Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Sunday

There are just two matches on today’s Premier League agenda, with Arsenal’s Emirates encounter against West Brom getting us underway in a short while. Everton’s home defeat to City yesterday evening means the Gunners have now secured Champions League qualification for another season – whilst Mesut Ozil owners will be desperate for a good showing after many big-hitters failed to deliver in Saturday’s seven fixtures, Aaron Ramsey owners are left ruing their luck after the midfielder was ruled with a minor thigh injury. :

A win for the Baggies would ensure Pepe Mel’s side are safe for another year, though even if they suffer defeat, the midlands outfit may be safe by the end of today, depending on the result from Chelsea’s match with Norwich later this afternoon.

Even if the Canaries somehow salvage an unexpected draw today, Villa and Hull’s safety is guaranteed, whilst their vastly inferior goal difference would also mean West Brom are also secure, barring a mathematical miracle next weekend.

Jose Mourinho’s men have other ideas, though, as they look to bounce back from their midweek Champions League exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid. The Blues are on the hunt for a seventh home clean sheet in eight attempts, whilst Eden Hazard owners will be desperate for the Belgian to deliver in Chelsea’s final home match of the season.

Our Twitter feed carries all the news from today’s team sheets, while the Dugout Discussion chatroom remains open to collect your real-time reactions to today’s events.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

1,643 Comments Post a Comment
  1. BantamPhil
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    The only good thing to come from today, a Terry clean sheet and some cheeky baps to go with it

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

    what an exciting match as always with chelsea

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  3. Notorious
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    "I think boring is a team that plays at home and cannot score a goal"

    Jose Mourinho.

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  4. r0nh
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Suck on them apples Jose 🙂

    Another failure of a season 😆

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  5. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Mourinho better get over to the Emirates before Wenger nicks Remy...I think he may need him.

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    1. QPR expects... glory!
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Too late. That one is a done deal 😉

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  6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Wenger to end the season like a boss. Fa cup winner

    If that's a specialist in failure I want to be one too

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    1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      you've no worries there... 😉

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  7. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Chelsea's B team is stronger than it's A team

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  8. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Mourinho's first season in charge, Chelsea finish 3rd and get to a CL semi.

    Sure it isn't great but people over reacting as usual. 🙄

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    1. DonTheSpecialOne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Zero trophies.

      Even Arsenal/Wenger could beat you this season.

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        About time for them.

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        1. DonTheSpecialOne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          😛

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

      Last year Rafa finished third and won them a European trophy. He also didn't embarrass the club with his antics.

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

      You make an awful lot of defensive posts 😉

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        You're right, I shouldn't take things too literal on here. Lot's of nonsense being spouted 😉

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      2. Alan The Llama
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        He'll be defensive for 92 minutes then attack.

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    4. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Don't worry it's Liverpools turn tomorrow,you can get in your hate then 🙂

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Not if they win 🙁

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      2. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Hey we all love Pool erm most .....

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      3. Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Liverpool don't get half the hate that Chelsea do on here, they're praised by pretty much everyone..

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    5. Lawrø
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      You're judging Chelsea's performance this season superficially, the rest of us like to see how they play on the pitch not how they compete on paper.

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

      Chelsea were playing really well under Benitez with Mata as chief orchestra. He even won a significant trophy.

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

        *orchestrator

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    7. QPR expects... glory!
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Rafa's only half season in charge - Chelsea finish 3rd and win Europa League

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    8. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Cpt -- Think its a fair season for sure. Reaction will follow arrogance . Stay under the radar , all good.
      Get in faces then he gotta suck it it up.

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  9. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Chelsea and Mourhino = zzzzzzzzzzzzz

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

    Chelsea: champions of nothing

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  11. Caesar Salahd
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Chester, Aguero, Rooney, Ramsey injured in my team. Im done with this season, NEXT!

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  12. The Sarjeant
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Liverpool's defensive assists could be good value for money next season.

