Dugout Discussion
31 December 2016 2216 comments
Mark Mark
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Six afternoon kick-offs get Gameweek 19 back underway, with our attention fixated on a cast of key assets.

More than 27% of FPL managers go into these matches with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as their captain.

The Swede needs two goals to surpass Lionel Messi as Europe’s top goalscorer in 2016 across the top flight leagues, with the Middlesbrough defence in his way at Old Trafford.

Diego Costa ranks next in terms of armband popularity, claiming the support of 15% of FPL managers ahead of a meeting with Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.

The striker is recalled following a one-match suspension and is part of a reassuringly familiar Blues line-up that also includes Eden Hazard, backed by 6.7% of FPL managers.

There are teamsheet changes elsewhere, however, with Southampton innevitably shuffling the pack for their St Mary’s meeting with West Brom. Jay Rodriguez, Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte and Ryan Bertrand are among the notable names omitted from today’s Saints line-up.

Tony Pulis also makes a key change to his Baggies starting XI for the south coast clash – Salomon Rondon is benched with Hal Robson-Kanu earning a first Premier League start for West Brom.

Meanwhile, Alan Curtis takes the temporary reins for Swansea City against Bournemouth and makes no less than seven changes, recalling Fantasy favourites Jordi Amat and Leroy Fer, along with Fernando Llorente up front.

Elsewhere, Burnley host Sunderland and Leicester City take on West Ham at the King Power Stadium, as they attempt to end the visitors run of three successive wins.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

  1. Dušan Citizen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Do you think it's worth doing -8 for Amat to Kelly?

    My defence in next GW is Alonso (tot) Pieters (WAT) Brunt (HUL)

    1. MTPockets
        8 years, 11 months ago

        No. Check Kelly's returns.

      • Mr. Funny Name
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Brady linked with palace so don't know if Kelly's place is safe

      • Dušan Citizen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Okay, thanks

        Brady would be great signing for Palace

    2. Maarrrr17
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Was that not a back pass from Boro that valdes picked up? Did I miss something?

      1. Differentiator
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Hard to say it was intentional, so doesn't count

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      siggy is so out for phillips if he doesnt score

    4. sthelenslad92
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Already have Alonso, Ake & Brunt:

      A) Holebas, Kelly & Clayton
      B) Holebas, Martina & De Roon
      C) Williams/Gibson/Cedric, Amat & Clayton
      D) Ward, Amat & De Roon

    5. Sz21
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      As bad a 1st half for me as I've had..

      Jones benched so Amat is in.
      Siggy, Costa (c), Negredo, Ibra all blanks!

      Alonso and Heaton with cleanies so far are the only silver linings.

      1. Earn your Spurs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        On for 9 points including baps from 8 players Inc captain

    6. punkINdrublic
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      godsake, why didnt Betrand start? Got Amat coming on for - points ffs. Swansea might as well just give up now, they are the new Aston Villa

      1. SC not pearls before swine
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        He could get to 0! 🙁

        1. punkINdrublic
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          A new low, having a none playing 4th defender is a better option then Amat, more likely to score higher - 0
          potentially, I will keep my finegrs crossed that he gets zero. But they will probably concede another 2 or 3 and I wont be surpirsed.

    7. Crow
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      7 blanks yay ^.^

    8. Kane Train
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Would you do Siggy & Kane > Phillips & Aguero or find a way to upgrade Anichebe

      Heaton
      Koscielny / Brunt / Luiz
      Siggy / Sanchez / Hazard / Lallana
      Ibra / Anichebe / Kane

      Bench: Jaku, Amat, Barry, Love

      1. Kane Train
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        somebody please

    9. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Peter Schmeichel ✔ @Pschmeichel1
      Not having that decision, Zlatan did nothing wrong. Valdez was simply to late..!!

      You tell'm Pete!

    10. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      By not having a playing keeper I've saved some points today
      Would have got either grant
      Manonne or Foster for a hit.
      Sometimes you're just better doing nothing.

      1. Numb
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        That was always looking fairly likely

    11. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Rival has Costa (c). I have Ibra (c). Neither of us have the other striker and Ibra's goal gets ruled out. Sigh.

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Same .sickening.

        1. MTPockets
            8 years, 11 months ago

            It's football not kungfu

        2. Wilshere Knowledge
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Was the most obvious high foot I've ever seen though, tbf. 😆

          1. @ocprodigy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Can't given high foot if there's no one nearby. Ridiculous decision.

            1. Lawrø
              • 13 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              These are my thoughts as well, by the time he was near Valdes his foot was lowered

      2. Jairzinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        can't believe ibrahimovic is still on the pitch. so dangerous with his high foot.

        1. Les Bleus
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Not sure if serious or just a United hater.

      3. FALCAO & MOU
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This GW hasn't gone well till now.

      4. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        I fear for Hazards gametime in the second half

      5. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Good start for FFSers?

        1. Jazz!
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          No.

        2. greghammer95
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Lel

        3. Numb
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          At least Phillips seems popular on here, apart from that no one has many points I reckon

        4. Crow
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          🙁

        5. Dušan Citizen
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          All my players on 1 point

          1. Garlana
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Lucky not to have amat then

            1. Dušan Citizen
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              1st sub

        6. bojack
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Wonderful. Averaging a point per player 😀

        7. tisza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          horrible.
          actually hoping for a Jones 89th cameo to keep Amat on the bench!!
          everyone else 1pt

      6. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        What channel is City Liverpool?

