Dugout Discussion
26 February 2012 2162 comments
Akers Akers
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Three games wrap up Gameweek 26 today, before Liverpool and Cardiff square off at Wembley. The Dugout Discussion opens for the Premier League games, but will stay open until the Carling Cup is handed to the winning captain.

We start with the televised North London derby, as Harry’s Spurs look to reign supreme over their arch rivals. The Champions are also in action, making their trip to Carrow Road to face all-but-safe Norwich City. The team sheets from both games are in, and are as follows…

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Song, Walcott, Benayoun, van Persie.

Spurs XI: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale, Saha, Adebayor.

Yossi Benyaoun starts at the expense of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the home side, and Laurent Koscielny comes through a fitness test to play. As for the visitors, Louis Saha retains his starting role, which keeps Rafael Van der Vaart on the substitute bench. He partners Emmanuel Adebayor up front, who once again faces his former club.

Norwich XI: Ruddy, Naughton, Ward, Whitbread, Drury, Pilkington, Fox, Johnson, Surnam, Holt, Jackson.

Man United XI: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Welbeck, Hernandez.

For the Canaries, Simeon Jackson gets the nod ahead of Steve Morison, and Zak Whitbred is passed fit for the game. Looking to bounce back from midweek defeat, Sir Alex makes eight changes to his starting line-up. It includes Ryan Giggs, who makes his 900th club appearance today.

Before the final whistle blows in those games, Stoke host Swansea in the last game of the week. The Dugout Discussion is open, and can be accessed right here.

Akers Richard or Akers, as he is known, has been regularly haunting this site since July 2008. He is young and foolish, take what he says with a pinch of salt. Follow them on Twitter

  1. Twelve years a slave
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    what was that you were all saying about tottenhams difficult fixtures?

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    1. Twelve years a slave
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      sellig ade for aguero with wildcard now looking more like a massive error by the week

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    2. Jukesy
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      That this is the easiest fixture of the next 4..

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  2. Call Me Old Fashioned
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Bale dives for a pen, league leader 160pts forgets to check his team and his vice is Bale. Rooney not playing. Just fecking fed up of this season.

    PS. DIE ADEBAYOR DIE DIE DIE

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  3. Barry
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Damn you Sorenson suppose it was only a matter of time before he got fully dropped.

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  4. TheSteady ¤ Wines th…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on Saha? Is he be nailed on when Adebayor is injury free? .

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    1. BootlegRascal
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      adebayor is playing...

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  5. Over Midwicket
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    God Walcott is awful..

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    1. Menly
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Woo Swansea!

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  6. Krionos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I'm loving watching Tottenham play this year. What pace!

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  7. TheSteady ¤ Wines th…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Bale shot on goal : )

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    1. Declan
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      he is in 45% of teams, it doesnt really matter.

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      1. CABAYE4
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Exactly 55% of teams don't have him!

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        1. Declan
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          do you really think 2.7m people are still playing?

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          1. CABAYE4
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            Obviously not but there are clearly some people still playing who don't have Bale. Some will have transferred him out with their upcoming fixtures.

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      2. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        It does to the other 55%

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  8. Menly
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I heard somewhere that Bale is an arsenal fan...

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  9. Bad Pen
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Walcott needs a spell on the sidelines, his decision making is still so awful.

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  10. hvsauce
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    why oh why did i get rid of adebayor from my team??

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  11. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Walcott - always guaranteed to bottle it. Bring on the Ox

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  12. JC
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Arsenal are abysmal in midfield

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  13. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Oh no. I don't have a keeper.

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  14. 1966 was a great year for E…
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    F*ck's sake, I've just had to do Stockdale to Mignolet, now I need to lose Sorensen. I only wildcarded in GW23 and both my keepers have lost their places ðŸ™

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    1. CABAYE4
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Ouch

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  15. super zlatan
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Rvp.

    Bye arsenal
    Hello barca.

    🙂

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    1. udit
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      You know, RVP to Chelsea is probably the most logical move.

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      1. Menly
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Please no!

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        1. udit
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Oh I know, it's just the most logical.

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      2. super zlatan
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Can't see him going to anotheR London club.

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  16. Over Midwicket
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Right, Aguero out, Adebayor IN!

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Kneeeeeeeee jerrrrrrrrrkk

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    2. Gavin - Gers in turmoil!!!
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I've got the funds for Ba to Ade which is more appealing

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  17. halnone
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Both spurs and arsenal are a joke. spurs are diving tw@ts and arsenal defend like they're in league 2.

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  18. udit
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    OH No Damn you Sorenson, Europa opponent has Schwarzer as a replacement. I'm fecked.

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Tough opening week Udit isn't it? I don't hold out much hope of a win for Zenit.

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      1. udit
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I'm at home ðŸ™

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        1. In Like Flynn.
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Ouch!

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  19. DLL18
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Reports claiming Vorm misses the Stoke game with a virus

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  20. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Sagna goal

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  21. Menly
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Come on Norwich!

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  22. TheSteady ¤ Wines th…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Sagna!!!!

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  23. A2U
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Sagna pulls one back!

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  24. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Arteta assist?

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    1. halnone
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Yep

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  25. Thanks_AAA
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Oh no my clenie

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  26. Gavin - Gers in turmoil!!!
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Spurs CS gone, get in, Main rival has 2

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  27. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Also, what a miss by VP.

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  28. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Ok my delusional 1-4 or 1-3 bet doesn't look too bad ATM

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    1. udit
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Doesn't it? 😆

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  29. TheSteady ¤ Wines th…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on Saha? Is he be nailed on ?

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