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    1. copps
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      They'll still be very highly priced because the team comes 2nd/1st in the entire league

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      1. The Sarjeant
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Surely that doesn't matter though? They've been poor defensively and most of their defenders haven't scored decent points across the season.

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        1. Somalion
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          So why would you own them next season?

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  13. FACUPARSE
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Juuuuhuuuuuuu

    😆

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

      They've got a 6-0 over you, I don't think you have anything to say that covers that up.

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      1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Arsenal won 4th again. Success is relative

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      2. FACUPARSE
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Well they will end the season with no trophy. Arsenal will surely win the FA Cup

        Jose called Arsene "a specialist in failure" but now the tables have turned...

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        1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          Arsenal winning FA Cup = Blind chicken finding a bit of corn

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          1. FACUPARSE
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 2 days ago

            Good one

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          2. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 2 days ago

            Yeah , still finding it though ??

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

          FA cup is a failure for big teams.

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          1. FACUPARSE
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 2 days ago

            No it's not, I'm sure any of the big teams would love to be in the final...

            Btw how are AFC Wimbledon/MK Dons doing?

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

              I am a much happier fan than you. You just moan about your team.

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              1. FACUPARSE
                • 11 Years
                10 years, 2 days ago

                You just moan about life. Twisted Victor Meldrew

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

                  Sorry to hear that.

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          2. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 2 days ago

            Yeah , Forgotten the heritage of English Football . Still 3rd best accomplishment in the game.. Failure is NOTHING. Ok we have taken a little time .....

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

              Only two competitions are worth winning now. The rest can only be deemed a success for the likes of Everton and below.

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              1. FACUPARSE
                • 11 Years
                10 years, 2 days ago

                Absolute tosh

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

      Nothing brightens up a room like your absence

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  14. Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgri…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    5 Red, Orange or Yellow Squares.

    My team is looking like a Field Hospital. 🙂

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    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      You are not alone

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  15. The Sarjeant
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Constant moaning about Jose and Chelsea is soooooo boring now.

    We get it. Everyone hates them.

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    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Chelsea are anti-football

      That's way people dislike them

      We want to be entertained not bored to death

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      1. The Sarjeant
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        Yeah I get it. I read it 500 times everytime they play.

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  16. Aurora
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Yay!

    4 clean sheets in my defence!

    Ivanovic Fonte Mannone Koscielny

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    1. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Evra let me down or I would have had clean sweep as well.

      Well done mate. 😉

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  17. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Well. That was boring.

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    1. r0nh
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      😯

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    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Nothing new there

      Standard Chelsea performance

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    3. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      It usually is.

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    4. DonTheSpecialOne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      It certainly was

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  18. Beavis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Nice of MOlsson to get me a CS in place of Azpi. 🙂

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  19. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Fantasy Chelsea Hate

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  20. r0nh
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    0 points today.

    Red or green?

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    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Pink

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  21. Sad Ken
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Mourinho loses the title for Chelsea!

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    1. r0nh
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      If Hazard had been on from the start...

      Jose's hissy fit lost the title.

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      1. Sad Ken
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 days ago

        I'll hold my hands up and admit Mourinho was a good manager in his day. From the decisions he's made season though, he's clearly lost the plot.

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        1. Coaly
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 days ago

          Not at all, we had no chance of winning the league anyway

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          1. Sad Ken
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 2 days ago

            You had a better chance than anyone to win the league at the start of the season in my opinion.

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            1. Coaly
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 2 days ago

              Yeah and until December our play was attacking based and we kept conceding goals and dropping points so we changed to a more defensive set up because we weren't taking all the chances we were creating cos we lack a striker

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              1. Sad Ken
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 2 days ago

                And why did you lack a striker? I think you've just confirmed the statement you were opposing.

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                1. Coaly
                  • 11 Years
                  10 years, 2 days ago

                  Because there weren't any world class ones available except Rooney, who was overpriced and ageing. Unless you count Higuan (I don't).

