The first of three matches this afternoon kicks off at 13:30 BST, as Cardiff City entertain Arsenal.

The visitors’ starting XI represents bad news for those who own the most in-demand FPL player on show in South Wales: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£7.2m) is only among the substitutes this afternoon. The Armenian features in more than one in five Fantasy squads and was the only Arsenal midfielder or forward to have played all 270 minutes of Premier League action this season.

Mkhitaryan recorded a goal, an assist and two bonus points in his side’s previous away league fixture at Chelsea in Gameweek 2.

Despite a tumble in ownership after three matches without an attacking return, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) is actually the fourth-most-popular captaincy choice of Gameweek 4 – though that only equates to just over 3% of all FPL managers.

Over 148,000 managers lost faith with the Gabonese striker this week and cashed in on his premium price tag.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) gets his first start of the season today, which presumably means Aubameyang will move out to the left flank to accommodate the Frenchman. Mesut Ozil (£8.3m) returns from illness to take Mkhitaryan’s place, with Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) also dropping out.

The hosts have registered two clean sheets in as many matches, with Neil Etheridge (£4.6m) currently the highest-scoring goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League following those back-to-back shut-outs and a brace of penalty saves.

The Philippines international is also the most-owned City player in FPL, sitting in over 6% of our squads.

There is further disappointment for those hoping for a start for Lee Peltier (£4.0m) – the Bluebirds’ most-owned outfield player – who is only among the substitutes this afternoon.

Neil Warnock has made three changes to his side, all in attack: Bobby Reid (£5.4m), Danny Ward (£4.5m) and the fit-again Junior Hoilett (£5.3m) come into the starting XI.

Cardiff City XI (4-4-2): Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa, Arter, Ralls, Hoilett; Reid, Ward.

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Cech; Bellerin, Monreal, Mustafi, Sokratis; Ramsey, Xhaka, Guendouzi; Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

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2,514 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Walcott, Mhki, Salah, Zaha, BSilva... least the international break is here haha!

  2. El-Kloppico
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    FookOff Emery..
    2min for Mikhi.. tile to.rqge sell Mikhi imo. Was expecting this match to get a return..
    Ings and Benett on bench.. Disgusted

    1. Fantastisk
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Who'd you start over Ings?

    2. RED PILL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Yeah thanks Emery you bar steward bringing Mhki for 1 point.
      Was only getting 2 points off the bench, point is a point.

      1. FC Barkerlona
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Agreed. He stopped Bellerin coming on for me

  3. My Name Is Pepu
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Cech is horrendous

    1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I just don’t understand the purpose of buying a ball playing keeper in the summer and then still playing an over the hill Cech and asking him to do something he can’t.

  4. Desperately Seeking Dusan
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Chillax folks... we have two weeks of pointless international football to get our breath back and regroup.

    1. Brap.
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Borrrrrrrrrrrring

    2. Capitano
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Great...2 weeks to work on my wildcard...let the fun begin.

  5. Dannyb
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    I've been drinking and I'm livid, 2 things you shouldn't be when in control of your fpl team. Wildcard button pushed....

    1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      It’s the best time! The alcohol frees your mind and let’s you think laterally!

      1. Oven Glover
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        It unleashes ones true FPL potential.

    2. Maddamotha
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Why dont you smoke a fatty instead

    3. Capitano
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Feels good...eh?

  6. Khark
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS GAME SOMETIMES

    1. TAT
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I DO TOO!

  7. SweeSwee
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Glad Mkhitaryan came on.

    1. COYS.
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Me too.. had no one coming from bench in his place

  8. Stoic
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Torreira 20 bps in 20 mins

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Stud

    2. Les Bleus
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Got an assist

    3. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Essential. Thinking of getting him in for Haz. Form over fixtures.

  9. tm370
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Mkhitaryan coming on has cost me Danny Ward's points 🙁

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Same here

    2. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

      1. tm370
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Hate this game sometimes. At least our 4.5 punt looks decent going forward

    3. tsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Delighted with him coming on, extra pt this week!

