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. FPLEL
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    CECH WTF

  2. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Why the hell do they keep passing b@ck to Cech? Fourth time he’s been in trouble in seven minutes!

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

      Cardiff are being wise and are pressing the defenders hard. They dont have much choice, other than kick if long which they arent willing to do.

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

        Arsenal aren’t going to kick it though, it’s part of Emery’s tactics

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

      It’s happened in all 4 games. Emery insists on playing from the back and they actually scored a goal from a situation that started like that.

  3. Ginkapo FPL
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Still waiting on a Leno start for one of my draft teams.

  4. Everyday im Schneiderlin
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    am i the only one thinkimg sterling is a better pick tham hazard?

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

      yes

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

      Sterling is Def explosive but prone to rotation. Haz more nailed and on penalties. So that tips it towards Haz

      1. Everyday im Schneiderlin
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        i see cheers guys

    3. dvdguy
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      for a one week punt, yes

    4. Cornholi0
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Hazard is inzane atm. Make it looks like he plays against cones, and the points keeps coming from him. Could have had so much more yesterday. Sterling is quality aswell but he get benched once in a while and is not on set pieces

  5. Reiger
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Cech is lost

  6. KGFC
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Wow... What's wrong with keepers!? First Allison and now Cech... Crazy!!

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

    What the hell?! Change the tactics, Emery!

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

    Great corner routine

  9. trikster102
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Bloody hell Cech, what are you doing to me?

    Why did I even put you in my team?

  10. TheTinman
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Pathetic from Cech

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

      Patheticech?

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

        Petetheticech?

  11. Jekori
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    How bad must Leno be that cech keeps him on the bench?

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

    Should I buy the Barnet home or away kit?

    https://www.barnetfc.com/news/2018/july/news--201819-barnet-fc-kit-revealed/

    1. TheTinman
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      The nips on that manakin

    2. Bolivian Seaman
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I've never seen a blue bee

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

        Yeah, but its not such an offensive colour....

        Away kit is sometimes purple, sometimes blue, sometimes black.

        1. Bolivian Seaman
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 1 day ago

          you're right, there's something wrong with yellow kits, I don't like them either

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

      You could probably get a game for them, then you'd get them for free

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

        🙂 There is an amateur player in my office who I am marching down there for trials next year whether he likes it or not!

    4. Reiger
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Both

    5. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Home kit looks class

  13. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Done Vvd to Taa and Luiz to Alonso for a hit. Now my team looks like this:

    Kepa, Stekelenburg
    TAA, Alonso, Mendy, Trippier, WB
    Salah, Hazard, Fraser, Neves, Masuaku
    Mitrovic, Aguero, King

    Thougts?

  14. Tinydancer
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Arsenal either need to change their system in regards from playing out of the back or play a keeper who is better with his feet .... and fast

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

    Ramsey looking like the mid to have for arsenal

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

    Oh Ramsey so close! D:

  17. yakirh
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    WC time??

    Fab Foster
    Alonso Mendy Robbo Shaw AWB
    Salah Mane *Mkhi *Walcott *Cairney
    Kun *Zaha Kamara

    Could get Kane & Hazard on wildcard, like that:
    4.5 4.5
    Alonso Mendy Pereira Shaw (AWB)
    Hazard Mane Maddison Fraser (Hojbjerg)
    Kane Kun (Kamara)

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

      no, matchday time

      1. yakirh
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Right, sorry, will ask again later

  18. 3-4-3
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Lacazette owners will be smug later today!!
    I see him scoring two minimum in this game..

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

    Arsenal 1 win in last 10 away EPL games

  20. FPL Mentor
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Bellerin so close 🙁

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

    OMG mustafi

    1. It's Fergie Time
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      brought him in for my draft league. makes me look like a genius.

  22. CloudSky
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Mustafi goal, Xhaka a.

  23. KGFC
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Mustafi G
    Xhaka A

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

      The dream

  24. tafrère
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Danny Ward (mid, £4.5) starting upfront for Cardiff.

    Excellent news since I own him.

  25. Spambo
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    8 point hit or play wildcard?

    1. yakirh
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      8 point hit

    2. FPL Mentor
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      8 pt hit

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Really depends on who you are getting/getting rid of for -8.

    4. antis0cial
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      If 8 point hit resolves all of your issues save the WC

    5. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Wc

    6. Spambo
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Thanks guys.

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

    Wenger Out

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

    No Auba involvement. Wouldn't surprise me if he blanks yet again…

  28. Jekori
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Imagine if morrisson played for arsenal instead, with cech in goal. Great header from mustafi, bullet in the corner.

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

    PVA -> Mustafi for a -4?

  30. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    if auba blanks, he has to go......far too expensive for this sh*t return

    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      He will score today

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

      Throwing away Boomerang will come back to stab you in the back

      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        hes a stick

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

      No doubt.

    4. captainjilflex
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I dont have him but would have got rid after last week, or at most given him today. too much money wasted like you say