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                  1. Sad Ken
                    • 10 Years
                    10 years, 2 days ago

                    The man stated he didn't need a striker in January and that his current squad was good enough, regardless of whether one was available or not.

                    Add this to the fact he loaned out a striker with 31 premier league goals in 2 seasons to another premier league club WITHOUT a recall clause!

                    I feel for Chelsea fans. If I was a supporter I would have had genuine optimism my team would be collecting some kind of silverware at the start of the season. With the right man in charge you would have had the league won, and possibly a Champions League to boot.

                    I know it's not good to constantly be making managerial changes, but Abramavich would be forgiven for replacing him with someone a little more competent.

                    A bit of professionalism here and there wouldn't go amiss too!

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                    1. Coaly
                      • 11 Years
                      10 years, 2 days ago

                      Well that's irrelevant as no one was available. Loaning Lukaku was also the correct decision as although he gets goals, tactically he's poor and he wouldn't be able to work under instruction like Etoo would. Also he'll develop faster if playing regularly which he wouldn't have with us. Also if we didn't loan someone we would have had 4 strikers which would be unfair to them. No man would have done better. 'More competent' than one of the most successful managers in recent history hahahaha. Professionalism I will give you

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                      1. Sad Ken
                        • 10 Years
                        10 years, 2 days ago

                        To dismiss even attempting to sign a striker when you clearly need one, citing your team is adequate when it is clearly not is not, in my opinion, the act of a good manager.

                        I think what you state about Lukaku is half the problem, he wouldn't play him. But are you telling me that he'd have scored fewer goals playing in a better side than Everton? He clearly should have stayed and they very much should have played him all season, as Everton did. I'll admit, he's not the finished product, but anyone can see he'd have got you more goals than Eto'o or Torres this season, and quite possibly the title unfortunately.

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                      2. Coaly
                        • 11 Years
                        10 years, 2 days ago

                        We did try with Rooney though. What else could we have done? He may have scored more goals, but would he have got so many with less consistent playing time, as would be the case? Also we'd have had to sell Ba, who has got some crucial goals for us. Would Lukaku have stepped up in those times, considering he goes missing more games than not. Don't agree he would have won us the title at all.

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    2. You Must Be Jokin Ere
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      A specialist in failure this season.

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  22. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    the norwich defenders should really get the bonus in a match like that, not all chelsea

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

      Agreed, that's the problem with an 'objective' rather than 'subjective' baps system.

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    2. The ghost of a Pug's g…
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Agreed. Away rule

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    3. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      The same thing has happened in similar games hasn't it? Something needs changing with tha bps system.

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  23. The ghost of a Pug's g…
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    So...

    Aguero n 6 points vs nasri, dzekos and jones

    Not feeling all that thrilled. Thanks for the help though m olsson. Disappointed only 1 bap for Cahill.

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  24. Sheep
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Giggs' tactics were better. 4-0

    Although both teams lost to Sunderland... as did City... twice. Sunderland should've won the league 🙂

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  25. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Lot's of Arsenal fans claiming the FA Cup is virtually theirs already.

    Be an awful shame if they didn't get it 😉

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    1. The ghost of a Pug's g…
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      Cue Kevin keegan speech...

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    2. Sheep
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      You sound bitter.

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  26. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Will Torres get the winning goal bap?

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  27. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    It not hard to tell it's a bad gameweek for most with all the daggers coming out today 😆

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    1. DonTheSpecialOne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 days ago

      🙂

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

      We just need everyone to post their scores again.

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  28. Sheep
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Not the goal-fest everyone has come to expect from Chelsea. Shocked.

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  29. new post. look mum, i'm an aeroplane
  30. QPR expects... glory!
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 days ago

    Well done Norwich. Cue tepid 0-0 as WBA and Sunderland conspire to ensure survival at their expense

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