Dugout Discussion
2 September 2018 2514 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

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.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £15.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

2,514 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. MeinBergkampf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Really grateful for peoples thoughts on the best 5.0 or below keeper over the next 5-6 weeks:

    1) Cech
    2) Schmeichel
    3) Pickford
    4) Patricio

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

      3

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

        Everton leaky as anything. Wouldn't touch.

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

          saves points

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

          Really? The concede only on set pieces. It should be worked out sooner, than later.

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

        No thanks. Had him since GW1 trying to get rid

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

      I'd be looking at 4.5s personally

    3. Mic
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Wouldnt want any of them

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

      4

    5. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Cech actually. Even without many cleansheets he'll get save points.

      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        But not personally I'd get a 4.5 and keep change for changes elsewhere.

    6. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      4.5 best value

    7. Four Hit Wonder
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Cech

      1. Four Hit Wonder
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        I take it back.

    8. kennethrhcp
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      i have Pickford & if my team gets no injuries during the IB he's gone!

      1. kennethrhcp
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        *to a 4.5er

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

      Patricio + Henny double up

    10. Boomerang V
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Etheridge

    11. Pukki Party
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Dubravka and youre good to go until christmas

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

      Cheers guys. Patricio best of the 4.5s?

    13. The Mighty Hippo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Patricio and Schmeichel have pretty good rotation for the next few weeks (if you're considering a double up).

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

    Would like that Kane give me the reason to WC

  3. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Cardiff v Arsenal. One team who cannot score vs another team who are afraid to score. Such dross.

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

      It's been a good game so far!

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

        Not really. Low, low quality game.

  4. Eden Wizard
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Emery taking the Mkhi - Mkhxit

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

    Arsenal winning 1-0 from a set piece goal. Who would have thought?

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

      Just needs a cardiff goal and a mkhi 5 minute cameo

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

      Its been a myth for a while that Arsenal are bad at set piece goals.

  6. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Any chance Mkhi doesn't play the whole match? I have Ings on first sub

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

      no chance

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      He won't play the whole match at this stage, sure he didn't start.

    3. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I'm sure he'll come on at some point for a one pointer. And probably get booked whilst he's one

    4. Mr Arsenal
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      100% chance he doesn’t play the whole match. He’ll play about 20mns though.

    5. OverTinker
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      sorry I meant doesn't involve in the game

  7. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Auba looks devoid of confidence.

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Its annoying.

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      I haven't even noticed him.

  8. DrunkPhilosophy
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    How's this for a WC?

    Ederson
    Mendy Robertson Trippier Alonso
    Salah Hazard Fraser
    Aguero Mitrovic Ings
    Hamer Hughes WB Højbjerg

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

      9.5/10

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Very nice

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

      Looks decent honestly. Don't love 4 at the back personally and prefer 4.5m rotation over Ederson.

      1. DrunkPhilosophy
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Never played 4 at the back, but can't decide who to drop of these 4, Trippier is my only addition on WC..

        Ederson is the one part am not sure of, just can't decide what I would do with the funds, had Ryan/Button and 6.0 mid for Hughes but that would mean benching a decent attacker every week which never works for me, I always bench the wrong one!

    4. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Don't think Ederson is worth it

      1. DrunkPhilosophy
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Still not sure about him, might find another 4.5 rotation.. Who would you suggest? I was on Foster/Fab and got one cleanie.. not good enough.

    5. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Very solid!
      I would downgrade GK to 4.5 and one of defs to 4.0 and upgrade Hughes with that funds but its just me as this team looks really good.

      1. DrunkPhilosophy
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Downgrading Gk I might do, just can't find who to drop of these 4 defenders.. Trippier I feel is going under the radar a bit here.. I reckon he was played more in the EPL last year and Aurier was playing UCL.. someone correct me if that was wrong please.

        Thanks 🙂

    6. Sting
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      you’ll need richarlison when he’s back. i’d play 442 instead

      downgrade ings and ederson, upgrade hughes to 6.6 mid

      1. DrunkPhilosophy
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        I can just downgrade one of the defenders to a 4.5 and upgrade Hughes to Richarlson..

        Ederson I can see why people aren't convinced he's value, I'm still not sure myself.. But Ings I think is incredible value for 5.6!

    7. Federico
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Looks good!

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

      I would do Ederson to 4.5 and Fraser to Richarlison when he’s back

      1. DrunkPhilosophy
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        I would consider something like that for sure. Cheers

    9. Klein
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Really love it. And i like 4 at the back this season. They are all scoring so why not?
      Also dont know much about frazer but seems he lost his set piece duty. So a bit off i guess. Goodluck mate

      1. DrunkPhilosophy
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Will look into fraser, but there aren't many better options at his price..

        Same to you!

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

    Arsenal looking much more dangerous today but nowhere near clinical enough

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

    Please, Aubameyang – give me a reason to avoid a -4!

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

    Boomerang shambolic

  12. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Arter misses another sitter.

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

      the only sitter here is you

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

    ANOTHER stonewall yellow card not given

    Anthony Taylor sacking pls

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

    Serigo Aguero spotted on the grid in Monza.

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

    Ozil is shocking, 90% Mkhi will come in 2nd half for him

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

    OMG camarasa

  17. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Arsenal CS wipeout!

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

      Nice

  18. DR0GBA
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Guess who has Camarasa as their 4.5m bench fodder 🙂

    o/

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

      Will you get his points?

      1. DR0GBA
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 day ago

        Sadly not... I started Zaha but I have Ings first on the bench so it's not all bad

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

    Teams sheets for the 4pm KO’s?

  20. Syd.
    • 17 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    That Arsenal defence

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

    Arsenal = avoid

  22. Ha.
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Mkhi CS point gone

  23. Eddie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    I blame Xhaka for that.

    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      And Bellerin, and Monreal. Bloody arsenal defence.

  24. Meinhoff
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Xhaka loool what a disaster of a player

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

    Oh dear monreal

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

    Arsenal are so poor; they're conceding goals to Cardiff 😆

  27. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Glued to the cricket. How is Ozil playing? Lazy and useless?

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 day ago

      Yup

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

    Id WC if I had any Arsenal players in my team, for sure.

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

      Wish I could have seen that before and after WC-ing…

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

    Wenger IN !!!

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

      Would be the same with Wenger. Needed Benitez IMO. Would be more boring football, but the guy knows how to win and is a tactical master.

  30. Four Hit Wonder
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 day ago

    Monreal.

    Pushes himself away from the forward, then jumps like a girl when he's receiving the ball.