Captains

Captain Poll Contenders – Gameweek 9

Today, we’re rolling out a new weekly regular which looks at the Captain Poll contenders in the Gameweek so far. Analysing form, fixtures and upcoming opponents of each of the main protagonists, we run through your favourites, with Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla the runaway leader ahead of Arsenal’s home clash with basement-dwellers QPR:

Over the eight Gameweeks to date, the Captain Poll leaders have averaged 7.3 points per appearance – just shy of 15 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points per Gameweek if you handed them the armband. You’ve selected three lots of double figures – Michu (10 in Gameweek 2), Carlos Tevez (15 in Gameweek 3) and Robin Van Persie last weekend, with an 11 point haul against Stoke.

Intriguingly, the last five Gameweeks have seen Van Persie and Eden Hazard monopolise the Captain Poll. Since the start of Gameweek 4, the Dutchman has earned top spot three times, while the Belgian has been the favourite twice but with Chelsea and United squaring up at the Bridge on Sunday, neither are anywhere near the summit.

Santi Cazorla

The Spaniard currently leads the way in the Captain Poll, with 23% of the votes cast ahead of a home showdown with QPR. Cazorla was handed the armband by many last time round but provided his owners with a four point captaincy return after Arsenal unexpectedly stumbled to defeat at Norwich. The former Malaga man has mainly excelled on the road – both his goals, two of his three assists and all five of his Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bonus points have been accrued away from the Emirates.

With just a single assist over his three home games – in the 6-1 Gameweek 4 mauling of Southampton – Cazorla has produced blanks against Sunderland and Chelsea in front of his own fans but with QPR conceding two or more goals in three of their four road trips, his owners will be confident of picking up the points after the Carrow Road disappointment last Saturday evening.

Gareth Bale

The Welshman sits in second place with 13% and heads off to former club Southampton this weekend. In terms of attacking output, Bale is similar to Cazorla, producing just one assist in four matches at the Lane this term but playing away clearly seems to suit him right now. The 9.5 priced FPL midfielder has produced double figures in each of his last two road trips; a goal and maximum bonus points harvested 11 points at Reading in Gameweek 4, whilst a 16 point haul at Old Trafford came courtesy of a goal, two assists and the maximum bonus.

Nigel Adkins’s side have been dire defensively, though have conceded half the number of goals at St Mary’s than they have on their travels (eight versus 16) but with Spurs scoring two or more in each of their last five, the odds are heavily against a home clean sheet. Let’s just hope Bale is available this time; he missed out against Chelsea, of course, with his partner due to give birth.

Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero

Tevez may have failed to score since Gameweek 3 but his stats have still been strong – he has either scored, assisted or picked up FPL bonus in all his seven starts this season. He has featured in the first XI in three of City’s four home matches, producing two goals, three assists and three bonus points over that quartet of fixtures – an average of 8.6 points per Etihad start or 6.75 per home appearance. The problem, then, is whether Roberto Mancini will hand him a first-team place – the one time Tevez has climbed off the bench this season (at home to Arsenal in Gameweek 5), he returned a single point.

Aguero, on the other hand, has mainly picked up the points regardless. With Champions League duties a clear factor in Mancini’s thinking, the former Atletico Madrid man has been handed a sub role in each of City’s last two – yet still managed to produce attacking returns in both those fixtures. Since returning from injury in Gameweek 5, Aguero has outscored Tevez in FPL by 18 to 17, despite featuring for a total of 62 minutes in the previous two matches. Many Fantasy managers’ decision could be swayed by Mancini’s Champions League line-up this evening but with Gameweek 9 opponents Swansea travelling to the Etihad on the back of a run of games which has seen them ship two or more goals in five of their last six, Tevez and Aguero – with 11% and 10% of votes cast respectively – could be primed for points.

Demba Ba

Another armband contender, with 9% of votes, though it’s worth noting that Newcastle have scored a total of four goals in four home games so far. Ba has notched two of those strikes and has had a hand in seven of his side’s nine goals thus far – both his double figure returns have arrived away from St James’ Park. Nevertheless, Ba has accrued 22 FPL points over those four home games (9,2,9,2) with maximum bonus against Spurs and Norwich in Gameweeks 1 and 5. West Brom roll up to Tyneside having conceded in all of their three away trips and have a single clean sheet in their last five – if Alan Pardew’s side are to get the better of the Baggies, Ba looks a good bet to play a significant part, with spot-kick duties also likely to come his way.

Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney

Despite playing the full 90 minutes for United last night, Van Persie now has five-day break before Sunday’s trip to Chelsea. The Dutchman has lived up to the “Robin Reliant” tag since moving to Old Trafford – he has scored or assisted in all of his six league starts this term. He has averaged over eight points per away start, scoring (15,6,4) when fielded in Sir Alex Ferguson’s XI on the road and looks certain to begin the game at the Bridge. Chelsea have conceded just once in the last three in front of their own fans, though, and could provide a real test for Van Persie’s incredible consistency; he currently sits as low as fifth, with just 7% votes cast perhaps an indication of the Blues’ defensive resolve.

