Suspensions

Suspension Tightrope – Weary

As ever in the busy festive season, the games arrive thick and fast, and with them come the inevitable yellow cards and ill-timed suspensions. As of Boxing Day, though, there are just 180 minutes left for players to negotiate before the threshold is increased from five yellows to 10 (and the sanction from one match to two) on January 1. Unfortunately for some, 2014 didn’t come soon enough, as their fifth yellows duly arrived over the weekend’s action.

At Selhurst Park, not one, but two men fell foul of the Suspension Tightrope, and will spend Boxing Day watching from the stands. Old favourite Cheick Tioté was the first to fall, troubling the referee’s notebook just after the hour mark for a foul on Joel Ward. The Newcastle midfielder’s indiscretion was his fifth yellow this term and his 38th in just three and a half seasons in the Premier League – a true Tightrope stalwart.

Meanwhile, following him onto the ban list later in the game was the Eagles budget striker Marouane Chamakh. The Moroccan ensured he’d follow this week’s blank with another one, but he still has some way to go to match Tioté’s output – despite arriving in England in the same summer as the Ivorian destroyer, Chamakh has accrued a rather more respectable 11 yellow cards.

Another to have filled his quota of bookings this weekend, and joining Tioté and Chamakh in missing Gameweek 18, is our longest-serving Tightrope resident. Having watched team-mate Fabian Delph return from suspension and pick up his sixth booking on Saturday, Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood finally succumbed to a one-match suspension on his ninth game balancing on the high wire. Westwood’s longevity certainly gives hope to both Premier League and Fantasy managers distracted by the card counts of their charges and fearing the worst.

Completing the bans for this week was the rock at the heart of Sunderland’s new-found defensive resolve, Wes Brown. The Black Cats have been much improved at the back, with four clean sheets in seven attributed to Brown’s return to fitness but, when faced by Ricky van Wolfswinkel en route to the corner flag last Saturday, Brown lost his head and launched two-footed at the Dutchman’s legs. There was only one likely outcome and referee Martin Atkinson duly dished a straight red that will see Brown miss the entire holiday schedule. Sunderland’s promising clean sheet chances at Everton and Cardiff and home to Aston Villa in the next three games suddenly don’t look quite so enticing without him.

Jack Wilshere and Paulinho remain on the sidelines form Gameweek 18. The pair serve the last of their respective two- and three-match bans before returning for the weekend’s round of matches, whilst Chelsea’s Michael Essien will, of course, be available for selection once this evening’s match at the Emirates has passed.

Elsewhere amongst the weekend’s early Christmas cards, there were a smattering of fourth yellows, with Brown’s Sunderland team-mate Seb Larsson, Ciaran Clark of Aston Villa, Stoke City’s Marc Wilson and Billy Jones of West Brom all now finding themselves listed on the bulging Tightrope widget. A 27-strong band now head into the last two games of the year attempting to avoid the yellow card that will tip them over the edge.

Anorak Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana. Follow them on Twitter

752 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mojo Rojo
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone planning Ramsey > Walcott if you paid 7+ for Rambo?

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    1. Stevee10001
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      i think ramsey has entered into a zone where his value is too much to get rid incase u ever had to buy him back

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      1. Ad4m
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        +1. Unless Walcott starts playing points catchup over the next 3 GWs

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      2. Mojo Rojo
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        I only recently bought him at 7.5 though... If I hadn't been naive and jumped on the bandwagon earlier I would even think about ditching him. Just think Walcott will outscore Ramsey from now until season's end.

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    2. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Have walcot for three weeks now, and did Ramsey to silva yesterday.

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    3. money face bandwagon
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      want 4 premium mid + ramsey..so i solve the problem by going 352

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    4. sinik
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      same Ancelotti, my selling value is 7.4m and I'm thinking of shipping for Cabaye today before he rises (already have Walcott, Silva and Hazard)

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  2. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I still haven't finished last years Christmas shopping yet.

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    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Amazon prime free trial ftw

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      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        thats how they get you

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        1. beric
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah remind me to cancel it in January please mate

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          1. liamhennessy
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            You can cancel straight away and still get the full trial, Beric

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      2. Psakhotherapy
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        This is my first christmas of boycotting Amazon...challenging, especially when there's an apocalypse going on outside

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        1. beric
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          I was gunna not use amazon but I broke my leg so...

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    2. JT's Dog
        10 years, 3 months ago

        I'll wait

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    3. HNI
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      guys
      does Gjohnson to walker for free sounds good?
      especially looking at next 5 fixtures..westbrom+stoke+CRY all HOME..
      and LiVpl have terrible ones!
      or should i save ft and play distin+coleman+Ward??

