Who To Bench Thread 2016/17

[djskope]

Hello all,

My 3 x playing defenders all have horrible fixtures this GW and will probably blank.

Not sure whether to play my AoA this week or not. Any advice please?

[Mav3rick]

Do you plan to keep that front 8 or will you be downgrading someone? If you're planning to downgrade soon, then you may as well play the AOA while you have strong bench options in the front 8. If not, Redmond does look a bit better than Williams, but it might be worth just saving it for an injury crisis where the benefit would be more obvious.

[kung_yoda]

McAuley away to Leicester
or
Deeney away to Liverpool?

What do you guys think?

[MoSe]

Lol, I know it's last minute, but just curious any opinion here
if you check my button, I only used my single FT for Antonio to Coutinho
Will definitely play him alongside Alexis, and the 3 fwd

the rest is a lottery, form vs fixtures

BENCH 3
D: Lovren (WAT), Azpilicueta (EVE), Koscielny (TOT), Smith (SUN), Holebas(liv)
M: Milner (WAT), J.King (SUN), Capoue (liv)

Wiil Toffees and Spurs challenge two strong defenses on their ground?
Liverpool normally concede, but won't Cherries do as well, despite hosting Asunderland?

Currently beching the 3 in red, in a 433

[Tye86]

Do you have AOA? I would play Austin over Smith in that case. It's painful leaving a penalty taker on your bench. And against Hull.......no team has conceded more pens so far this season

Unfortunately playing the wildcard seems to mean AOA is out!

Tricky. Allen is in a good run of form but as you say pens is something to consider...

[djskope]

Do you plan to keep that front 8 or will you be downgrading someone? If you're planning to downgrade soon, then you may as well play the AOA

Thanks for the input Maverick..

I was hoping to keep the front 8 for a while as all have decent upcoming fixtures.
Of course, if my new GW11 signings (Redmond and Musa) blank and look like falling whilst others haul this GW I may jump on any potential multi-risers.

In absence of any new high speed 'trains' tonight, for GW12 I was planning to strengthen my defence with one of Stones / Brunt / Lovren / Morgan or Pieters all in the running (probably for Williams or Love)..

Can you offer a suggestion in light of that?

[scarletjim]

Lol, I know it's last minute, but just curious any opinion here
if you check my button, I only used my single FT for Antonio to Coutinho
Will definitely play him alongside Alexis, and the 3 fwd

the rest is a lottery, form vs fixtures

BENCH 3
D: Lovren (WAT), Azpilicueta (EVE), Koscielny (TOT), Smith (SUN), Holebas(liv)
M: Milner (WAT), J.King (SUN), Capoue (liv)

Wiil Toffees and Spurs challenge two strong defenses on their ground?
Liverpool normally concede, but won't Cherries do as well, despite hosting Asunderland?

Currently beching the 3 in red, in a 433

For me you've got it absolutely right. The only question could be Holebas v Azpi, but although Holebas could get attacking returns, I wouldn't say it's particularly likely, and they have extremely little chance of keeping a clean sheet.

[Weisenwolf]

In defence I have:

Williams (v Chelsea)
Holebas (v Liverpool)
Kos (v Spurs)

CS's hardy likely so thinking of AOA which puts McArthur on the pitch for me.

Do I do it? And if so who warms the bench?

I'd bench Williams

Good plan

[djskope]

Well, I didn't play my AoA in the end and my 3-man defence got hammered raking in an aggregate total of 'nil poin'

And in a sea of red flags Redmond blanked anyway.

On a positive note, now that Holebas is banned, I still have the AoA available for GW12 with my remaining 2-man defence (Williams/Walker - if he recovers in time!)

[Tye86]

Austin (hull)
Allen (west ham)

It's painful leaving a penalty taker on your bench. And against Hull.......no team has conceded more pens so far this season.

Great shout. Turned out well. Cheers.

[Notned]

I'm sure there'll be some international break carnage to shake things up further, but there's already looking some tough benching dilemmas for next week.

