Dugout Discussion
2 January 2017 2295 comments
Mark Mark
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Just 24-hours after waving goodbye to Gameweek 19, we’re underway again as the exhausting festive period draws to a close.

In Fantasy terms, we at least appear to be eased into this next round of fixtures.

Middlesbrough host Leicester City in a match-up that, on paper, harbours little interest for Fantasy managers.

Alvaro Negredo and Gaston Ramirez are perhaps the major attacking assets on show, as we get the opportunity to scout their potential ahead of Boro’s kind run of January fixtures.

Given that Middlesbrough have scored just 17 goals from their 19 matches, Aitor Karanka’s defence is perhaps more likely to offer us profit, with Ben Gibson already backed by 9.6% of FPL managers. He starts today but, elsewhere in the Boro rearguard, a knee injury to keeper Victor Valdes keeps him out of action, while George Friend is relegated to the bench having returned to the starting XI at Old Trafford in Gameweek 19.

They are part of five changes made by both Middlesbrough and Leicester, perhaps indication of a turbulent day for the teamsheets.

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

  1. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Brought Nacho in for the Kun ban, lost 0.2m, sold him and now Pep starts him when Kun is back. Couldn't make it up. The bloke is a to55er. Steering clear from now on. Kane & Ibra suits me.

  2. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Friend owners - Hopefully the silver lining is this performance from him should get him back in the first XI at least.

  3. Ayew Holding Mee Cork
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I want to know how many people transfer Aguero in for a hit.

  4. Viprin
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Friend surely has to be nailed on with that performance

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      This is what I'm thinking.

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Valdes
      Fabio Chambers Gibson Friend

      Barragan may have a hard time coming back in.

    3. twoplustwo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Wasn't worried, he's returning and captain no

  5. JogaSemmedo
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I'll be getting rid of Kun regardless of if he scores off the bench. Pep rotation is ridiculous and I see that now.

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      True, Costa, Kane, Ibra and just forget about City!

    2. King Son
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yep i'll be joining you there..In fact no more City players!

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Kneejerking.

      1. JogaSemmedo
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Not really. Watch Jesus score and it's another Kim alternative.

    4. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      If you can't captain for Burnley at home with confidence then when can you. As my post above, City-less from now on.

  6. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Which moves for 2 FTs?

    A) Origi/De Roon to Barnes (or Anichebe?)/Walcott, and play 3-5-2

    B) Origi/Cedric to Benteke (or Giroud?)/Brunt

  7. Somalion
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Huth MOTM because he marked an immobile Negredo.

    #Justice4Friend

  8. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    There have been six hat-tricks from the bench in Premier League history.

    1. Somalion
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      All 6 coming from Kun Aguero against Burnley 😯

      1. Parm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        (that will be number seven)

    2. bulbuf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      but a kun aint one

    3. Hooky
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Trollkaku, Solskjaer and who else?

      1. Sjaugen
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Naismith

      2. Big Mac 24
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I know Naismith (!!) ruined Chelsea with one for everton

        1. Big Mac 24
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Plus maybe earnie not long after he left us bluebirds? Definitely put on a show on maybe his West Brom debut.

    4. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero's debut v Swansea a case in point. He scored at least two and got an assist I think from the bench.

      1. bulbuf
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        i smell poo

  9. Mulla
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Just seen Alonso flagged, any intel on this lads ???

    1. Numb
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      You'll laugh, but it was based on a photo posted by Alonso of himself having a massage on Snapchat.

      1. Mulla
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Ah lads!! Hope he got a happy ending at least !

    2. KickIt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Based on a tweet, nothing definate.

  10. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Brunt now at LB and Nyom dropped. Nyom was hooked at half time in the last game so looks like he is now potentially out of favour.

  11. rohan
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Mane (c). Hattrick please

  12. FPL Maldini
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    One thing is for sure after this performance.

    Friend should be nailed back in the team now

    1. John Nerdelbaum
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      it helps that the rival for his place has a hammy

  13. John t penguin
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Of course it will be nolito that subs for nacho today

  14. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Not sure how to feel about my Silva fail. I knew the risk but I was never confident about Aguero. If I'd brought Aguero instead of Silva I'd have (c) him....

