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. Adro3
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Cech really is finished.

    1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      8 years, 1 month ago

      When did you send that? 4 seasons ago?

      1. Adro3
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Ahaha yeah. Don't know why it's only come through now.

      2. Jafooli
        8 years, 1 month ago

        😆

    2. The Wise Owl
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Agreed.

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

    Salt lvl 100 in these parts atm

    1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      8 years, 1 month ago

      It’s saltier than a heavily salted pack of sea salt flavour crisps with a big helping of salt.

    2. Brap.
      8 years, 1 month ago

      More salt than a cold war arms limitation deal

  3. Bruce Lee
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Mkhi blocking AWB points... fuming

    1. Klein
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Same here 🙁

  4. Adro3
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Well lads push that wildcard button.

  5. Hy liverpool
    8 years, 1 month ago

    zaha out for 4 weeks
    mkhetaryan not nailed
    no Alonso
    no Hazard

    WC is calling

    1. The Mighty Whites
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Same as me!

    2. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Do you have a source on Zaha? Seen it hinted but nothing official.

    3. Toby Lerone
      8 years, 1 month ago

      This

  6. Point-one short
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Xhaka avoids second yc - bandwagon wheels still on

  7. Brosstan
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I have 32 points with only Davies to go..... Probably dropping out of the LMS league. Atrocious.

    1. Oven Glover
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Went out last week. Horrible feeling.

  8. The Mighty Whites
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Micky T’s cameo blocking Cedric coming on 🙁

  9. Total Foot 5
    8 years, 1 month ago

    what wqs the issue with salah less minut3s last game, is he onjured or rotation?

    1. Grounderz
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Conservation.

    2. The Wise Owl
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I think Klopp is managing his minutes, I imagine he's tired.

    3. Total Foot 5
      8 years, 1 month ago

      thnx

  10. SADIO SANÉ
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Rik Mik was open

  11. COYS.
    8 years, 1 month ago

    26 from 9
    All hopes on kane and tripper
    Hope Vorm keeps the CS

  12. Farke in hell
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Beating Cardiff shouldn't be as difficult as Arsenal make look.

  13. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Sean Morrison and shkodran mustafi, separated at birth.

  14. Paul Psychic Octopus
    8 years, 1 month ago

    So what auto-sub points have people lost/gained through Emery's ridiculous decision to bring Miki on 89 mins?

    2pts from Daniels for me

    1. Podge
      8 years, 1 month ago

      AWB 0 I win at life 😆

    2. Super John McGinn-
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Doherty 6pts

      1. Winners900
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Bertrand 6p

    3. NWA
      8 years, 1 month ago

      8 from ings

    4. Brosstan
      8 years, 1 month ago

      2 Wilson points. Losing 1 point feels like a net win with all the jammy Cedric and Ings points around.

    5. In Bale We Trust
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Ings 8pts

    6. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No players left.

    7. NWA
      8 years, 1 month ago

      the same way a player goes out early and dont get the CS , players cameo less than 5 min shouldnt block points from the bench. not fair

    8. Jusagoras
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Billing

    9. The Mighty Whites
      8 years, 1 month ago

      12 from Cedric

    10. vandebeek
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Cedric with 12pts...

    11. Dead Lift
      8 years, 1 month ago

      9 Jonny

    12. Nomar
      8 years, 1 month ago

      0 points from Peltier

    13. GianniBanani
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Kante 2 points, im so glad. Im leasing minileague and place 2-4 all would have Ings as a sub

  15. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Any baps for miki?

    1. GREEN IS GOOD
      8 years, 1 month ago

      -3

    2. FC Barkerlona
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Deserves 3 just for coming on and creating salt-gate on here

      1. Capitano
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Nice one 🙂

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure but it hasn't even got a story. Just a headline

    2. Patch
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Benteke is the new go to guy, spearheading a crystallised attack formation

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah to go along with that lovely Palace record of never having won without Zaha in the team since November 2016.

    3. International Richard
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Possibly written by the same chap who wrote Kun was gonna be dropped for Jesus GW2.

      2018 sports journalism. The kids been calling it click bait for years

    4. ChristoBisto
      8 years, 1 month ago

      From the article it reads like they've just derived 4 weeks from "groin strain". The author doesn't say they have been told that is the prognosis. (non owner here)

    5. Capitano
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Looks on BBC sport news.....nada...fake news.

  16. Podge
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Emery chuffed 😆

  17. diesel001
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Before post-match adjustments:

    Lacazette (41)
    Aubameyang (36)
    Mustafi (27)

    1. Jafooli
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Micky?

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        8 years, 1 month ago

        4, he is that off the scale

  18. Gussy
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I transferred out Walker and Laca for hits to rearrange my team to bring in Hazard and Alonso... Was pretty happy transferring in over 20 points but have somehow transferred out more. Talk about rough with the smooth!

    1. KGFC
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Chin up... Better moves in the long run

    2. Oven Glover
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Probably good long term.

    3. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      8 years, 1 month ago

      This is the thing. People (not you), who knew jerk and say how so and so is “essential” and then don’t even look at how their team has changed and what points they could have gotten had they done nothing.

      In all fairness, those moves you made did make sense. I would have been wary of ditching Lacazette vs Cardiff but would have expected Haz and Alonso to outscore your old players this week and the next few.

  19. Robin Cook
    8 years, 1 month ago

    No YC for Henri-kh ... happy me

  20. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Oh nice Mkhi 1 pointer, it's like he played 90 minutes and got a yellow card

  21. Cojones of Destiny
    8 years, 1 month ago

    salah&zaha -> hazard&laca ?

    1. Podge
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Not bad

    2. Capitano
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I like.

  22. Fantastisk
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I'd just like to thank Emery for playing that beautifully. Brilliant stuff with that Mkhi sub!

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Anticipation and a climatic finish

      That's how you do drama

      1. Fantastisk
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yes, he nailed it.

  23. ShababQ
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Mkhi's 4 min app and 1 pt took away my 8 points from 1st sub Ings :'( ggwp 🙂

  24. Tmel
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Salah & Arnie > Haz & Laca for free? Then can WC Salah back in later down the line

    1. Atimis
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Looking at this with Zaha

  25. el polako
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Thank you Laca ! You beauty !
    :d

    1. boc610
      8 years, 1 month ago

      a goal and an assist worth it over 4 gameweeks?

      1. el polako
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Goal and two assists over 4 with a view to cement his place in starting XI - in my book worth.

      2. ingus
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Didn't even start before today and still got more points than Auba. Worth.

  26. Srv210
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Lacazette can be great...best player today, just needs to start regularly now

    1. Nomar
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Hope Emery drops him next game so all the people lolling at Mikhi owners can feel our frustration.

      Zaha, Gudmondsen, Mikhi no Alonso, Mane or Hazard.

      WC calling after this sh*thousery of a GW.

      1. el polako
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Why would he drop his best performing forward player ?

  27. Mortiis
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Are people getting rid of Aubameyang now then?

    1. FC Barkerlona
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Nope- I brought him in on my WC last week. More to come hopefully

  28. Dead Lift
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Stupid Emery, ridiculous

  29. WINNING!
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Crazy Mikhi hiding out so long...
    Where you been so long:)