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Tuesday’s Matchday Surgery

It’s breathless stuff this Christmas fixture list. The games keep coming thick and fast and it’s getting difficult to clear the head of the all the variables and avoid making a Fantasy faux pas or two.

Rest and rotation are the big concern now, plus of course those little knocks and niggles that go unreported until the teamsheets arrive. A strong bench comes in handy and some last minute advice on how to juggle resources never goes amiss. We’ve opened our Matchday Surgery chatroom so you can soak some up in real-time prior to that 11.30 deadline.

The room will close just after 12pm with Dugout Discussion on the first 3pm kick-off to follow.

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

1,507 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Countryside Ram
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 4 months ago

    i have vdv at captain. come on spurs!

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    1. Mak_Gold
        13 years, 4 months ago

        +1000. Van the Man cream 'em today!

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    2. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 4 months ago

      gone with torres as captain anyone else done this??

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      1. Just One More Thing
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        Me.

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      2. SuperDorrans
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        Me and I'm 1 in the world! 😀

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        1. conchur
          • 13 Years
          13 years, 4 months ago

          team link?

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      3. Rasping Drive
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        Me

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      4. Aidy
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        I did, for last 3 game weeks now, he is defo goning to score more than he did in those.

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        1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 4 months ago

          i hope your right i really need a good score from him as the last 3 times ive captained him he hasnt performed

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      5. Voronin
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        Yep. He is massively rested and the man needed it. 3-0 to the pool, Torres hatrick is my prediction.

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      6. Ross Geller
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        Me

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    3. Shep
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 4 months ago

      Just done MGP>VDV cant wait for the first post that says VDV not playing , i know its gonna happen then MGP will score 2 thats the way my seasons going !!!

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      1. Countryside Ram
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        if he dosen't play i wont be to bothered. tevez as vice captain and mgp off the bench.

        aslong as he dosen't play 5 mins and pull up with a torn hamstring

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    4. Burly - swear i wont ever (…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 4 months ago

      that was too rushed, went with tevez as (c), funny feeling VDV will haunt me.
      anyone get the feeing the three gameweeks over christmas will make or break them??

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    5. hillbillypete
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 4 months ago

      Torres Captain, 4 Ddefenders, Bale&VDV. What have i done..........

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      1. Countryside Ram
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        i have 4 defenders. kolorov vidic konchesky and huth.
        couldnt drop one.

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        1. hillbillypete
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 4 months ago

          kolorov, rafael, ivanovic, konchesky

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          1. I'm looking for Ray Fi…
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 4 months ago

            Exactly same as me. All cleanies 😉
            Midfield VDV, Nani, Cahill, Nasri
            Upfront Tevez & Carroll
            by any chance?

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      2. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 4 months ago

        torres captain is a decent move

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    6. Mak_Gold
        13 years, 4 months ago

        And finally Carroll arrives in my team! The move I should have made about 10 GWs earlier,I made it today.

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        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 4 months ago

          He's injured!!

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          1. Mak_Gold
              13 years, 4 months ago

              WHATTTT?????? Where did u get that? Don't give me a heart attack man!

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                1. tosey
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  now that would be nice if he was injured!

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                2. Mak_Gold
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    THAT BLOODY TOSSPOT!!!!!!!!! He broke my heart when I didn't have him and he's doing it even now when I've bought him.

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                3. Rasping Drive
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  He has an ankle injury but Pardew thinks he will be ready (see tweets)

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                4. HuttonDressedasLahm
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Ankle knock apparently, read it somewhere here...should be ok though

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                  1. Mak_Gold
                      13 years, 4 months ago

                      Really hope so or else I'm fooked.My cup opponent has virtually the same MID and front line as me.

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              1. tosey
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                ive had carroll for one gameweek this season, keep feelin its too late, will get him in when i wildcard now

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                1. Epic Fail
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Same. I always think he will dry up, and every week he proves me wrong.

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                2. Mak_Gold
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    +1....I had him between GWs 4-7 I think.Didn't do much,then when I sold him he killed it!

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                3. @FuzzyWarbles
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  10 weeks late, and now a week too soon,

                  surely your luck is shite with this toon.

                  a little poem for ya

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              2. Madridista
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Thought of dojng Cole out for Huth, but the deadline closes.

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              3. arsms
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Oh no i missed the deadline 🙁

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

                  Stop playing with your pen. 😉

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              4. applemanthai
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                went Drogba captain ahead of Tevez and VdV! Just reckon he has to come good! Chelsea mixing up who takes corners and free kicks too.... Drogba, Lampard, Malouda

                boltons defence aint that good - 2 clean sheets all season and were lucky last time to keep a cleanie.

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                1. HuttonDressedasLahm
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Brave but was close to it myself. Lamps taking back pens did it for me, and stuck with Tevez.
                  Sorry Tevez owners as my captain choice has been awful all season

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                  1. applemanthai
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    its kinda weird - I have Tevez in my team but i dont really want him to score as so many others have captained him!

