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.

1,626 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Bobby
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

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

    1. MTPockets
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Keep Auba

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

        this is the only thing holding me back

      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Much less woeful since Boruc replaced Begovic

        1. FPL Scoop
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          this is a decent point

    3. Peter Ouch
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Kun all day

    4. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Change to aguero for -4

    5. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 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

    6. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Keep

    7. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      have to keep that t***

    8. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

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

    9. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Wait to see if Kun plays 120 mins

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        However, I wouldn't take a hit regardless

  2. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

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

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Bobby 9

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

    2. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      To a fellow Bobby, keep Auba.

  4. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

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

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

      Can you establish a pattern of what went wrong?

      1. ianpeterson
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 5 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, 5 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
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

          That’s the spirit 🙂

  7. ZeBestee
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

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

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      One of my best acquisitions this year

    2. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      it is something fishy going on

      1. Vamos Los Celeste
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        +1

  8. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    Projected out of 10k by 12 places! 🙁 🙂

  9. Dynamic Duos
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    Who has the bonus points in Liverpool game ?

    1. Ibra
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Alisson - 3
      Robbo - 2
      VVD - 1

  10. drughi
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    50 points meh

    1. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      50 is good.

  11. FPL Daniel
    • 17 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    I am afraid to look at my rank 🙁

    1. Vamos Los Celeste
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Y tho ?

  12. tucaoneo
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 5 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
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Waste of fpl budget that guy

    2. Pukki Party
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      But it's worth betting against him against top6

      1. tucaoneo
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

    Any winning goal baps for Laca?

    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      he'll get 1 bonus

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

      Yes but 2 dispossessions hurt.

      BPS for the games look final.

  14. #FPLBhuna
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    42(-4)

    Meh

    1. MTPockets
      7 years, 5 months ago

      24

      1. #FPLBhuna
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Ah bugger

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

        1. MTPockets
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Possibly

  15. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    gw20: 2.5k
    gw27: 25k

    Lovely stuff

    1. Richd
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      We swapped

    2. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      ouch

      1. Peter Ouch
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Here

    3. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      GW34: 250K? 😉

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        😆 Have to delete fpl if that happens

    4. Rash
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Gameweek 14. 1.7k

      Game week 28. 65k

      Red after red after red

      1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 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
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Same (see above)

        Keep trying

  16. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    TAA likely to come back in after Milners poor performance?

      1. jaybradlights
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

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

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Did you read it?

          1. jaybradlights
            • 16 Years
            7 years, 5 months ago

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

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

                What is "it" do you think?

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

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

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

                        He was fit today 😉

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

                        extra cautious this time*

      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Looks dicey for Palace :s

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

        I am not sure how to understand that

        1. MTPockets
          7 years, 5 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, 5 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, 5 months ago

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

    1. Paul
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

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

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

      Poor performance?

  17. pedro-tacuara
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

      53 a poor GW, get real buddy!

      1. pedro-tacuara
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

      gtfo here bout poor gw

      1. pedro-tacuara
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

      30 here. Pull yourself together.

    4. Alnair
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

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

      1. pedro-tacuara
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

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

  18. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    I’m literally so trash at this game 😆

    Got to laugh sometimes!

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      true ha

  19. Jon Snow
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

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

  20. jia you
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

      Well deserved

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

      1. jia you
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Yep, stuck to my guns thankfully, cheers!

    2. tucaoneo
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      That's awesome

      1. jia you
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        cheers

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

      well played!

  22. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

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

    1. jaybradlights
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

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

  23. Rash
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

      did all that but played robbo at least

  24. Salarrivederci
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 5 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, 5 months ago

      Worry that Sterling gets rotated

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Monitor the Rashford situation.

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

  25. token_84
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 5 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, 5 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, 5 months ago

      Exactly

  26. Jon Snow
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

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

  27. Shultan
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 5 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

  28. FPL99
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 5 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.

  29. Moderately content penguin
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 5 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!!!!

  30. km79
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

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