Dugout Discussion
24 February 2019 1626 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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A shortened Blank Gameweek 27 culminates this afternoon, with two Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously at 14:05 GMT.

Manchester United take on Liverpool in an intriguing clash at Old Trafford, while Arsenal welcome Southampton to the Emirates.

There were some notable omissions from the four starting XIs upon the release of the teamsheets.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – the second-most-popular captaincy pick of Gameweek 27 – and Mesut Ozil are among the substitutes at the Emirates as Alexandre Lacazette leads the line for the Gunners, who appear to be playing in the same 4-2-3-1 shape they adopted against BATE on Thursday.

Sead Kolasinac returns at left-back after being handed a breather in the Europa League, while Sokratis is fit to start at centre-back.

Angus Gunn gets the nod ahead of Alex McCarthy for the Saints, while Stuart Armstrong will provide support for the “out of position” Nathan Redmond in attack.

Matt Targett is handed a swift recall at left-back as Ryan Bertrand drops to the bench.

Anthony Martial has failed to recover for Manchester United, though Jesse Lingard is fit enough for a place on the home bench at Old Trafford.

Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata again join Marcus Rashford in a three-man attack, though United have lost Nemanja Matic to a training ground injury – Scott McTominay steps into midfield alongside Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera.

United’s back four is the same one that kept a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge last Monday.

Jurgen Klopp has sprung a surprise at right-back, meanwhile, opting for James Milner over Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool’s starting XI is otherwise perhaps as expected, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino again forming the front three and Jordan Henderson joining Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum in central midfield.

Salah, who has only one goal in seven matches against the “big six” this season, is again the leading captaincy candidate for Gameweek 27, having been handed the armband by over 1.3 million FPL managers.

Manchester United XI (4-3-3): De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Herrera, Pogba, Mata, Lukaku, Rashford.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson, Milner, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Fabinho, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno, Lichsteiner, Sokratis, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Iwobi, Lacazette.

Southampton XI (3-5-1-1): Gunn, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Stephens, Valery, Hojberg, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Targett, Armstrong, Redmond.

  1. Bobby
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Keep auba or change to aguero (for a -4)

    1. MTPockets
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Keep Auba

      • Rainer
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Can't sell a rested Auba ahead of a woeful away side for a -4, surely?

        1. FPL Scoop
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          this is the only thing holding me back

        2. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Much less woeful since Boruc replaced Begovic

          1. FPL Scoop
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            this is a decent point

      • Peter Ouch
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Kun all day

      • FPL Forward Thinker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Change to aguero for -4

      • FPL Scoop
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        See how the cup final unfolds. Auba pretty much nailed on to start BOU now is like the one plus for keeping him another week

      • Hotdogs for Tea
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Keep

      • IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        have to keep that t***

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

        Shovel that sh%t out of your team, get Aguero

      • Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Wait to see if Kun plays 120 mins

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          However, I wouldn't take a hit regardless

    2. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      At least this crapshow is over and GW28 is only a few days away.

      Will monitor the cup final and see which of Sterling (in for Son) or Aguero (in for Auba) looks better... both have pros and cons tbh

    3. Bobby
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Sorry, dreadful top post (but keen still for thoughts!)

      1. #FPLBhuna
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Bobby 9

        Hows the injury? You didnt look too bad.. lol

      2. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        To a fellow Bobby, keep Auba.

    4. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Oh well. At least only 51 hours till next game week.

    5. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      On for 43 points and that is getting and that will see by go up slightly in the ranks by 1080 places...what a weird week.

    6. ianpeterson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      10 red arrows in a row (over 2 months of FPL frustration)

      So close to deleting my team, 8k to 80k

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Similar state.Mine is 7 red arrows in a row and in a similar way dropped 10 times the rank from 2.5k to 25k

        1. ianpeterson
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Pretty depressing isn’t it

          Most people on ML that have overtaken me don’t even play the game..!!

      2. Yank Revolution
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Can you establish a pattern of what went wrong?

        1. ianpeterson
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Haz over Salah over Xmas

          Auba over Kun last few GWs

          Some rotten bad luck thrown in too..

      3. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        You are still ahead of 6 million others and many of the so called experts like Jay, the General, AZ, Ruth etc and many ex-winners .... mtfu lol 😉

        1. ianpeterson
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers

          Onto the DGWs and BGWs

          It’s mostly a game of luck and that has to change eventually

          1. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            That’s the spirit 🙂

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

      Robbo with 2 bonus, how did he climb the baps that fast?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        One of my best acquisitions this year

      2. drughi
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        it is something fishy going on

        1. Vamos Los Celeste
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          +1

    8. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Projected out of 10k by 12 places! 🙁 🙂

    9. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Who has the bonus points in Liverpool game ?

