Champions League

Champions League Picks – Semi-Finals, First Leg

Our coverage of the official UEFA Fantasy Champions League game returns this afternoon. With just four teams left in this year’s competition, our options are a little restricted ahead of tonight’s 7.30 pm deadline – nonetheless, we still manage to hand-pick a differential from each of the remaining sides for your consideration:

Filipe Luis – the Atletico left-back sets you back just 5.5 ahead of tonight’s home encounter with Chelsea. With Eden Hazard a major doubt, the visitors are likely to be stunted in attack against a side that have been mean in defence all season; the La Liga leaders have conceded just 22 times in 34 league games this term and with Jose Mourinho bound to keep it tight, Luis – owned by less than 3% of Fantasy managers – looks a real differential worth considering.

Fernando Torres – with Samuel Eto’o set to miss out due to a knee injury, the script looks set for the 9.0-priced Spaniard to lead the line against his former club in tonight’s first-leg. Torres will always have his critics but there’s no doubt he has a tendency to pop up with goals in the matches that matter most – the chance for him to ‘not celebrate’ a winner against his old team could well be the big story of the last four.

Gareth Bale – Real’s summer signing is back in full training after recovering from flu earlier in the week. With Cristiano Ronaldo poised for a return from injury, Carlo Ancelotti will surely target a Bayern backline that struggled against Man United’s pace through the centre in the previous round. Available for 12.0, Bale notched an oustanding winner in last week’s Spanish Cup final triumph over Barcelona and welcomes the defending champions to the Bernabeu in his best form of a superb debut season.

Thomas Muller – handed a brief 17-minute run-out for the weekend win over Braunschwieg, the Bayern forward will be fully refreshed for tomorrow’s trip to Spain. Priced at 11.0, Muller has a habit of netting vital goals in the big games and, with four strikes in his last six Champions League matches, will be confident of finding the net against a Madrid side that has mustered a mere three clean sheets in their 10 matches in this season’s competition.

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1,503 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    alcoholic strawberry n elderflower ......... just the kind of mans drink to watch european footie 😎

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Good stuff. I find that it gives me wind! 😆

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      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        i had dandilion n brudock before, its like a stroll thro my childhood, except with alcohol

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        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          *trouser burp*

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  2. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Come on Chelsea !!!! Lets do this 🙂

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    1. FACUPARSE
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      -500

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      1. Breadbin
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        🙄

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  3. tm245
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Just saw the Mirallas news -- that Belgium squad is being gutted this spring ahead of the WC.

    Made me wonder: do any of the Scouts have decent knowledge/expertise about the major battles for squad selection in advance of the World Cup and which if any managers are more inclined to give someone playing time in the PL because of it?

    An article would be very helpful to think about which players' fantasy prospects might get a boost over these last few weeks as they fight to make their national teams. Not trying to give anybody work -- I don't know a ton about it but would certainly be a receptive audience for anyone who did.

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    1. tm245
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      For example, does Rooney play less seeing as he is nailed on for England, but Mata/Welbeck play more if either is fighting for a spot?

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  4. fk partizan belgrade
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    I have Distine, Mirallas and Silva... 😀 what a bad luck...

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  5. Woy of the Wovers
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    What's the latest template power-5? Need to decide if I go for 5 mids or SAR frontline.

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    1. Punty
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      I have Gerrard Nasri Eriksen Ramsey Sterling with SAR upfront which I guess is relatively template, might swap Gerrard for Mata next week

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      1. Woy of the Wovers
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        Where's Yaya?

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    2. Breadbin
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Ramsey Eriksen Mata Nasri Yaya (Gerrard Sterling AJ).

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      1. Woy of the Wovers
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        AJ?!! You put him 8th admittedly but does he belong here.

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        1. Breadbin
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          Good DGW option.

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          1. Woy of the Wovers
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 15 days ago

            Maybe. I was sceptical about Punchyerface and see where that got me.

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  6. Declan
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Cmon Chelsea!

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    1. kanye east
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      All premier club fans reunite for Chelsea! coyb

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      1. Mull
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        No

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      2. NissA
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        I don't see why they should.

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        1. kanye east
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          the pride of London and England

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          1. NissA
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 15 days ago

            Seriously, why would anyone, fan of a club of a certain league, support a team which is their rival the rest of the year ? ( coefficient aside)

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      3. beric
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        hell no

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    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      -1

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    3. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Why...

      Unless you're a Chelsea fan, I'm not really sure why anyone would want them to win

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      1. Declan
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        I would prefer Real to meet Chelsea in the final

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      2. Jairzinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        Because they're an English club, maybe??

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  7. Give The Todd Some Love
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Hello.

    F**k the Moyes debate. COME ON ATLETICO!

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    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      +1

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  8. beric
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Captain Poll:

    A) Suarez

    B) Ramsey

    C) Kun

    D) Eriksen

    E) Mata

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    1. Pinky and Brain
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      F. Rooney

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      1. beric
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        I knew that was coming, I wont own him this week

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        1. Pinky and Brain
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          Then B

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      2. Kudo Warrior
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        This!

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      I don't know why I am tempted by Kun. I think it is time for CPL to concede

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    3. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      C atm. Pondering B

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    4. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      B

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    5. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      He is my temporary captain for the week

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      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        Aguero, but i shall be capping Mr Rooney

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    6. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      C

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  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Here we go. Comeee onnn Chelseaaaa!!! TOrres to score the winner !!!

