634x258 Dugout Discussion
31 August 2014 4586 comments
Paul Paul
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Fantasy managers have three matches to feast their eyes on today before the international break is upon us. Up first, Spurs welcome Liverpool to the Lane as Mauricio Pochettino’s side attempt to pick up a third straight win under the new man in charge.

A host of players from both sides are on the radar this afternoon, with Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli and Emmanuel Adebayor key to the hosts’ chances of avenging the 5-0 humiliation that led to Andre Villas-Boas’ departure last year. Liverpool are poised for a superb run of fixtures after this match and while Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling are the obvious targets, Mario Balotelli’s display will be eagerly analysed.

Villa and Hull go head-to-head in the other 1.30pm kick-off, with Paul Lambert’s side seeking a third successive shut-out before the fixtures take a real turn for the worse.

In the final match of the Gameweek, Leicester entertain Arsenal at 4pm. Aaron Ramsey rolls up to the King Power Stadium looking to net for the third successive league match, whilst Alexis Sanchez is also finding his form – having scored the winner against Besiktas in midweek, the Chilean’s confidence is on the rise.

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  1. Ivanov Itch
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Villa better keep a clean sheet now, I'd like a 70 point week to kickstart my season

  2. HUMZAH96
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Robin van Persie is reportedly in need of a knee operation. No date has been set as of yet.

      1. Wirtzle Gummidge
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Source?

      2. Elniñorules
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Great, I was hoping he'd be a differential for QPR.

      3. Yome
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Perfect for Rooney, he will be on pens and free kicks

      4. Otis
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Cue Welbeck on the watchlist.

      5. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        no source no coockie

        1. 4vets
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          It was on here last night I think. A couple papers are reporting it.

      6. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        What report Humzah?

      7. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Good!

        Allows much more comfort in formation deciding.

        1. HUMZAH96
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Yup

        2. Mr Smith
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Rooney knee jerkers going to get burnt 😆

        3. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Not bad

      8. Zep
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Shit... ðŸ™

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Too early.

          1. Zep
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Never too early to feel you've made a mistake...

            1. TorresMagic™
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Ade was the wrong choice or selling Costa?

              1. Geordienufc1
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 4 months ago

                In my case, selling Costa for ade 😛

              2. Zep
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 4 months ago

                (c)

                1. Count of Monte Hristo
                  • 12 Years
                  11 years, 4 months ago

                  Eriksen?

              3. Zep
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 4 months ago

                Selling Costa was inevitable for anyone who pays as much attention to news as we do...

                Extremely annoying, but inevitable...

                1. The King
                  • 11 Years
                  11 years, 4 months ago

                  Not inevitable, just poor decision making, no gumption.

        2. Kerz
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Well Zep, at least Eriksen will match most of the other captain choices at this rate, save for maybe Rambo. Still a whole half left though, anything can happen

        3. Geordienufc1
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Still another 45, gotta keep the faith.

      9. Somalion
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Spurs are looking good to be fair to them, might be on for a good season.

        Need a faster striker.

        1. La Roja
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Needs one more erik or 2

      10. Otis
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        If you had to choose, Lukaku or Balo (long term)?

        1. Lord Flashheart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          lu

        2. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Balo

        3. La Roja
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          If I had to, lukaka

        4. Reeker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Balukatelli

        5. Lawrø
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Balotelli

        6. Caine & Co.
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          you don't

      11. ZakAFC_
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Mata ---> Sterling
        Sturridge ---> Costa for a -4?

        1. Kip
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          don't take the hit

        2. Yome
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Yes, both essential since the start of the season

      12. Parm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Gerrard is world class, I don't get what any of you are talking about.

        Those 25 yard sideways passes he makes after pondering over who to pass it to for 5 minutes are wonderful.

        1. Wirtzle Gummidge
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Dreaming of his next spot kick.

          1. Parm
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Blimey, that's what puts him in the Ronaldo/Messi category.

        2. La Roja
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          lol

        3. Elniñorules
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          True. Anderson much better though 😉

        4. Tim Canterbury
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Another Utd fan desperately looking for something to moan about...

          1. Parm
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            I'm serious...

        5. Long Juan Silva
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          But how can anyone ever criticise Gerrard? Remember the '05 Champions League final and how much he loves Liverpool (transfer request) and blah blah blah....

        6. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          He deserves to win the League.