                    Maybe Lamps will be rested?

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              5. @FuzzyWarbles
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Gerrard, the sneaky pick for Captain, may you serve me well by brother. I like to choose the unpoupular captain.

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              6. xentar
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                I got a feeling many in my league forgot about this deadline 🙂

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                1. Epic Fail
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  haha. Is it wrong that I was with my mates and they were talking about they cant wait for the footy on the weekend and I kept schtum.

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                  1. Holy See
                    • 13 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    Perfectly acceptable.

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                  2. conchur
                    • 13 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    haha youre some mate! id do the same in fairness

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              7. Boom!!!
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                no torres,tevez or vdv in my team i think another red arrow will come...

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              8. Rasping Drive
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Selfishly of course I hope it doesn't pay off this week (he's warming my bench). Suffice to say I have a case of the willocks 🙁

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              9. Pop Ooh Yeah ★x8
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                That was the toughest time I've had trying to make a change all season. I was so confused attempting to get rid of Elmander, and trying to replace him with Torres/Tevez, that I gave up at 11.29 and gambled on Welbeck.

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

                  Welbeck power 🙂

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              10. Mortinho
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Gambling today.. Falling behind in my league and need som luck today. Went with Drogba as captain, and didnt go for Tevez or Vdv... Crossing fingers!!

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                1. applemanthai
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  ditto

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                  1. Just One More Thing
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    Similar. Kept faith with both Drogba and Cahill and didn't get in Tevez or VDV. Surely both can't hit double figures again this gw??

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                    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
                      • 14 Years
                      13 years, 4 months ago

                      hope so I have them all!!

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                      1. Mortinho
                        • 13 Years
                        13 years, 4 months ago

                        Me to.. I think its us against the rest! We all need to cross our fingers today

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              11. hillbillypete
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                pretty sure some of my rivals have forgot this gameweek....

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                1. @FuzzyWarbles
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  my close friend and rival asked me yesterday as we watched arsenal if there were any games today, i said, "not that i know of". Lying is an integral part of management.

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                  1. Epic Fail
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    Too right.

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                  2. hillbillypete
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    haha, 'close friend'

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              12. Egg noodle
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                most of my rivals have taken a hit this week

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              13. Countryside Ram
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                how long dose it normaly take to update? want to check my rivals teams

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                1. applemanthai
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  we all do.... about 12:10 I think

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                2. Just One More Thing
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  About half an hour.

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                3. Voronin
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Hour.

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                4. Boom!!!
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  12:00 to 12:15

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                5. Rasping Drive
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  30-45 mins

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              14. @ImpressiveTackl
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Alright muckers.

                I have went with Tevez as captain. Tough choice between him and VDV but I think Tevez was the logical choice for the following reasons:
                1) Less injury prone.
                2) Less likely to be rested.
                3) Villa are slightly worse than Newcastle this season.
                4) Newcastle have better away form with 3 wins from 8. Villa only have 1 away win from 8.

                For the people who chose VDV, good luck but on paper it was Tevez for me.

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                1. Egg noodle
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  torres captain for me! got tevez in my team too

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                2. Voronin
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  I can't see Tevez doing anything this week.

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                  1. Egg noodle
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    -1
                    villa are crap

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                    1. Voronin
                      • 14 Years
                      13 years, 4 months ago

                      So are Citeh really. 1-1 draw, Yaya goal.

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                3. xentar
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  They'll both score 16 again, so it won't matter.

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                4. Woy of the Wovers
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  So what did you find when you compared the home form of Spurs and City or the home form of Tevez and VDV?

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              15. Voronin
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Wilshere is a disgusting human being.

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                1. Boom!!!
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  just like voronin!

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                2. AP
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  What's he done now?

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                  1. Voronin
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    Nothing new. Just watching some highlights and reflecting on the chav and how contradictory he is to Wengers 'morals'. I hate Arsenal.

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              16. AP
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Why has no one else captained Torres? Is there something i'm obviously missing here?

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                1. Shakey
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  I have.

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                2. Just One More Thing
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  I captained him - I bet that makes you feel better 😉

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                  1. Ninjaa
                    • 13 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    me too

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                3. chinmusic
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  A fair few have I think. I certainly have.

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                4. applebonkers
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  if i had him i would have captained him

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                  1. @ImpressiveTackl
                    • 13 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    Yeah there is something missing.

                    Torres' performances. He's been going missing all season.

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                    1. applebonkers
                      • Has Moderation Rights
                      • 14 Years
                      13 years, 4 months ago

                      he's had a stuttering season but at home he's still done well, as have liverpool lately, and wolves are the worst defence in the league

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                      1. si
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 14 Years
                        13 years, 4 months ago

                        I captained him. Nervous about the choice. Especially as I had VDV, Drog and Tev as the other options. Even Kolarov was tickling me this week.