      1. Ibra
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Alisson - 3
        Robbo - 2
        VVD - 1

    10. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      50 points meh

      1. The 12th Man
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        50 is good.

    11. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I am afraid to look at my rank 🙁

      1. Vamos Los Celeste
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Y tho ?

    12. tucaoneo
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Salah is so highly owned you just know tons of people will C him no matter what. That basically means if you don't C him, you're betting against him. It's kinda weird to bet against someone that expensive in your team.

      1. Richd
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Waste of fpl budget that guy

      2. Pukki Party
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        But it's worth betting against him against top6

        1. tucaoneo
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Agreed. Just disappointed he outscored my captain Son in the end. It's a reasonable bet but I lost.

    13. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Any winning goal baps for Laca?

      1. drughi
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        he'll get 1 bonus

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

        Yes but 2 dispossessions hurt.

        BPS for the games look final.

    14. #FPLBhuna
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      42(-4)

      Meh

      1. MTPockets
          7 years, 2 months ago

          24

          1. #FPLBhuna
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Ah bugger

            That push you out the top 10k?
            Thankfully gw28 is around the corner

            1. MTPockets
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Possibly

        • IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          gw20: 2.5k
          gw27: 25k

          Lovely stuff

          1. Richd
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            We swapped

          2. drughi
            • 16 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            ouch

            1. Peter Ouch
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Here

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

            GW34: 250K? 😉

            1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              😆 Have to delete fpl if that happens

          4. Rash
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Gameweek 14. 1.7k

            Game week 28. 65k

            Red after red after red

            1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Gw 1: 2k

              Red after red all season

              Oh wait thats normal whe your rank is high

            2. ianpeterson
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Same (see above)

              Keep trying

        • Smurf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          TAA likely to come back in after Milners poor performance?

            1. jaybradlights
              • 16 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Good news - looking forward to having TAA and Robbo playing in the same game again!

              1. Hazz
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Did you read it?

                1. jaybradlights
                  • 16 Years
                  7 years, 2 months ago

                  I read it as he won't play both today and Wednesday?

                  1. Mysterion
                    • 8 Years
                    7 years, 2 months ago

                    So I don’t want to do it today and Wednesday, for example, which is a difficult task and we have Millie available, that helps as well, so all good.”

                    I read it as he doesn't want him to play today and Wednesday, so that he can be fresh for Wednesday

                    1. Deulofail
                      • 10 Years
                      7 years, 2 months ago

                      What is "it" do you think?

                      1. Mysterion
                        • 8 Years
                        7 years, 2 months ago

                        The first it? I don't want to play Trent today and Wednesday (and then again at the weekend for the derby)

                        1. Deulofail
                          • 10 Years
                          7 years, 2 months ago

                          Ah I see. It's a question of whether it's:

                          I don't want to [play Trent [today and Wednesday]
                          I don't want to play Trent today as well as Wednesday

                          or

                          I don't want to [play Trent [today [and Wednesday]]
                          (I don't want to play Trent today and I don't want to play Trent on Wednesday)

                          I don't think it's certain which though

                          1. Mysterion
                            • 8 Years
                            7 years, 2 months ago

                            Really don't think it's the second one unless he picked up a new niggle after Bayern...

                            Could be rusty and not worth risking re-injury with quick turnaround between mun/WAT as opposed to an extra day off between WAT/eve

                            1. Deulofail
                              • 10 Years
                              7 years, 2 months ago

                              I wonder, though, whether Klopp is happy to take any opportunity/excuse to play Milners ahead of TAA. Trent hasn't looked solid all season, yet Klopp wants to keep his confidence. Happy to play him for his self-improvement and set peices and tactical considerations, but happy to rest whenever posible because Milner is a safer, more reliable player.

                              I don't think fans would be too upset or confused if the latter interpretation were true (and Trent is benched on Wednesday).

                            2. Deulofail
                              • 10 Years
                              7 years, 2 months ago

                              But I do think your interpretaion is more likely correct, again, now.

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

                              Yeah Milner is definitely versatile enough to fill in but even then, I don't think Klopp would play him there over a fully fit TAA. He's played against the likes of Ronaldo in a CL final, Neymar, Mbappe etc. so I really doubt that wanting to be more conservative today was the deciding factor... also not sure if has been rested when fit this season (could be wrong)

                            4. Deulofail
                              • 10 Years
                              7 years, 2 months ago

                              He was fit today 😉

                            5. Mysterion
                              • 8 Years
                              7 years, 2 months ago

                              😛 let me amend that - when *fully match fit and risk free this season (unlike J Lingz today)

                            6. Deulofail
                              • 10 Years
                              7 years, 2 months ago

                              Impossible for us to truly know though. That's kind of my point. Maybe Klopp will use "not fully match fit" as an excuse whenever he can. It usually seems the priority of a manager to protect the player and team from media backlash than to spell out the absolute truth.

                            7. Mysterion
                              • 8 Years
                              7 years, 2 months ago

                              Well yeah of course it's impossible, but we're all guessing here aren't we, that's all we do!