        7. Mr Tin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Really? It's not like Gerrard has one of the best passing games in the prem over the last decade!

          1. Long Juan Silva
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            lol

        8. cravencottage
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          He hasnt been world class for years. Slow, gives ball away easily.

        9. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          It's called ageing. Get used to it - it's coming your way too.

      13. Venom Snake
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        A blank from Eriksen may trigger my WC

        1. Elniñorules
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          He's not even close to being involved ðŸ™

          1. Venom Snake
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah it's not looking good, he's had his chance to prove himself in my squad. We're lucky enough as it is that he hasn't already dropped.

      14. JWF
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Spurs got bossed in that first half. Only hope at the moment is that Sahko plays the rest of the game.

      15. Bod
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Missed the first 35 mins, how has Balotelli looked?

        1. Lord Flashheart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          like torres

          1. Bod
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Torres from the last 2 years or Torres 4 years ago?

            1. Lord Flashheart
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              torres in 5 years

        2. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Wasteful

          1. Mr Tin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Doesn't look match fit yet.

        3. Otis
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          He's put himself in some good positions and looks like he'll put in a shift, but his finishing has been poor.

        4. Bod
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Have just seen some of the highlights, being able to hit the target would be helpful...

      16. Mr_Partridge
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        If Villa keep a cs I'm going to donate £5 to the save Manchester United charity

        1. Somalion
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Funny just donated £500 to the Teach Sanogo How To Pay Football foundation.

          1. Mr_Partridge
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            😀

            1. Somalion
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              😉 Charity is important!

      17. John Nerdelbaum
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Ugh. Ended up with Dzeko and Jovetic. Which one to jettison for Costa? Leaning towards keeping dzeko

        1. La Roja
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Jove out

        2. Yome
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Cash on Jovetic if you made money on him

        3. John Nerdelbaum
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks guys. Confirms my thinking

      18. sozopol
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Mata to sterling or fab?

        1. Caine & Co.
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          fab

      19. laGan1n1
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        where is the guy who captained Weimann ?!

        1. Lord Flashheart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          on the filed right now playing for villa. scored and assisted allready.

        2. Timtastic03
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          I picked him for the scout's pick challenge if that counts 😀

      20. GoonerByron
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Have already used my 2FTs on Kolarov + Dzeko -> Wilson + Costa due to price rises and not being able to afford them once they rise/fall... Now feeling like I'll need to do a -4 for Mata -> Sterling.. Good or bad idea?

        1. Yome
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Do you have Rooney? If yes, then do it, Sterling price will rocket and Mata's price will fall

        2. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Watch the injuries pile up.

      21. $hahriyar
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Mata and Vlaar to (sterling and rose) or (Ivanovic and Dyer)?

      22. Tommy J
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Has to be one of the most idiotic decisions I've made in my FFS career, swapping Costa to Ade, what possessed me?......

        I really thought there must be some substance in the injury rumours.

        Ho hum, won't be the last bad decision...

        1. Yome
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Exactly what I wanted to hear to keep Rooney in my team

          1. S.Kuqi
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            +1

            1. S.Kuqi
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Altough Mata needs to go

              1. Yome
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 4 months ago

                Yes Mata definitely is out, 100%

        2. Mr_Partridge
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Season over

        3. Elniñorules
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Feck off RVP. Out you go.

          Going to be hits galore in GW4.

        4. Call Me Old Fashioned
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks, if you click top one there is a link for hottest female tennis players!

      23. HUMZAH96
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Mid Game Bonus Points (45 mins)
          3 - Weimann
          2 - Agbonlahor
          1 - Hutton, Senderos

          Mid Game Bonus Points (45 mins)
          3 - Sterling
          2 - Hendo
          1 - Bentaleb

          1. Kerz
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Come on Hutton! 😀

          2. Gnu
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Good post.
            ..but a lot of water to run under those bridges...

            1. â­ Bemba_Da â­
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              lol exactly, no point looking at bonus at this stage

              1. HUMZAH96
                  11 years, 4 months ago

                  Just an update 🙂

          3. The Iron Tulip
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Anyone else think that maybe 3-5-2 could be the way forward? So many midfield options and only costa the obvious pick up top.

            1. JWF
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Played 3-5-2 since the start and tended to play it most of the time in previous seasons.

