Dugout Discussion
14 March 2021 1772 comments
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Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur is the third of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off in the north London derby is at 16:30 GMT.

Much of the pre-match coverage has centred around Mikel Arteta’s surprise decision to omit Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m) from his starting XI.

We have seen the Gabon international, among others, rested after his exertions in Europe in recent weeks but today’s benching is instead for “disciplinary reasons”, rather than influenced by fatigue.

Mikel Arteta said ahead of kick-off:

He was going to start the game. We had a disciplinary issue, we have drawn the line and we move on. He’s on the bench.

We have a process that we have to respect for every game, and that’s it.

Aubameyang is one of four changes that Arteta has made from the side that drew 1-1 with Burnley last weekend.

Calum Chambers (£4.5m), Willian (£7.5m) and Pablo Mari (£4.4m) also make way, as Alexandre Lacazette (£8.1m), Cedric (£4.6m), Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m) and Gabriel (£4.9m) are recalled.

As for Spurs, Tanguy Ndombele (£5.9m) in for Harry Winks (£5.1m) is the only change that Jose Mourinho has made from the Gameweek 27 win over Crystal Palace.

That means that Harry Kane (£11.4m) has recovered from the knock to the knee he took in Thursday’s win over Dinamo Zagreb.

The England international is reunited with Son Heung-min (£9.6m), Lucas Moura (£6.6m) and Gareth Bale (£9.5m) in a front four that looked potent against the Eagles last weekend.

Kane and Bale were the top two most popular purchases of Gameweek 28, following their double-digit hauls in the Lilywhites’ previous league outing.

The Spurs duo were transferred in by over one million managers combined in the run-up to Friday’s deadline.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Lacazette.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Doherty, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Ndombele, Lucas, Bale, Son, Kane.

GAMEWEEK 28 SO FAR…

.

Kelechi Iheanacho‘s (£5.6m) superb Fantasy Premier League form continued on Sunday as Leicester City thumped a Sheffield United side marooned at the foot of the Premier League table and starting life without Chris Wilder.

The Nigeria international hit a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over the managerless Blades, taking his total to five goals and 35 FPL points in his last three appearances.

Iheanacho has been flourishing alongside Jamie Vardy (£10.2m) since the budget FPL forward’s return to the Leicester starting XI in Gameweek 26, and has had over twice as many shots as the long-serving striker in that time.

No Fantasy forward has registered as many shots in the box or big chances as Iheanacho over the last three Gameweeks.

Vardy again failed to find the target on Sunday but was as much a part of the Foxes’ victory as his strike partner, supplying three assists – two of them sublime passes for Iheanacho before Ethan Ampadu (£4.3m) deflected in his off-target effort – en route to his first double-digit haul since Gameweek 14.

The fit-again Ayoze Perez (£6.0m) also got in on the act by finding the net on his return from injury.

This was not a match to gauge the offensive threat or defensive competence of Brendan Rodgers’ troops, however, as Sheffield United turned in a thoroughly abject display under caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom.

The Blades managed just one shot on goal as the hosts cruised to what was their first clean sheet in six matches.

Owners of Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) couldn’t enjoy the routine shut-out, however, as the Portuguese full-back was withdrawn at half-time because of “tightness in his hamstring”.

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  1. KUN+10
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    On FH, what do you guys think of this lot?

    Meslier
    Dunk Veltman Dallas
    Bale Auba Lingard Willian Raphina
    Kane Antonio

    Steer Maupay Cresswell Aina

  2. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    bottomed:

    two free trandfers, son and pereira to make way for:

    1
    A bale
    B lingard
    C Trossard

    2
    A coufal (4.6)
    B cresswell (5.8)
    C reguilon
    D konsa

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A
      B

  3. not_astarte
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    C'mon Bruno!!!!!!!!

  4. Eze Really?
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Which team would win
    Banks
    Cole Ferdinand Moore Le Saux
    Lampard Robson Beckham Charlton
    Shearer Keegan
    Shilton
    Terry Campbell Baines Steven
    Gascoigne Gerrard Carrick Scholes
    Kane Barnes

    1. The 12th Man
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Team Banks

  5. Live Scoutcast Tues 8pm - leave your questions here
    J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    SCOUTCAST - looking ahead to #GW29 #fpl

    TUES 8pm

    Joining me is @DavidMunday815 and an internetted @SebWassell

    Feel free to leave your questions here

    1. The Sociologist
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Which heavy hitters should we be looking to bring in this week? What if we don’t want any of them?!

    2. The Sociologist
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Man City assets - with a packed schedule looming, is now the time to stick or twist? Particularly with the double defence.

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      On a serious note - can we have a section on the scoutcast about when are referees going to wake up to Harry Kane's dangerous/foul play habits?

      Never mind his constant & dangerous technique of backing into a defender jumping behind him (which is honestly going to lead to a broken arm or worse some day)

      https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-reactions-compilation-of-harry-kanes-controversial-backing-in-tactic-20210129

      But there wasn't even a free kick given for this yesterday - it could honestly have been a straight red, seriously dangerous/foul play from Engerland's Captain Golden Boy, note even looking at the ball... he was just lucky Lamela stepped up a minute later to take the spotlight away from it:

      https://twitter.com/Biggies_MaIIs/status/1371171998265655296

      Meanwhile when roles are reversed - he gets the defender booked for this:

      https://twitter.com/Biggies_MaIIs/status/1371214889772068864

      Can he be retrospectively punished at least for the shoulder barge... Referees need to take note & start booking him for this carry on before someone gets seriously injured

      1. The 12th Man
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        I totally agree but he’ll keep doing it and getting away with it as long as there’s no bookings.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 15 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          The double standards have always been disgraceful - but surely the challenge on Gabriel yesterday was the final straw & some sort of action has to be taken - if not retrospectively then surely a closer eye for his little foul play routines & low-cunning tricks going forward

          It doesn't take a genius to see that the guy has no regard whatsoever for the safety of his opponents and/or fair play

      2. The Rumour Mill
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        They briefly covered this on the guardian football weekly, I agree with you, but it's not really relevant to fpl is it?

        1. asquishypotato
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          It’s along the lines of ‘don’t get Xhaka, he’s known for a card’ but in reverse, agreed with you. No need for an FPL based podcast to bring it up.

    4. FPL Notebook (John)
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      West Ham one of the most in-form teams, but have one of the tougher fixtures against Arsenal. Is it worth investing in Cresswell, or even Jesse Lingard?

    5. Eze Really?
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      With the spare cash around, is it an idea to get Chilwell and Alonso knowing only one will play but the rewards are usually good? probably pay 1.5 mil more than one would.

    6. Toby Lerone
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      How many players will we be able to get away with as a non free hitter?

      Any differentials like trossard/gross worth a hit to bring in?

    7. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      what would be your FH starting 11

    8. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Am I the worst FPL manager in he world? I've dropped from 377k to 1.17m in 10 weeks!