Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Chelsea vs Arsenal

This is what we’ve been waiting for. A potentially momentous Gameweek in our seasons begins very shortly, as Chelsea face Arsenal at the Bridge in a fixture that offers plenty to the neutral and the committed Fantasy Football manager alike.

Eden Hazard’s owners will be clinging to the Belgian in hope that he can overcome the Gunners’ resistance to offer a decent points haul to justify selection ahead of a double Gameweek asset. Those holding Chelsea and Arsenal defenders will be seeking a more subdued encounter, fought in midfield, with little incident at either end. It’s one of many contrasts and conflicts ahead of us as Gameweek 31 unfolds in the coming days.

Once we know how this one falls, six more three o’clock kick-offs follow, with United’s visit to the Boleyn Ground in East London bringing the day to a close.

Our Twitter feed offers an insight into today’s teamsheets, while our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to allow for your real-time interaction throughout the day.

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

2,034 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Redalert
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    A sneaky Arsenal goal would be most welcome

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    1. sinik
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      this

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    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Not gonna happen unfortunately

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  2. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I have 1 down and 20 to play

    How fun 😀

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    1. sinik
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      22 (c) 😉

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      1. Az
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Yay! 😀

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  3. Atwood
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Will Gibbs still get the -3 if the red gets rescinded?

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    1. JWF
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Yes.

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    2. Leeroy Jenkyns
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Most likely yes. FA wouldn't rule til after points are tabled.

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  4. Godfather Bandit 42
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal - still 3rd with half a team.....

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    1. Courtois in the Rye
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      They are the third best team in the league so that's not surprising for me. The surprise is that each year people genuinely seem to think they have a chance of winning it, and are surprised when they collapse of the pace.

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    2. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Although it's 6 goals down, they still only miss out on 3 points.

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    3. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Only 3rd by virtue of city having about a billion games in hand though

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  5. Zombie
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    To all Hazard benchers: Whom did you play instead?

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

      Nolan for -4pts

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

        let's see how that goes

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      2. Beavis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        I think that'll even itself out

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      3. rdpx
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Nolan on WC.

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      4. Zombie
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Looking back at Nolan's home games, it can easily be in double digit positive

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    2. Courtois in the Rye
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      The way this place sounded this week there are probably a bunch of people playing Ki, Meyler, Bardsley etc instead of him.

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    3. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thudd.

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

      Dummett...

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      1. r0nh
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Just need 1 CS

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        1. rdpx
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          He gonna get a goal too Ronh, he gonna score.

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          1. r0nh
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            Id love it!!

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        2. Zombie
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          or just one of those FKs to sneak in 😉

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    5. Baa
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Ivan

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    6. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Cahill.

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    7. banskt
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Chester.

      Need a clean sheet to cancel out.

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    8. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Lukaku

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    9. Redalert
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      AJ. I'm hopeful

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    10. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Nolan/Sterling/Silva (Yaya always nailed on in my team).

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  6. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    So Eto'o get's the winning goal bap?

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    1. Namtab Nomolos
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Of course.

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  7. Chu Young Ping Pong
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    feck u azzard

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    1. The Chosen One...
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Got more than he deserved

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  8. r0nh
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Pure attention seeking from Jose

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

      takes one to know one?

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      1. r0nh
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, making a few silly comments on a footy blog is the exact same as doing what Jose done, in front of the whole world watching...

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        1. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          I think he's talking about Wenger, not you..

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          1. r0nh
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            I think you are wrong.

            Nice to see mods setting examples though...

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            1. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 1 month ago

              Well let's hope he posts and clears that up 🙂

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              1. r0nh
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 1 month ago

                Unprovoked incitement

                Mark??

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  9. rdpx
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Mourinho leaving early and not shaking AW's hand.

    That's not very classy.

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    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      He's not very classy

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      1. rdpx
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Oh he's quite classy, in his own manner.

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        1. TeamSteam
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Hes not classy, even a little bit

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    2. Godfather Bandit 42
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      It's that kinda stuff what makes wish Mourinho will fail.

      Obviously didn't fail today, the punk!

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    3. The Shadow
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      My team lost 6-0 but I knew I could count on Mourinho to do something to make me happy that 'm not a Chelsea fan.

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  10. Sess!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Really hope negredo doesn't go nuts today as could be looking at 1pt from Dzeko over the double GW.

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    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      3 assists for Zabaleta hat trick #bookmark

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      1. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        this! 😀

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    2. rdpx
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      yeah dzeko on sofa is disaster for my XI too.

      I hope he got a knock this morning and is out for 6 days.

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  11. Give The Todd Some Love
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal fans still singing. Fair play.

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    1. Courtois in the Rye
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Their away fans are superb. Mind you over the last few years singing after 5, 6, 8 goals is becoming a bit of a speciality.

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      1. Give The Todd Some Love
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        True 😉

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  12. AWOL-Ekotto
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Tottenham winger Andros Townsend: Who thinks we will see another selfie from Wojciech Szczesny after today's game?

    Love this

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  13. mrsimple
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    why do people even support arsenal? they're just...erghh, lead by a failure manager
    i feel sorry that arsenal fans still exist in this world

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    1. Bridge
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Sounds bizarre but some people support their local team/childhood favourites. I'm sure you are Chelsea through and through though.