                              Agree the protecting the player bit happens all the time, just don't think that's been the case for TAA this season as he's had three separate injuries and they're being extra cautious

                            8. Mysterion
                              • 8 Years
                              7 years, 2 months ago

                              extra cautious this time*

            2. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Looks dicey for Palace :s

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

              I am not sure how to understand that

              1. MTPockets
                  7 years, 2 months ago

                  I read it as likely to start weds, as not keen to put him into 2 games of close proximity post injury.
                  But it's a little ambiguous so that could be wishful thinking.

                  1. Deulofail
                    • 10 Years
                    7 years, 2 months ago

                    That was my first reading. And now I'm reading it as he wants to save Trent for the WEEKS ahead while not playing him today and Wednesday. Hmm 😐

                    1. Mysterion
                      • 8 Years
                      7 years, 2 months ago

                      I reckon he starts Watford and Everton now given today's rest...

            4. Paul
              • 15 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Probably not... already mentioned won't play Wednesday...or atleast that's what I interpreted of Klopp's pre match interview!

            5. Marvin.
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Poor performance?

          1. pedro-tacuara
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            53 this week with Robbo baps. Being a Deeney owner has finally proved advantageous, but a pretty poor GW overall

            1. jia you
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              53 a poor GW, get real buddy!

              1. pedro-tacuara
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                I mean that in general, I just got slightly better luck really. First time Deeney has scored in many GW's that I've owned him

            2. FPL Scoop
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              gtfo here bout poor gw

              1. pedro-tacuara
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                I'm not complaining. Mean that in a general sense for everyone. I got a bit of luck with 1 player

            3. The 12th Man
              • 12 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              30 here. Pull yourself together.

            4. Alnair
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              When you're here begging for help we'll all remember, you know?

              1. pedro-tacuara
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Man all of you are misinterpreting me. I'm being compassionate lol

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

            I’m literally so trash at this game 😆

            Got to laugh sometimes!

            1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              true ha

          3. Jon Snow
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            44 (-4), tiniest of green arrows. Slight mistake opting for Pereira over a NEW defender and taking the armband off Laca

          4. jia you
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Shaw to Peirera was rough but a smooth 59 from ten players in the end! Nice to be back in the top 10k 🙂

            1. #FPLBhuna
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Well deserved

              Did you go with the rondon(c) pick? Id imagine you did

              1. jia you
                • 9 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Yep, stuck to my guns thankfully, cheers!

            2. tucaoneo
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              That's awesome

              1. jia you
                • 9 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                cheers

          5. MartialMatas
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            56 points after bonus. Up to the top 1k for the first time. Let's see if it lasts.

            1. jia you
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              well played!

          6. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            My (casual) mate played his Free Hit this week and got 77, even with Aubameyang (C)!

            1. jaybradlights
              • 16 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Wow - three of the top five in my ML league did as well, highest score of the three was 47

          7. Rash
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Brought in Pereira and Anderson for a hit. Benched Robbo and captained auba. I don't dare look at my score.

            1. FPL Scoop
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              did all that but played robbo at least

          8. Salarrivederci
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            What would you do? Going to field 11 in GW31 & 33 and FH in GW32
            1 FT
            0.0 ITB

            Lloris
            Pereira - van Dijk - Robertson - Doherty
            Salah - Sterling (C) - Pogba - Son
            Jiménez - Rondón

            (Boruc, Rashford, Jonny, Townsend)

            1. MTPockets
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Worry that Sterling gets rotated

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

                Monitor the Rashford situation.

                If he's injured, maybe ship for Barnes/Wood, Josh King or Arnie?

            2. token_84
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              This week has confirmed I won't free hit in GW31. 42 from 9. If I had made no transfers, I would have had 39 from 8.

              As everyone will captain Salah that week, I can't see how much ground can be lost by fielding 7-9players.

              1. Moderately content penguin
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Sort of agree but 33 could spring a surprise especially if Brighton go out and free up Spurs for a juicy home fixture.

                I’m thinking carefully about who to leave on my bench. Arsenal and Spurs could be big that week.

              2. Kiwivillan
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Exactly

            3. Jon Snow
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Rashford >>
              A) Barnes
              B) Vardy (new manager bounce?)
              C) Rondon
              D) keep

            4. Shultan
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Souness is full of s****
              How did liv make a statement in that game?
              Considering utds early injuries & played with an injured player actualy had the better chances & deserved to win

            5. FPL99
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              At least that abortion of a gameweek is over will have completely destroyed my rank but at least I've still got all the chips left to play to try and back into top 100k.

            6. Moderately content penguin
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Switched out VVD for Robbo this week just gone for a luxury -4.

              Daft? Reasoning is Robbo is now a season keeper who’s not going to get any cheaper and is - injuries allowing - going to pay me back.

              Paid for it by switching from Rash to Rondón!!!!

            7. km79
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Sky have united down for 2 shots on target
              Yet alisson has a save point which helps him to 3 bonus ......