    I suppose the lesson is never City.

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Not Gabriel?

      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Not unless he sells half his squad.

  15. Numb
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Just not worth the best part of 13m this season when compared with options such as Costa, Ibra and Kane who are all significantly cheaper and always play

    1. BabyB
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      That is how I see it as well numb. Certainly not ripping up a squad for him with average fixtures at best.

    2. John Nerdelbaum
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      why didn't you say this before?

      1. Numb
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        No one asked me

        1. John Nerdelbaum
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          🙂

    3. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Costa to Aguero was a move I could have done with my two free transfers but after seeing Costa play v Stoke and hunt down every ball in his secure berth up front I just couldn't.

      1. John Nerdelbaum
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Felt Kane > Kun with Eriksen and a loss of 0.1 SV was worth the risk. At least this allows a route back to Costa for Hull

      2. The Scholes School
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        +1. He had no right to get that goal; only managed to by being super determined to score and barging through Stoke's defence.

  16. Sz21
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Giroud in for Negredo seems to make sense at this stage..
    Have 2.5m in bank..

    Was considering Aguero but.... emm maybe not now.
    Ibra/Costa/Negredo atm..

  17. thep025
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    This is actually unfortunate for Friend owners....Played actually 60+mins and the best player for Boro...Yet a 1 pointer

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ain't it, coming from a Friend owner. Rules are rules I suppose.

    2. _Ninja_
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      If by unfortunate you mean funny, then yeah, yeah it is.

    3. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Also unfortunate for Barragan owners

      1. thep025
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I'm one((

  18. ronty
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Purely from a footballing perspective,this is amateurish from Pep

    Kun obviously had rust to shake off and Anfield is a very tough place

    KdB basically running on fumes and was the one who needed the rest

    1. _Freddo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      It's not rest though is it, he's fragile and 2 games in 2 days is clearly dangerous for him.

      We knew this, some of us were still stupid enough to bring him in.

      1. Nabs Kebabs
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        That is a rest

        1. _Freddo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          They are preventing the risk of injury, hardly the same as leaving him out because he's too tired to run.

          Whatever way you want to label it, it was still a huge risk that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

          1. Nabs Kebabs
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah its more precautionary but still a rest.

            And thats why I never bought him...Pep is obsessed with rotation.

  19. BabyB
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    1pt closer to safety for Leicester. Good result for them.

  20. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Friend CS banked 😎

  21. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    7 min of stoppage time should count for Friend.

    1. SupaTune
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      sweet, cheers

      1. bulbuf
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        shouldnt and wont

  22. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Triple WBA to rescue

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      This.

    2. Lawrø
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      They'll concede at the very end of the game, don't get your hopes up! 😀

      1. Lawrø
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I've also tripled btw

  23. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    0-0

    well done friend owners

    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      missed a CS by 3 minutes

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      lol

    3. michudagawd
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Do one.

      1. FPL Maldini
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        #63minutes

  24. Bleach †
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I really hope that Alonso plays so many wont get Chambers from bench 😀

  25. thep025
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    WHo to get from Boro-Friend vs Chambers?

    1. Bleach †
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Both good picks tbh.

    2. Conk
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Friend a better pick if he can nail his spot down

  26. SupaTune
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I have Friend for Boro..says he came on in the 34th min and the game is currently in the 97th min, will get get the clean sheet points or does the game cap at the 90th min?

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No he wont

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      No CS points

    3. bulbuf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      90. as the added time is supposed to make up for original minutes

    4. Big Mac 24
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Capped, as the game can only officially have 90 minutes - the injury time replaces lost time, unfortunately

  27. John t penguin
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Schmeichel on CS run

  28. drughi
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero will come on and score for sure

  29. _Freddo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    I would love to say 'I told you so' but I also brainfarted and brought Aguero in today.

    1. Numb
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ha ha

    2. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Chasing tails 😉

      1. _Freddo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Chasing shadows more like.

        1. J0E
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Remember his debut though v Swansea...off the bench and hauled instantly. Plenty of time.

          1. _Freddo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            I do but unfortunately I also remember him coming off the bench against Everton.

  30. The Enlightener
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Omg. I got a cleanie from a non-Chelsea defender. 😯