[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
20 October 2013 2063 comments
Mark Mark
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The Gameweek rolls on with just a single lunchtime encounter. Aston Villa entertain Tottenham in the midlands as our 4pm Sunday roast accompaniment.

Spurs roll up still bruised from the shock 3-0 home reverse at the hands of West Ham, while Villa come into the game off the back of the 0-0 at Hull, having won their previous two prior to the KC Stadium visit.

Today’s team sheet sees Paul Lambert make one change from the side that drew at the KC last time around, with Nathan Baker replacing Ciaran Clark in central defence. Despite plenty of midweek optimism, Christian Benteke only manages to make the bench for Villa, allowing Libor Kozak to lead the line again, with Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann supplying the threat from the flanks.

For Tottenham, Andre Villas-Boas rings the changes after the Hammers capitulation. In defence, Vlad Chiriches is handed his first league start – the Romanian partners Michael Dawson in the heart of the back-four, with Jan Vertonghen moving into the left-back berth. Sandro comes in for Mousa Dembele and partners Paulinho in the double-pivot, whilst further up the field, Christian Eriksen is replaced by Lewis Holtby in “the hole” and Roberto Soldado returns to take the lone forward role at the expense of Jermain Defoe.

Our Dugout Discussion chatroom is now available to welcome those who like that matchday exchanges in real-time.

Finally, a remainder that Paddy Power are offering enhanced odds to our visitors on a Spurs victory today. If you’ve yet to register an account with Paddy you can get 4/1 on a Tottenham win – they’re currently evens for regular punters. Click here to get involved.

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

2,063 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Declan
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Should I WC this lot?

    Migs Marshall
    Clyne Zaba Ivan Riether Mbiwa
    Michu Ozil Siggy Ravel Huddlestone
    Rooney Lukaku Studge

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    1. Lawrø
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Absolutely not.

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      1. Declan
        13 years, 14 days ago

        Itchy trigger finger, after a poor GW just feeling sorry for myself.

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    2. Bubz
      13 years, 14 days ago

      What? That's a great team

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    3. Mull
      13 years, 14 days ago

      No. You can get a good 11 out this week.

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      1. Declan
        13 years, 14 days ago

        I suppose, next GW doesn't look too bad.

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  2. charlie1X
    13 years, 14 days ago

    AVB still stung by the comment last week my mohrinho that when i make substitutions they work

    reference X side kick v West Ham

    Could be an explosive last 30 minutes

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  3. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Spurs are going to win this...

    1-3 maybe

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    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      13 years, 14 days ago

      3 goals in one game? Optimistic.

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      1. Eboue
        13 years, 14 days ago

        That's 4

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        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          13 years, 14 days ago

          Meant by Spurs! 😀

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        2. Crouch Potato!
          13 years, 14 days ago

          Slow down, I'm still adding it up!

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    2. Alan The Llama
      13 years, 14 days ago

      2-1 Villa

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    3. Declan
      13 years, 14 days ago

      0-2

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    4. Crouch Potato!
      13 years, 14 days ago

      They have only scored 6 all season, can't see it from what I've seen so far.

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      1. Gaz Downright
        • Has Moderation Rights
        13 years, 14 days ago

        It will come undone at one point. Looks like today. Buggumark please.

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    5. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      13 years, 14 days ago

      From the first 15 minutes not sure Spurs look good enough to win by that score. Confused at the back with the changes.

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  4. Saosin
    13 years, 14 days ago

    0.5 in bank, 2 FT. Need som advice.
    My current team:

    Szczesny - Harper
    Touré - Ivanovic - Reid - Hughes - Williams
    Eriksen - Nolan - Ramsey - Michu - Colback
    Rooney - Lukaku - Suárez

    Any ideas?

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    1. clockwork
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Get a different keeper, arsenal look terrible at the back

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    2. _Greg
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Chesney to boruc and eriksen to Oscar/hazard/silva

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  5. Blue Lion
    13 years, 14 days ago

    1) Giroud and JE to Aguero and Dawson

    or

    2) Giroud and Whittingham to Bentekke and Lallana

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    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      13 years, 14 days ago

      2 after Palace.

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      1. Blue Lion
        13 years, 14 days ago

        Cheers.

