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. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Probability of these players starting ?

    A) Mata

    B) RavMo

    C) Brady

    D) Murner

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    1. Alaric
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      A) 50%

      B) 80%

      C) 30%

      D) 90%

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

      20, 80, 20, 70

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

      50
      60
      50
      95

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    4. QPR expects... glory!
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      a) 10%
      B) !00% (if fit)
      C) 25%
      D) 100%

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

      Damn, Mata and Brady not starting then 🙁

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      1. Alaric
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Brady has lost his spot by the looks of things at left wing back

        Mata could easily start

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

          ah cheers

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

    If Walcott does well today I am getting him in for Ozil.

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

      Me too. For either silva or yaya

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      1. big oak
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        i dnt see the value of getting wally in for silva tbh

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

          Well, we'll see. got to lose one of them, yaya is on fire at home

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

    Real pain in the arse when all your ml captains a player you own but dont captain and youre caught in two minds about him scoring. 0-0 EVE FUL

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

      Simple. Go for the blank unless you are going well in OR.

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  4. r0nh
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Very windy today.

    Lots of mistakes & loads of goals!!

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    1. r0nh
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      But none for Lukaku

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      1. PussyGalore
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        cheers

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      2. QPR expects... glory!
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        This I would love

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

        Lukaku red card. 😉

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

        It's fine, he will score an own goal.

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

      I must say I'm a fan of yours Ron... watching from the sidelines almost everyday. YOU should be the next Scout writer mate

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

        yuk

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

        Ronh's as far beyond scout writers as stars are beyond you

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      3. r0nh
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Oh my, thank you very much for your kind words 🙂

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    3. ~SpartakMac
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      More goals for GK's?

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

      How was the Gym, Ron? Any hotties?

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      1. r0nh
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Na, was quiet 🙁

        Too early for most people, but I couldnt miss the footy!!

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

    christ i have a horrendous hangover

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    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Same

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

      Me too. Works Xmas party last night.

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      1. SMELL MY CHEESE YOU MOTHER
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        what's the latest down the local?

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

        (He said, admitting to himself that 2 wine coolers was his limit)

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    3. QPR expects... glory!
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Ask same time tomorrow and I'll answer in the affirmative 🙂

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

      touche 😛

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

    0-1 Arsenal (Walcott)

    100/1 on betfair just put £2 on it

    Genius or Stupid, probably stupid

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

      city haven't been scoreless at home since november 2010.

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

      2 quid never stupid. you aint losing much.

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

    Walcott has 3.7% ownership! Massive diff this week. C'mon Theo!

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    1. QPR expects... glory!
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Hope Theo isn't your new Shane Long! 😉

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

        Ouch 😀

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  8. Cheggers
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    no bt sport and i pay for sky and have the joys of hull v stoke later

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

      I'm happy with my free (fully legal) stream. 😉

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  9. Texas Pete
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Looking at my ML I'm one of the few Suarez captainers, with a mix of lukaku and Aguero seeming to be the choice. Could be a hell of a diferential.

    Cue 2pointer

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

      Same here

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  10. The Sarjeant
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    It's gonna be close between me and my PP Cup opponent!

    Me: Chester, B. Turner and Ozil.

    Him: Mertesacker, Zabaleta, Yaya Toure.

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    1. PussyGalore
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Reckon hes got the edge but good luck sarj

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      1. The Sarjeant
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, but his three players all play in the same game in 15 mins. If they all blank I'll be loving it haha!

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        1. PussyGalore
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          ohhh read that wrong mate. You have the edge! mixed the teams up.

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  11. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    First time since GW2 Ramsey hasn't rise :O

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    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      risen

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  12. big oak
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    before people get overexcisted about walcott remember that he si recovering from a muscle injury and is highly unlikely to play all the festive period games
    make sure u get a good bench if you have walcott

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

    Yaya and Özil blanks incoming

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

      Got tonights lotto numbers??

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

      stop that 🙁

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  14. Blue Lion
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Walcott Silva owners raise your hands!
    0/
    😀

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

      silva

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    2. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Classy...good stuff.

