Dugout Discussion
26 December 2018 2303 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
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The final game of a bumper Boxing Day Fantasy Premier League schedule is largely unaffected by Christmas rotation.

There had been fears that Marcos Alonso (£6.9m) might lose his place as Chelsea travel to Watford but he has been named in the starting line-up.

In fact, Blues manager Maurizio Sarri has made no changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Leicester just days previously, keeping faith with his key men.

It means another stint on the bench for Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) with Eden Hazard (£11.0m) leading the line as false-nine once again, flanked by Willian (£7.3m) and Pedro (£6.3m).

Even the midfield trio of Jorginho (£4.8m), N’Golo Kanté (£4.9m) and Matteo Kovacic (£5.8m) was left undisturbed by Sarri, despite a few options for rotation.

Meanwhile, Javi Gracia has kept faith in the front two who punished West Ham in Gameweek 18, Troy Deeney (£5.8m) and Gerard Deulofeu (£5.4m) leading a Watford side lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Watford XI (4-4-2): Foster; Holebas, Kabasele, Cathcart, Kiko Femenia; Pereyra, Capoue, Doucouré, Sema; Deeney, Deulofeu.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Alonso, Luiz, Rudiger, Azpilicueta; Kovacic, Kanté, Jorginho; Pedro, Willian; Hazard.

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  1. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Kovacic and Jorginho stink of averageness.

  2. BIG TONES
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling to?
    A) Hazard
    B) Pogba

    1. J âš’ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      A

  3. suddenorgan
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    What do I do with Martial?

    1. Typo
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Think he will start next week?

    2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Hold. Rumour has it, he'll be back at the weekend.

    3. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Start him.

    4. The 5% Team
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      don't sell, and don't buy yet I guess

    5. Atters
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I'd hold

    6. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Keep, seems to be part of Solskjær’s front 3

    7. TomSaints
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Keep unless press conference means he's certain to be out.

      Annoyed I went Martial over Pogba on my transfer for this week!

    8. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Should start the next game and will likely be the highest point scorer IMO

  4. Nicks93
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Unpopular opinion:

    I really hate how Chelsea play this season

    1. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Agreed.

      Can’t do anything against a team just sits deep and that Jorginho is just an overpriced Italian Henderson

    2. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      we also seem to pick exactly the same team (barring injury) each game regardless of who is in form
      surely Emerson deserves a chance?

      1. Nicks93
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Alonso is far from our worst issue

  5. Atters
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Is it worth bringing in Pogba if already have martial?

    Also best spurs option? Thinking Erisken possibly

    1. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Son til he leaves

  6. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling & Lingard >

    Pogba & Son

    1. CelticBhoy1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Or hold?

    2. ZeBestee
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Hold

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Hold

  7. mattyb09
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Save 1 FT for GW20?

    Fabianski
    Robertson Digne Doherty
    Salah Hazard Pogba Richarlison Snodgrass
    Auba Rashford

    Hamer Wilson AWB Bennett

  8. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone notice how Hazard never passes to Alonso?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Azpi owner.

  9. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling Balbuena to Pogba Digne ?

    Fabianski
    Alonso/Robbo/Doherty
    Sterling/Hazard/Son/Martial/FAnderson
    Auba/Jimenez

    Hart/WB/Kamara/Balbuena

  10. Bouncebackability
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Spurs are going to flog Son aren't they, surely no rest for him? He's on fire and is off soon

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Should do

  11. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Hate in FPL terms since I don’t own, but love Son as a player and guy.

    1. Robe Wan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Me too

      Gonna buy him

  12. LIARS POKER
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    2 ft, don't know what to do with this team. Any suggestions? Obiang -> Camarasa sensible?

    Fabianski - Hamer
    Alonso - Robertson - Doherty - Digne - AWB
    Salah - Richarlison - Anderson - Brooks - Obiang
    Kane - Auba - Rahsford

    1. LIARS POKER
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      0.2 itb

  13. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Most needed transfer:

    A) Kola or Shaw to Digne
    B) Sterling to Son
    C) A and B for -4
    D) Kola/Shaw to TAA/Digne for -4

  14. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    TAA on -103 on FPLstats, surely he finally falls tonight?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Hope so. However he won't imo. His flag was removed

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Surely his decline goes into full reverse...especially all these twitchy Alonso owners.

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Could be a WC effect from before today - so he might get away with it???

  15. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    O mean how terrible is Willian

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Happy Chrimbo, Daniel. 🙂

  16. Penang Sandman
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Man city and Pep are so clueless

    1. J âš’ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Lol

    2. KGFC
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Looks like Pep is missing Mou 😀

    3. shearer9
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah they know nothing about football. Pep should be sacked and the team should be sold.

      1. Fred54
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Well that escalated quickly...

  17. FantasyFootballSprout
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    5 mins no second half involvement from Hazard

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sell for a hit

    2. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      LOL

    3. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      quick - transfer to Hudson-Odoi before price changes

  18. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Who would you drop first to allow funds(2mil)?

    Hazard,Sane,Kane,Salah,Pogba,Richarlison

  19. KGFC
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Seems like Sarri has put a leash on Alonso’s run forward. Unlike earlier in the season, he isn’t making those forward runs or whipping those early balls... doesn’t bode well for us owners

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Heat map says something different

      1. KGFC
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Oh is that!? Didn’t know that. Perhaps then he is just not playing well it seems...

    2. QueefParkRangers
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Looks that way

  20. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Kane unlucky not to have another assist today too. If Moura had scored, ball wouldn’t have rebounded for a Son goal and Kane would’ve been the assister

    1. KGFC
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Thank god for that :-p Son owner and Kane non owner here

    2. kalmoffit
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Kane thwarted again with Moura in his way.

