[sbu_large_image] Preamble
14 April 2012 1080 comments
Mark Mark
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Seven, Eight, Eleven? How many is enough? That’s the puzzle, the conundrum facing Fantasy managers with little under an hour to go on another deadline.

We won’t have the answers until the final ball has been kicked. However, we do already know that it’s not really about the number of players you take into Gameweek 34 but, as always, whether you’ve got the right ones.

Let’s ponder that further while we take in our pre-match stroll, purring through the papers to discover whether the press boys and their predicted lineups can provide any last minute inspiration.

My weekend worries in terms of team selection is a tale of two wingers. With both Arsenal and United facing home matches against “obliging” opponents, just days after midweek matches, there’s just part of me concerned that we’ll see rotation in the ranks.

Theo Walcott’s form is sparking but, with Alex Oxlade Chamberlain straining at the leash and Yossi Benayoun and Gervinho competing for the left-flank, I just wonder if Arsene Wenger will opt to rest Theo on Monday, ahead of next weekend’s potentially key clash with Chelsea.

The press boys don’t think so. Perhaps not surprisingly, every one of our papers this morning go with Walcott on the right flank, while all but The Sun retain Yossi Benayoun on the opposite flank.

United’s Ashley Young is my other concern. On paper, a reunion with former club Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday looks on the cards. Defeat to Wigan in midweek will surely have sewn the seeds for Sir Alex to tweak his lineup for today’s game, though, with Young one player who looks vulnerable. He only got 45 minutes at the DW Stadium with Tom Cleverley replacing him as a result of United’s abject first half showing. While Ferguson will likely start with two wingers against to help unlock Villa, with Nani now an option, there’s clearly a question mark over those roles in his starting XI.

The press seem split on this one. The Times, The Sun and The Mail all go with Nani to start with Antonio Valencia safely snuggling to the right touchline. The rest – The Independent, The Telegraph and the The Guardian all stick with Young on the left, with Danny Welbeck largely tipped to return up front across the board.

Clearly the temptation to unleash Young on his former team-mates will be strong, although I’m totally convinced it could work in United’s favour. There’s already chatter in the press surrounding the ease of which Young drops to the deck under a challenge, with reports of Alex McLeish giving direct instructions to his defence to stay on their feet. I just wonder, in the light of the negative attention that Young gained for the penalty that saw QPR’s Shaun Derry dismissed, whether we’ll see Ferguson will take the heat off Young with Nani now at his disposal.

We can only hope, in a Gameweek ripped in two by the FA Cup schedule, that both Wenger and Ferguson play ball. When it’s a struggle to get something that even resembles a Fantasy team over the line at 11.30, we need the whims and tinkerings of the Premier League bosses to stay in check. Just for this weekend at least.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

  1. My name is an echo
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Silva or Nasri. Surely Silva cause I love the man? Is he actually playing though?

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

      Nasri

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

      why not? he's actually found his form back.

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

      Silva !

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  2. snowman
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    best place for team away form stats?

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

        cheers

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  3. Tin of Directors
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Just in an awful predicament where I am going to have to bench a starting player today!
    Want Sess but it packs out the midfield so need to drop a striker and I have Roo and RVP.

    Jesus!
    What a soppy position to be in!

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    1. Tin of Directors
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      That player would be Graham BTW.

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    2. som3awy
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      How's that? :O

      Have you got 12 players?

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      1. Tin of Directors
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        1 GK
        3 defenders
        5 mid
        2 striker

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

          That's 11...

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        2. som3awy
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Ahhh, sorry, my bad.

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      2. Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        i have 12 players

        benching Graham

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    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Dont get Sess, simple. Its not worth it.

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    4. Low-Life
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I'm worried too, I'm just going to put a bet on Sess being an anytime scorer too offset any FF upset.

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      1. Tin of Directors
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Is Graham nailed on to start??

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        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Nothing in this world is free, including transfers. Is the transfer worth 4 pts?

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          1. Tin of Directors
            • 16 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            No - 2 FT's.

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            1. Ginkapo FPL
              • 14 Years
              13 years, 11 months ago

              Then that is worth 8pts. Just because you get them free does not make them worthless.

              If someone gives you a quid to spend, does that make the items bought free?

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  4. drughi
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    will aguero start today ?

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

      aye

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

      yezzers

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  5. LasCebollitas
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Could I just ask why so many think that McClean and Sess are nailed on to play today? They were thrashed 4-0 last time and Sunderland have nothing to play for so why wouldn't O'Neil shake things up a bit??

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    1. Tin of Directors
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Because he wants to win games.

      There is no such thing as nothing to play for in football.

      Every better league position is more and more £'s

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    2. My name is an echo
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      ask that question the other way around

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    3. big oak
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      because oneill is the kind of managers who dsnt shake things up

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

      of all the players to be rested, Sess and Mcclean is not one of them. why would he bench his key players?!

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

    reckon siggy, mignelot, sess, turner, j evans, rooney, walcott, and rvp will all be rested or make an apperance from the bench this weekend.

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Back to the medication for you BD.

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  7. NATSTER
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    10 minutes to go, my friends..

    - check your captain

    - and.. don't forget to press "confirm"

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  8. o0Ash
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I never do this but ffffuuuu - who to captain?!

    ROONEY - VALENCIA - RVP - WALCOTT

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    1. QPR expects... glory!
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Go with Walcott

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

      RVP. Arsenal have won 3-0 on average at home vs Wigan in PL and Rvp is due a big haul. Rooney has been dogshaite last month anyway

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    3. Nerdlinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Arsenal have won their last 5 home games, scoring 18 goals. 3.6 goals a game. Just sayin'

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

      RVP

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

    Krul, Cisse, BAE, Cahill - best bench I've had all season - guarenteed zero pts unlike most other weeks when the subs rack up the points laughing in the face of selection.....no worries this week.

