634x258 Dugout Discussion
21 February 2015 4212 comments
James Barnes James Barnes
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With no early match to engage us, Fantasy managers can finally get down to business via a batch of six three o’clock kick-offs with some intriguing clashes on offer, brimming with potential point hauls.

Tim Sherwood’s first encounter in charge of Aston Villa sees his side lock horns with injury-hit Stoke City as Christian Benteke is handed the chance to end his eight-Gameweek drought and fire his way onto our Fantasy radars. We’ve put our Scout Pick faith in a instant revival for the Belgian.

Chelsea are the clear favourites for their Saturday clash with Burnley, having only conceded once in their previous seven home ties. Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are both heavily backed in this week’s Captain Poll – the latter has scored in all but one of his nine home appearances so far. Meanwhile, the Clarets star man Danny Ings – who’s netted five times in his last six outings – should keep the Blues’ backline on their toes.

Alan Pardew is looking for a fourth win in six matches in charge of Palace as Arsenal roll up to Selhurst Park. The likes of Jason Puncheon, Dwight Gayle and Yannick Bolasie look the likeliest men for the home side, whilst the Gunners boast a number of form players. Olivier Giroud strengthened his claim to be reinstated as the Gunners’ lone striker with a brace in the FA Cup win over Middlesbrough. Mesut Ozil’s 4.6% ownership will want more of the same from the German playmaker, who’s notched two goals and three assists in the previous three Gameweeks, whilst Alexis Sanchez goes in search of a seventh double-figure haul of the season.

Queens Park Rangers secured their first away win of the campaign last week against Sunderland and will need to overcome a Hull City side that have recorded two clean sheets in their last three home ties. Rangers’ talisman Charlie Austin is available again and is on our radars ahead of their double Gameweek 28, whilst Nikica Jelavic and Dame N’Doye both bagged a goal apiece in the Tigers’ win over Swansea last time around.

Sunderland will be desperate to bounce back from consecutive 2-0 defeats to QPR and Bradford as West Brom roll up to the Stadium of Light. Gus Poyet has his work cut out, though – Tony Pulis’ side now have five clean sheets in eight matches across all competitions since he took charge. Baggies front pair Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye are both thriving under the new manager and threaten to spoil the Black Cats’ clean sheet.

Swansea City welcome back Gylfi Sigurdsson from suspension as the Swans attempt to best Manchester United and record their first home victory of the year. Robin van Persie is fit for the visitors after recovering from a minor injury, whilst Angel di Maria’s owners will be hoping for more of the same after the Argentine delivered a pair of assists in the previous Gameweek.

Later this evening, City play host to Newcastle with Sergio Aguero on show, along with the returning Yaya Toure. With the Ivorian back on board, the champions will be expected to sweep aside Newcastle’s injury-hit backline. Fantasy managers are keeping an eye out for a potential debut for Wilfried Bony, whilst Aguero carries the armband hopes of many heading into the Etihad encounter in a Saturday captaincy head-to-head with Hazard.

  1. 50 Shades Oshea
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    whos getting rid of costa after the one week punt?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      You?

      1. 50 Shades Oshea
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        just deciding... think i will. bring sturridge and haidara for vlaar and costa...

      2. 50 Shades Oshea
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        you

    2. piquiblanco
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Jerk dat knee, yeah.

  2. RoyalArmy
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    gw 27 Wasi Out, Bruce In

    gw 28 Defoe/Bellerin out Naughton/Austin In?

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Naughton??

      1. RoyalArmy
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Swansea Defender

        1. Woy of the Wovers
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          But why?

          1. RoyalArmy
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 11 months ago

            Why not.....have a better option?
            Good attaching threat and pretty cheap/Burnley next week.

  3. mgilbert86
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    two penalties denied and no card for barnes, horrendous officiating

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      😆

    2. The Machine
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Serves chelsea well

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

    Who needs an Aguero hatrick?

    1. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      o/

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Actually, make that four...

