Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Boxing Day

Gameweek 18 continues in some style, with half a dozen three o’clock kick-offs boasting a strong cast of leading Fantasy assets.

All the top captaincy options are in action, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic carrying huge expectations into Manchester United’s Old Trafford meeting with Sunderland – he is the top choice for skipper, backed by 25% of Fantasy Premier League managers.

Equally, Arsenal pair Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott promise attacking returns of their own at the Emirates, though the latter misses out – he is suffering a calf complaint which allows Olivier Giroud to earn a recall up front. Sanchez is backed by 14.6% for the captaincy but finds himself deployed on the right flank today.

Stamford Bridge will also be a major focus.

Without the suspended Diego Costa against visitors Bournemouth, manager Antonio Conte deploys Eden Hazard as his central attacker, with Michy Batshuayi kept on the bench. Hazard has returned six of his eight goals at home but has recorded just a single strike in his last five Gameweek starts.

Elsewhere, Swansea City’s meeting with West Ham in South Wales also promises goals and returns, with Gylfi Sigurdsson the star turn on show.

Burnley’s meeting with Middlesbrough is, on paper at least, likely to be a far more dour affair, while Everton’s visit to Leicester City pairs two unpredictable sides.

Romelu Lukaku is by far the most popular asset on show as he seeks to exploit a Foxes defence without the suspended Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs. However, the Belgian has scored in just one of his last seven Gameweeks.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

3,348 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Would you keep Carroll and Payet against terrible Leicester or get rid for Ozil and lukaku

    1. Odikostar
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Keep

  2. *sigh*
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Turkey sandwich anyone?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Later today.

      1. *sigh*
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Triangles or oblongs?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Subway.

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Euphemism?

      1. *sigh*
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Of course it's dead!

        1. Syd.
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Think you might be getting confused with euthanasia

    3. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Just going to make one. Don't forget the pickled onions! Think I'll have a Glenmorangie with it 🙂

  3. Too Mane Men
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    My opinion on the big hitter conundrum.

    Aguero is only worth the money if you captain him most weeks and he returns when you do so. Otherwise, Ibra and Costa up front with Sanchez in midfield is the no brainer combo. I like to have a decent defence and flexibility so Kun is only an option when he has a good run of fixtures where I'll definitely captain him.

    Thoughts?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Just have all 4, simple 🙂

      1. Too Mane Men
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        If only we could all the option of a super team!

      2. Jam0sh
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        What about Hazard?

      3. b✪mber
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        scoutcast haunting you 🙂

    2. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Aguero is usually fixture proof. It's his manager that concerns me

      1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        This. I'm taking the plunger and getting him in GW20. Unless he gets himself suspended again vs LIV.

      2. Too Mane Men
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        I agree he's fixture proof but I'm not likely to captain him for difficult games. There is also the issue of Sanchez, Ibra, Mane/Coutinho and Hazard having better fixtures than him when he plays a weaker team. I'd always side with Aguero for plenty if good reasons but probably lose out on other hauls because of it. I just don't think he's as good at that price and with the other big guys in such good form this season, and I love the guy. Fantasy royalty!

    3. MTPockets
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Those 4 are doable. Losing Hazard is the problem.

        1. Too Mane Men
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Agreed. Not keen on losing him after today's show. City have a good player in Nacho if Aguero needs to be rested for champs league also.

          1. MTPockets
              7 years, 10 months ago

              I'm not either, but probably will lose him.

        2. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          You think CPL might influence TMM?

      • bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        FPL Statistics has Diego Costa locked until 03 Jan 04:50 PM, GMT, so his price can't rise for another two GW's, right ?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Until the date above at least.

        2. Wild Rover
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Yep, Aguero too

      • shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Got my reward for not taking a hit to remove Nacho. Who should I replace with for 6.9m?

        Or take a hit Firmino>Lallana and I can go to 8.0m then? Tekkers?

      • Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        If I had a WC right now I'd go:

        Pickford Heaton
        Luiz Alonso Walker Brunt (Love)
        Sanchez Mkhi Haz Phillips (de Roon)
        Aguero Ibra (Grabban)

        & play 4-4-2

        Haz could be downgraded to Coutinho/whoever.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          I'd do Luiz > Bellerin, Walker > Rose if you could afford it, but yeah that's niiiiice

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Hard to imagine a team without Costa though. So I'd bring him in for Kun and upgrade Philips or De Roon

        2. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Template

        3. Too Mane Men
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          I've suffered Kosielny for the past 8 weeks or so. He smashed the BPS today. Him or Bellerin well worth the funds with these fixtures, especially when Mustafi returns.

      • ryacoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        What's the deal with Friend? Is he just being eased back really slowly or has he lost his place now?

        1. 1justlookin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Im considering bringing him in for Pieters, will have him on the bench for the next game, hopefully after man utd he will get his place back when he has 3 out of 4 home fixtures.

      • Bleach †
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Snod replacer ideas? Phillips? 5.6 itb

        1. ryacoo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Phillips is on my radar - looks good and great fixtures.

        2. Ha.
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Yeh I'd go Phillips

        3. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Yep.

      • 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        I've had about 8 red arrows in a row, I was at 36k, now doen to about 200k so i need some advise.

        Heaton. Pickford.
        Alonso. Holebas. Evans. Pieters. Amat.
        Sanchez. Hazard. Siggy. Lallana. Capoue.
        Kane. Costa. Origi.

        Ive got 0.0 in the bank but have 2 frees.

        Feel like I need to get Ibra in but if I get him in for Kane, im 0.6 short so I dont know who else to get rid of.

        Any help gratefully received, guys.

        1. *sigh*
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Siggy to Chadli

          1. Too Mane Men
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Phillips surely a better option.

        2. bodgejob
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Siggy the easiest to remove for funds from that, for me. Other than that, maybe Origi to Carroll

          1. 1justlookin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Yeah that was another one of my thoughts. Had a mare since i got rid of Austin, ive had ihneacho and origi already.
            Would have to do them transfers tonight which im reluctant to do in case Kane does well against Southampton... he could do well against watford.

      • 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Chadli or Phillips?

        1. *sigh*
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          See above

        2. Karan14
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Wait another gameweek to decide on that.

        3. MTPockets
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Phillips on price. Squad looks ok - pretty similar to everyone else's. A few haven't played yet.

        4. Syd.
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Nacho to ????

        5. What the Hof's it all about!
          TopMarx
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Top 5 HOF update

          Evening all, what the top five FPL managers over the past few seasons did last week, the highlight being that all five sold Costa for Ibrahimovic as an early transfer! First here's why they are the best FPL managers:

          - lowest rank in the last 3 seasons for any of the top 5 is 4,324
          - highest rank in the last 3 seasons for any of the top 5 is 49

          GW18 moves

          *(c) GW18: Sanchez x2, Ibrahimovic x3
          *all made at least 1 transfer with one team taking a -4 hit (2 transfers) and another a -8 hit (3 transfers)
          *players in: Ibrahimovic x5, Lallana, Valencia, Capoue
          *players out: Costa x5, Hazard, Smith, Phillips

          *players in all 5 teams: Kane, Ibrahimovic, Sanchez
          *players in 4 out of 5 teams: Eriksen, Sigurdsson, Alonso, Amat
          *players in 3 out of 5 teams: Lovren, Foster, Heaton, Pickford
          *all have a 3-4-3 formation
          *3rd strikers: Anichebe x2, Benteke, Origi, Rondon

          career HOF rank / squad value / ITB / total points after GW17 / FPL rank GW17 / (GW 16)
          #1 / 102.2 / 1.7 / 913 / 109,703 / (67,962)
          #2 / 104.0 / 0.0 / 938 / 43,910 / (30,790)
          #3 / 104.4 / 1.1 / 929 / 63,197 / (41,850)
          #4 / 102.7 / 1.6 / 833 / 845,911 / (767,159)
          #5 / 104.5 / 0.1 / 961 / 16,483 / (14,410)

          Only one of the 5 qualified for the cup (#5).

          1. Sir Edo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Great research TopMarx!
            #2 looks strong this year..