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  10. Doctor X
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    If Im leading one mini league by 20 points, trailing another by 6 and another by 20 - I should still (C) RVP and not Sess yes?

    A little reassurance please 🙂

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

      Yes

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  11. Darth
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Young to Sess for a 4 point hit?

    Vorm
    Turner, Caulker, Sagna, Evans
    Walcot, Young, Siggy
    RVP & Rooney

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

      No in my opinion

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

      your position, no.

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  12. wimiw
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    should i get rid of walcott next week for ben arfa?

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

      No, walcott could still tear Chelsea apart, just look at what Dempsey did to them

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

    Stat Attack:

    An Away team @ Old Trafford has not kept a CS in the last 46 League matches

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

      need more stats!

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    2. Smarty Pants
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      why oh why did i triple up on villa's defenders?!!!

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  14. The painted man
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Yaya passed fit anyone ?

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    1. big oak
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      touch and go

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

    Do Begovic>Mig for a Hit??

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

      no

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

      No imo

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

      Naaaaa

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    4. nedfoo
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Nah

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    5. HappyAnkit
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Only have 7 players. 🙁

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

        🙁 boring gw for you then.

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

    Need to make an FT; Enrique to Lescott or Caulker?

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

      Lescott, more chance of CS over the coming weeks

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

        Cheers fella.

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    2. QPR expects... glory!
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Lescott

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  17. kev90787
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Bardsley or Turner or Kompany? Last 5 minutes left

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

      Komp

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      1. kev90787
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Lol u told me Bardsley earlier.

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

          Some are saying Bardsley might not play

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  18. gunner1994
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Sagna or Lescott/Richards??????????????????

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    1. kev90787
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Sagna

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

      Sagna

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    3. QPR expects... glory!
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Sagna

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  19. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I would LOVE a Moses goal this week just to piss on all the Arsenal cleanies 😉

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

      Maloney's goal would be better. 😉

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    2. Bad Pen
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I have him as vc in the Bottom Five league, however I'd really prefer him not to score... unless Verm can get a goal to make up for it.

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I haven't made any changes to my bottom 5 team since the league started 😆

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        1. Bad Pen
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Haha nice.

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        2. Ginkapo FPL
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          I have made three 😀

          Its much easier than my normal team, and brings me so much joy.

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    3. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      My housemate has Kos and Verm to my lonely Verm. I would be quite happy with this, provided Arsenal get at least 2 themselves, obviously.

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    4. Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Moses own goal!!!
      Go Sagna

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    5. big oak
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      talking about arsenal moses reminds me of their "Dribble mcNonscore" alexandre hleb

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    6. Darth
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Boooooooooooo

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  20. My name is an echo
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Silva or nasri. What makes more sense. Is Silva 100% fit?

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

      Silva

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

      Nasri has form, go with him.

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

      silva is the safe bet, nasri is the form man but a risk. However nasri more likely to get major hauls

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  21. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    7 minutes before the window shuts.

    Have the armband on Nani. Behind the league leader by 78 points.

    Stick or Twist?

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

      Twist

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

        +1, hes not even gonna start imo

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    2. My name is an echo
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      twist. that is a terrible call

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    3. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Also, my league leader does not have RVP.

      Captain him or Nani?

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

        RVP

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      2. som3awy
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        RVP ofc.

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    4. emperikal
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Risky game there. No assurance he will start tbh

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    5. som3awy
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Defo not nani, he might not start. Better to have it on Sess or Walcott

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      1. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Went with RVP. I just hope my rival did not get him in. Fingers crossed.

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    6. Pinoche
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Twist !

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    7. NATSTER
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I watched the gameshow last night. It mathematically experimented and concluded that "switch" (or twist in your context) are more likely to success.

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  22. Mak_Gold
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Turner or Bardsley???????????

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    • Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Who thinks Bendtner will play? Thinking of captaining Sess.....

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

        Wish i had your cojones my good sir. Its better for you if Bendy plays imo

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

          Thanks! I'm just playing catch up and I know everyone else will have Roon/RVP or Aguero

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

        if he doesn't sess will prob be up front

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    • Burd Turglars
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Is Toure fit?

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    • dylan
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      who to get in for senderos?

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

        Caulker maybe? That's what I did

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    • Catastrophe
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Rooney (c), RVP (vc)

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      1. My name is an echo
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        SESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    • Nickyboy
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Vorm or Mignolet? I cannot decide 🙁

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      1. Hect.OR 98th
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Mig.

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

          vorm

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

        Mignolet

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

        Mig

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      4. My name is an echo
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        MIg all day long

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

          cheers all 🙂

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    • Killitzer
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      last minute sweating about team as only have 10 which could go down to 8 if Turner and Clichy do not play.

      Mign (Vorm)
      Clichy, Turner, J Evans
      Siggy, Sess, Walcott, Valencia
      RVP (C), Rooney

      Subs: HBA, Cisse, BAE, Simpson

      I guess easiest change to make would be to sell HBA and bring in another mid like Song, Y Toure but then again it would be good to have HBA for next week agains stoke.

      Any comments?

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

        I`d just stick, Yaya is touch and go anyway and Song ont looking to score big

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    • Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Plz who to bench

      A. Graham

      B. Turner

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

        Turner

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    • Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Key gw. Good luck everyone. Also, martin o neill, if you re reading, if you dont play migs and turner im coming to get you....

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