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      1. Lord Flashheart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Why walker? Save some money with Dawson.

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        1. HNI
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          setpieces...

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          1. Emp
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Sounds like a good move if no other pressing matters in your team

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    4. JT's Dog
        10 years, 3 months ago

        What's happening here, I take dog for a walk and come back and all hell has broken loose.

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        1. beric
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          A dog walking a dog, this I gotta see

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          1. JT's Dog
              10 years, 3 months ago

              That would be a guide dog then wouldn't it

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            • Lord Flashheart
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              Ha, I thought its a john terry reference.

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          2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            well if you believe the daily mail your dog should have become a kite

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        2. lastmanback
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Other than Suarez - top 3 must have's for the rest of Decembers games?

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          1. The Machine
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            There are no "Must" haves, but if you wanna know the three picks likely to do very well

            Coleman
            Rooney
            Walcott

            IMO

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          2. Limbo
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Silva/Yaya/Ozil for me.

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            1. The Machine
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              Ozil will soon be rested

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            2. The Machine
              • 10 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              And why SIlva?

              he only has 2 in the next 3 considering he'll miss the CRY game

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              1. DAVE47
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 3 months ago

                Why is it that he'll miss the CRY game?

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                1. Limbo
                  • 13 Years
                  10 years, 3 months ago

                  Guess work. 1 card away from suspension.

                  It's as good a call as you can throw mud at.

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          3. jmcclory123
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Coleman, Rooney, Yaya

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        3. Your Man With The Hair
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Midfield under £8m... anyone got a better suggestion than Cabaye?
          (lost on last page)

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          1. Gaz Downright
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            check again, not lost

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            1. Your Man With The Hair
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              Dempsey? Maybe its you who's lost! lol

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              1. jmcclory123
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 3 months ago

                How much will Dempsey be?

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          2. ★FC Borecelona★
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Lallana, Mirallas, Ramsey

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        4. Disco Stu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          Still worth hanging on to Lukaku?

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          1. Psakhotherapy
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            for sure

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          2. J0E
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            If he can't score against a patched up Sunderland defence at home then I'm shipping him. I wouldn't ditch him before though.

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          3. Ad4m
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Fixtures and play say yay! but still worried

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          4. JT's Dog
              10 years, 3 months ago

              No , he could sell his boots as brand new on eBay

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            • Limbo
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              Marked out of the game against Swansea (and looked a bit poor to be fair). BUT some cracking fixtures coming up, so a good time to have him.

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          5. The Machine
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Heavy snow predicted next week in England?

            Could do with a few DGWs apart from the usual FA Cup ones

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            1. Gaz Downright
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              Sweden has already promised that the first 10,000 refugees will get citizenships.

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            2. Alberto Tomba
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              North England is called Scotland

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              1. Bauerhaus 24
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 3 months ago

                don't become a geography teacher 🙂

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          6. Alejo - CFC
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Play Burner (Soton at home) or Ward (Villa away) ?

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            1. BenDavies
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              Burner 100%

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          7. Gaz Downright
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            Have found a weakness in Lukaku's game.

            He seems to struggle with positioning against settled defences.

            Apart from that all his other stats are 20.

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            1. Gaz Downright
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              *might have found

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            2. Gaz Downright
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 13 Years
              10 years, 3 months ago

              fair enough, it's hardly even close to as interesting as that collection of clouds over London

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          8. JT's Dog
              10 years, 3 months ago

              I just got one of those on demand router boxes free from sky.
              Been through about 400 pages of options and can't find one thing worth watching.
              Can see it being xmas present for someone

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              1. Ad4m
                • 12 Years
                10 years, 3 months ago

                Seen all of Downton Abbey then?

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                1. JT's Dog
                    10 years, 3 months ago

                    Wouldn't even if you nailed me to a chair and stapled my eyelids open

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                    1. Ad4m
                      • 12 Years
                      10 years, 3 months ago

                      You do surprise me. 🙂

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                      1. JT's Dog
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          Boobs, sport n violence is what I look for on tv

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                          1. applebonkers
                            • Has Moderation Rights
                            • 14 Years
                            10 years, 3 months ago

                            so basically rugby

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                            1. JT's Dog
                                10 years, 3 months ago

                                1970s rugby yip
                                Real streakers then

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                        • Cpt Crunch Scott talent
                          • 10 Years
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          101 damatians should fit you like a glove

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                          1. JT's Dog
                              10 years, 3 months ago

                              Bloody pure breeds, think their all that
                              Grrrrr

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                    2. The Chosen One...
                      • 11 Years
                      10 years, 3 months ago

                      I think if u want to make up ground this is the week to do it with Suarez at City. You could fall even further behind but making up ground seems harder this year so this is one of the few chances to.