      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        😯

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          😮

    3. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      4 goals needed

    4. Mile Plankton - Myth and Ch…
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Sure, I'll take it. But will it change much?

    5. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Nah. Just a brace, 2 assists and 3 baps.

    6. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      o/

    7. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Nah, I see a limp in his near future

    8. 1314
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I'm alright with whatever Kun scores is as long as Kane does well tomorrow

      1. piquiblanco
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        This. 🙂

  5. Mile Plankton - Myth and Ch…
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Keeping Fabregas on WC despite injury was very bad decision.

    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      He's always shite 2nd half of season

  6. Zombie
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Seeing Barton & Matic reds, I can't help thinking if these footballers are a bit whacked in the head

    1. AIRMILES
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I dont think Matic was in the wrong. He probably thought Barnes was about to get a red card, and he was rightly furious with the foul.

      1. Wilshere Knowledge
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        His leg wasnt broken then, he should be more professional.

      2. Zombie
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        But he has to know that doing that will get him banned for 3 games including a final

        However, he was in the wrong. Maybe Barnes was about to get a card but Matic was definitely at the wrong having lashed out at a player for Referee's decision

  7. Art Vandelay
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    With Prescott and tripper on the bench I don't think I could cope with a Clichy cameo on top ofPVA's 3 minutes

    1. Art Vandelay
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Prescott = Lescott. 😆

  8. BeachBadger
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Only games with clean sheets and my defenders are benched. Typical 🙄

  9. faux_C
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    PVA and Wisdom got to go now then I guess?

    1. Sz21
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      and wisdom.. 🙂

    2. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Wisdom has. PVA might, just might, be ok.

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

      Wisdom definitely.

      Not sure on PVA. Can't imagine him getting much against United anyway

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      #mindgames

  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Is it time football was played without referees?

    1. coran2123
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Time football was played with video replays at least

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Not even that.

        Self policing.....

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

          Please tell me you're joking? Laughable

          1. Jafooli
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 11 months ago

            Not at all, game would be much better....

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Barton thinks so.

  11. Konig Luther
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Costa only 2pts.. i feel sorry for those who bought him

    1. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Agreed.

    2. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      not .

    3. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I don't. They were greedy.

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

      lol @ them.

    5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I don't, dumb move

    6. 1314
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      counting on him to cover for 2 weeks points hmm

  12. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Sensible interview from Mourinho.

  13. Dušan Citizen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Wait, I forgot something...

    Lol at those who brought in Costa. 😆

    1. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Didn't you captain Sanchez?

      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        . 😀

      2. Dušan Citizen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        I got CS point tho 😛 I knew I had to give armband to N'Doye

        1. Lucy.
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          So you have no reason to be smug, particularly if they've captained Hazard.

    2. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Don't be on of those people (non-Costa owner, btw).

      1. Lucy.
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        I agree (also a non-Costa owner)

      2. The Machine
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        He already is

    3. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      3rd player most transfered in atm for gw27

      1. Nickofoz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        lol

        He should drop I think.

  14. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Blimey, I must admit, the things I considered, then didn't do today are probably the best decisions I've made this season!

    Was close to doing Cazorla and Giroud to Costa and Mane
    Considered Baird to Vlaar but got Lescott instead
    Played Lescott over PVA
    Annoyed by no Bellerin meaning I get PVA anyway, but at least Arsenal conceded at the death 🙂

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Also benched AJ (he's gone now!)

  15. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    united's only fixture in europe this season has ended in a loss

    1. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      😀

    2. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      would also like to say that apparently having no european football means that you can mount a title challenge..yeah lads.

      1. Goodfella
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Funny how those people have gone quiet.

    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      . 😀

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

      😆

    5. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      All of their fixtures have been played in Europe.

      1. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Pfft, since when is England part of Europe? Never.

  16. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    How on earth did Barnes not get sent off for that tackle?

    Didn't even get a yellow. Absolutely shocking.

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      2 pens were stonewall imo

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

        Exactly. José gets a lot of stick but he has a point.