Holebas' ban helps pick my defence, but Heaton v Pickford and Allen v Redmond v Austin looks tough.

[Joccki_10]

1. Heaton (wba) or Pickford (HUL)?
2. Stones (cry), Walker (WHU), McAuley (BUR) or Pieters (BOU)?
3. Austin (LIV), Snodgrass (sun) or Allen (BOU)?

[tarkens]

1. Heaton (wba) or Pickford (HUL)?
2. Stones (cry), Walker (WHU), McAuley (BUR) or Pieters (BOU)?
3. Austin (LIV), Snodgrass (sun) or Allen (BOU)?

I'd play:

1. Pickford
2. Walker, McAuley and hmm don't know, I can see both City and Stoke conceding
3. Austin and Allen

what about:

Pickford (HUL) or Grant (BOU)?

[Joccki_10]

1. Heaton (wba) or Pickford (HUL)?
2. Stones (cry), Walker (WHU), McAuley (BUR) or Pieters (BOU)?
3. Austin (LIV), Snodgrass (sun) or Allen (BOU)?

I'd play:

1. Pickford
2. Walker, McAuley and hmm don't know, I can see both City and Stoke conceding
3. Austin and Allen

what about:

Pickford (HUL) or Grant (BOU)?

You already answered your own question

[Notned]

1. Heaton (wba) or Pickford (HUL)?
2. Stones (cry), Walker (WHU), McAuley (BUR) or Pieters (BOU)?
3. Austin (LIV), Snodgrass (sun) or Allen (BOU)?

I'd play:

1. Pickford
2. Walker, McAuley and hmm don't know, I can see both City and Stoke conceding
3. Austin and Allen

what about:

Pickford (HUL) or Grant (BOU)?

I agree with this, Jocki. I'd probably play Pieters over Stones too.

Tarkens- I'd play Pickford.

For my team, I think I'm pretty set on starting Pickford over Heaton, so only really have one dilemma left... Austin, Redmond or Allen? Bench Redmond, right?

[IceCreamFirm]

what about:

Pickford (HUL) or Grant (BOU)?

I agree with this, Jocki. I'd probably play Pieters over Stones too.

Tarkens- I'd play Pickford.

For my team, I think I'm pretty set on starting Pickford over Heaton, so only really have one dilemma left... Austin, Redmond or Allen? Bench Redmond, right?

Hadn't even looked at keepers, but reckon I'll go for Pickford over Heaton too. Would also bench Redmond out of those 3.

With Sanchez back I'll have to bench one out of Benteke (City at home), Gundogen (Palace away), Allen (Bournemouth at home). Obvious one looks to be Benteke but don't think it's as easy as the fixtures look.

[Notned]

what about:

Pickford (HUL) or Grant (BOU)?

I agree with this, Jocki. I'd probably play Pieters over Stones too.

Tarkens- I'd play Pickford.

For my team, I think I'm pretty set on starting Pickford over Heaton, so only really have one dilemma left... Austin, Redmond or Allen? Bench Redmond, right?

Hadn't even looked at keepers, but reckon I'll go for Pickford over Heaton too. Would also bench Redmond out of those 3.

With Sanchez back I'll have to bench one out of Benteke (City at home), Gundogen (Palace away), Allen (Bournemouth at home). Obvious one looks to be Benteke but don't think it's as easy as the fixtures look.

I think I'd bench Gundogan mate from that bunch. Actually I'm pretty sure I would; Benteke has the toughest fixture on paper, but City's defence isn't exactly watertight.

I'd keep an eye on press conferences re Allen's position though; I've just read he may play deeper due to injuries? Enough to keep me second guessing the Redmond benching, anyway..

