[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
5 February 2012 2783 comments
Akers Akers
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Gameweek 24 continues with two games on show today, and the Dugout Discussion is here to cover them both. We start at The Sports Direct Arena, where Newcastle United welcome back their star striker, Demba Ba, to face Aston Villa. After that, it’s down to Stamford Bridge where the champions, Manchester United, will be looking to close the gap on their City rivals by beating Chelsea. The team sheets for our first game are in, and are as follows…

Newcastle XI: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ryan Taylor, Guthrie, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba, Best.

Villa XI: Given, Hutton, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, Ireland, Petrov, Clark, N’Zogbia, Keane, Bent.

As already alluded to, the headline news is that Demba Ba is back for the Magpies and starts. His fellow countryman and new signing, Papiss Demba Cisse, features from the bench.

There’s no surprises in the line-up for the away team, with loan-signing Robbie Keane partnering in-form Darren Bent upfront. Gabriel Agbonlahor misses out through injury, so Charles N’Zogbia continues on the left.

Follow all the action in our Dugout Discussion chatroom, which will remain open until the final whistle goes at Stamford Bridge, and can be accessed right here.

Akers Richard or Akers, as he is known, has been regularly haunting this site since July 2008. He is young and foolish, take what he says with a pinch of salt. Follow them on Twitter

  1. F is for
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Cisse or Ba?

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    1. For Fuchs Sake
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Ba every time for now. One shot from Cisse and everyone goes mad.

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    2. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      still Ba:

      -Proven in league

      -Pens

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      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Proven, but in a team without Cisse. It sounds like Ba is playing a bit deeper now. And i you can't rely on pens. i still can't decide

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        1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          No reason for him to be off pens though. I know Cisse is above him for Senegal pens, but this is Newcastle and he's not missed one for them yet.

          If he plays like he does today I'm happy with him, deeper or not. I just get the feeling people are knee-jerking slightly over Cisse's uber-strike. There's been plenty of players down the years who've had explosive debuts before flopping, I'd be inclined to wait a bit longer to make sure Cisse won't end up in that bracket, especially since Ba has been forward of the season after RVP.

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    3. RD84
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Can't go wrong with either imo. Cisse for the diff (plus, that goal was CLASS) and Ba for consistency.

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    4. waitinginthelonggrass
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I have Ba but I would go with Cisse if I had neither, he only has eyes for one thing and that is goals. He was a goal machine in Germany.

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  2. waitinginthelonggrass
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Joint 4th in the table, not too shabby!

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    1. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      neither is the 7th position that you'll finish the season in

      😉

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      1. waitinginthelonggrass
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Ha, i'll gladly take 6th!

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        1. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          ok, liverpool 4th, chelsea 5th, you 6th, arsenal 7th

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          1. Silenzi's Dream Team
            • 15 Years
            14 years, 2 months ago

            sounds about right 🙂

            though i prefer chelsea-arsenal switch 😉

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  3. For Fuchs Sake
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Last time I go with 4 defenders, disastrous week!

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    1. lebron85
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Same with me - nobody kept clean sheets:(

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      1. For Fuchs Sake
        • 16 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        I had Huth in and McLean on the bench 🙁

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        1. COMH
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          Sore one Jambo. Bad week all round for CS though. But 3 defenders is plenty. Especially with the amount of in form midfielders and strikers.

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        2. lebron85
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          I had Huth, Simpson, Vermaelen and Kompany in starting 11 - they got me 0 points combined - how bad is this:( J Evans coming in for Kompany - perhaps he can make something but doubt it:(

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    2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Bit that irked me is that I doubled up on the city defence, so I didn't get Aguero in. Then flipping Kompany does not start.
      Hopefully Vermaelen will be put back into the centre of defence v Sunderland.

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  4. red warriors
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Zamora>Cisse for gw26?

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  5. SOM.... This is Fellaini�…
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    RIP Jose Bosingwa

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    1. kraftwerker
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      +1

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  6. Over Midwicket
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Zamora -> Ba/Cisse? Not convinced by BobbyZ getting consistent returns.

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    1. सनकी
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      if you dont have either ba or ciise, id say do it for ba.

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  7. Wuffs
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    What a super Senegalese Sunday that turned out to be.

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    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      shame about Toon spunking their cleanie

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      1. Wuffs
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Real results over fantasy results every time i'm afraid.