          2. william prunier
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Good work, thanks

            1. TopMarx
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              You're both welcome! I was surprised they all sold Costa for Ibrahimovic this week, and so early, price rises clearly a factor and perhaps Ibra was a cert. I'm wondering when/if they will get Costa back. They all have Kane too and with Aguero in the mix... I will be an interested observer 🙂 I reckon Costa might reappear after the Spurs game but that's just my opinion.

          3. vassiriki
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            great work. can you give their team numbers as well? i just have ville ronka's. thanks in advance!

              1. vassiriki
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 10 months ago

                thanks both! of course it's very useful

            1. TopMarx
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              #1 https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/entry/30327/history
              #2 https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/entry/60081/history
              #3 https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/entry/6746/history
              #4 https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/entry/3911/history
              #5 https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/entry/45755/history

              There we are, I will include next time I do an update. Please leave comments/suggestions/improvements I will pick up in the morning, need to get some sleep now. Glad this is useful to some 🙂

          4. Grumpy Camel
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Outstanding information

          5. FPL_Sponge
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Thanks TopMarx, haven't seen this before but very useful research so many thanks.

          6. My Pretty Pony
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Really weird seeing my own team as data in this article (#3) but nobody should be following my lead this year. The 8 point hit this week is fairly typical of how the team has been faring this year!

            1. Sir Edo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Well, I'm not sure that is you until you update your team link.. 😉

            2. TopMarx
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Well this is awkward... hi, I'm stalking your team! 😀

              I find it really interesting seeing the decisions you guys make, you have a track record of being pretty good in your decision making. Are you performing better or worse this season in comparison to previous years? I'm expecting everyone to surge up the rankings and have a strong second half of the season!

              1. My Pretty Pony
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 10 months ago

                I've been pleased with the last two season's finishes (both 3 figure) but this season is already a write off in terms of overall rank. Main problem is when I eyed up a hit and didn't take it (e.g. Erikson recently) the target hauled and now I'm taking hits left, right and centre. Poor decisions. Like last year, it seems hard to move much in top 100k but unfortunately for me I'm at the wrong end of that this year!

                1. TopMarx
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 11 Years
                  7 years, 10 months ago

                  I feel hopefully that this year might be different to last year with so many expensive options bringing big hauls in at different times. It means not everyone is going to be able to afford all the options available at one time, we just have to know when to jump ship. And luck seems to play a bigger part this year! Sanchez should have been the top scorer this week with the chances he had, but it didn't happen for whatever reason. Plus with the chips available to us as well, those of us who have saved them for a double gameweek will hopefully climb the rankings. There's 55 points separating 100K from 10K and a further 43 points separating the top 1K from 10K, it's not beyond possible at this stage of the season to make up those kinds of points especially if many of the top 10K have played their chips already. I reckon you could easily have another 3 figure finish this season! I mean no pressure 🙂 but I think you can do it 🙂 and well done on achieving such a good rank in the past couple of seasons. Good luck this year!

          7. My Pretty Pony
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Haha, even I'm not sad enough to make a spurious claim regarding HoF positioning, particularly as I'm already dropping way down the ranks in the Live version! Don't think I've ever had my team linked, although I lost my Grav when I updated my email address. I'll try to restore that, at least.

          8. My Pretty Pony
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Yeay, Martin Blank returns.

        6. sminkypinky
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          So uhmm.. wow! Looks like I'm going out in the first round of the cup. Again. To a dead team!

          He has 66 points with Walker, Son and Lallana to go. Flippin' ridiculous!

          1. sminkypinky
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Like i don't get how that is possible every time?

          2. The Mighty One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Same here Smink. I always want to make a long run and always go out in the first two weeks. That Lallana goal just knocked me out despite Ibra (c) for me. Dang.

          3. Camp No No
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            dead team that captained Zlatan, by chance?

            Anyway, why do you care about it?

        7. -SB-
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Replacement for Zaha.

          Any suggestions?

          1. Bleach †
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Phillips imo

          2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Phillips

          3. Ha.
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Phillips, but I'd hold until after Swansea

          4. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            People just bought him. Did I miss something?

            1. Team Cruel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Off to AFCON

        8. Patty
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Thoughts on Payet, Negredo > Phillips, Costa

          1. Differentiator
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            looks good

        9. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Francis or holebas.
          Who should I remove and for whom?
          Have .7 ITB , and with all.my players played. Just don't want to miss on price changes

        10. Vasty Deep
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Aguero should surely returns to playing 11 next week, right?

