Preamble

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 16

For some reason I’ve got it into my head that I always prosper at Christmas. That somehow my decision making, fuelled by sentimental movies and mince pies, clicks into groove and brings in a run of green arrows. I cling to it every year, point to it as a boom period that will see me push up the ranks.

In truth, there’s little or no proof to back up this theory. I seem to remember one season where I found festive fortune with a few armbands which suddenly transformed my campaign; ever since I’ve convinced myself that Christmas is “my time”.

I do wonder if there’s something in it, though – whether Christmas is a period that can suit a certain type of Fantasy manager. After all, with the quick-fire Gameweeks offering little time to ponder and procrastinate, it can favour those who go with their gut; those who ignore player prices and let instant decisions guide their transfer and armband strategies.

If a regular Gameweek is the equivalent of a striker having too much room and time with the goal gaping, the Christmas spell snaps like a centre-back pincer movement – Adams and Keown – breathing down our necks and giving us little option but to act on instinct.

That all means that, in football terms, I’m perhaps more Stephane Sessegnon than Sergio Aguero. Give me time to dwell on things and pick my spot and I’ll spoon it. Let’s face it, I’ve missed some sitters this season – Aaron Ramsey and Luis Suarez, to name just two. However, perhaps I’m now due a thirty-yard volley? An improbable, athletic scissor-kick from nowhere.

Ironically, Sessegnon’s manager has recently backed him for goals and, with bigger priorities elsewhere in my squad, I’ve also been forced to keep the faith. Maybe the Baggies man can still make my Christmas? Or perhaps I’m just heading for the inevitable – the indignity of buying myself a Ramsey and faking a grateful smile when he pops in yet another goal on Boxing Day.

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

1,957 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Del Griffith
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Phew thank god for that...thats it

    Good luck all...

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  2. Moorinho
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Lets wait and enjoy the matches now.

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  3. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Benteke managed to dribble the ball in the direction of the Fulham goal last week, which is the most he has done since returning from injury.

    They don't stand a chance against Lukaku.

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  4. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Captained Suarez

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    1. Yome
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Wrong choice, I will captain him next week for Cardiff

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      1. money face bandwagon
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Haha dun sae wrong b4 the match even start and suarez ih hot form and tottenham deprived backline..u may look silly when he scores

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    2. LewanGOALski
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I benched him 😯

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    3. Darsh
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Nice

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      1. Hansel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        same here

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  5. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    First time Lukaku captainer

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    1. Pap Le Cissier
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Switched to Aguero, I had dgw flashbacks

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    2. FRESH SLICE
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Same here. I'll give him a Kit Kat if he does the business.

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    3. FACUPARSE
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Same... he looks on great form it won't be a fail if he fails

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  6. Amateur Pundit Zan
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Am I too late?

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    1. kraftwerker
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Yes.

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  7. FORCA INTER
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    first time ever i made last sec C switch

    Lukaku-Aguero

    let's see how it goes 😀

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      lukaku to aguero?

      good move, gibbs maybe out so monreal in and sagna back

      changes in defence not a good thing for arsenal as they play better with settled defence

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      1. Pap Le Cissier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        That was my reasoning

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

      at a guess probably 100000 people just made that same move

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    3. Yome
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      You lost the plot completely this year, Lukaku is a great option, I don't have him

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    4. FACUPARSE
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I have Lukaks captain and I support Arsenal so you are my enemy 😡

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    5. Scottys Army
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      just another sheep ...

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    6. Darsh
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      You'll probably get a single goal from Aguero.

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  8. tw
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    vorm to krul for a hit

    hope you're right evs!!!!

    though knowing my luck vorm will start and keep a cs while krul will let in a couple goals ;(

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  9. Qubit
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Pens down everyone.

    Relax and enjoy the rest of the day,

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  10. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Played (C) roulette - Kun it is.

    Hazard or Lukaku will both score well then...

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  11. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Gone for excitement over logic.. Suarez(c) . Makes the final game very interesting for me 🙂

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    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      And the more i thought about it the more i realised there's nothing much to choose between SAR this week so might as well 🙂

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      1. Pap Le Cissier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Lack of Gerrard is what made me stay away mate

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    2. Yome
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Suarez for next week not this one against Spurs

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    3. Darsh
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Yehp agree

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  12. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    OMG WALCOTT 😯

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    1. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      ?

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

      interesting game ahead

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  13. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    LOL. Played Ramsey in the end. Changed about 10 times in the last 5 minutes.

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    1. Sean.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      So did I, really need a bigger pair 🙂

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  14. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Lukaku (c)

    BALLS OUT

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    1. tw
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      *high five!!!*

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    2. Call Me Old Fashioned
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      no thanks, keep them in

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      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        too late, I split my pants when I jumped up

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    3. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Rooney (C)

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    4. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      You mean Lukaku out. BALLS 😀

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      1. tw
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        😆

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      2. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        😆

        Hazard (vc)

        Oh wait....

