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Dugout Discussion June 15

World Cup 2014 – Dugout Discussion – Matchday One, Day Four

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With three World Cup matches on offer this evening, Fantasy managers have plenty to look forward to. First up, Switzerland take on Ecuador in the 5pm kick-off, with Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side looking to maintain the form that saw them top their qualifying group with an unbeaten record over 10 matches:

Switzerland: Benaglio: Lichtsteiner, Von Bergen, Djourou, Rodriguez: Inler, Behrami; Shaqiri, Xhaka, Stocker; Drmic

Ecuador: Dominguez; Paredes, Guagua, Erazo, W Ayovi; A Valencia, Noboa, Gruezo, Montero; Caicedo, E Valencia

For Switzerland, the highly-rated young left-back Ricardo Rodriguez will add plenty of attacking threat from the back, whilst the likes of Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri are tasked with supplying the creativity behind Josip Drmic, who notched 17 times in 30 starts for German side Nurnberg in 2013/14. The one surprisde from Hitzfeld’s line-up is his decision to opt for Johan Djourou ahead of Fabian Schar in central defence.

Ecuador will be looking for front two Enner Valencia and Felipe Caicedo to grab the goals. The latter was top scorer in qualifying with seven strikes, whilst elsewhere in Reinaldo Rueda’s 4-4-2, Jefferson Montero and United’s Antonio Valencia will also be hoping to make an impact on the flanks.

After that, France square up to Honduras in the other Group E game at 9pm. Despite losing Franck Ribery to injury, Les Bleus are highly-fancied in this one – they’ve won four and drawn one of their last five friendlies, conceding just a single goal in the process. Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Mathieu Valbuena owners have every reason for optimism as Didier Deschamps’ side look to get off to a winning start before a midweek meet with the Swiss.

Our late night viewing sees Group F get underway with a clash of the favourites, as Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina go head-to-head. Lionel Messi will surely be sporting the armband for a number of managers for the 11pm kick-off, though there’s no shortage of options on our radars for this clash, with Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic all looking to catch our attentions before the schedule eases considerably for both sides.

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3,787 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Sarjeant
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    di Maria > Bentaleb?

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

      Might as well

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    2. crystalpalaceRus
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Yeh he'll be back on 4pts shortly, i doubt your miss out by much if you take him out

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    3. Heels_Over_Head
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      why not?

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  2. Lucas Leiva
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Now official, probably the easiest one yet:

    http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186477/man-of-the-match.html

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    1. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Lovely stuff!

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    2. FAITHNOMORENO
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      except briliant goal,messi did nothing to win MOTM award.
      should've been given to the bosnian player besic who dominated over little argentinian.

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  3. Heydudes13
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    That Ibisevic goal not good for my RVP and Dzeko top Netherlands and Bosnia scorer double bet. 😕

    Was worried about that guy.

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

      Dzeko will score a bucket load against Nigeria and Iran, don't worry

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  4. Saniul
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    77 from 5.
    Wish I had not mistakenly taken out Evra now. :/

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  5. Atwood
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone else got nobody playing tomorrow? As a result of having so many play today...

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

      I've got no one, best put a lot of bets on then!

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    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      4 2mo. Do you only have a strong 11? I have had at least 3 everyday I think

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      1. Atwood
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        Depends what you'd class as a squad. I think I'm somewhere in between.

        2 GK's, 5 DF's, 5 MF's, 3 FW's - rest are cheapies

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        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 10 months ago

          I have 23 players 😀 Way more fun this way

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          1. Billy Gilmore
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 10 months ago

            I did have, then some of the feckwits decided not to play...

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    3. Telpuialion
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I have Iranians but not sure how many of them will start 😀

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    4. Saniul
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      None on the Fox game.
      On the Maccy D, I have Cristiano, Bedoya and a couple of Iranians of whom a lot is expected. 😉

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    5. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      coentrao only

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    6. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Just a couple of Iranians.

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  6. EMILE FOR ONE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    As a bench mark, what's everyone's current scores in McDonalds Fantasy? I'm currently on 88 with 5 to play...Mbolhi (Algeria), Montazer (Iran) or Kombarov (Russia), Bentaleb (Algeria), KDB, Beikzadeh (Iran)

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    1. Perchinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      85 with 5 to play: Mbolhi/Dauda, Montazeri, Kombarov and 2 from Beikzadeh, Ozil, De Bruyne and Bentaleb.