          1. bodgejob
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Should do but never certain with Pep

        11. Syd.
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Newcastle losing 1-0

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Did the accumulator guy cash out?

            1. Syd.
              • 15 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Haven't a clue who he is

            2. Mino Raiola
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              yes! said so in earlier post

        12. semiconductor
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          With ibra, costa and origi. Would u have that mid??
          Sanchez ozil pedro and lallana.

          P.s. I'm on my WC

        13. lordkippe
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Need to get rid nacho but nothing in the bank. Can make to transfers. What to do? Defense is alonso, lovren, jones, amat, pieters. Midfield is sanchez, hazard, sigurdsson, antonio and de roon. Got ibra, nacho and kane up front.

          1. WVA
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Surely just do Kane > Costa and use the leftover

          2. My heart goes Salalalalah
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Lane to Costa ASAP

          3. My heart goes Salalalalah
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            *Kane

        14. ★Kuntheman★
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Who do you all think is a better pick? Cahill, or David Luiz?

          1. Syd.
            • 15 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Cahill....... Bigger threat from set pieces

            1. ★Kuntheman★
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              But David Luiz takes FKs, right?

              1. Syd.
                • 15 Years
                7 years, 10 months ago

                He does sometimes but he certainly doesn't have a monopoly on them

          2. WVA
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Very similar but I'd go Luiz and he's cheaper

        15. Tarzan
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Please help a rookie here-
          A-Phillips
          B-Zaha
          C-Chadli
          D-Ramirez

          1. ★Kuntheman★
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Phillips between those

          2. Bleach †
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            A imo

          3. WVA
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            A

          4. Odikostar
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Philips

        16. Karan14
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          Kane to Costa for free?

          1. Les Bleus
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Wait until after this GW and we can help easier.

          2. MTPockets
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Maybe wedsnesday.

            • Konstaapeli
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              yes

          3. Uncle Gamst
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            a) OrigiMCI, sun, mun, SWA
            b) Carroll - lei, MUN, CRY, mid
            c) Negredo mun, LEI, wat, WHU
            d) Llorente BOU, cry, ARS, liv
            e)Benteke ars, SWA, whu, EVE

            1. Uncle Gamst
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Tempted by Benteke as Arsenal not great defending long ball, crosses with a beat of a C/F and he has Swans at home following week.

          4. Bleach †
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Priorities to get out first:
            A)Snodgrass
            B)Firmino

          5. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Overall rank updated. Hopefully get into top 10K this GW.

            1. Syd.
              • 15 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Nice

            2. Jazz!
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Great work. 🙂

          6. istanbul05
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Decent week so far but not liking my team:

            Heaton,
            Alonso, Evans, Holebas,
            Sanchez, Mane, Lallana, Siggy,
            Ibra, Kane, Carroll

            Jaku, Amat, Barragan, Fletcher. 1FT 1.9m ITB

            A) Save
            B) Kane to Costa,
            C) Kane, Siggy to Costa, Mhiki, -4

            Cheers fellas

            1. My heart goes Salalalalah
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              B

          7. Smoky Johnson
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            rate my team for next gw. 0ft, no hits

            grant
            walker alonso baines brunt
            sanchez hazard eriksen lallana
            ibra costa

            pickford, diamonde, pieters, amat

          8. The Overthinker
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Completely off topic comment,

            Suggest me some songs

              1. Smoky Johnson
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 10 months ago

                merry christmas indie hipster torres

                1. TorresMagic™
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 15 Years
                  7 years, 10 months ago

                  Merry Xmas!

            1. ★Kuntheman★
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Are We Ready (Wreck) by Two Door Cinema Club is my current favorite

            2. MTPockets
                7 years, 10 months ago

                The Dangling Conversation. Just been playing it, and overthinking.

            3. Sweden11
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              I am on WC. Any suggestions to improve this team?

              Foster Pickford
              Bellerin Evans Ake Kelly Williams
              Sanchez Lallana Mikhi Allen Fletcher
              Aguero Costa Caroll