    4. Fantastisk
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Excellent news.

    5. El-Kloppico
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Ings point here

    6. Capitano
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Look on the brightside...Average is down.

  10. Turbo Timo
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Why does Emery need to put an attacking player on? Just put another defender and get done w it

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Leichsteiner would have made sense

      1. #FPLBhuna
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        I thought he wud have gone litchsteiner tbh. What a stupid move

      2. Turbo Timo
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Yeah anyone else

    2. OPTA FPL
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      to prevent your auto sub points

      1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        He’s watching. Always watching. It may cost him his real job but winning his FPL mini league is more important to Emery.

      2. Fantastisk
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        This. He loves the saltiness.

  11. Podge
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    That was some miss

  12. OPTA FPL
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Mkhitaryan 35% in top 10k

  13. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Mkhi on means cedric points stuck on bench. Got billing for zaha though

  14. Digital-Real
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Arsenal fans should worry about the rest of the season. This is appalling.

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Defence is a major problem. Cech is no longer a good goalkeeper.

      1. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Cech has declined, but he is not terrible. But making him pass out from the back is just stupid IMO - he is not comfortable doing it.

      2. SweeSwee
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        To be fair he has a defense that has conceded more shots on goal than any other.

  15. BDMC5
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Wow to bench Ings cause he was flagged and play AWB was bad enough.

    Miki benched and the hope again Ings might come on yet. For Miki to on 90th is truly sickening. Hard to believe!

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

      Same here.. benched Ings for AWB and played Mikhi

  16. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Thanks, unai

  17. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Zaha out for 4 weeks ?

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      not news yet

    2. I Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Where did you hear that?

  18. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Considering shipping Auba for Laca on WC. Laca looks much more of a focal point. Auba being missing nearly as much as Ozil.

  19. Dzaow An
    • 17 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    I had Wan-Bissaka first sub so I'll take that 1 point from Mikhi haha

  20. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    What idiot puts on an attacker for an attacker when 3-2 up and just a few minutes to go?

    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Attck is the best for of defence when you have those Arsenal defenders.

      1. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Attack is the best form of defence when you have those Arsenal defenders. *

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      USA idiot

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        *Una

        Geez

      2. Khark
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        I really hope the OP is American haha

    3. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Maybe his ml rival got cedric 1st sub

    4. Brap.
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      *considers googling when Pep or Sir Alex did it*

      *leans back from the keyboard*

    5. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Ones with lots of defensive mids already on ?

    6. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      This poicy will bite him in the backside one of these days and I'd love to see when it happens. 🙂

  21. thunder_mike
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Damn it Mhki, you stopped me from getting a 1 pt from Stephens.

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Haha!

    2. TAT
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Same!

    3. Capitano
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Stephens coming on for Zaha....what joy.

  22. FC Barkerlona
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Miki blocking Bellerin coming in for me. Beggers can't be choosers and all that jazz

  23. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    God I hate Lewis Hamilton

    1. Digital-Real
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Because he's gay?

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

      This

      He screwed Seb today

      1. Brap.
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        The question, then immediately the answer.

      2. Point-one short
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Seb shouldn't have given him the finger

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

          I hope he sticks it into his eye after.

      3. Sandy Ravage
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Seb screwed himself again

  24. I Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Already did -4. Would you WC this?

    Patricio
    Alonso, Mendy, van Aanholt
    Hazard, Mane, Bernardo Silva, Mkhitaryan, Fraser
    Aguero, Zaha

    Hamer; Robertson, Wan-Bissaka, Kamara.

    Bilva, Mkhi and Zaha are worries but I do think Bernardo will start the next game and I have Robbo on the bench if need be. Should be fine if Zaha is fit I suppose.

    1. Oven Glover
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Nope. Good team imo.

  25. Winners900
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Mikki Stops Bertrand 6

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

    mkhi stopped me from getting wan bissaka off the bench

  27. Football Heaven
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    A. Mkhi and firmino > hazard and Jimenez
    B. Firmino > lacazette

  28. Krafty Werks
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Yup was gtd eh? Ings 1st on the bench, first Gundogan with a 1pt 14min cameo now Mkhi on 89'...that's it i've had enough wildcard it is!!

  29. Rogue Todd
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    More salt than the Dead Sea

  30. Turbo Timo
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Guess everyone on Emery's bench already gave him zero.