Dugout Discussion
4 February 2017 1681 comments
Mark Mark
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As mid-season encounters go, this is as crunchy as they get.

Arsenal make the trip to Stamford Bridge knowing that, should they falter, their own title bid would likely be irreversibly de-railed. Meanwhile, a victory for Chelsea would surely come as the latest evidence that they are truly champions elect.

For Fantasy managers, there is also plenty at stake.

Alexis Sanchez starts in the central striker role and in 36.5% of squads, having returned a goal or an assist in ten of his last eleven Gameweeks. In opposition, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard also remain hugely popular assets, despite the alarming recent regression from the latter. The Belgian has supplied just three assists in his last five, with a single goal in eight Gameweeks – a penalty against Bournemouth back in December.

With Marcos Alonso also a key asset, there will be mixed emotions heading into this clash for the neutral, with a high-scoring contest perhaps the optimum outcome for many.

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

  1. Lecky Legs FC
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    A Costa goal here would be the icing on the cake.

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Boo!

      1. Lecky Legs FC
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        (C)osta 😉

        1. TheSteel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 22 hours ago

          Nice

    2. Rh4ziel
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Yes please.

  2. Rolls-Royce
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Did Mark keep Hazard?

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      yes

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        Genius

  3. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Sideshow FK

  4. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Mini league rival has tripled up on Everton defence. Mental or ballsy? Goalman, Baines and Williams.

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Both

    2. jayzico
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      I have too

  5. SuperDan
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Best 4.5 or under Defender? Fabio maybe?

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Nyom

      1. SuperDan
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        Not a bad option. Covers blanks

    2. jayzico
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Depends what other defenders you got. I've gone Yoshida, cos I own Brunt already

      1. SuperDan
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        I have Alonso, Baines, Coleman, Rose and Amat

        Getting rid of Rose for a cheaper option

  6. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    C'mon Alonso get second goal

  7. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Short corners should be banned

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      What about short cuts?

      1. Ryan Naysmith
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        Don't know why I laughed at this

  8. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Why is costa assist not showing on any live score app. Was it an FPL dodgy assist? Or was it legit?

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Lukaku has to confirm all assists.

    2. The Enlightener
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Both were dodgy really.

    3. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      FPL has him down as 2 assists

    4. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      He didn't exactly create either goal, but he was last player to touch the ball so technically an assist for FPL purposes at least.

  9. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Sanchez deeper than Monreal

  10. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Incoming team sheets

  11. La Roja
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Theo fail

  12. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Walcott - 100 times he has been subbed off for Arsenal.

  13. Yome
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Giroud to Costa worked well then

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      2 assists is decent.

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      This was my move this week...pretty sweet 😎

  14. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Sanchez having a mare. Been horrendous.

    1. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      The entire team has been terrible

  15. Hi I'm Jose
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Literally, if Pedro is on the pitch then you should have Hazard.

    I used to be a defender years ago, honestly that Pedro kind of footballers we hated the most. You know that he is not that a finisher, but cant get tired god damn so he runs all over the pitch, at some point you give up being close to him. So he creates many chances to his teammates like Hazard, Costa, Moses etc. That is unlikely to see when Willian is on the pitch instead.

    So, if Pedro is nailed on, than always (C) Hazard or Costa.

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Litterally

    2. Differentiator
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      "So, if Pedro is nailed on, than always (C) Hazard or Costa."

      Lol

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Were you playing in La Liga?

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        Lol

  16. Clifford☯
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Grosicki starts.

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Bless you.

  17. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Matic takes one for the Team

  18. Rolls-Royce
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Alonso wants more

  19. Demí
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    #watfordfc line-up v @BurnleyOfficial: Gomes (GK); Cathcart, Kaboul, Prödl, Holebas; Behrami; Niang, Cleverley, Capoue, Zarate; Deeney (c).

    1. _Gunner
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Holebas starts, that is good news for me atleast

      1. BobBradleysOpportunity
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        Agreed

        1. BobBradleysOpportunity
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 22 hours ago

          Good for me too I mean haha

  20. Demí
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    #SCFC Starting XI v @WBA: Grant; Bardsley, Shawcross, M. Indi, Pieters; Whelan, Adam; Afellay, Allen, Arnautovic; Crouch.

  21. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Someone post the team news already. God

    1. Fitzy.
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      They have.

  22. ILOVEBAPS
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Sanchez has been rubbish.

    1. Grand Thibauto
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Arsenal too

    2. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      And we all laughed at the guy who benched him.

  23. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Matip, get in....