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                5. HuttonDressedasLahm
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  He has no form , and Liverpool are not very good

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                  1. xentar
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    Wolves aren't very good either

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                6. Voronin
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  I have. Hatrick ahoy.

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                7. michaelington
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  hes been awful this season and so have pool

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                8. Rasping Drive
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  There are a fair few on here that have, AP, I think you'll find.

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                9. AP
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Coool 'n' the gang. Just got a little twitchy after seeing all the Batface/VdV chat.

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                10. TorresMagic™
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Not in Scout picks so can't captain him.

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                11. Rasping Drive
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Although I am a wee bit worried about a repeat of Blackpool (h) 🙁

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                12. Akers
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Because he has 0 goals in his last 4 starts, and VDV has 4.

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              17. Egg noodle
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                if all 5 of my defenders are from the scoutpicked defender teams, then is it smart to play all 5? i have kolarov koncheskey rafael bardsley and shawcross. im playing all 5 along with nani vdv tevez welbeck torres(C)

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                1. Perthite
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Too late to change it now.

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                  1. Egg noodle
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    i dont wana change it. just wana know what people think about fielding 5 defenders when they all have good cleansheet potential

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              18. DarPaC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Cashly > Elmohamady so that I could do K Davies > Torres.........watch Cashly start scoring now 🙁

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              19. Just One More Thing
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Gerrard back is key for Torres' form - no-brainer to me.

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              20. nanananasri
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                The Drog got my armband!

                Ive left etherignton on bench, was worried sbout his injury, hope it doesnt come back 2 haunt me

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                1. conchur
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  same man, played welbeck ahead of ethers

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              21. Akers
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                Anyone watch Come Fly With Me on BBC?

                Saw it on iPlayer last night, thought it was great. Well worth a watch if you're bored...

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                1. Namtab Nomolos
                  • 13 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Will pass the time until the league's updated nicely.

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                2. si
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  You are kidding, Akers? I thought it was pretty basic. Did not really laugh once in 20 mins and turned it off.

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                  1. Akers
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    Not at all. I thought it would be pretty rubbish, but I was laughing all the way through. Perhaps I was just in the mood.

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                3. applebonkers
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  the security scanner guy that doesn't even work there was my favourite

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                  1. HuttonDressedasLahm
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    The arab guy in the cart was pretty funny

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                  2. Akers
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    yeah same

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              22. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                DFD, you around? Who are you captaining in Sportal?

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                1. DickFranDyke
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Tevez,VDV vice I think, maybe Nasri.

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

                    Interesting. I might buy VDV & captain him. I don't have Tevez either. My Sportal teams suck 🙁

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                    1. DickFranDyke
                      • 14 Years
                      13 years, 4 months ago

                      Stop playing for value then 🙂 Time to get the big boys in now.

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

                        Care factor is too low. I'll do my best now.

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                      2. TorresMagic™
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • Has Moderation Rights
                        • 14 Years
                        13 years, 4 months ago

                        Carlton Cole worth buying in Sportal? 4.6 mil

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                        1. DickFranDyke
                          • 14 Years
                          13 years, 4 months ago

                          What's you budget - can you afford Drogba, he's still cheap I think.

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

                            I have Drogba & Carroll already. Cole is good for 2 weeks with the money rises. 17 trades left lol.

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                          2. DickFranDyke
                            • 14 Years
                            13 years, 4 months ago

                            Wait for RVP next week as you have Drogba?

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

                              6 mil, interesting. Cole will be close to 6 mil next week but wastes a trade. Ok, I'll take your advice. Yakubu stays on the bench 🙁

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                              1. DickFranDyke
                                • 14 Years
                                13 years, 4 months ago

                                RVP should come off the bench and his value will drop further too imo. I have Tevez Rooney & Drogs at the moment who are undroppable until RVP starts playing 90mins.

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                              2. TorresMagic™
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • Has Moderation Rights
                                • 14 Years
                                13 years, 4 months ago

                                No wonder I suck this season. You really are getting the price changes stuff for Sportal now. 😉

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              23. Perthite
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                I rushed home after cricket training to get 20 minutes of last minute checks for postponed trades or any team news. Didn't end up doing any further Transfers (that would have cost 4 points), so hoping that the two bench players (Fabs already out) won't need to play.

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              24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                bloody hell forgot there was a deadline today!

                just got up 🙁

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                1. Akers
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  School boy.

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                  1. DickFranDyke
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    How did those braces work out?

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                  2. HuttonDressedasLahm
                    • 14 Years
                    13 years, 4 months ago

                    probably have a great week now!!!!

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              25. @ImpressiveTackl
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 4 months ago

                I don't think Rafael will start this one, I think O Shea will play RB. Surely SAF is due a random rotation of some sort, his first 11 is becoming far too predictable for FF purposes.

                I have went Cashley instead.

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                1. Voronin
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 4 months ago

                  Why weaken his team when the title is theirs for the taking?

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