Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Middlesbrough vs Manchester United

We drop by the Riverside in the first of three Sunday fixtures before yet another international break is thrust upon us.

Middlesbrough attempt to regroup after parting company with Aitor Karanka, as the Teesside team look to improve a dire run of form that has harvested two goals in their previous eight Premier League matches.

United are, of course, without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Marcus Rashford leading the line as the big Swede serves the second of a three-match ban.

Despite being without Paul Pogba due to a hamstring problem, Jose Mourinho has opted to bench Henrikh Mkhitaryan for today’s clash, frustrating the 17,000+ who drafted in the Armenian for this one.

Juan Mata – with two goals in his last three league appearances – potentially has the chance to play his way into Fantasy managers’ plans as United prepare to face 11 league matches in the remaining nine rounds of fixtures.

At the back, Antonio Valencia has been transferred in by over 57,000 FPL managers this week – three assists and a trio of clean sheets in United’s last six league matches highlight the Ecuadorian’s points potential at both ends of the pitch.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

959 Comments Post a Comment
  1. PvA
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    People saying every Valencia owner is lucky. He is an attacking player in a solid defensive team who play Boro who are one of the worst attacking teams. It's not like they got some bum who hauled. Envy and jealousy man smh

    1. PvA
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Shocking sentence structure, but you get my point

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Valencia first goal since the beginning of 2014 and a GK error. That is lucky

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        spot on

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      well, up until the 92nd minute he was on 2. So just annoyed he got 8

  2. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    I love you Valencia!

  3. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    Baines --> Valencia now or wait?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Whats the benefit of doing it now?

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      I did it last night to catch the price rise, if not rising again then wait.

  4. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    Delighted Ireland beat England, in the rugby Dubs draw with Kerry, fpl team skyrocketing.... valencia jammy joke is the icing on the cake

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Enjoy it whilst it lasts

  5. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    Wow! Jose wants to talk about the game today? Thats nice.

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      sobby little git. He is a colossal pr*ck

  6. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    What do we think will be the threshold to make the FFS Cup

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      60 plus

    2. Numb
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Will be high this week. 70 something?

  7. PvA
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    To all saying Valencia was lucky with Lukaku (c)... was Lukaku's 2nd goal lucky?

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      not at all. He made the goal, Valdez made the Valencia goal

    2. Scholes Balls
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      dude chill

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Loads of luck in FPL. Sometimes it goes for you. Sometimes against you.

    4. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      In the sphere of mistakes, Lukaku's second goal was a fairly common one. In all the years of watching football, I've never seen a goal like that.

      1. Grounderz
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        I believe Heurelho Gomes did something like that last season as well. Have you not seen it yet?

        1. Granville
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 10 days ago

          Not from just outside his own box

          1. Grounderz
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 10 days ago

            🙄

    5. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Valdes obviously thought, win the game or get some fantasy points off his Valencia pick.

      1. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        Or atleast draw*

  8. Scholes Balls
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    Why is walker still flagged ?!?

    1. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Because poch said he was a doubt. I was about to bench him but I knew walkers a tough dude

  9. Bazzalona
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    Jose's alphabets a bit astray.

  10. HVT
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    The United Schedule-screams Rotation city!

    Manchester United fixture list

    April

    1 - West Brom (h) - 3pm

    4 - Everton (h) - 8pm

    9 - Sunderland (a) - 1:30pm

    13 - Anderlecht (a)

    16 - Chelsea (h) 4pm

    20 - Anderlecht (h)

    23 - Burnley (a) 2:15pm

    27 - Manchester City (a) 7.45pm

    30 - Swansea (h) 12pm

    May

    4 - Europa League semi-final first-leg

    6 - Arsenal (a)

    11 - Europa League semi-final second-leg

    13 - Tottenham (a)

    16/17 - FREE - Possible Premier League fixture

    21 - Crystal Palace (h)

    24 - Europa League final

    1. FALCAO & MOU
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Valencia is a strong guy.

    2. Carpe Diem
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      You obviously don't know Mourinho if you think it will be rotation city.

      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        Tbf he's unpredictable with United line ups this season CD.

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      can see them being knocked out to Anderlecht

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        Nah, that's a great draw

      2. HVT
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        Have you seen Belgian football of late?
        Poor mate

    4. Lawrø
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Fosu-Mensah and Darmian waiting in the wings...

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        Don't think Valencia will bet rotated, he's a machine

        1. HVT
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 10 days ago

          I reckons he and DDG are about the only 2 in the league. (Defence)

        2. Lawrø
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 10 days ago

          A man can dream, never trust Jose 😉

  11. Netley Lucas
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    1 goal, 3 assists, 4 c/s's in last 8... V

    1. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      had him for every one of them 🙂

  12. FPL Bielsa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 10 days ago

    Does anyone know if Gabby is playing for Italy over Intl break should I wait to bring him in ? Ideally would do for Kane tonight.

    1. MTPockets
        7 years, 10 days ago

        He's in the squad. Don't know enough (anything) about first 11 to know about likely minutes.

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Stay safe Gabbiadini
      Oh, and get rid of that Walker CS too please

    3. Egyptian Giza
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      I reckon you need 200 points to enter the FFS cup. Incoming hatricks from Son, Alli & Eriksen

    4. JJJ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Morihno-
      "We do not have A B C D E F G but we do have L M N S O P."

      ????? HA 😉

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        More drivel spewing out his gob. I'm with Roy Keane

    5. tm245
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 days ago

      Is Ibra back in 30 or suspended until 31?

      1. MTPockets
          7 years, 10 days ago

          31

          1. tm245
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 10 days ago

            Cheers.

      2. v_keithe
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        Had to take a risk this week and WC because my ML leader by 86 points had virtually the same team, still has WC and BB so there was no way I catch him

        Played 4 5 1 and just got to 82 thanks to Valencia with Son, Alli, Vertongen and Mane to play, looks like ill make 30 points back. Early wildcard can work but some careful management needed for doubles from here on in

        1. Dr Dream
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 10 days ago

          I'm nearly 100 pts ahead in my ML and have pulled the same "cover" stunt on my rival. His turn to move now.

          1. v_keithe
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 10 days ago

            First time I've ever had to chase, much easier sitting pretty at the top. Congrats to you, 100 points difficult to overturn without huge slices of luck at this stage. Yours to lose

      3. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        SONALDO to get 2 goals and an assist

      4. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        first time made 100% right calls on big hits

        Brought in Vardy, Sanchez, King and Valencia

      5. EDEN THE MAN
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        62 with Mane, Coutinho and Walker to go.

        Will I make the cup qualification?

      6. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        why doesn't Valencia have baps

      7. DoubleC
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        Need Son and Aguero to do nothing today. Mane and Alli to rip it up

      8. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        That Spurs first team is great (with Kane) but you look at their bench and its pretty slim pickings.

      9. EDEN THE MAN
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 10 days ago

        ALLI or ERIKSEN.

        Eriksen means I can definitely get Kane when he returns