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  10. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Mannone (Marshall)
    Chester, Demel, Coleman (Ward, Azip)
    Silva, Eriksen, Mata, Snoddy (Huddlestone)
    Aguerro, Suarez, Lukaku

    0.9 in bank

    Silva>Ramsey & Lukaku>Podolski seem ok? Is Rooney a better option or best watched this week?

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  11. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    We've done it before, the best song for tonight 😛

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    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      We will do it again . juhuuuuuuuuuuuu

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    2. Lazarus
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      According to Mourinho's logic, you didn't win the Champions league final match because it was won on penalties......

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  12. Ridgewell's scores
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Who do we hope wins?

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    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Leicester

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      1. Ridgewell's scores
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        Spot on.

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  13. Give The Todd Some Love
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Cole looks like a really shit Mr T

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      i piddy the fo

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    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      he used to be a 8st weakling..........but then he got all that jewellery

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      1. Give The Todd Some Love
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        Haha

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  14. kanye east
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    the champiooonnnnnnsssss

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    1. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Of the Europa League?

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  15. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Cashleys beard is terrible.

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    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      ...and all that time to work on it too

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  16. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    This is going to be a very boring game

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    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      The way Jose likes it unfortunately

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    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Probably because Chelsea are playing 11 defenders

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  17. Lazarus
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Fergie put his own legacy first by retiring "at the top", knowing he wouldn't win the league again. It didn't matter that it coincided with the planned departure of their Chief Executive.

    He really put United in the shit as they weren't prepared for his departure. Moyes' ineptitude just masks all this.

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    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Totally agree, i respected Fergie before he did that.

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    2. Ridgewell's scores
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Quite an opinion, haven't thought nor heard anything like that before. Thank you for your sage words, my eyes are open now.

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      1. Lazarus
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        You're most welcome unenlightened one.

        Shall I give you my opinion on who I think Ryan Giggs had to sleep with in order to get the job?

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        1. Ridgewell's scores
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          You think he'll keep it?

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    3. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Load of balls.

      What should Fergie have done not retired and dropped dead in the dugout?

      He won countless trophies at United people should have some respect.

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      1. Lazarus
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        No. It's up to him when he retires, I don't blame him for that. He just put his legacy first. Wenger doesn't have the trophies Fergie has, but he will leave Arsenal in much better shape.

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        1. Hibbo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          A pile of nonsense.

          In better shape to finish 4th every season?

          Ok so Fergie shouldn't have bothered winning any trophies just passed on a better team. Oh wait he gave him the English champions.

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          1. Lazarus
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 15 days ago

            What I'm saying is he could have waited a season so that United didn't have to deal with the departures of both their Chief Executive and Manager. That would have provided continuity and been in the best interests of the club. Do you not agree?

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            1. Hibbo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 15 days ago

              Not at all I think its a pile of nonsense.

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              1. Lazarus
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 15 days ago

                Fair enough. I can live with a pile of nonsense, it was a load of balls that had really knocked my confidence.

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                1. Lazarus
                  • 10 Years
                  10 years, 15 days ago

                  How big a pile are we talking?

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  18. vodkapad
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Milner for Silva is the way everyone is going ya?

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    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      no

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    2. Ridgewell's scores
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Is anyone going that way?

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      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        not really, dunno where he's got that idea from. i on the other hand have gone fernandinho, ultimate differential haha 🙂

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        1. Ridgewell's scores
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          not really ultimate as it turns out, my opponent had him. Luckily he did bugger all. I'm waiting on Yaya news and hoping to bring him in for the DGW.

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  19. Heydudes13
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    All Atleti.

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  20. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Juuuuuuuuhhuuuuuuuuuu

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  21. FACUPARSE
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Did I just see Chelsea and pride of London in the same sentence?

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    1. Heydudes13
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Bombardier.

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    2. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Yep the only team from London to have won a UCL title . Cry

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    3. Gimli son of Gloin
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Who cares?

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    4. kanye east
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      why are you still here? arsenal already got knocked out

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  22. kanye east
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    This ref is bias to Chelsea and I like it 😀

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  23. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Mourinho's 19th century tactics paying off so far..

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    1. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Wasn't 19th century tactics a 2-0-9 formation?

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      1. Jairzinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        Or 2-0-8.*

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        1. Ridgewell's scores
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          twas 10.

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  24. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Lol at Costa v Terry. They should have had a Beckham v Simeone rematch on the undercard 😆

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  25. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    What happened to Oscar? Is he still injured?

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    1. Gimli son of Gloin
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      bench

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      1. Grounderz
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        Just returned from injury.

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        1. Grounderz
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 15 days ago

          Sorry, supposed to be a question mark in the end there. 😳

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    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      Too attacking

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      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        🙂

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      2. Grounderz
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 15 days ago

        Filling Ramires as a right winger. He's looking to get defensive in his formation.

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    3. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      too much flair

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  26. Heydudes13
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    13 minutes? Feels like 30. Zzzz.

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

      Chelsea will do that to you 😉

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  27. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Cech out

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 15 days ago

      *mate

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  28. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Chelsea should bring Courtouis on.

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  29. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    inevitable

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  30. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 15 days ago

    Cech mate

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