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        1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          nonsense 🙂

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  8. lord_lucan
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Captain next week has to be Dempsey right?

    I've got the standard front 8
    Bale, McClean, Silva, Demps, Valencia
    Ba, RVP, Ag

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    1. Kagawa-san-mia
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      bale or dempsey

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    2. SC not pearls before swine
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I'd prefer Bale to be honest. And maybe RvP but Dempsey could be a good choice.

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    3. Hate that rotation
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah I would go with Demps against poor Stoke side.

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      1. Hate that rotation
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        poor away from home.

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    4. red warriors
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I might go with Silva or Aguero.

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  9. Hate that rotation
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Mclean is pissing me off with points on the bench. Should I play him against Arsenal?

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    1. For Fuchs Sake
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I'm going to play him all the time now, picked Huth over him yesterday!

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    2. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      +1. I'm glad I have him in my team but I want to play my other 7 attacking player every week.

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    3. lord_lucan
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I have the same dilemma!

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  10. mahone24
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    That Skybet ad is awesome

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  11. joinho
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Will bonus points be added tomorrow morning or after the Spurs Liverpool game?

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    1. Demí
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Tomorrow

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  12. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    well, i can live with missing out on a goal and a 0.2 rise

    just

    now f*ck off morison - ba is coming home

    now, i need a midfielder for 8.2 or less.... ANY IDEAS?

    current midfield is mclean, ______, bale, valencia, silva

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    1. Demí
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Sigurdsson

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      1. Jukesy
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        That would give my exact midfield. I give it the thumbs up!

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      2. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        that's a bit too.... what's the word.... jamsiep

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      3. COMH
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Siggy or Sinclair

        Would say AOC but Gervinho will be back soon plus their fixtures are not as nice as Swansea's

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  13. JW10
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    front 8:

    Silva / Bale / Dempsey / Valencia / McClean

    RVP / Aguero / Graham



    Graham-->Ba/Cisse??

    or

    Graham-->Zamora (better fixtures than Newc)

    or just leave the FT for next week and play Graham (home to Norwich)???

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    1. red warriors
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I'll leave it and transfer in Cisse for gw26.

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  14. The Red Viper
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Newcastle could be a very good team when Tiote and Cabaye are back! Although I thought Guthrie played well today.

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  15. David Davros
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Chances of Sess/Aguero bonus?

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Sezz 0-1, Kun 3-2

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      1. David Davros
        • 16 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        ta

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  16. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Cisse has at least 2 shot off target i can see

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    1. Fratboy
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      how about Ba? Looking like 3 bonus for him?

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        i just remember his 1 or 2 shot off target too
        Guthrie shot off target too

        Robin Kean doesnt have shot off maybe, though he's in lost team

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        1. Puzzle
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          He at least has 1

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  17. COMH
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Strikers options for everyone.

    RVP Aguero Ba

    RVP Aguero Cisse

    RVP Aguero Zamora

    ------------------------------------------------

    GW28 onwards

    RVP Rooney Ba

    RVP Rooney Cisse

    RVP Rooney Zamora

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    1. JW10
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Ba, Cisse or Zamora is the toughest choice right now. All scored one this weekend, 2 of them scoring on their debut... Ba and Cisse the strongest of the 3 but will have to share the spoils, whereas Zamora will be the main man at QPR and they have better upcoming fixtures...

      Have a gut feeling about Cisse, so might just go for it. Last time I ignored my gut instinct was when I removed Dempsey's (c) before that hat-trick...

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      1. COMH
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah you shouldn't ignore your instincts. They are telling you something for a reason. I agree with you about the fixtures for Zamora. Just wonder if Newcastle can create more chances than QPR.

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    2. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I think Ba for me. Most players play well on their debut. I have my doubts on Aguero. I watched him against Tottenham in Manchester a couple of weeks ago and Man C seemed to be lacking bite and a decent finish. I'm going RVP Ba Keane for my front line (until Rooney)

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  18. Fratboy
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    McClean off the bench, finally a bit of luck 😀

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      why?

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        HBA?

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      2. Fratboy
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Ben Arfa didn't play. Thank goodness.

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    2. We Need Van Der Sar
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      me too!

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    3. Hate that rotation
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      You bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The rest of us have him locked on bench. 🙂

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      1. Fratboy
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        🙂

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      2. COMH
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Not me. I started him. He is too good to bench just now.

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        1. Hate that rotation
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          Play vs Arsenal then?