            2. Del Griffith
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              3-5-2 is what I'm currently on but Aguaro - Costa - Naismith is the way to go

              1. The Iron Tulip
                • 11 Years
                11 years, 4 months ago

                I want Naismith but I just can't see him keeping it up! I suppose a lot thought that last season with Ramsey and Yaya though....

            3. Rivaldo Izback
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Yesterday I thought I'd outsmart my fpl friends.. Played 3-5-2.. left Costa on the bench (After Mou's interview i thought he'd play like 20min and score 1pt).. 😀 Today i'm crying riverzz 😀

            4. micsway
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Yup

          4. S.Kuqi
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            I need a hug. Right players wrong time ðŸ™

            Gw1: chose Arnie instead of Siggy
            Gw2: Jovetic -> Bony (-4p)
            Gw3: Sterling -> Silva

            G4: WC time ðŸ™

            1. Game of Stones
              • 11 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Wow, unlucky - to be fair, most people benched Siggy vs United, but Jovetic > Bony was a bad one, and no one predicted the City score yesterday either

              1. S.Kuqi
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 4 months ago

                Thanks mate.

          5. micsway
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Eriksen to Sterling at the ready.

            1. Journeyman
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              This

          6. The Light Knight
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Hulk scoring over a goal and assist per 90mins in Russia at the moment

            1. Mr_Partridge
              • 11 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Still Rissia though

            2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Hulk Smash

            3. DIegoCosta19
              • 11 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              its the russian league

              we saw him for brazil hes terrible

          7. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            They way Spurs play suits the likes of Lamela and Chadlii. Spurs are playing a high pressing game and trying to keep the play in the Liverpool half. This reduces the need for pace on the wings as there is limited opportunities to counter attack since they rarely need to attack from out of their own half.
            For this reason I believe creative players like Lamela and Chadlii are nailed on, they suit the system and the tactics Poch is trying to employ. For 6.1m Chadlii could be a bargain.

            1. Billy Gilmore
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Maybe if he can learn to shoot

              1. micsway
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 4 months ago

                Ha well on target at least.

            2. JWF
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Agree to a degree but don't believe Chadli is good enough. His in confident form right now but I doubt he'll maintain it for long (hope I'm proved wrong).

            3. Lord Flashheart
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              good point

            4. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              None the less, he is a poor player.

          8. Kerz
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Mata --> Fabregas looks a no brainer, right? Will give me a mid of Sterling - Siggy - Rambo - Fabregas

            1. Liastro â­ï¸
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              You'll be one of many with that midfield 4. People like us are lucky we've got it without hits/wildcard!

          9. Venom Snake
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Balo has less then 30 mins before he gets subbed off. Better grab me a goal Mario!

          10. rohan
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Keeper

            Ivan / Defender / Defender

            Sterling/ Ramsey/ Siggy/ Mid

            Costa/ Striker/ Striker

            If you are WC ing now, you'd want these 5 players wont you? And if you already have these 5 then I don't see the point in WCing now

            1. Kerz
              • 11 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Last mid has to be Fabregas.

          11. fab
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Considering bringing Baines in - possibly in a couple of days when dropped to 6.9. Madness?

          12. FPL Touches
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            1st Half Scribbles - Liverpool v Tottenham

            Liverpool
            - Deep mids (Allen, Gerrard) done well to absorb and repel Erik and Lamela creativity, with main clear cut Spurs chances coming from defensive errors.
            - Decent possession football, however they don't seem to have the ability to slow a game down, consistently high tempo
            - Counter-attacking perhaps the leagues most deadly at the moment, Sterling the Reds best attacking outlet with finishing now a solid component of his game.
            - Lovren-Sakho understanding not yet there and prone to errors, which Lovren has frequently been seen to have to atone for.
            - Balotelli has worked harder than expected although seems to lack a little sharpness with a couple of sloppy finishes. Shown promise getting into the right positions however.

            Spurs
            - Have pace and invention going forward but haven't yet been able to find the penetrative passes to create clear cut chances.
            - Midfield lacks solidity and mistakes affording counter attacks for Liverpool has been far too frequent. Bentaleb has been the main culprit.
            - Adebayor looks eager enough, making the runs and working hard, Lamela and Erik just haven't picked him out sufficiently yet.

            Just felt giving a quick summary, assessing Liverpool options - Sterling in now seems more probable for me.

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Ta.