Rooney has just 2% of votes so far, despite returning double figures in each of his last two appearances. Since returning from injury in the second-half of the Gameweek 6 home defeat at Spurs, he has grabbed two goals, four assists and six bonus points; in spite of his new deep-lying role, Rooney has bettered Van Persie’s tally in each of the last two matches, though whether Ferguson continues with the diamond against Chelsea’s width on the flanks is perhaps debatable.

Other Contenders

Dimitar Berbatov travels to the Madejski to face a Reading side that have yet to register a clean sheet all season. He has only started one away game for Fulham this term and returned eight FPL points in the Gameweek 5 trip to Wigan; the Bulgarian has 4% of the votes. Juan Mata’s phenomenal form makes him the most popular Chelsea contender. Since returning from a rest in Gameweek 5, he has produced three goals, five assists and six FPL bonus points, though Eden Hazard has averaged nine points per home game and should be on spot-kicks if Frank Lampard misses out with a calf problem; incredibly, he has just 1% of the votes so far.

Elsewhere, Peter Crouch has scored all three of Stoke’s home goals this season and welcomes Sunderland to the Britannia – the Potters man has just 2% of the votes, double that of Arouna Kone. The Ivorian is an intriguing option – he has had a hand in four of Wigan’s five home goals this season (two goals, two assists) and plays host to a West Ham side that have conceded in each of their last four matches.

Grant Holt has scored in each of his last three, against Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, and travels to Villa Park to face former Norwich boss Paul Lambert – Villa have one clean sheet all season, while Rickie Lambert is another to consider. He has averaged 6.5 points per home game this season and squares up to Spurs at St Mary’s; although he has started all four home matches, he was subbed off after the hour mark against Fulham in Gameweek 7.

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1,522 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Soccer Brah
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    United fan or otherwise, Neville is turning into one of the top pundit/commentators nowadays. Though with the likes of Souness, Barnes, Ljundberg etc that probably isn't the hardest of things.

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    1. Babytigrrr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Best pundit there is by a million miles.

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  2. COMH
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Nasri what a goal

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  3. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    well thats against the run of play

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    1. Doolittle
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Brilliantly clinical though.

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  4. Scroobius Mac
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    NASRI BAGONWHEEL

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I started that at the beginning of the week

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  5. Pratik
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Nasri, it is !!!!

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  6. Corrigan
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    That touch from Eriksen was sublime.

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    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      tops

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  7. Zep
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    *Cue Nasri bandwagon...

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I'd already started one. Just got a few more takers now

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  8. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Milner to Nasri and goal. Against the run of play.

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    1. jimski
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Damn. Want City out of the CL.

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

        That late, late, undeserved equaliser against Dortmund will prove to be vital I fear.

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

      Run of play is irrelevant if you defend like that. Diabolical from the RB.

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  9. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Repost from last page: Any Arsenal fans here? What is the chances of Wilshere playing this weekend? How do you think it will effect Cazorla’s point return when he does come back to full match fitness and gets game time?

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

    1-0 Porto

    Varela

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

      Helton assist? 😀

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      1. Waldaz
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        lol, Lucho.

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      2. blue cheese
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Lucho.

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        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Yeah!!!!!

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    2. blue cheese
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      1-1 now.

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  11. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Just when I'd talked myself out of buying Nari 😡

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      *Nasri

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  12. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Eriksen is awesome.

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  13. A2U
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Samir Nasri is an anagram of 'Raisin arms'. If anyone was wondering.

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      1. Demelbrush
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        And Iran Ass Rim

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    2. The3rdTurd
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Also Ran ass I rim

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    3. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      And Kylie Minogue is

      "o u leiky minge"

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  14. Manani
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    which channel is there a UEFA game?

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  15. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    The most annoying thing about Martin/Mataunreal is that we can't go and come back when he is not on here... 🙄

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      +1, it's like watching tv with ads.

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    2. Spike ⚽️
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      ^ this. I just log off when I see him about !

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  16. AK ⭐
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Now that Tevez is on the bench, I din't really have any pressing transfer issues for the week and I was going through Kolarov's stats till date in the Premier League and I'm tempted, though we all know he's a big rotation risk, is he worth considering to have if I have Cuellar, Baines, Clyne and Hughes. I'll have to dump Ridgewell for him. Cheers for any thoughts.

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I think it's time to dump Ridgewell anyway, fixtures look poor for clean sheets.