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  15. Alaric
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    TORRESMAGIC, who did you captain mate?

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

      Lukaku.

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      1. Alaric
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        On penalties in Baines' absence for sure?

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

          Barry or Mirallas could take them.

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  16. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Okay, Evs captained Lukaku. I should be fine then.

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

      You cant go wrong by having the same as Evs

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  17. SMELL MY CHEESE YOU MOTHER
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Just a thought: which players have you owned since the very start of the season?
    Coleman is the only one for me.

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

      Mignolet, Rudd & Burner.

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

      mignolet, chester, r bennet, shaw

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

      Terry

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

        Boruc & Murner too

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

      coleman chester shaw, hazard.
      sold silva, got him back now.

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  18. ADucksBehind
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Any cheekypunts lads?

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    1. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Red Rum at 2.30

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

      Kevin Mirralas to score

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  19. jayzico
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    How many players do you have in the first match today? 3 for me but could have been 5 if i played ramsey and captained aguero... too much for first game?

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

      Ozil & Aguero

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

        nice. Aguero, yaya and silva for me

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

          These 3 players seem to be involved every time City scores. Nice picks.

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  20. Absinthe Minded
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard captain for me and it looks like everyone else has gone for Lukaku!!?

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    1. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I went rooney

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    2. Marlen R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Lukaku is twice the size of any Fulham defender. Should be worth a goal I hope. Hazzard will be in the mix too for sure. It's a good pick.

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    3. Dial Square
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard for me too

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    4. Alaric
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard here!!

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  21. Marlen R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Hmm. Drank last night and changed my sober team... Ramsey benched in favor of Redmond and Whittingham. A bit nervous...

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    1. Johnnyboy UK
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      benched Ramsey and Mert sober so I hope it doesn't backfire!

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      1. Bolt-on
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Benched Ramsay too

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  22. GlasgowFF
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone own one of these chepo tablets like the Aldi one or Tesco one?

    Any good?

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    1. Dial Square
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I don't own either - but apparently Tesco is good value, Aldi average and Asda shit.

      I'd still get a Nexus though.

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  23. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Does anyone know when Rooney's protection ends?

    Thanks

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

      Sunday I think.

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

        Cheers, should see a rise in value? Brought him back and C last night. My heart says he will continue with his double figure hauls right through the Christmas period. Had a put on Fer in place of my last punt Jesus.

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

          *Also had a punt on Fer

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

          All depends on today & injuries to other forwards.

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  24. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    No 2 in the world (c) yaya.

    Wow!

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

      Great minds...

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

      The casual b@stard

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    3. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      could be the new no1 with that sort of punt

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    4. Alaric
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      It's a great pick

      Don't know why Yaya isn't loved he, or branded as a 'casual' pick. He's a monster, especially in games like these

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      1. super zlatan
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Just surprised he went with yaya over all his striker options. But it could pay off. Fair play to him if it does.

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

      😯

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  25. malbekh
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    I'm putting the bank, well, Aguero(c), Silva and Zab on City to put a few goals past Arsenal today. It's a risk on ranking and leagues but it's a gut instinct and will mean a very exciting 90 minutes......I hope.

    Just would like to say that seeing Ozil, Podolski and Cazorla in Munster uniform means a lot to me, so even if I'm drastically wrong won't feel so bad.

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

      #HonTheFla

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  26. ~SpartakMac
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Arsenal's & City's benches pretty similar in strength. Times change.

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

      City have the better options up front by a distance

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

    Flamini starting is great news. He's be silent but vital

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

      Wilshere starting doesn't help imo

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      1. Dial Square
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        He's been playing much better in the last few weeks + tends to rise to the big occasions (eg Barca)

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  28. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Hangover for hell today.
    Jägerbombs always seems like a good idea at the time...

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

      Somersbys with shots of vodka seemed a great idea too. Not so much today :/

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

      Irish Car Bomb

      🙁

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  29. MJ6987
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    I have Ramsey on my bench. Hold me.

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

    Olson or Chester as Fodder?

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    1. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Chestnut. It's Christmas after all

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