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      1. EMILE FOR ONE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        Effectively we (and probably the majority of everyone else on here), are going to end the next three gameweeks with Algerians and Iranians in our teams......*sigh*

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        1. Perchinho
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 10 months ago

          If Dauda starts and gets a few save points then Montzeri might be the only Algerian/Iranian in my team. They're not terrible players to have imo, pretty soft groups, might bink a clean sheet.

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    2. Michaelangelo
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      130 from all 11 players

      Rojo and DiMaria will lose their clean sheet points though and I expect to drop dimaria for KDB.

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    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      88 with 6 to go. (Currently two open spots)

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    4. dmcqt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Most of the scores being mentioned are very high. I'm on 81 now (according to their scores as listed, which will change) and with ten more to play (potentially): Mbolhi, Alderweireld, Bougherra, de Bruyne, Beikzadeh, Benteleb, Bedoya, Özil, Jordan Ayew, Kokorin. I'm expecting that an adequate score for a single player will be at least seven. Players scoring less are looking at being transferred out.

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    5. ⁀⋎⁀⋎⁀⚽
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      72 with 9 to play.

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  7. Heels_Over_Head
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    seriously...

    how long are they waiting at McD's until we can set up our Match 2 lineups? i'm going out for a bit on Tuesday... i hope they're not waiting until then

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    1. Heels_Over_Head
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      i tried putting "2" in place of one in the text of the url to look up the matchday and got "not found"

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

        Means not ready 😉

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    2. Werkself
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      The writing is on the wall: they'll screw it up.

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      1. Shels
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        Written on the back of happy meal boxes already

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    3. Atwood
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Will the players not just reset to how you set them up at the start?

      Or did you mean you'd like to change formations?

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  8. Michaelangelo
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Will Messi and Benzema get points for assists?

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      No

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      1. Michaelangelo
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        oh well, can't be too greedy

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

    What bets are looking good for tomorrow's games?

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Ronaldo MOTM, Asamoah MOTM

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      1. SW6
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        Surely Gyan

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        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 10 months ago

          Asamoah Gyan

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          1. SW6
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 10 months ago

            Thought he might of meant Kwadwo Asamoah 🙂

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            1. Konig Luther
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 10 months ago

              http://i.imgur.com/fezkq.gif

              yes, it was 😉

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      2. Beavis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        Demi is that you?

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    2. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I might go

      Germany and BTTS
      Nigeria WIN
      Over 2.5 goals Ghana V USA

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    3. Lucas Leiva
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Thought 5/4 on Nigeria was good value (although know very little about them or Iran).

      If Moses starts I may put a small MOTM bet on him @8/1.

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

        I'm thinking about putting a little on the two African teams winning and over 1.5 goals in the Germany match.

        And yeah I'm thinking Moses + Gyan for MOTM.

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        1. Lucas Leiva
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 10 months ago

          Don't fancy doubling up on them. Would usually fancy Ghana but USA seem to have had a good WC build up. Just putting £50 on Nigeria.

          Germany WTN @10/3 seems generous too.

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

            What's WTN mean?

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            1. Lucas Leiva
              • 13 Years
              9 years, 10 months ago

              Win to nothing/nil.

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    4. Gubbins94.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I fancy Ghana, and think Iran can stifle Nigeria. Probably won't back anything

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  10. Perchinho
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    85 points from 6 players, 5 to come off my bench: Mbolhi/Dauda, Montazeri, Kombarov and 2 from Beikzadeh, Ozil, De Bruyne and Bentaleb.

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  11. Zep
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Oh well, looks like Muller is staying on my bench... 😕

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      And Ronaldo on mine.

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  12. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    If I swap Busquets, di Maria and Maniatis out for Kroos, de Bruyne and Lukaku will my (c) change or anything?

    http://i.imgur.com/8ZmU6Bp.png

    Gonna change from 3-5-2- to 3-4-3.

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      The change in formation will bench Di Maria, then the subs won't change anything.

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      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        Ok cool cheers 🙂

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    2. Willis.
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      No

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  13. Telpuialion
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Valbuena (6) > Bentaleb?

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    1. Michaelangelo
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      considering this too. not sure yet

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      1. Telpuialion
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        I think I might do it just for the fun of it! But gonna wait until line-ups.

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  14. JustWatching
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    If they don't sort out the goals conceded points deduction, there's no point playing.

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

      Find out soon. 🙂

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  15. Wez88
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Help with how transfers work please! my team appear as set out below:

    Cesar

    Rojo / Evra / Chovelas

    Cabaye / Di Maria / Oscar / yamaguchi

    Messi / Ronaldo / Benzema

    My first sub as a defender is Aurier.

    If I change from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3 will Yamaguchi come off?