  21. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Such a weird GW. Not sure if I should be happy with my points (56 before BAPs and whatever Hazard manages to score the rest of the match) or consider it a day of missed opportunity because of the whole Martial (I (c)ed him)/Pogba debacle and the WOL blank...

    1. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Got rid of Martial after hearing the news he won't play. Got Son in. Maybe if you'd heard it then you might have moved the C

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, to be fair, I would have moved it to Kane who was my (v) anyways. I rushed into buying him ahead of rises - should have gotten Pogba instead.

  22. waitinginthelonggrass
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Doherty to Digne?

    Could also move Luiz but Chelsea have decent fixtures.

  23. S.Kuqi
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Have the exact mone to do Sane and Jimenez âž¡ Hazard and Kamara

    Should I pull the trigger?

    Haz-Pogba-Pereyra-Richarlison-Anderson
    Kane-Auba (Kamara)

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I would

  24. shearer9
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Should I do Hojberg to Pereyra and bench Laporte?

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yes.

  25. Crouching Tiger
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Way too many good midfield options. Salah, Hazard, Pogba, Richarlison, Sterling, Sane, Eriksen, Son... can't field them all!

    Template RIP.

    1. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Not the week you’d want to WC

    2. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Pereyra and Anderson too :shoch:

  26. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A) Salah to Hazzo for free and then get Salah back in 21

    Or

    B) Gunnarsson and Auba to Hazard and Kamara for -4 and keep Salah

    1. waitinginthelonggrass
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Wouldn’t get rid of Salah so would be b for me out of those choices

    2. J âš’ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Have you seen arsenals defending?

      Salah captain for me v them, he’s going to have a field day.

      B doesn’t look great for a bit either though, unless you are surenit will be a long term move.

    3. Jon Snow
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      madness to sell Salah. Sit tight and enjoy the price rises. No reason he wont score against arsenal and city

      1. F_Ivanovic
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        eh people said that earlier in the season when they had their tough run and he proceeded to blank against all the top teams.

    4. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers all.. B it is

  27. S3
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sane and Sterling to Pogba and Salah???.......any advice from the house?...

    1. Lazaretti
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Tempted to do the same

      1. S3
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        will u do?

  28. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A) Sterling and Alonso >>> Salah and Digne for -4?
    B) Kolasinac >>> Digne for free
    C) Hold / other

    Currently on 1FT 0.5ITB
    Ederson (Hamer)
    Alonso / Lovren / Kola (AWB / Bennett)
    Sterling / Rich / Fanderson / Brooks (Hojbjerg)
    Kane / Auba / Rashford

    Cheers!

  29. grayedog
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    2FT, 0.2 ITB

    Fab / Rui
    Robbo / Laporte / Digne / Chilwell / AWB
    Salah / Rich / Sane / Fraser / DStephens
    Kane / Wilson / Mitro

    Seems like Laporte and Sane both need to go, but MCI face SOU next GW.
    A) Transfer them both out, returns have been bad despite SOU next GW
    B) Keep Sane another week but transfer out Laporte, MCI can’t get a clean sheet, but best options (TAA, VVD, Doherty) all have tougher matchups next week
    C) Keep Laporte another week, transfer out Sane (for Son?), then Laporte -> Doherty next GW
    D) Keep both one more week, make another transfer (Rui for a GK I can play GW22, assuming Fab plays alright tomorrow?)

  30. Midfield Minefield
    FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A few poor City performances, with many people doubling up on Sane and Sterling. What’s your current thinking?
    Spurs have good fixtures but a congested list. Eriksen with great form, Sonny smashing it before the Asian Cup, even Moura getting involved today.
    And Utd now turning it around, with Pogba, Martial, and Lingard all looking like possible options.
    Will you swing away from City?

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Amateur, supposed to post on a new page and then randomly delete old posts to get top post.

      1. Fred54
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        But seriously, Sterling > Son etched into my arm. Have Sane too.

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Had the Sterling/Sane double-up

      I diluted it last week, sold Sterling to get Salah back, will keep Sane until Mendy comes back.

      1 City mid is enough IMO with so many other firing options to fit in.

      I might be tempted to move Kane to Aguero if there is an upturn in form

      1. Geoff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        I'll be selling Sterling to get Hazard I think

        1. mleonard
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          I was planning exactly this. Wish I'd done it this week. It looks like I am just chasing points

    3. KGFC
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Thinking of ditching either of the city assets to double up on Spurs with Eriksen or Utd with Martial/Pogba

      1. Geoff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, Pogba looks great for me. Brought him in already but he'd be the way I'd be going

    4. Konstaapeli
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sane is enough for me at the moment.

      1. FPL ZB
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        I’m thinking of moving Sane to Pogba. Seems the easiest price swap

    5. F_Ivanovic
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      My thinking is to keep Sterling for Southampton. I'd still rather have him than Pogba on a points basis and no where I really need the extra money for right now that Pogba would bring me.

      If he blanks again I'll move on to Salah.

    6. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      From what I've seen of the last two City games, Sterling has looked very dangerous. Like, really good. I might have missed bad moments, but I'm happy to keep for the good ones. It's just not clicked for him and Sane, but I don't see much of a reason to sell yet, personally. I already have Son, Martial and Pogba, though, and Bellerin still asking to be sold.

      1. Pieterke30
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Is your man Deulofeu nailed on for the next 4 games, you think, or likely to be benched for one or two games?

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Not sure, sorry. I've not paid such close attention to him the last week or so but I'd guess he's likely to start them all, even if his minutes are managed. But the lesson is to expect him to be dropped so you won't be disappointed when the fails to do anything 😀