[MoSe]

with Smith & Holebas banned, whom I didn't replace (yet, have 1 FT and thinking to save it),
I have 3 playing Defs and don't need to pick there

so my choice is
BENCH ONE

J.King (stk)
Milner (sou)
Capoue (LEI)

FFFix clearly say bench King
FFS say bench Milner, by a mere 0.02

I currently have Capoue on my bench, didn't take a decision yet

Southampton have the better defence of the three, but Stoke have better defensive form atm
With so many options in L'pool mid (I also have Coutinho) Milner isn't likely to get a share, but he has pens and might scrape an assist from cross/corner/setpiece
King hadn't great returns so far, but he can always pull out the odd goal, moreso as CF if Wilson isn't back
Capoue, well, we had whole topics about him 8.8 PpG in first 5 games, 2.3 in following 6

[Arsenal4EvERr]

with Smith & Holebas banned, whom I didn't replace (yet, have 1 FT and thinking to save it),
I have 3 playing Defs and don't need to pick there

so my choice is
BENCH ONE

J.King (stk)
Milner (sou)
Capoue (LEI)

FFFix clearly say bench King
FFS say bench Milner, by a mere 0.02

I currently have Capoue on my bench, didn't take a decision yet

Southampton have the better defence of the three, but Stoke have better defensive form atm
With so many options in L'pool mid (I also have Coutinho) Milner isn't likely to get a share, but he has pens and might scrape an assist from cross/corner/setpiece
King hadn't great returns so far, but he can always pull out the odd goal, moreso as CF if Wilson isn't back
Capoue, well, we had whole topics about him 8.8 PpG in first 5 games, 2.3 in following 6

I'd bench Capoue.

Bench one from

Walcott (mun)
Gundogan (cry)
Austin (LIV)

[PleasedToMichu]

Koscielny or McAuley

Have planned to play Foster anyway, so do I double up?

[Owsler]

What are your other defensive options? I'd always play your Premium.

[PleasedToMichu]

What are your other defensive options? I'd always play your Premium.

I play 343;

Koscielny- Williams - Vertonghen

(McAuley/Amat)

[Owsler]

I got rid of Williams as don't trust Everton defensively, but as they've got Swansea (though they clearly can still score) I'd stick with what you've got and bench McAuley.

Full disclosure. I will be doubling up with McAuley and Foster in a defensive line of:

Koscielny, Walker, McAuley

But that's because I have Friend (I know Middlesbrough are good defensively, but it's Chelsea) and Smith (ban).

[cesc408]

Do we think Arsenal will keep UTD out?

Cech or Pickford ?

[Payet]

Arsenal is going to win 3:0, it's so obvious that makes me considering captaining Alexis Sanchez instead of Aguero.

[cesc408]

Arsenal is going to win 3:0, it's so obvious that makes me considering captaining Alexis Sanchez instead of Aguero.

Wouldn't have any doubt should Bellerin be playing and we was full strength, but with him absent, along with Santi. Arsenal often get rolled at Old Trafford (performance wise) and bottle it.
Saw what happened last season with Rashford

[Payet]

Arsenal is going to win 3:0, it's so obvious that makes me considering captaining Alexis Sanchez instead of Aguero.

Wouldn't have any doubt should Bellerin be playing and we was full strength, but with him absent, along with Santi. Arsenal often get rolled at Old Trafford (performance wise) and bottle it.
Saw what happened last season with Rashford

It doesn't matter. Arsenal will not concede a goal simply because there is no player at United who can score (Ibrahimovic suspended).

Ozil and Sanchez are in form, Mustafi and Koscielny are playing well and it's time for Wenger to take some revenge on Mourinho.

[yttod1010]

Pickford home to hull or grant home to Bournemouth

And
Allen or anichebe

Might not matter as coutinho might not play

[Notned]

Pickford home to hull or grant home to Bournemouth

And
Allen or anichebe

Might not matter as coutinho might not play

Pickford and Allen. To play, that is.

[yttod1010]

Pickford home to hull or grant home to Bournemouth

And
Allen or anichebe

Might not matter as coutinho might not play

Pickford and Allen. To play, that is.

I'm worried Allen gets moved to defensive mid