Dugout Discussion
26 December 2019 1485 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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There are six Premier League matches kicking off simultaneously at 15:00 GMT this afternoon.

Aston Villa v Norwich City, Bournemouth v Arsenal, Chelsea v Southampton, Crystal Palace v West Ham United, Everton v Burnley and Sheffield United v Watford are the half-dozen fixtures in question, with two more games to follow later this evening.

The headline team news perhaps comes from Stamford Bridge, where there are benchings for Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Danny Ings.

Frank Lampard has seemingly stuck with a 3-4-3 for the visit of Southampton, with Fikayo Tomori again lining up at centre-half.

Marcos Alonso, the suspended Mateo Kovacic and Mount drop out of the team that defeated Spurs, with Jorginho, Emerson and Callum Hudson-Odoi promoted to the starting XI.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s alterations both come in attack, with Ings and the injured Shane Long replaced by Che Adams and Michael Obafemi.

Bjorn Engels, Frederic Guilbert, the injured John McGinn and Conor Hourihane make way for Aston Villa, with Ahmed El Mohamady, Ezri Konsa, Marvelous Nakamba and Trezeguet recalled.

Norwich City are unchanged.

At the Vitality Stadium, Jack Simpson, Callum Wilson and the fit-again Steve Cook replace the suspended Diego Rico, the injured Simon Francis and the benched Philip Billing.

Mikel Arteta makes three changes from the side that started the goalless draw at Everton.

Sokratis returns from suspension and replaces the banned Calum Chambers, while Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil oust Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe from the starting XI.

Mamadou Sakho returns from suspension for Crystal Palace, with Cheikhou Kouyate moving back into midfield and James McCarthy dropping to the bench.

Max Meyer replaces Christian Benteke in attack.

Neither Lukasz Fabianski nor David Martin have recovered from injuries, so the much-maligned Roberto starts between the posts for West Ham.

Pablo Zabaleta replaces the suspended Ryan Fredericks at right-back in the Hammers’ only other change.

Carlo Ancelotti makes two changes for his first match in charge.

Seamus Coleman and Bernard start, with Tom Davies and the injured Alex Iwobi dropping out.

Robbie Brady replaces the suspended Jeff Hendrick for Burnley, while Jay Rodriguez is in for the benched Ashley Barnes.

There is one change apiece for Sheffield United and Watford: John Fleck is back from suspension and replaces Luke Freeman for the hosts, while Nathaniel Chalobah is in for the banned Abdoulaye Doucoure for the Hornets.


Aston Villa XI: Heaton, El Mohamady, Hause, Konsa, Targett, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, Grealish, El Ghazi, Wesley, Trezeguet.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram, Tettey, Trybull, Buendía, McLean, Cantwell, Pukki.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale, S. Cook, Mepham, Simpson, Stacey, L. Cook, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, C. Wilson, King.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Sokratis, Saka, Xhaka, Torreira, Nelson, Özil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Rüdiger, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta, Kanté, Jorginho, Emerson, Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Abraham.

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Soares, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg, Redmond, Adams, Obafemi.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Kouyaté, McArthur, Meyer, Ayew, Zaha.

West Ham XI: Roberto, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Antonio, Haller.

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Digne, Sidibé, Sigurdsson, Delph, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.

Burnley XI: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Brady, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Rodriguez, Wood.

Sheffield Utd XI: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McBurnie, McGoldrick.

Watford XI: Foster, Mariappa, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenía, Capoue, Chalobah, Hughes, Sarr, Deeney, Deulofeu.

  1. Dont give a fuchs
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Which one? Have 2 FTs

    Option 1
    Alli to Salah/mane

    Option 2
    Kane and Zaha/Mount to Rashford and Salah/Mane

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Option 2 but you need something better than Mount/Zaha for the second part of the equation.

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Fail sorry 🙂

      2. Dont give a fuchs
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Already have 3.9M ITB

    2. linkafu
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Option 2

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

    Holgate: "How did he not score?!"

  3. Bruce Lee
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Watching the Everton game and I would not rule our Digne just because Sidibe is on the wing... The way the system works, Digne is often as advanced as Sidbe in attack

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Yep both good options. Digne’s set pieces could edge it

    2. Limbo
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Digne is in same posiition so poses same threat. Sidibie poses more threat than he did - at least for assists. I'd not expect it to last in any case - Iwobi / Walcott is / have been injured.

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Do you understand tactics beyond their position on the pitch?

        1. Limbo
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          HAhah.

        2. Bruce Lee
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          In attack Everton are more of a 3 at the back with Coleman tucking in to CB... in effect... Sidebe and Digne are both fullbacks

  4. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea game a bore-fest so far.

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

      Let's hope it stays that way 0-0

    2. AzzaroMax99
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      And I capped Tammy...another C fail incoming :/

  5. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Byram hits bar

  6. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    AVL defence is a complete shambles. Best WAT attacker to captain on Saturday?

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

      Kiko

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Wrong account Jafooli mate

    2. Limbo
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      On last game - Mr. Gerard. D

  7. Chandler Bing
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Maddison -> Alli a wise move or a bit sideways? Have Kane, Vardy and Aurier already

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

      Kept through mci & LIV only to sell now?

