[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. Cantona90
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Got a feeling today could make or break my fpl season.

    Fielding 9 players against my opponents 11 with a 12 pt hit for my opponent.

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

      a 12 point hit and he only has 2 more players?????

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

    I think this week most of us goons on here have the same team – Vorm in goal? Evans? Verm? Walcott, Siggy, Valencia, Sess, RVP, Rooney…Surely everyone has them, right?

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

      I have McClean instead of Sess and no Verm 🙁

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

      No Vorm, Verm, Walcott, Sess & Rooney for me.

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

        You live in Sparta?

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

          😕 .

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

          Hahahaha

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

      Goonfish 🙂

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    4. Just A Hat
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      lol you just said my whole team! Except I have Evra and not Rooney!!

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    5. The Finnisher
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Sold Rooney last week, for Aguero 8)
      No Vorm either, De Gea instead.

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

      No Verm. I'm a skinflint when it comes to defenders.

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    7. threeputt
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      i only have 3 of those, hasnt done me too much damage

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    8. fatherted
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      - Siggy....have McClean

      Df McCauley Caulker Verm Jevans

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    9. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Yep exactly the team I've got, apart from the players I don't have.

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

        In that case, I have exactly the same players as you apart from the ones that are different! What a coincidence!

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

      i've noticed the same last couple of weeks. it's depressing and everyone will buy the same 4 or 5 dgw players too. yippee

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

        Yeah, I'm gonna go and shoot myself. Life's too much when we all got the same team, eh?

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

          it is though. options are either quit this site or protest by buying different players and often losing out. i will try the former instead next season

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          1. 1966 was a great year for E…
            • 15 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            Or petition FPL to get rid of wildcards.

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            1. 1966 was a great year for E…
              • 15 Years
              13 years, 11 months ago

              While they're at it, stop transfers from rolling over. 1 free per week, use it or lose it. Too easy to change your team around.

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    11. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      inevitable when so many teams aren't playing.

      don't think it will be as big a deal for the DGW besides everyone having Bale.

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

    Who wins?

    a) Caulker + McClean + Richards + 4 points
    b) Turner + Graham + Sessegnon

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

      A

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    2. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      B...I've had a gut feeling all week that McClean will be rested

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

        Hope you are right.

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

          -1

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

            +73

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

        Who would take his place? Richardson?

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  4. ManTree(v2!) or just JAY!
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Liverpool team?

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

      Top of pg 3

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

        Thanks.. Looking for it.

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    2. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Jones Johnson Carra Skrtel Aggee Henderson Spearing Stevie G Downing Carroll Suarez

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

      Liverpool: Jones, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Gerrard, Spearing, Henderson, Downing, Carroll, Suarez. Subs: Gulacsi, Enrique, Maxi, Kuyt, Shelvey, Kelly, Bellamy

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

      LFC- Jones Johnson Carra Skrtel Aggee Henderson Spearing Stevie G Downing Carroll Suarez

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

    Sick of seeing Richards on the bench! Why haven't I got rid yet?!

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  6. suarez 25
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    so will bendtner play

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

      Very likely.

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      1. suarez 25
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        i hope so or my transfer from ba to him is a complete fail i must be the only person to heve bought demba ba and get no goals lol

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  7. threeputt
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    clichy playing, thats a turn up I wasnt expecting, might actually get a full side out this week

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  8. Isabella
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Come on Liverpool

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

      +71

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      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        -72

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

          -71

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

          +73

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  9. Fancy Feet
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Sigh I have 2 free transfers and missed the deadline

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

      c'est la vie

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      1. Fancy Feet
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I am 50 pts behind 2nd place in my mini,now I have to go after the double

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

      why did you miss the deadline ?

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      1. Fancy Feet
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        thought I had half hour again,I am in the Caribbean so I usually minus 4 hours which would be 7.30 but I guess it was 6

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

          I wasted an FT with last week's deadline, would've been Bale to Walcott 🙁

          But then I was on holiday, so that sort of made up for it, the Monday morning deadline caught me out, ah well

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  10. Carl@streetkids.com.au
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Come on, get the game back up. I want to make my transfers.

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

      I would make 3 looking at your team.

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      1. Carl@streetkids.com.au
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        and what three would you recommend?

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

    LFC Subs: Gulacsi, Enrique, Maxi, Kuyt, Shelvey, Kelly, Bellamy.

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      maxiiii

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      1. suarez 25
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        would not surprise me if he pops up with a super sub cameo 2-1 liverpool carroll jellyfish and super sub maxi

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  12. zoltar74
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    City backline (apart from Kompany) has been harder to pick than a broken nose..
    Richards over Clichy any day, imo.... ah well, upwards and onwards

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

      only Hart and Kompany is immuned.

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  13. Abominable Snowy84
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Bets done!
    Button for the Grand prix
    Giles Cross for the National
    And a footy Accum.

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  14. big oak
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    royston drenthe??? anybody heard about this name?

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    1. Carl@streetkids.com.au
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      About six months ago for the following three months everyone was buy, buy, buy.

      Then he did sh!t.

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

      I stopped reading after royston

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

        *due to puking

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  15. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    arghhh spent too long lookin at national bets, missed making my kelly to ridgewell for a hit move lol
    ah well 🙄

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  16. MARVELLUS
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    How come Enrique is on the bench, dropped??
    Concerned as I still have him, was going to play him DGW.

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

      Dropped I'd say

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  17. LaLaLand
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    why isnt enrique starting?

    and also cant find the game on bbc or itv or sky where is it being broadcasted?

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

      Agger LB i reckon. Enrique dropped.

      It's on ESPN

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

    i fancy agger cb and carragher rb

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

      definitly, caragher is deployed there for baines

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  19. ★FC Borecelona★
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Updated

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

    ESPN 3D table... what is this technology

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  21. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Everybody check this new page http://fantasy.premierleague.com/updating/ its awesome stuff

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    1. The Finnisher
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      It's not updating anymore.

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  22. Bolivian Seaman
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    dempsey transfers in: 100,000

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

    It's gonna be shit week on fpl,only got 7 players with aguero captain

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    1. Gylfi Sigurdsson < That&…
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Shit for you!!!

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  24. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    regreting not to take hit to bring in Man City players!!!!1

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

    GW 35 - Who to do (C)?

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

      lol

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  26. Locarno
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Evs, have I got you in the Wigan To Me H2H?

    Only five points between us over the whole season. Your 10 against my nine. Your RVP (c) against my Sess (c).

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  27. @ImpressiveTackl
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Surman 🙁

    Your 2 points will be missed. Chance of 1 perhaps?

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

      Likely.

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  28. super zlatan
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Carragher starts!!!!!!!!!

    Gongrats everton.

    🙂

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

      Plus one. Jelavic to score two from rebounds off Carra's zimmer frame.

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

      easy up there mate

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      1. super zlatan
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        🙂

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  29. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Ugh, Kolarov best play next week against Wolves. Knew I should have just got Lescott.

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      When flare goes bad...

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

        ..makes you work rest and play?

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

        Mancini has rotated his full backs all season. With 3 games in a week I was sure Kolarov would play one of them. Richards and Zaba have rotated as expected but Mancini has stuck with Clichy 🙁

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

      why put in a player who rarely plays? bit silly

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  30. Goodfish
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    My eyes have gone spastic (blame beer). Who are the DGWers for GW35? Bolton and....?

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Villa.

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

      Villa.

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

        Villa Villa, got it you nice people. Think I'm just gonna stick with my Bogdan in goal for that one then...

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

          Wait. Might touch that Lichaj lad. Anyone else into touching the boy?

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