Dugout Discussion
26 February 2012 2162 comments
Akers Akers
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Three games wrap up Gameweek 26 today, before Liverpool and Cardiff square off at Wembley. The Dugout Discussion opens for the Premier League games, but will stay open until the Carling Cup is handed to the winning captain.

We start with the televised North London derby, as Harry’s Spurs look to reign supreme over their arch rivals. The Champions are also in action, making their trip to Carrow Road to face all-but-safe Norwich City. The team sheets from both games are in, and are as follows…

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Song, Walcott, Benayoun, van Persie.

Spurs XI: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale, Saha, Adebayor.

Yossi Benyaoun starts at the expense of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the home side, and Laurent Koscielny comes through a fitness test to play. As for the visitors, Louis Saha retains his starting role, which keeps Rafael Van der Vaart on the substitute bench. He partners Emmanuel Adebayor up front, who once again faces his former club.

Norwich XI: Ruddy, Naughton, Ward, Whitbread, Drury, Pilkington, Fox, Johnson, Surnam, Holt, Jackson.

Man United XI: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Welbeck, Hernandez.

For the Canaries, Simeon Jackson gets the nod ahead of Steve Morison, and Zak Whitbred is passed fit for the game. Looking to bounce back from midweek defeat, Sir Alex makes eight changes to his starting line-up. It includes Ryan Giggs, who makes his 900th club appearance today.

Before the final whistle blows in those games, Stoke host Swansea in the last game of the week. The Dugout Discussion is open, 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. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    AND A SCOUSE GIVES LIVERPOOL THE CARLING CUP.

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  2. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Well a scouser f*cked up. You all got your wish.
    CHAMPIONS!!!!

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  3. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    f*cking get in!!! f*ck all you liverpool haters!!!!

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    1. Bolt-on
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Carling cup dude.

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    2. Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Hi. I hate Liverpool.

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      1. Daniyal
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        +1

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      2. Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I love Birmingham.

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    3. hvsauce
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      you're still shit

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      1. Bolt-on
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        +1000000000000

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    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      good luck with 7th place in the league this season

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    5. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      i guess you lot are all gloryhunter man u supporters

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      1. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Nope, Arsenal.

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        1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          you from london at least? birmingham though 🙂

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  4. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    f******.....the *********** wins...

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  5. paul ince
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Oh well. What a dismal last penatly. Great day of football today though.

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  6. Baby Face Nelson
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Cardiff - 4 misses

    shocking

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  7. DLL18
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Fair play to Cardiff played great, feel sorry for Gerrard.

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  8. Back on the horse
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I would have wanted Cardiff to have won that if the Welsh werent so annoying about the rugby win and every little achievement they manage

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  9. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Suarez did not take a penalty..Sly fox..

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    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Quality centre forward 😯

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  10. Bolt-on
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Feel for you Cardiff fans - as most hate Liverpool more than any other club - really gutted for you.

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  11. ReinaMan
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    As a welshman - gutted

    As a liverpool fan - f***ing delighted

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  12. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Micky Mouse....

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  13. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    poetic injustice there...

    gutted on Cardiffs behalf

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    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Did you listen to the music whilst watching.

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      1. Gaz Downright
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        hehe. twas too much for me

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  14. udit
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Whoopededo Liverpool have won the mickey mouse competition after being unable to beat a championship team over 120 minutes 🙂 Yay upon Yay.

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  15. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Dirk Kuyt has won his first trophy in his Career..

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  16. adziom
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Congratulations to Liverpool, won the Carling Cup.... against a Championship side.... on penalties.... with Cardiff putting three penalties off target..

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    1. halnone
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      haha

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    2. DLL18
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      A wins a win who gives a shit.

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      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        a wins a win ok but liverpool fans acting like this is a turning point. Liverpool are fcking awful team, they were lucky to win here

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  17. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Phew...

    Don't want a welsh team representing England in Europe thanks very much

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  18. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Cardiff the the chance of a liftime with so many Liverpool missing.. and they miss 4 them self!

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  19. kraftwerker
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    On the upside they can't sack Kenny now that the good times are well and truly back.