                      Rooney (c)

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                      1. Call Me Old Fashioned
                        • 13 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        I have tried since GW1 to make up ground - I have given up. My mini league leader keeps getting double figures from Shelvey, Amalfitano and Lallana. I didnt captain Suarez vs Spurs and lost even more ground. 90+ pts to make up and I think they will captain Suarez. Rooney does tempt me for armband - they dont have him

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                    3. NED KELLY
                      • 12 Years
                      10 years, 3 months ago

                      Score for tonight? 1-1 I think

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

                        0-0 or 1-0 to Chelsea ...

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                      2. beric
                        • 12 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        2-1

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                      3. Podge
                        • 13 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        2-0 Arsenal

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                      4. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
                        • 10 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        Shite and here i am putting money on +2.5 goals

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                      5. Robe Wan
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 11 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        1-1 is a decent shout

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                      6. Stephen - Robot Daniels
                        • 11 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        2-2

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                      7. The Chosen One...
                        • 11 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        Wouldn't suprise me if 0-0

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                      8. Leeroy Jenkyns
                        • 10 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        2-2

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                    4. Lord Flashheart
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 12 Years
                      10 years, 3 months ago

                      Play gabbidon (avl) or burner (SOU)?

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                    5. Mílanista
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 12 Years
                      10 years, 3 months ago

                      Really worried about the game going ahead tonight. My train to London is so badly disrupted by this weather that its running on time. That never happens!

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                      1. Debauchy
                        • 11 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        Running with the Wind ?

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                    6. maxi - REAL ENGLISH FAN
                      • 12 Years
                      10 years, 3 months ago

                      History of the club

                      History of the city

                      Document check

                      Some football knowledge questions

                      Competency and scenario based testing

                      Football skills

                      Quantitative and verbal reasoning

                      Favourite players and managers and why

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                      1. beric
                        • 12 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        Haha, I'm a Birmingham fan who spent my first 25 years living there but am now in London, am I cool?

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                        1. beric
                          • 12 Years
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          Although I guess bcfc aren't really the sort of team you mean

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                      2. Gaz Downright
                        • Has Moderation Rights
                        • 13 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        easier to get citizenships in many countries

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                      3. Podge
                        • 13 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        So now you thing against the disabled too 🙄

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                        1. maxi - REAL ENGLISH FAN
                          • 12 Years
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          No mate why

                          The test will be administered in a fair way talking disabilities and any other needs into account

                          If people cannot answer they'll use sign language and interviewers will have an interpreter

                          Or they can type or do what steven hawking does

                          It will be equal opportunities

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                          1. Mílanista
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 12 Years
                            10 years, 3 months ago

                            😆 "do what steven hawking does"

                            Equal opportunities as long as they're born in the right city?

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                      4. maxi - REAL ENGLISH FAN
                        • 12 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        Sorry mods reply fail please delete thanks

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                      5. Ad4m
                        • 12 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        Last post required proof of working class roots

                        Now requiring competency based assessment

                        Next we'll have to bring along our Dad's for interview

                        What a load of annoying elitist BS

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                        1. maxi - REAL ENGLISH FAN
                          • 12 Years
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          Lol mate competency and numerical reasoning was obviously a joke

                          Its not an interview for a ****ing accountancy job at a 'big 4' or whatever it is people get excited about

                          I didn't say anything about working class although you do see the irony in accusing me of being an elitist who insists on working class roots right

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                    7. Crouch Potato!
                      • 12 Years
                      10 years, 3 months ago

                      @ Ronh,
                      I wish you had told me you were gonna have sex with my girlfriend. She hasn't had the all clear from the clinic yet.

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                      1. JT's Dog
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          Any port in a storm philosophy

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                        • Robe Wan
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 11 Years
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          Who's that, Marissa Piper?

                          Baaaannnteerrr

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                        • Dr Dream
                          • 11 Years
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          Oddly enough neither has Ronh...

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                      2. liamhennessy
                        • 14 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        Considering that Wenger has consistantly failed against Mourinho, I'd suggest a 0-2 or 1-2 scoreline. Chelsea are way overpriced at 9/4

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                        1. Debauchy
                          • 11 Years
                          10 years, 3 months ago

                          Has failed yeah but with weaker sides . Tables do turn though and bookmakers aint ids.

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                      3. New Article Posted
                      4. Squeaky Bum Time
                        • 10 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        Juan Mata has scored in each of his last 4 vs Arsenal. 11/1 with PP for first goal (7/2 anytime).

                        Thank me later.

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                      5. MillsAU
                        • 10 Years
                        10 years, 3 months ago

                        If you could choose, which goalkeeper would you want for the next 6 weeks?

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