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      1. AK ⭐
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        That's the reason why I'm tempted by Kolarov, life would have been much easier if I had Wilson instead of Hughes/Cuellar. Not a member here, so looked at Kolarov's stats on the official PL site, and tbvh, I'm really tempted, considering he's been benched twice already.

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        1. Mílanista
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          I think Ridgewell should be sold. Getting Kolarov is a punt before another transfer to get a longer term defensive replacement.

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          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            Sagna is that man for me

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            1. AK ⭐
              • 12 Years
              12 years, 10 days ago

              This, exactly what I was thinking.

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    2. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      if you have good back up Kolarov is worth the risk. I'm gonna ship Davies for him I think, thus making either Rafa or Michu my back-up

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      1. AK ⭐
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Well the defense as I said, is good value I think, though might not be able to cover them up. Cuellar, Hughes and Clyne with Baines and Kolarov in the starting lineup. What do you think?

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        1. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Play Hughes, Cuellar and Clyne are decent back-ups.

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          1. AK ⭐
            • 12 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            Ridgewell to Kolarov worth a shot in your opinion with that defense then? You have decent backup too, you shipping him?

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  17. Babytigrrr
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Bubbles, i haven't been hacked! I've just suddenly seen the glorious light!

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

      Exactly what the hacker would say. I ain't falling for this, Janie, or should I say...AP?!

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      1. Babytigrrr
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Accusing me of being a man? I've never been so insulted in all my life!

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

          Massive sexist! What's wrong with being a man?

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  18. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    The UNREAL twins must be up to the most comments on the site. Is it quantity or quality or both though?

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    1. Scroobius Mac
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Doosra is head and shoulders above us all I think.

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Top 10 would be interesting.

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      2. Ginkapo FPL
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Yup, Doos beats all

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    2. Crouch Potato!
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Quality.

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    3. Babytigrrr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Who are these two? Name and shame.

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      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        MataUnreal is MataUnreal. Not sure who Martin is.

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        1. blue cheese
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Home Run Baker.

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        2. Babytigrrr
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Did either of them used to be known as CFC_tom?

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          1. Scroobius Mac
            • 13 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            I forgot about that twonk!

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            1. Babytigrrr
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              12 years, 10 days ago

              Awful little scrout.

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          2. Crouch Potato!
            • 13 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            I remember that little scumbag, had many a pleasant night winding him up!

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            1. SPorting
              • 13 Years
              12 years, 10 days ago

              he loved his Chelsea.

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              1. Crouch Potato!
                • 13 Years
                12 years, 10 days ago

                Yup, the day QPR beat them, I filled my boots, kept posting me all this right wing Chelsea stuff, dug himself a lovely hole! 😉

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        3. thetinkerman
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          They're two different people?

          MataUnreal is the guy who spends pages trying to convince people to agree with him on certain players. Before it was RVP, now it's Dzeko.

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  19. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    I officially hate Fantasy Football.

    Was set on Nasri all week. Then Clichy starts and Kolarov looks to be the way forward. Then Nasri sticks home a screamer and I'm back to square 1

    *Head explodes*

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  20. Demelbrush
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Earlier in the day I posted something like the following:

    "With all the issues in the city midfield, could nasri be a good shout?"

    Well?

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I said i was considering it then, still am. Am torn between him and Kolarov

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

      too shor term for me

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      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        It's him or Kolarov. Was set on Nasri for 2-3 weeks, but thinking Kolarov is a better option and saves me a transfer in the long run getting Ramirez back

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  21. nedfoo
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Which city strikers are starting tonight?

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    1. blue cheese
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Aguero, Dzeko.

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    2. COMH
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Dzeko and Aguero

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    3. nedfoo
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Cheers

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    4. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Aguero and Dzeko

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  22. COMH
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Not enough goals being scored. I need Madrid, Dortmund, Arsenal and Schalke all to score.

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    1. nedfoo
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      No one really looks like scoring in Dortmund Madrid game, they all keep slipping over...

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  23. Waldaz
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    This is pretty boring stuff, GOALS PLEASE!

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  24. the axolotl
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    ajax look like they play with 11 theo walcotts, can be sublime but only ever a second away from total disaster

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  25. COMH
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Ajax look great until they get into the final 3rd. Need a decent striker up there.

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  26. Dr Ennet
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Ibra 1-0 😀

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  27. blue cheese
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Ibra scored.

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

      My captain. First thing to shout about all matchday. My bench is looking absolutely awesome...

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    2. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      assist?

      Not git him anymore, got Messi, CR7 and Martinez

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      1. blue cheese
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Menez.

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        1. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          😥 I have Pastore

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  28. Parm
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Ibra gol.

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  29. BONZ
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    No goal fest in the UCL tonigh its all rather boring - sitting here remotes in hand just waiting for RED button - OH here goes
    Zlatan

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

    Ibra goal

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