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    2. LOCO ABREU
      13 years, 14 days ago

      keep giroud one more week at least

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    3. Adnan Shah
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Don't remove Giroud before Palace game. Strikers did well so far against Palace.

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  6. charlie1X
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Eriksen & Nolan -> JZ & Oscar

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  7. MJ6987
    13 years, 14 days ago

    I still am not getting Ramsey. May be crazy, but I have transferred out JWP and could have afforded him but here are my reasons:

    Already have Giroud and Ozil (who I think are the best Arsenal coverage) and I don't particularly want 3/7 of my attacking options from one team, especially with some of Arsenal's trick fixtures coming up.

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    1. MJ6987
      13 years, 14 days ago

      *tricky

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    2. charlie1X
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Giroud is not exactly setting the place alight since he talked to match of the day about linking play more.

      4 played

      zero bonus points
      zero golas
      3 assists

      There are better striker options for those precious 3 spots

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      1. charlie1X
        13 years, 14 days ago

        *zero golas

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      2. MJ6987
        13 years, 14 days ago

        He's nailed on (more so than Ramsey imo), playing well and the goals will come. Besides I might even get rid for Benteke after next week!

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        1. charlie1X
          13 years, 14 days ago

          This makes good sense good luck

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    3. Crouch Potato!
      13 years, 14 days ago

      The more of these posts I see the happier I'll be!

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      1. charlie1X
        13 years, 14 days ago

        zero golas

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    4. SamH123
      13 years, 14 days ago

      I am justifying not getting Ramsey for the same reason
      Relying on hope that he slows down a bit more than anything else though!

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    5. Captain Shirokov
      13 years, 14 days ago

      I'm getting him.

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    6. Adnan Shah
      13 years, 14 days ago

      You don't need to get him in now. With everyone getting fit, he might be rotated.

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    7. @FPLMason
      13 years, 14 days ago

      I thought about it beneficially MJ6987.
      I brought in Ramsey this week yesterday. He will get a triple rise, giving me 0.1 pure.
      The following week, he will get at least a 0.1 rise on sat for the excess fts in. Another 0.1 pure. If he does well this week and gets points, i'll get 0.3 pure money off of Ramsey before I offload him.
      I also have Ozil and Giroud fyi.

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      1. @FPLMason
        13 years, 14 days ago

        The other 0.2 from next week would come from the kneejerkers

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  8. LOCO ABREU
    13 years, 14 days ago

    i have eriksen in fpl and holtby in euroap league fantasy, not gonna work this week.

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  9. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    13 years, 14 days ago

    I must admit, that despite talking non-sense some of the time, David Pleat is very knowledgeable, and disperses his knowledge unlike most of "expert" commentators. He's growing on me.

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  10. Nopli -The Banned One (Solo…
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Play one out of this lot ..

    Brady,Eriksen,Januzaj or Ivanovic

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    1. MJ6987
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Oh dear. probably Eriksen and hope.

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    2. Wilshere Knowledge
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Ivan

      Mou will probably approach the game very defensively, and Man City are have been VERY poor from corners.

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      1. Nopli -The Banned One (Solo…
        13 years, 14 days ago

        Cheers for the replies everyone but i am sticking with Ivanovic atm because Mourinho plays defensively against the Big teams but will monitior Eriksen , lets see how it goes.

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    3. TuttiFrutti
      13 years, 14 days ago

      januzai

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    4. charlie1X
      13 years, 14 days ago

      if only you could choose

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    5. Nopli -The Banned One (Solo…
      13 years, 14 days ago

      3 posts and 3 different options . Goddaammmit 😈

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  11. megatronaldinho
    13 years, 14 days ago

    repostage stamp. i thought that the sarjeant was a capable fellow. anyone considering el ahmadi or whichever other option posited seems bereft of logic. i'm aware that this post is a case of the pot calling the kettle a cooking utensil.

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    1. megatronaldinho
      13 years, 14 days ago

      the main purpose of this post was putting the 'cooking utensil' thing out there. it'll be popular. wait and see

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  12. Declan
    13 years, 14 days ago

    What is the purpose of Fabian Delph?

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  13. Optimus.
    13 years, 14 days ago

    So far so good Eriksen on Spurs bench and mine

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    1. Declan
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Who did you bench him for?