        1. Jazz!
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          BT Sport.

        2. Hakchak
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Bt sport

        3. Clump
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Kodi

        4. Dušan Citizen
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          He's back :O

        5. AA33
            8 years, 11 months ago

            We miss you Daniel

        6. All Hail K
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          My first and third subs, who have done nothing, will be coming in. My second sub, Phillips who scored, remains on the bench. The Fantasy Football gods are having one last laugh at me in 2016.

          1. greghammer95
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            That's just cruelty.

        7. We Will Klopp you
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          8 points from 8 players so far

          1. Speédy
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            +1.with a -4

            1. Hakchak
              • 14 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              This

          2. Crow
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            1 point from 8. (-8) lel

          3. Mainoo Magic
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            8 points from 9 (-4)

        8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          still can't believe ibra goal was disallowed, difference between a good and bad gw 🙁

          1. Hakchak
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Only half time Bemba, things change in second half

            1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
              • 15 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              true but sickening to see we could be in double digit score by now

              1. Richd
                • 13 Years
                8 years, 11 months ago

                Sickening ? lol

            2. Crow
              • 8 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Hope so...

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

              Vengeance Ibra hat-trick incoming...

        9. Johnny too hotty
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          boom just pulled the trigger. zlatan and siggy put for aggas and Phillips.

          shoot me. cant be a bad move right?

          1. greghammer95
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            If any of them get injured today then yes lol.

          2. Shultan
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Why not wait until the match is finished!

          3. Les Bleus
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Could have at least waited until the games were done

        10. Rainer
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Does having Hazard AND Alexis justify only having two of Ibra, Kun and Costa?

          1. M.A.G
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Same dilemma

          2. @ocprodigy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Yep, although I think Hazard will have to go if Costa restarts his form. Simply too good.

            1. Rainer
              • 9 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Exactly my thinking, I don't think Hazard will cover Costa. In a few weeks time I think it'll be achievable!

          3. Forza
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            If you have Hazard, Costa is expendable.

          4. We Will Klopp you
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            I feel like rage ditching Hazard, 2 goals in 7 gameweeks

        11. FALCAO & MOU
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          This GW hasn't gone well till now, but I am happy that there is still 45mins to go.

          1. Hakchak
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Exactly

        12. Shultan
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          A bit annoyed with that phillips goal...i know a lot of us were planning to get phillips next week anyway due to fixtures/downgrade for aguero but all the casuals will be jumping bandwagon now

          1. Speédy
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            +1

          2. Numb
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            He's been scoring quite a bit recently anyway so surely they'd already have him?

            1. Shultan
              • 9 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              His ownership % shows still a differential. If he hadnt scored only he wouldn't be in the casuals radar, but now he'll be one of the top transfers

          3. Crystal
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Did you get him in this week or just waiting to casually react when he scores?

            1. Shultan
              • 9 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              I have siggy in my team & wanted to give him one more match as its bournmouth at home. Siggy to phillips was on my radar from 3 GWs ago due to west brom fixtures & get aguero for burnley

          4. Ravager
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Didn't want to take the hit yesterday. Should have...

          5. Rains of Castamere
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Brought him in this week for Walcott 🙂

        13. That Was Easy!
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Siggy + Eriksen + Carroll > Aguero + Phillips + Cabaye....just want to do it.

          1. Lone Wolf FPL
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            max for -4

            1. That Was Easy!
              • 11 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              -8, only way to facilitate Aguero.

          2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Would like to keep Eriksen, esp if for -8...

        14. Pompel
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Stanislas or Phillips - guess I'm not the only one pondering that one

          1. Speédy
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            i am getting both

            1. Pompel
              • 11 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Could be the way to go

          2. That Was Easy!
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            I'm getting 2 of Cabaye, Stan and Phillips.

          3. HazardAGuess
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Same. I have no idea who to downgrade Defoe to if I bring in Phillips, though. (Already have Brunt and Foster.)

        15. The Overthinker
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          As of now, thinking to remove Defoe and siggy.
          Replacement?
          Lukaku and some mid ?
          Anichebe and hazard?

        16. Lone Wolf FPL
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Siggy -> Phillips all over the place

        17. NATSTER
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          ML leader has regularly fielded 5 MFs and they annoyingly keep delivering points.

          Sanchez - Hazard - Eriksen - Antonio - Phillips
          Ibra - Origi

          Considering to match him, but it would be hard to catch him.

          1. KOLASINA(C)
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            That's why he is a leader.

        18. Numb
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          I'd say that most of the big FPL points are coming this evening and tomorrow

          1. Harper_
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Hell yeah, Firmino, Lallana and San(C)hez

        19. Legomane
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Adam Smith and Rondon : rested or dropped?

          1. bojack
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            I'd think rested. Schedule is pointlessly busy. Should've played Mon - today - Weds.

          2. Wilshere Knowledge
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Rondon deffo rotated.

            Smith probably dropped. He's been pretty rubbish lately, imo.

          3. AA33
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Rondon surely is rested. Not so sure about Smith