  24. Ziro
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Tomkins, van Aanholt, Zaha, McArthur, Cabaye, Puncheon, Benteke,
    Subs: Speroni (1), Sakho (12), Ledley (16), Flamini (4), Remy (8), Townsend (10), Fryers (19)

    Sunderland: Mannone, Denayer, O'Shea, Koné, Jones, Ndong, Rodwell, Larsson, ?, Januzaj, Defoe,
    Subs: Borini (9), Manquillo (21), Gibson (24), Simões Domingues (12), Lescott (15), Pienaar (20), Khazri (10)

    Everton: Robles, Coleman, Funes Mori, Williams, Baines, Schneiderlin, Barry, Barkley, McCarthy, Lookman, Lukaku,
    Subs: Mirallas (11), Holgate (30), Davies (26), Gueye (17), Valencia (19), Stekelenburg (22), Jagielka (6)

    Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Surman, Mings, Arter, Gosling, Fraser, Wilshere, Pugh, King,
    Subs: Stanislas (19), Smith (14), Mousset (31), Cargill (38), Ibe (33), Allsop (21), Afobe (9)

    Hull City: Jakupovic, Elabdellaoui, Dawson, Maguire, Robertson, ?, Goebel, Huddlestone, Clucas, N'Diaye, Hernández,
    Subs: Maloney (15), Niasse (24), Tymon (28), Mbokani Bezua (18), Marshall (23), Meyler (7), Ranocchia (13)

    Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Leiva, Milner, Lallana, Henderson, Can, Mané, Firmino, Coutinho,
    Subs: Moreno (18), Gomez (12), Karius (1), Wijnaldum (5), Sturridge (15), Alexander-Arnold (66), Origi (27)

    Southampton: Forster, Alves Soares, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Romeu Vidal, Davis, Boufal, Gabbiadini, Rodriguez,
    Subs: Clasie (4), Long (7), Taylor (28), McQueen (38), Højbjerg (23), Redmond (22), Gardos (5)

    West Ham United: Randolph, Kouyaté, Reid, da Rocha Fonte, Antonio, Obiang, Noble, Cresswell, Feghouli, Carroll, Snodgrass,
    Subs: Quina (36), Fernandes (31), Calleri (28), Collins (19), Lanzini (10), San Miguel del Castillo (13), Fletcher (24)

    Watford: Gomes, Kaboul, Prödl, Cathcart, Capoue, Behrami, Cleverley, Holebas, Zárate, Deeney, Niang,
    Subs: Success Ajayi (10), Britos (3), Janmaat (22), Okaka (33), Doucouré (16), Watson (23), Arlauskis (34)

    Burnley: Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Boyd, Hendrick, Barton, Arfield, Barnes, Gray,
    Subs: Brady (12), Vokes (9), Tarkowski (26), Robinson (17), Flanagan (4), Berg Gudmundsson (25), Westwood (18)

    West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Nyom, Dawson, McAuley, Brunt, Fletcher, Livermore, Chadli, Morrison, Phillips, Rondón,
    Subs: McClean (14), Leko (45), Field (47), Myhill (13), Robson-Kanu (4), Olsson (3)

    Stoke City: Grant, Bardsley, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters, Whelan, Adam, Afellay, Allen, Arnautovic, Crouch,
    Subs: Ngoy (45), Muniesa (5), Diouf (18), Imbula (21), Given (24), Bony (12), Berahino (9)

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Dial up?

    2. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      You really are a wee star 🙂

    3. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      The wall has been built and the casuals have paid for it.

    4. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Fancy ? To get a brace for sunderland

    5. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      At least someone got it right.

      1. Demí
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        You must be 12 years old

    6. Ziro
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Cue ? jokes

    7. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      ? Playing for Sunderland?

    8. Sif
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      ? starts!

    9. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      You bring great news, TY 🙂

    10. Rolls-Royce
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Cabaye!

    11. JayBomb
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Fair play!

    12. Sz21
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Holgate on the bench... sweet!
      Glad I avoided.

      Come on The Snod!!

    13. Ziro
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      ? = Oviedo

    14. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Which defender is OOP for Palace? Or are they three at the back? Is Ward playing in midfield?

      Holgate benched - Everton back to 4 at the back.

      Snodgrass starts, but no Lanzini.

      Brunt looks to be playing at LB (i.e. not OOP).

    15. WVA
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Lucas starting for Liv

      1. The Enlightener
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        Lol. He is terrible.

    16. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Hull ? Is grosicki

      1. Ziro
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        Cheers PKW

    17. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Adam smith ffs. Useless

      1. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 21 hours ago

        He's an institution.

    18. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      Great news for the guy who played Tadic and had Alonso 1st bench...jammy sod!

      1. The Enlightener
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 22 hours ago

        Ha ha! Talk about lucky! Guess it is a luck-based game though.

    19. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      missed Evandro in Hull team

  25. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Jamie Redknapp just used the word "intelligent"

    That will be the closest he will ever get to having any

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 22 hours ago

      He is fick.

  26. Slartibartfast
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Holgate 🙁

  27. tm245
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Haven't had Demi time in awhile. Cheers.

  28. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    Hull getting whacked

  29. Lallana_
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    That cringe dab will be the highlight of this second half

  30. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 22 hours ago

    I sold Hazard this week...

    Would you sell Sánchez or Alli to get him back?

    Or sell Zlatan for Costa?