      1. Pumpkinhead
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        My thought exactly

      2. Chandler Bing
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Had other fish to fry then especially with Son deciding to go nuts again.

    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      LEI have good fixtures coming up.

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        6 years, 3 months ago

        A scoring Alli is a must

    4. linkafu
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Best replacement for Baldock?

      1. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Lundstram

        1. linkafu
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          already have but don't want Shef double anymore

      2. Patio Kev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        I am doing the same.

        Dunk, Rico, Webster, Holgate all good fixtures as do Watford.

    5. Bruce Lee
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Remember someone said they didn't think Southampton would sit back against Chelsea...

    6. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Pukki another big chance missed

      Should have passed to Tettey for a tap in

      1. Pumpkinhead
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Pukki doesn't pass

      2. King Carlos
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        His second touch failed him

    7. Kaiser123
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Southampton have a very good shape. Not going to be easy for Chelsea here.

    8. Pecky
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A) Dendoncker -> Maddison
      B) Dendoncker -> Richarlison
      C) Dendoncker -> Mount +(upgrade defence)
      D) Rashford/Abraham + Dendoncker to Salah + Bench fodder

      Pope McGovern
      Mendy Aurier Soyuncu Lundstram Rico
      Mane KDB Alli Grealish Dendoncker
      Vardy Rashford Abraham

      Thanks in advance

      1. The_Fish
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        D

    9. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Pukki is a really really bad player with the ball

    10. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Tomori should do better, decent chance.

    11. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Foster denys blades

    12. Woy_is_back
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      No goals lol

      1. tambourineman
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        It's looking unlikely to beat the 66 goals of Boxing Day 1963.

    13. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 16 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Pogba/Martial in a 3-5-2

      Or

      Tammy/Jimmy/Callum in a 3-4-3

      Can’t stretch to Rashford

      1. linkafu
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        B

    14. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Ive watched the last 4 Palace matches. They're enjoyable to watch. Absolute garbage team, but pull results out

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        They are far from enjoyable to watch. They are the exact antithesis of enjoyment.

    15. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Boxing Day fail. 0-0 all around. Should have played 5 at the bavk

    16. pjomara
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Boxing day 1963's record is safe for another year

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        What record

        1. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea

          Burnley 6-1 Manchester United

          Fulham 10-1 Ipswich Town

          Leicester City 2-0 Everton

          Liverpool 6-1 Stoke City

          Nottingham Forest 3-3 Sheffield United

          Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Bolton Wanderers

          West Bromwich Albion 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur

          West Ham United 2-8 Blackburn Rovers

          Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-3 Aston Villa

        2. BrutalLogiC
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          66 goals in 10

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

        That won't happen again ...... shame, really.

        1. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Footballers on the sauce a bit more in those days.

    17. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      If Che keep playing stupid passes around their defence they will give up a stupid goal, pity Ings ain’t there yet to take advantage.

    18. Woy_is_back
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Damn, I should have checked team news and put Simpson ahead of Donkey on my bench

    19. Mikeharbrw
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Where dem goals @

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

        Lundstram incoming

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          idk, Foster is playing good I think

    20. manu4life99
      • 16 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      RMWCT

      Ramsdale McGovern
      Soy Aurier Lund Kiko Webster
      Salah Sterling KDB Alli Maddison
      Vardy Ings Greenwood

      1. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Maxed out on mids but is kiko the Watford kiko. I would have Rico (cos of bournmouth fixtures).

        1. manu4life99
          • 16 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Yep watford (short on budget for Rico also dont fancy Ramsdale double up)

    21. ZeBestee
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Arsenal playing really well, Arteta effect already starting to show.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 16 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Definitely not new manager bounce?

        1. ZeBestee
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah could be as well. Arsenal playing with urgency and working hard. Also playing nice passes with Ozil at the heart.

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 16 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Would be nice to be able to draw upon hem for FPL again, seems like it’s been years since we could

            1. ZeBestee
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 3 months ago

              Yup, Arteta would defintely bring in a lot of improvements I believe. Am sure the likes of Ozil and Auba would be on the radar soon.

    22. Slitherene
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      On a Wildcard.
      Which option for the next few fixtures?

      A) Ryan Sidibe
      Grealish Kane
      (Rico Greenwood)

      B) Ramsdale Digne
      Rashford Abraham
      (Kiko, Cantwell)

      1. manu4life99
        • 16 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        B

    23. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Bore fest at Stamford Bridge

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 16 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Get Pulisic on before the 30

        1. TheSteel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Found the owner 🙂

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

            You found another

          2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 16 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            We need a support group for Pulisic owners

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

              Crowdfunding might be a solution - to open a new care home.

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

          This!! A bore fest is not what we wanted.

        3. Woy_is_back
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          this

    24. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I can understand all other games being goalless but villa norwich really?

      1. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Both afraid of conceding so playing more defensively?

      2. Thiga
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Right? Both teams have had some really decent chances.

    25. L'Aeroplanino
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      So Pulisic completely dropped now? I thought he had a higher chance of starting vs SOU@home than ars away.

    26. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Well this is sh*te !!

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Indeed

      2. The_Fish
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Not for a Tomori, Lund (C) and Hendo owner!