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      1. Optimus.
        13 years, 14 days ago

        Ozil Ramsey Michu Barkley

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        1. Declan
          13 years, 14 days ago

          Oh, tough decsion most GW's

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          1. Declan
            13 years, 14 days ago

            *decision

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    2. Fifa las vegas
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Wish i had him on my bench instead of Ramsey 🙁

      Then again i thought this about benching Ramsey yesterday at 3pm!

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  14. Blue Lion
    13 years, 14 days ago

    I am planning these transfers after GW 10. So? Which one to go?

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  15. karankachiefs
    13 years, 14 days ago

    First time I've watched spurs this season. 20 odd million for Soldado. Wow.

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    1. Declan
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Give him time.

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      1. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        13 years, 14 days ago

        What do you expect him to do with no service at all?

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        1. karankachiefs
          13 years, 14 days ago

          I think you are in denial. He might be getting no service but his movement is awful, looks lethargic.

          I'd rather have defoe all day.

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          1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
            13 years, 14 days ago

            I feel bad for Soldado. Spurs system is anti-striker. Put Ade there and he's shite, put Defoe there and he's shit, put Soldado (who is world class) there and he's shit.

            Spurs play a system that is dependent on the man in the hole/winger. They started playing it after Keane left and VDV was the reason. After VDV left Bale was able to play that role, and now they're trying to do it with Siggy also.

            Spurs is not a place for top strikers imo

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    2. Crouch Potato!
      13 years, 14 days ago

      TBF he is getting no service, Spurs build up far too deliberate.

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    3. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      13 years, 14 days ago

      He's the kind of striker that requires a support striker I reckon.

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  16. Wilshere Knowledge
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Dawson almost scores!

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    1. charlie1X
      13 years, 14 days ago

      If only he was the one at West Brom

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  17. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Team name: Bacuna Mata-ta ...

    you can have it for free

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      13 years, 14 days ago

      hah? Sorry don't get it.....please explain

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      1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
        13 years, 14 days ago

        How can you not get it? 🙁

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        1. Fifa las vegas
          13 years, 14 days ago

          Come on tell me!

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          1. Gaz Downright
            • Has Moderation Rights
            13 years, 14 days ago

            should we link him the vid?

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    2. @FPLMason
      13 years, 14 days ago

      I might take this instead of my She Gave Me A Bony.
      Genius, Gaz.

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    3. Acquafresca
      13 years, 14 days ago

      very late. thousands have that name

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      1. Gaz Downright
        • Has Moderation Rights
        13 years, 14 days ago

        thousands? how many NTI this week?

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  18. Piggs Boson
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Would Walcott even make the Arsenal XI anymore? Wenger must have a selection headache before every game as it is. He benched Wally at the start of last season, would he do it again?

    He was full of praise for the Wilshere goal because of the tika taka passing. Would Wally fit into this new style?

    Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24598191
    Goal: http://i.minus.com/ibxkfe8G8T679n.gif

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    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Yes he will.

      He is vital to our game. Over 20 goals and over 15 assists last season remember.

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      1. Piggs Boson
        13 years, 14 days ago

        You're top of the table. Is he "vital" to this new style of football?

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        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          13 years, 14 days ago

          We are playing very well at the moment, but Walcott gives us something extra. He stretches the defence, and gives more space for our midfielders. He also does very good work defensively.
          We are playing 3 attacking midfielders out of necessity, not because it is better.
          Arsenal are better, and Wenger favours, a lop sided 3.

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    2. Fifa las vegas
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Probably not

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    3. charlie1X
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Good point. no idea all a rotation nightmare bar Ozil

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    4. r0nh
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Podolski, the forgotten man.

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        13 years, 14 days ago

        Gone in Jan.

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    5. Lawrø
      13 years, 14 days ago

      New style? Arsenal have always been Tiki Taka...

      He'd be crazy not to play him 😀

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      1. Piggs Boson
        13 years, 14 days ago

        Not to this extreme, not since the invincibles.
        He's a great FPL player and I'm a huge fan, but he doesn't exactly defend much for the team.

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        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          13 years, 14 days ago

          His average position is higher than Giroud, he can't always tuck in with the right back. When we are defensively set, he is very good.

