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. PogChamp
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Can't believe i've benched Ramsey. Who else done the dirty? I benched him for Ridgewell 🙂

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

      a fool and his points are easily parted...

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    2. kanubelieveit
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Can only see tears for you son

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    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      You're insane. I benched Redmond(SWA) to play Ramsey!

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

        this

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

      That is absolute filth.

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

      Thankfully i didn't have to bench Ramsey as my bench is shite

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

      Caved in and played him over Ravell.

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    7. AriseSirGiggsy
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      U mug!

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

      I started Brady over Ramsey

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

      Me, playing Sess instead 😀

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    10. Kane Toads
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I started Ramsey and benched Mert.

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  2. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    I went for Rooney(C) over Suarez 😐

    I don't feel comfortable, but here goes nothing!

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

      Great decision! I captained Rooney too, he is on pens, free kicks and corners!!!!

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

        So is suarez (well, apart from corners)

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

      Chillaxxxx.

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

      i did the same, and hope that rooney will destroy villa as he always does 🙂

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

      We'll be fine 😉

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

      Same, but feeling quite all right so far.

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    6. Hyperion
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Same, hope it pays off, it'd be a big differential in my MLs. With Suarez, he's playing against a good defence, but one that's missing Verthongen and some others. On the other hand Liverpool are without Gerrard so who knows how it's gonna go.

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

    Aguero Captainers !! Show of hands

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

      o/

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    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      o/

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    3. Demí
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      o/

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

      o/

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

    ALL HAIL KING SHREK

    WHO'S WITH ME???

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

      2 pointer due to CAPS.

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

        😛

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      2. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Impossible. He has such high involvement in goals in that position. And United will score a few.

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

    Aguero IS going to score today.
    Has he not scored in any home league matches yet??

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

      Yep, his last home game

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

      yes v Hull

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

    Anyone else captain Suarez on here? Feeling pretty lonely at the moment

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  7. floydy_floyd
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Captain changed from Rooney to hazard at 11.29. Eeeeeek!!!

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Oh dear...

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  8. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    1st game I've ever owned Lukaku for and he immediately gets the captaincy. No pressure Romelu...

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

    Seems Walcott is starting?

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

      Wait 10 minutes.

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

      Of course 🙂

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    3. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Hope you kept hold of him!

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

        Of course. Ive had to deal with his cameo's for 4 games lol.

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

    I did a 4 point hit at the last second. Got in Silva for Brady despite no Chelsea coverage. City look great at home and better fixtures, less rotation too. Hope Oscar or keeping Brady for a week wasn't the correct option.

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  11. Laserface
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    This week is gonna be fun

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  12. Santi sensei
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Was I right to play Ravel ahead of lallana ?

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

      yea cuz krul is gunna get me a cs 😉

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      1. Santi sensei
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Haha Good luck ! 🙂

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  13. jas5sk - Youtube channel
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Yaya Toure (c)ers, ASSEMBLE!

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

      lol

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

      😯 .. Yeah let's drop a grenade

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    3. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      😯

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

      Casual wear?

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      1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Demi, made a great argument for it earlier, so it's his fault if it goes south

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

          Big game player for sure.

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

            Lets see if he´s a bigger game player than Özil

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

      i see nothing but a blank for yaya today

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    6. floydy_floyd
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      He does love a big game.

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      1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Thinking ManCity are going to turn on the style

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

      Yaya is the best player on the world for me, and he can easily score today i think 😉

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

    I honestly feel liverpool won't score this weekend so am not worried by not captaining Suarez at all

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    1. Sheep Flavour
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I agree.

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      1. GREENDREAMS11
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Did you go Lukaku (c) ?

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

      I seem to think the opposite.. Suarez(c) ftw!

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

        they have no Gerrard or Sturridge and have Sterling and Moses instead

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

          They've not had Sturridge for a while. it helps Suarez. And gerrard is not involved much in open play attacks.. Coutinho will take over set pieces.. Simple

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        2. GREENDREAMS11
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          Sterling is fast as and Johnson can cause problems. They just have to get the ball to Luis from 40 yards out,

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      2. GREENDREAMS11
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        I can see Suarez scoring,

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

      Suarez is the man for next week!

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

      Agree...

      I feel AVB tactic of ABS...Anyone but Suarez....

      Paulinho shadow.

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  15. copps
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Sky seem to really miss out on all the big games apart from Sundays. Their Saturday lineups are always ridiculous

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

    i take like 30min nap and get up exacly in 13:28

    i told myslef let's try be smart and see what happens

    i turned up my laptop , logged on fpl and i swear in last 5sec of dedline i manage to do Lukaku-Aguero C change 😀

    ussualy i never ever touch my team in saturday

    but getting up in 13:28 was a sign i hope

    CMON KUNNNNNNN

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

      he will score, just how many

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

        2 points

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        1. Santi sensei
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          ^this^^

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

          this...

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    2. Laserface
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Come ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

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

      Hmmmmmm.....

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

      sheep

      baaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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      1. Baa
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        ?

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

      He's never scored against Arsenal

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

        so? doesn't mean anything.

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

          Of course it does...

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

      blah blah blah.......

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    7. JT's Dog
        10 years, 4 months ago

        It was sign you are lazy bugger, sleeping in afternoon 😉

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      • Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Late changes NEVER work out well for me.

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

          same

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    8. FBI Man
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Oh my Kun Changed the Captain from Rooney to Aguero last minute

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

      Would love a Aguero & Lukaku blank

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

      John Terry out.

      Of my team for -4.

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

        He will be for me after the deadline.

        To fund Cabaye to Silva 😎

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    11. Alejo - CFC
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Mcgregor
      Terry Coleman Burner
      Ramsey Hazard Barkley Ravel
      Lukaku(c) Aguero Suarez

      Boruc Sess GJ Ward

      Lets go!

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

      benched Suarez 😎 who is with me? 😉

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

        you Arse

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

        seriously? who for?

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

          Cabaye 😀

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

            GL bro

            big respect if it works

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

              it will, trust me 😉

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            2. Yxz
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 4 months ago

              Cabaye is suspended so Suarez will come in as an automatic sub...

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

            We´ve got a funny man!!

            FPL Karma called, they said open the G@d Daymn door...

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

        I'll have a bite of that! 😉

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    13. Brian (Not the Messiah)
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      anyone who has benched Arsenal players is just deluded... There is every chance Arsenal could win this game...

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

        Rambozil points incoming again

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

        I put Mert as 3rd sub.

        That is not deluded imo

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

        man city rarely go 2 games without winning.

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

      Why did FFS change thhis page's skin?
      Last years when you posted a comment, time displayed as 18H30, 18H29...It's very helpful for people are in other timezone

      This year: 1min ago, 5 min ago 😡

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

        you can change the setting Ru

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

          how? 😳

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

          Your Profile → Comment Settings (bottom of page)

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

            Tks, got it

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

        You can change it to the previous settings if you like?

        It's under your admin/profile.

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      3. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        You can also just hover above the "2 mins ago" and it says the time.

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

      All eyes on Goodison this weekend. FPL epicentre.

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

      Agüero captain here

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    17. JT's Dog
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Has BT got a free weekend this week?
        I am too nice to use one of those download channels, oh what are their website address again?

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

          BT on today.
          Those sites are full of viruses. Stay away.

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      • Kane Toads
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        I'm looking for a big game from Chester! (Benched Mert)...

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

          I did same

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      • BigManBakar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Kun(C),dont let me down!

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