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    1. Telpuialion
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      yes

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    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Yes Yamaguchi will come off

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      1. Wez88
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        argh! just did this and it took of yamaguchi... but aurier can't come on as has already played 🙁

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  16. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    If you change from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3, where's is the new defender spot created?

    On the right I'd guess. 😕

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      correct... just added coentrão to my team now, and he was on the right

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    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      yup

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

      Right of course. Right mid gets booted.

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      1. Shels
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        not cabaye?

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    4. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers all.

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    5. Shels
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I'm thinking the same, which midfielder did you lose

      if i swap out pogba with kombarov is it just a straight swap?

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  17. JustWatching
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    I've got 102 points with 3 Algerians, 3 Iranians, Kombarov, KDB, and Cristiano Ronaldo left to play. None of my midfielders have scored or got an assist.

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    1. Shels
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Are you including your whole sqaud?

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    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      102 from 2 eh? 😆

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    3. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o8mYE8YOj7Y/UB7Gonf1shI/AAAAAAAACIc/hfzprMaZnrw/s1600/calling-bullshit.gif

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      1. SW6
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        That face at the end 😆

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  18. 41212 Bayol
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    so i have :
    neymar(c) - 28pts
    vargas - 7pts
    balotelli - 8pts
    muller - still on the bench

    i guess i don't put muller in for vargas, right?

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      left

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      1. 41212 Bayol
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        102 points, all of the 11 played
        still have KDB, bentaleb and beikzadeh in the mid and will play them instead of valbuena and di maria
        also muller and heydari in the forwards section

        should i pull the trigger on vargas?

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 10 months ago

          Of course. 7 is nothing in this game.

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    2. Zep
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I would twist on 7pts tbh... Messi is my lowest scoring forward with 11pts, so I don't think it makes sense for me, so I'm keeping him on the bench...

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    3. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I think I'd go for it. 5 points seems standard, so you're only gambling with 2 in a sense...

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  19. Shels
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    I have 96 from 11 players played, but will swap drmic(3) for lukaku & Pogba(3) /Dimaria(4) for ozil and hazard, manoloas in defense for kombarov if he is going to play and perhaps wilkinson for medjani

    so thats takes 21 points of the 96 with 5 to play

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  20. SW6
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Rojo(7) -> Alderweireld?

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    1. Zep
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Yep, but not before an exciting punt on Montazeri... 😀

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      1. SW6
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        😀 Might give Rahmani a little run out too actually

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      2. Billy Gilmore
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        I've got von Bergen and Cholevas to get rid of first 🙁

        Step up Monterazi!

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    2. Shels
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I would on the basis a clean sheet is not out of the question for toby

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  21. bendernas
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    anybody know anything about Lukaku and KDB starting? both still great shots?

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    1. Zep
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I'll know when the lineups come out...

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    2. Lucas Leiva
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Lukaku will. Rumours about a KDB injury but he was training yesterday.

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  22. teddy.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Subs done. Going into tomorrow I have 76 from 6:

    DAUDA
    MONTAZERI Blind Rodriguez DURM
    BEIKZADEH Pjanic Valbuena
    BOATENG Neymar Peralta

    Bench back ups: Ghoulam Bedoya Fayzulin Lukaku

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  23. Why Always Me
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    in MCDs im on 90 with a potential 4 to play. ozil, KDB, alderwield, komberov. is this good or bad?

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    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      good

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    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      About average.

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    3. Shels
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I have 81 with ozil kombarov hazard lukaku to play

      Average, with average being close to the top

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  24. Studgie G
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    want my lulic assist

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  25. JustWatching
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Stick with Boubacar Barry (5 points) or sub Mbolhi in, if he plays?

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  26. jubileestreet
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    how much did garay score?

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    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Don't know Fernandez got 10 if that helps

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      1. jubileestreet
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        10? how?

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        1. SW6
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 10 months ago

          A lot of blocked shots

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  27. bdwhite91
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    74 points, best in the US. My only regret is Yaya over Honda...should I ditch him for pjanic? I've got 220k to spend

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    1. ⁀⋎⁀⋎⁀⚽
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      74... right behind ya @ 72.

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  28. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    115 with my first 11 all having played. Can bring in De Bruyne for Valbuena and Alderweireld for any mid/def if I think he'll get more than 7 points. Also can do the Algeria keeper in for Cesar (6)

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  29. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Bets done for tomorrow

    Germany WIN and BTTS
    Nigeria WIN

    £5 returns £41.25

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    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Nice.

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  30. Heels_Over_Head
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    love the Rojo clean sheet in McD's... they're not very quick

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