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    1. Le Bluff
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Errrr, Carling Cup. F.A Cup - totally different story. THEN Liverpool fans can start talking about the good times returning.

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      1. kraftwerker
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I'd get that sarcasm detector checked out, buddy.

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        1. Le Bluff
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Haha my bad! Can never tell with 'pool fans!

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          1. kraftwerker
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            Ha, no worries. I think most have that problem. 🙂

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        2. adziom
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Given the delusion surrounding that club, I have to admit only your gravatar gave you away.

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  20. Daniyal
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    fuk liverpool win but hey it was vs cardiff and it was carling cup which doesn't matter .. even the final was not aired on tv talk abt being an unnecessary competetion

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    1. Jukesy
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      You know it was on tv ye?

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  21. THE SQUARE ONE
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    🙁 Wanted a Cardiff win.

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  22. jungle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    That last penalty was awful. They should have had Sandra Redknapp take it.

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  23. Brookins
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Not looking at my TV but thought arnold schwarzenegger had come on. But it was just Kuyt.

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  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    it's the carling cup liverpool, calm down, calm down.

    There is a reason the final is in February and not at the end of the season ya know.

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      also cardiff deserved to win.

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      1. sotothemightygreek
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Don't agree with that at all. As well as Cardiff defended and they certainly could have won with Miller's chance at the end of normal time, but Liverpool were the better side.

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  25. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    considering liverpool beat stoke at the britannia, chelsea at stamford bridge and man city over 2 legs hat's a big win for liverpool. hard luck cardiff of course.
    FOOTBALL!

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  26. Indalo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    What's everyone else on? 🙂 I'm 52 pre-bonus.

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    1. Turbodog
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Bully for you. Shame about your ranking.

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      1. Indalo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        haha yeah.. i'm not very good 😛

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      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Benfica win. 🙂

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        1. Turbodog
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          no surprise there TM ... UTD had half it's team missing
          Well played mate 🙂 Get you next time at OT

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          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            Wish it was at OT, would have been a better win. 🙁

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            1. Turbodog
              • 15 Years
              13 years, 11 months ago

              yeah that's why it doesn't hurt so bad - what did you score ? I don't have the link with me

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    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Nice score. 🙂

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    3. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      44 after subs and before BAPs, enough to claim a home win v Celtic.

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  27. halnone
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Does this mean liverpool will be relegated now?

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    1. Daniyal
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      hope so then we can have a match like today in the championship next season ..liverpool really matches the quality of championship teams

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  28. Turbodog
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Who else played Richards and Sorenson? Have Vorm and Senderos too. Not the best of luck this week.

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    1. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      yep and yep.

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      1. Turbodog
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Missing clean sheets this way really REALLY hurts

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    2. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I played Richards and Mignolet

      I had Schwarzer on thr bench, 7 points thrown away. beyond that nothing else lost on my bench as Siggy only got 2, Evans and Caulker both 1.

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    3. Daniyal
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      yes yes yes yes

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    4. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Richards, Sorensen, Lindegaard, Senderos.

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  29. kaz 96
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    absolutely hate liverpool but these sarcastic comments about l'pool beating a championship side are utter nonsense. they've won it cuz they knocked both che and manc out and completely deserve it

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    1. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      and stoke at the britannia. trophy is a trophy

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  30. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    so my day was only ruined by 2 things, Grant Holt and Liverpool. My main rival has Vorm and Lind as his keepers, Rooney as captain and BAE.

    Rebeldogg, sorry dude, don't think Kelly's 6 points will be enough to beat me but you gave me a damn good fight, reckon Mull underestimates you at his peril.

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    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Hi. I don't have a keeper for next week. Any suggestions for 5m?

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      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Mull had we been playing this week, after subs you would be 1 point ahead of me, so it would be down to BAPs, our meeting could be VERY tight. You have Sorensen no? If you want to swap him out, has to be Krul, Given or Al-Habsi

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        1. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          oh just seen Sorensen didn't play (was at work so only knew the score and scorers) Get Al-Habsi, Foster or Hennessey.

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