        1. Not Irish
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          lol

  17. skeyrd
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Moses! great underlying stats finally coming though

    1. skeyrd
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      funny it is through a penalty he wasn't expected to be taking though...

    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I checked his stats earlier today. Very meh!!

      1. skeyrd
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        yeah depends where you look though, he is averaging 3.6 shots on target and 2.4 chances created over his last 5 games, and his fixtures look nice enough, gotta weigh the potential by those!

        1. skeyrd
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 11 months ago

          3.6 successful take ons actually, only 0.5 shots on target over the same span, got those mixed up. yeah i guess that definitely makes it look more mediocre then

  18. S.Kuqi
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    That late Palace goal was real kick in the nuts. Hate this game.

    1. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Ah so that's what a kick in the nuts feels like...

    2. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      They could've easily had a last second (literally) equaliser. Murray hit the post.

  19. GoonerByron
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Why did Pieters come off in the 86th min? Was he injured? Thinking about doing Wisdom -> Pieters..

    1. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Yep, injured.

      If you want a stoke defender I'd go for Wolly.

  20. Mile Plankton - Myth and Ch…
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Damn. I don't even get 60 minutes from Bruce. I actually have no one to save me. Maybe Wasil. 🙁

  21. davies
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Villa's attack non-existent?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      They scored.

  22. Celticider
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    VanAanholt just shafted me on a scale never seen b4 Moses all set to cum off me bench #sore

    1. Lucy.
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Were you playing 4 at the back then?

      And you want to be careful about people doing that on your bench.

      1. Celticider
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Playin 5 left can van hoult on bench when he got12 a few weeks back

    2. coran2123
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Lots of sexual innuendos you got going on there 😉

      1. piquiblanco
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        More than punctuation marks, strangely.

      2. Celticider
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Bad day at the office rival pulled 15 points on me

  23. Sz21
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Wollshield or Pieters for Wisdom?

    Pieters did better BPS wise this week.
    Worth the extra 0.1m?

    1. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Nup, he came off injured, go for Wolly imo.

  24. John Nerdelbaum
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Wisdom and PVA owners.

    Shipping Wisdom and holding PVA or shipping both?

    1. RoyalArmy
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      What happened to PVA?

      1. John Nerdelbaum
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Dropped, got 3 mins at the end

    2. faux_C
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      I've got 2 FTs this week so considering shipping both, but then that probably means a -4 for the week after.

      1. John Nerdelbaum
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Same for me. What are you leaning towards?

  25. rozzo
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    None Aguero captainers. What are we hoping for here?

    1. 1314
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      1 goal , that's all

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Not sure 1 goal and two bonus points to match hazard .would be happy with that.

    3. Art Vandelay
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Blank.

    4. The Mandalorian
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      A short back and sides.

    5. The Chosen One...
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      1

    6. Geordienufc1
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Nothing. I'm a newcastle fan 😛

    7. Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      2 pointer.

    8. John Nerdelbaum
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      A goal and a couple BAPs

    9. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Something pulled, twisted or broken

  26. Colonel Klink
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    PvA no longer in the starting XI for Sunderland? Why 3 measly minutes?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Was benched

      1. Colonel Klink
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        For reasons of not being first choice, you mean. Not fitness or rest. Not good.

    2. eish
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      filoshefee

    3. faux_C
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Lots of crosses but can't defend apparently.

      1. Colonel Klink
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        Bummer. Those crosses delivered nice FPL points.

  27. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Owners of Panti and Foster

    between them they got 3 points. Let's e-mail FPL towers for a save point

  28. starbows
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    Who is the safest Arsenal defender apart from Kos and Murt?

    1. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Probably Bellerin

      1. starbows
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 11 months ago

        You think it was just injury today that meant he didn't play yeah?

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 11 months ago

    There were people here advising others to get benteke

    Let that sink in.....

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 11 months ago

      Plenty of Cazorla to Ozil advice too.