Dugout Discussion
26 December 2018 2303 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
Share:

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.

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

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

    I can genuinely see one more goal in Eden, grab a Hattie you Muppet

    (Whenever I have a go at Hazard, he steps up)!

  2. Zebrahimović
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    SOS

    What to do with this bunch? I desperately need to sort out the Forwards situation and think it’s looking like a Sterling downgrade. Please help! I’m stuck!

    1FT 1.0ITB

    Fab
    Robbo Alonso Doherty Wan Bis
    Salah Sterling Hazard Son Lingard
    Jiminez

    Hamer/ Success Rondon Balbuena

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

      Sterling to Pogba this week then see who you fancy next week.

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

        Double Man Utd but hey why not

  3. SPorting
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Willian, it’s quite simple. When Alonso is in the box, pass it to him.

  4. Tev
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    99 with Haz (C) running and Fab to go... cmon you hammers

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

      Ings will carve him a brand new one

    2. the snazzy viking
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      bum yourself

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        He just did

      2. Tev
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Hahaha. I’ve had a few poor weeks, let me have this one

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

      Well played!

    4. SPorting
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      No link, didn’t happen.

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

      You're an FPL flop.

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

    A) Sterling-Obiang -> Pogba -Son (-4)
    B) Sterling -> Hazard
    C) Other

    Fabs
    Alonso Robbo Laporte Digne
    Sterling Salah Richarlison
    Kane Jimenez Wilson

    Hamer Snodgrass Bennett Obiang

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

    Everyone with great scores, please keep telling us all!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Haha i know, rather sad isn’t it

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Can I tell you more about the points on my bench?

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      45 with Anderson and Fab left 😎

    4. Tev
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Haha, gotta take the rough with the smooth man

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

      78 points with 2 to go

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

      Even my bench smashed you!

  7. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    In the last few weeks Hazard has finally dispensed the idea that he is a ‘home boy’

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

    Risk starting Doherty @ TOT or find a replacement?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      ...you want to replace Doherty?

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

        Should clarify...It would be a one week punt elsewhere on my team and bench Doherty.

        Current State:

        Digne, Robertson, Doherty, AWB, Bennett

        Bennett > Kiko seems viable?

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

      why find a replacement for only 1 GW

  9. micsway
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Considering a move from Salah to hazard for the next couple game weeks. Sensible move?

    1. noahzark22
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Onky if you leave the funds to get Salah back

  10. noahzark22
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    WC activated!

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

      Why?

  11. james 101
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A.
    Pat 3.9
    Digne Doherty Kola wanB Zanka
    Salah Son Fanderson Pogba. MASUAKU
    Kane AUBA Jiminez

    Or

    B.
    Pat 3.9.
    Digne Doherty Kola wanB Zanka
    Salah Son Fanderson Pogba. SANE
    Kane CHICHARITO Jiminez

    C. Any other mid/fw combo to £15.9m

    1. noahzark22
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Wolves are struggle bus on defense. I'm going Fab or double CP keepers

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

    If alonso scores my rank might only drop 100k instead of 200k

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

    Hazard safe from price rise tonight?

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

    Maybe I should go AGAINST the obvious captain pick (I.e Kane this week). We’ll see

  15. Regin
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Really wanted to captain hazard, but played it safe capping Kane. But who would have thought Kane only 1 goal when Spurs score 5?

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

      Captained Kane too, result/score wise it was the right decision.

  16. DavidCuz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    thoughts on dropping sterling, laporte, and rondon for deulofeu, kane, and digne?

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

    Sterling to

    A) Hazard
    B) Son

  18. Maddi Son
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    103 after bonuses, Ings to go. (Free hit)

    No subtle brag here, I am buzzing after a 35 point fail last week.

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

      Class mate

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

    The last 7 gameweeks my VC has drastically outscored my C

    12 out of 19 gameweeks in total this has been the case

  20. Patch
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Come on Hazard you deadbeat dad, grab a goal my son!

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

      That’s it Patch!

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

        Every time I goad him ha! What a beautiful evening to finish with!!!

  21. N00B
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    39 points. This week is killing me. Bye 1k!

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

      That'l teach you to take Laca off at 1-1 at HT.

      Werido.

  22. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    8 of my 9 who have played today have returned goals or assists or clean sheets yet my score could be better.

    Just shows you that nailing the captain is vital. Harry Kane captain not good enough.
    Fab and Anderson to play.

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Only an 88min Huddersfield goal cost me 9/9 returns

  23. Regin
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Those who have hazard, son, Pogba and Digne must be on top 109 for this gw

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

      Have 3/4 but Digne first bench. Snoddy no show would make my Christmas

    2. noahzark22
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I have those minus Haz plus Salah

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

    How to use 2 FTs? 0.4 ITB

    Fabianski Hamer

    Alonso Robbo Digne Doherty WB

    Salah Hazard Anderson Snodgrass Hojbjerg

    Kane Jiminez Wilson

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

      Alonso to Lovren and Anderson to Pogba

  25. Bob B
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    A. Martial
    B. Pogba (-4) with money leftover to upgrade Sane to KDB

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

    No Haz, Salah or Son and benched 30 points.

    I hate festive period.

    1. Sid07
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      What's the plan now

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

        Bring those players in and stop benching points

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

    WC into City assets has burned so far. Worth moving one of Sterling or Sané to Pogba?

    Other move is a double swap of Auba & Sané to Salah & Rashford

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

      I WC'd out of mine (kept Sane) 3 weeks ago. Working nicely.

  28. Henryyy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Digne or Holebas?

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

      Digne

  29. Kane Train
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Keep Robertson or VVD and replace with Digne?

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

    I see that the mods are still useless! 😆

    1. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      How so food? Hard place here these days..

      1. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Autocorrect!! Doos became food 😀

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

          😀

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

      *back to Twitter* 😉