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          1. COMH
            • 14 Years
            14 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah probably. Danny Graham home to Norwich ir McClean v Arsenal. The Gunners don't shut teams out very well and McClean fears noone.

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    4. Ivor
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Same, chuffed. Fully expected Nani to play too.

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  19. Demí
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Chris Smalling injured in training, confirmed.

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    1. Spike ⚽️
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks Demi I have just asked about that

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  20. Henry Hill
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Bring on o'Gara, Sexton is terrible

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  21. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Defenders are so meh atm, so few cs's or attacking points. Apart from Richards I'm going all cheap and playing three every week.. 😐

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    1. COMH
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I have Komps & Verm and thinking the same. 1 expensive and 4 cheapsters for rotation. Best way to go!

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    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      good plan

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  22. Spike ⚽️
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    What's up with Smalling. Thought he would be in today

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Look up ^^

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    2. Demí
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Check up

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  23. Demí
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    de Gea will have a great game today.

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    1. SOM.... This is Fellaini�…
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Did he tell you that?

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      1. Demí
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah

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    2. Hate that rotation
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      +1. He will play well for next few weeks and put lindy fback irmly as no. 2 keeper.

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      1. Hate that rotation
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        *firmly back

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    3. Bad Pen
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Today will make or break his chances of playing more games for the rest of the season. Personally... I think he'll do better than people are expecting. I'd not say he'll keep a CS though.

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    4. SOM.... This is Fellaini�…
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      He seriously needs a big performance today.

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    5. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      either that or torres will own him, which is possibly the worst thing that could ever happen to a keeper's self-confidence

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    6. Fratboy
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      damn right

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  24. FORCA INTER
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    cmon Mata and welbeck

    after this terrible GW you two are my only hope

    i can see 2 pts for each comming up as well 🙁

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  25. SOM.... This is Fellaini�…
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Betting tip:

    Valencia motm today 18/1 is seriously good value.

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    1. Toby
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      where from?

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      1. SOM.... This is Fellaini�…
        • 16 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        paddy

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        1. Toby
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          under what market. i cant see it?

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    2. FORCA INTER
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      mata will be motm!

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  26. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    "United don't much like Stamford Bridge. Their last win in the Premier League on Chelsea soil came 10 years ago"

    amazing stat

    dunno what to cheer for today, i'm usally very abu-orientated... but i don't want a chelsea win for liverpool's sake of chasing 4th

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    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      As a neutral with a slight fondness for Liverpool and a slight ABU-ness, a draw would be nice. Preferably a 1-1 draw to cancel any Evans cleanies, and Valencia to do naff-all as well.

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      1. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        i need valencia and evans to get some points though

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  27. Toby
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    whats the chances of BAE, enrique and bellamy getting 8 points or less?

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  28. jamsiep
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    69 with Evans to come, without RVP captain. Highly commendable.

    Anyone got a link to applebonkers' bonus predictions?

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    1. SOM.... This is Fellaini�…
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Guessing you won't be around after kick off, cya next week.

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      1. jamsiep
        • 16 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Because I always go straight to the bunker after Chelsea lose. Of course.

        I probably won't be around anyway.

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    2. We Need Van Der Sar
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      without rvp(c) and you get that much pt? well done...

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    3. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      woah woah woah woah woah

      61 if you please!

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    4. Pasqualinho
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Ab 'X with Y to play' post from you, Pies? I never thought I'd see the day. Thought you were above this sort of self-promotion?

      Disappointed...

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      1. jamsiep
        • 16 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Have you seen my ranking? I need something to shout about!

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      2. disparate dan - a reasonabl…
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        no manner of self-promotion is beyond the realms of jp

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        1. Pasqualinho
          • 16 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          Not the Pies I know, or used to know. Heavy on sarcasm, light on public shows of self-importance. Don't know who to blame but it's probably Sh*t the Bed.

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    5. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      i'll specially post them for you tonight. had a mare last week but it seems it was a tight week all round

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  29. The Pep Revolution
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    What do ye think the score will be in the Liverool v Spurs match? I dont think either team will keep a clean sheet anyway.

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  30. We Need Van Der Sar
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Me: 63 BAE, Bale and Valencia left. Mcclean coming in for Barfa.
    Him: 71 BAE left n with Ramires not playing, only 0 from his bench.

    Gonna go thru the next round of the cup. Really worried last night that i wouldn't. Pheww. 🙂

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