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    6. Declan
      13 years, 14 days ago

      And what a nice headache to have. 😎

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    7. Kenncam
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Ozil safest option when all available but can see him being rested too around champ league games.

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      1. Blue Lion
        13 years, 14 days ago

        Hey Kenncam. Nice score yesterday.

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    8. The Machine
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Walcott is the best RW we have

      Wilshere can have one or two good games there, like the one he had yesterday, but nothing more

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      1. Piggs Boson
        13 years, 14 days ago

        I don't think Wenger likes playing out and out wingers. He's made a comment on this in the past when talking about playing Podolski wide instead of up front. He mentioned something about team "balance".

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        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          13 years, 14 days ago

          Yh, he liked the balance of a lop sided 3. Not a narrow 3.

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  19. Fifa las vegas
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Hope Eriksen doesn't come on! Ramsey first sub..

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    1. Optimus.
      13 years, 14 days ago

      He will

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        13 years, 14 days ago

        I know!!!!

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        1. Optimus.
          13 years, 14 days ago

          You shouldn't have benched the best player in the league..

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    2. Bubz
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Ouch. He definitely will though. There is no creativity coming from the players currently on the pitch.

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    3. Eboue
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Benching Ramsey was crazy at home with Norwich

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      1. The3rdTurd
        13 years, 14 days ago

        Not really, given that Wenger also benched him. Would've been the right decision were it not for Flamini getting a bang on the head.

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        1. Eboue
          13 years, 14 days ago

          I get that, but I don't think this person predicted the benching. If Ramsey had started he would have got the same/more

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          1. The3rdTurd
            13 years, 14 days ago

            I assumed he'd be benched, based on what Wenger said and on the number of minutes he'd played this season. So I also benched him.

            Them's the breaks.

            If Ramsey had started, it probably would have been on the wing, where he was ineffective against West Brom.

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          2. Fifa las vegas
            13 years, 14 days ago

            Course i predicted it 😉

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    4. MJ6987
      13 years, 14 days ago

      70% chance he does I reckon

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    5. megatronaldinho
      13 years, 14 days ago

      i hope he does. you don't really deserve luck shining down on you

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  20. DÏLKS
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Anybody think there should be more of a bonus for forward passes completed? Then players like Carrick would get more noticed for what they do.

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    1. LOCO ABREU
      13 years, 14 days ago

      i think bonus pt should end

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  21. Captain Shirokov
    13 years, 14 days ago

    From watching the first 25 minutes of this match, it's easy to see why Spurs only have six goals in the PL.

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  22. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Dawson so close.

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    1. La Roja
      13 years, 14 days ago

      ...to ball

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  23. charlie1X
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Eriksen likely to get 20-30 minutes to prove Morinho wrong for insinuating he can't use effective substitutions.

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Will when he does come on he better do something! Cus Ramsey is my first sub!

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  24. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Never thought I would say this, but Danny Rose - please mend faster

    Hate seeing Super Jan on the back - such a waste

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  25. r0nh
    13 years, 14 days ago

    This game is a wee bit shite.

    The runny type too.

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    1. r0nh
      13 years, 14 days ago

      At least we have Fulham - Crystal Palace to look forward too tomorrow night 🙁

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    3. Saint Domingo
      13 years, 14 days ago

      A bit like Soldado so far.

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    4. karankachiefs
      13 years, 14 days ago

      Terrible game of football.

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  26. Lawrø
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Tottenham don't look great, infact the only team that does look convincing is Arsenal, Liverpool may get Top 4 by default at this rate! 😀

    (Wishful Thinking)

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    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      13 years, 14 days ago

      oh come off it

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      1. Lawrø
        13 years, 14 days ago

        😉

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  27. The Machine
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Luka Bentley last 4:

    3,1,2,0(so far)

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  28. NATSTER
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Dawson looks not easy with the pass.

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  29. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    13 years, 14 days ago

    One player has transformed Arsenal. All the Spurs signings don't seem to have improved them at all. Massive Bales exit hangover.

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  30. Fifa las vegas
    13 years, 14 days ago

    Hmmmmm.....I see united are now interested in Koke! Any chance of getting him......

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