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      1. Bridge
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        (United fan living 250 miles away here 😉 probably in the small percentile of United fans that have held a season ticket though ;))

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    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I would way rather be an arsenal fan than a fan of Chelsea

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      1. Courtois in the Rye
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Me too, and I say that as a Spurs fan. At least they are a proper football club.

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    3. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Dude, give it a rest.

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    4. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Assuming you're not from West London, what made you support a team bankrolled by a billionaire?

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    5. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      may I ask, when did you start supporting Chelsea?

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    6. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Because their fans are much classier than Chelsea fans

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    7. Godfather Bandit 42
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Your name suits you.

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    8. ElementWire
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thank you for feeling sorry for me- It's a terrible feeling knowing your club will self sustainable and will still be around the top in a decades time.

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    9. Lazarus
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Here's a better question....

      Why do you have to be so antagonising?

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    10. Redalert
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Bit harsh. Chelsea have been there before...

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    11. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      This

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  14. 50shades of o'shea
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    FT

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  15. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Mourinho probably couldn't have kept a straight face while handshaking

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  16. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Mourinho is a pr*ck

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  17. Home Run Baker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Cech, Terry, Haz 🙂

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    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Well done

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    2. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Fair play playing x2 Chelsea defenders this week !

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    3. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Unlucky. Only one goal in 6!!

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  18. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Ecstatic with the result.

    Great tactics well-executed even before the RC.

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  19. Courtois in the Rye
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    I'll take 14 points from Terry and Hazard. Chester, Ki, Bardsley, Livermore etc may well not match that.

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  20. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Having benched Hazard for Cahill, I am pretty happy given the way the game went.

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    1. Courtois in the Rye
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Imagine if you'd just seen the result - cold sweats as to what Hazard might have done!

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      1. Art Vandelay
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Yep.

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  21. ElementWire
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    After Arsenal lost 8-2 to United- SAF was extremely respectful in post match interviews despite the long rivalry. Can't see the same happening today.

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    1. Courtois in the Rye
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      What people always seem to forget in football is that one day you will be on the receiving end of something similar - like Fergie was vs City.

      Dignity in victory, dignity in defeat. Wenger has the former but not the latter, Mourinho has neither.

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  22. drughi
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    6 points from cahill and 8 points for Hazard, I'll take that from my two sgw players now roll on the doubles 🙂

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  23. isacki: full casual
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    In all seriousness, it's not really rocket science what's happened to Arsenal. It's not a new development either. We just are extremely vulnerable to counterattacking sides because we have very little defensive cover when we lose the ball. It's been the case for almost a decade. The losses to a counterattacking United back in the Fergie years, the 8-2, the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool and the 6-3 defeat to City. It's a pattern that will continue as long as he's in charge.

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    1. The Light Knight
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Here's to another 1000 😉

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Haha, I'm gonna spend the rest of the day getting buried in rival fans backing Wenger 😆

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    2. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Compounding the lack of defensive cover when we lose the ball, is the lack of drills to rapidly get back into position. Or "responding to transitions" as they call it. Defensively aware sides like Chelsea are extremely quick to get everyone back in position when the ball is lost.

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    3. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Thought that's what Flamini does well. Protect the backline against counterattacking teams. You played really well against Liverpool at Emirates for example.

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah he helps, no wonder he gets so many cards because he requires so many professional fouls to stop them tearing us apart. He does really help us, but can't do it by himself though - it's a team effort.

        The way Arsenal defend is by keeping the ball. This works very well against clubs that just sit back and let us have it and don't threaten much on the counterattack. Once people start bullying us and winning the ball the problems start. We played a very good possession game against Liverpool in the first game - we got destroyed in the second.

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    4. rdpx
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      It didn't really help that 75% of the team are in hospital either.

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    5. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Keep the faith Isacki. Arse have spent pennies in last 8 yrs. Think they now ready to spend again.
      Dunno how old you are ? What about the invincibles , only side to go unbeaten in a season ??

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        I remember all that - I remember us winning the title at Old Trafford, I remember the glorious 97/98 season. Times change mate!

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        1. isacki: full casual
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          In my mind it's no longer about "Arsenal should sign a CM" or "Arsenal should sign a striker". It's much deeper than that, it's about the philosophy of the team.

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  24. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Thank god that is over. Am I correct Hz only a goal ?

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    1. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. I got off lucky.

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  25. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Love to see how guys are only talking about how awful Arsenal are today. When Liverpool smashed them, everyone was praising Rodgers, Suarez, Sturridge . Thank you for your fairness, lads!

    #Topofthetable

    Love you Mourinho 🙂

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  26. rohan
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    8 from 1 with 20 including (c) to go.

    😀

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    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      13 from 3 with 17 to go incl. (C)

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  27. Bouncebackability
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Anybody who didn't play their Chelsea players or even sold them must be bloody ecstatic with that outcome. A 6-0 score could have had double figure scores for defenders and Hazard but the damage was largely done by players not really in the mix.

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  28. GreenWindmill
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    14 points from 2 on the bench, imagine how many my starting XI will get 😎

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  29. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Gutted if Kos is out for the Swans game. I had planned to get rid, but convinced myself I had to keep with the DGW. -1. FML. 😆

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    1. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      That makes two of us 🙁

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    2. Courtois in the Rye
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Well you got a nice bonus last weekend I guess.

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

    Sterling benched. Sigh*

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