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. Giovanni Giorgio
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Snodgrass feeding Antonio and Carroll wopwop

  2. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Stanislas on the bench!? FFS >:(

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      Howe is a moron, he never knows what his best team is so he just rotates randomly.

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

        Agree that Howe is overrated.

        1. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 2 days ago

          Mid-table side on a shoe-string with a tiny stadium...he's actually pretty good 🙂

  3. HurriKane
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Sanchez off to Bayern next season. You head it first here 😉

  4. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    RIP Holgate.

    Luiz comes off the bench for me. Rival owns Giroud. We all know what will happen now.

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

      Need to wait re Holgate. If Everton get off to a shocker then expect Koeman to switch to 3 at the back.

  5. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    No stanislas

  6. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Stanislas to Zaha worked out well

  7. _Gunner
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Stanislas benched :S

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Gw28 hero Stanislas dropped

    1. Demí
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      don't get howe

  9. The Royal Robin
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Long benched, gahhh.

  10. Ravager
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Stanislas benched. Meh. Inching up there with my worst buys.

    1. Kirton Hoops
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      2nd time Ive bought him... I'm an idiot!

  11. rivercityransom
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    tadic not in the squad. who is that guy who needed that to happen for alonso to come off the bench?

  12. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Was going to perhaps bench Alonso for Stanislas, thankfully didn't!

  13. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Long bench

    1. La Roja
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      Mine is short with Jones and Amat

  14. Danstoke82
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Can see Giroud getting a consolation goal here wiping out my Alonso CS

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      Yeah - and removing his bonus - and elevating Costa

  15. some witty pun
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    imagine Chelsea having Cuadrado instead of Moses

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      Pipe down John Lennon...

  16. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Alli hattrick today hopefully

  17. Scratch
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Tyler: "You wouldn't have done that to Dider Drogba"

    Ummm yes you would, he's one of the biggest playacting wimps to ever play the premier league

  18. TheTinman
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Looks like Holebas in for Stanislas was the right call. Cmok Jose

  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Davies fail

    1. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      I hear the surf weather was good today.

  20. rivercityransom
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    think stanislas is just rested. he obviously needs a break every now and then, can't remember the last time he lasted 90

  21. Athletic Dildao
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Arsenal meltdown has commenced. I can feel it. Sell Sanchez until they mount a comeback for top 4?

  22. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Cmon Sanxhez

  23. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Arsene on the phone to his pension adviser

  24. Basil1977
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Note to myself
    never bench Alonso!!!!

    Now praying Baines, Walker, Brunt don't play this weekend!!

    1. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      baines and brunt are playing

      walker will play too.

  25. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Why is Lookman starting?? 😕

    1. Yome
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      To assist Lukaku goals

    2. vectorman
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      Yep bought in Mirallas this week, thought it might be a risk... Flip!!! there goes the future plans

  26. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Holebas to better Alonso!

  27. Ravager
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Dropping Siggy for Stanislas a few weeks ago has worked out perfectly.

    1. Chris_H
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      Last two mids sold Siggy & Hazard 🙁

  28. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Which defender is OOP for Palace? Is Ward playing in midfield?

    Holgate benched - Everton back to 4 at the back. Lookman in the team.

    Snodgrass starts, but no Lanzini.

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

    1. Yome
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      PVA

    2. Netley Lucas
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 days ago

      Wardy & PvA wing-backs and Tom-Dan-Del CB's.

  29. ILOVEBAPS
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Should have done better with that chance Giroud.

  30. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 days ago

    Good save from Courtois.Welbeck close.

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

      Mustafi then misses a good chance.