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  15. Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgri…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    This was good training. I usually switch my captain Saturday morning and held firm throughout.:shock:

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  16. Scottys Army
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Allez remy

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

      Good luck.

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      1. Scottys Army
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        cheers tm

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  17. Manamongst
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    So when I picked this guy up in GW13 against Stoke this question was premature; but I will ask this again....

    Am I crazy if I captain Deulofeu over the 6 other options below:

    Mignolet

    Azpilicueta, G. Johnson, S. Coleman

    Schürrle, Ramsey, Hazard, Özil

    Deulofeu, Agüero, Suárez

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  18. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Mignolet dropping back down to 5.5m tonight, that bubble burst pretty quick.

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    1. Qubit
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      My transfer for this week. 🙂

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    2. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I will save two penalties and get a clean sheet.

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      1. Herman Toothrot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        *He

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        1. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          haha, thank you for the correction. I almost thought you were he for a second 😉

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    3. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I hope you get 100 Evs, to my 101. 🙂

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  19. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Bench Whittingham or Ramsey or Ravel?

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    1. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      To late 🙂

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    2. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      got your timezones mixed up again Ru? 🙂

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    3. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      For next week you mean?

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    4. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      feck

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    5. Jax
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      too late

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  20. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    @Demba

    After Wayne Rooney (13.1mins), Deolofeo is the highest, in terms of minutes per cross, in the league at 13.7.

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    1. Manamongst
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      and I´m sure their minutes played are also equal. Besides Rooney...not on the wing....And Deulofeu, who I would want to walk as close to the goal every single time as opposed to mindlessly cross balls in to Lukaku...

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      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        i'm not sure what point you are making here, but ill add some context to the post.

        1) This was in response to Demba, stating in relation to not having Lukaku, that Deolofeo doesn't pass often enough. The fact is that other than Rooney, no other player is more likely to cross the ball when playing.

        2) this is not a comparison. Rooney only cropped up because he's the only person to have crossed the ball more frequently than Deolofeo.

        3) the number of minutes played is of 0 consequence since the stat is "per minute played" and both are likely starters this GW.

        4) RE: Deo is a winger and Rooney is a striker, they are both classified as forwards from an FPL perspective, not that that is of any consequence - its not a comparison and Deo is the only person in question.

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  21. snowman
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    bollocks i clicked hazard over lukaku

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  22. octopuscaveman
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Feeling anxious about lack of Everton coverage.

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  23. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Roonpig C

    Played Ramsey and Walcott Double up over Ravel.

    Thanks TM and others who for advice.

    Good luck all.

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  24. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Suarez captainers.. Huddle!

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    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      He actually looks like a differential captain this week.. More ballsy than safe in the end considering tottenham away

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      1. Jax
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        won't be high scoring.

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    2. Darsh
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Here

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  25. WDT
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Proud of my balls this morning.

    11:29 switched back to Lukaku (C). Play the game for fun, big ol gamble.

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      thats not a gamble, bookies favourite......

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      1. WDT
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Is for me. Serge is a far better footballer whose more capable of big hauls incl assists. Just hoping Arse keep them quiet and Romelu hulks a few in..

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        1. Jax
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          in FPL terms it's not a gamble.

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  26. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Soldado hat trick vs Anzi. We might see a brace vs Poodle

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    1. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Hope so. Non-owner but Spurs fan.

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    2. Jax
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      will be difficult when he starts on the bench

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  27. Manamongst
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Captain Deulofeu...

    His mama even says the kid is a problem.

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    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      what did the fiiiive fingers say to the face?

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      1. Manamongst
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        SLAP!!!!

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        1. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          haha, exactly.

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  28. FORCA INTER
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    who are your Capitans?

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    1. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Sergio A

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    2. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      ROONNAAAAAAYYYY

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    3. Esalman
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Rooney

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

      rooney

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    5. Tadic is the new Eriksen
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      King Rooney

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    6. FACUPARSE
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Lukaku

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    7. tw
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I captained a belgian 😉

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    8. T1P
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard. Been Hazard all week, decided to stick with it in the end.

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    9. Yome
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Rooney (pens, free kicks and corners)

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    10. Scottys Army
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      remy

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    11. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Rooney

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    12. Del Griffith
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Same as you... Kun

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    13. Espi
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard

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    14. Vague88
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Rooney.

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      1. Jax
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        aguero at home.

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    15. Manamongst
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      CAPTAIN Deulofeu!!

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  29. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Lukaku Captainers . Huddle !

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    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      here....err.. but not with a chucky doll !

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