Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 24

I’m partial to a flutter but I’m hardly a seasoned gambler. Even so, I’m aware of the concept of “chasing losses” – I also know that any experienced punter will tell you that it’s a mug’s game.

Until Tuesday night, I wasn’t really sure just how this applied to Fantasy Football. How, when desperation kicks in, your better judgement can go out the window as you ignore the obvious option and search out the long shot.

Let’s face it, handing Wilfred Bony my Gameweek 23 armband was a travesty. I can and will point to the logic behind the decision – I can talk about about the Ivorian’s form, of Fulham’s fragility. Even so, that doesn’t detract from the fact that, deep down, I knew that Luis Suarez would punish me.

As I mentioned in this week’s ScoutCast, I stood for a full thirty seconds at my front door at 7.28, key in hand, ready to burst back in and correct my madness. Foolishly, I chose to turn and head to Tesco. Those pizzas might have been buy one, get one free but they cost me dearly.

Such outlandish decision-making is in stark contrast to the methods employed by our own Jonty – a Fantasy manager who has profited from backing the favourite. Jonty has reveled in his “dullard” moniker and can point to an impressive ranking and a profitable Wildcard that has left even Hall of Fame legend, Evs, in his wake.

In Thursday’s ScoutCast I was asked what I’ve learned this season. Jonty’s campaign, coupled with my season-long failed quest to seek out effective differentials has taught me that my enthusiasm to look for the spectacular long ball, rather than settle for the sideways pass, has hurt me the most. I’m constantly trying to be Glenn Hoddle and Jonty, pulling off his best Ray Wilkins impression, is making me look silly.

I’d like to think I’ve learned a lesson but, only this week, I was fully contemplating tossing four points into the air and backing Robin van Persie at Stoke. There I was, listening to Granville spelling out the obvious move – Edin Dzeko in for the injured Sergio Aguero to keep the City cover – and I was plotting another foolish 60-yard “Hail Mary”.

While this may disappoint those who listened in, I think I’m going to have to rethink. I daren’t try another Hollywood pass for a while.

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

1,965 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Djerbil
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Oh sorry,

    1, 000, 005 WCs played over the last 4 weeks

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    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Even after allowing for dead teams there are still a lot of players that obviously never realised there was a winter WC

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        More than 2 million by the looks of it 😯

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      2. Dial Square
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        such as my FPL cup opponent 🙂

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  2. Hot Sauce
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Who is everybody captaining next week? Some players have tough fixtures. With the team I have now I am tempted to Captain Dzeko at norwich.

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    1. emperikal
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      RVP

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    2. Hot Sauce
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Or I might get Giroud out for Roonpig or RVP and Captain them!

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    3. Deulo10
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      RvP

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      1. Hot Sauce
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah I think Ill get RVP!

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      2. Barry
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Dzeko

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    4. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Rooney or Tekkers.

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      1. Hot Sauce
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        I can afford both RVP and Rooney out for Giroud. Is RVP worth the extra money? Probably best to see after the stoke game.

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    5. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      RVP

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  3. Xavi Iniesta
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Van Persie (c)

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  4. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    My rival:

    Mata and Yoyo

    Me:

    Hazard and Silva

    Which combo is better?

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    1. Specialist
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Mata and Yaya this week on paper

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    2. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      can't split em

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    3. Billy Ketsu
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      His, but you have nicer hair.

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    4. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      For this GW Mata & Yaya.

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    5. RÏɠBY
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      his is more interesting

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  5. SUPERMAN
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Is the Newcastle Sunderland game not on tv? 🙁

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    1. Barry
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Nope bloody joke.

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      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        It's not a joke. W Ham was always the early/televised game. The derby was moved for safety/sobriety reason later

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        1. Barry
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Which is also a joke.

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          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 2 months ago

            Why? The chances of trouble with a 3pm ko and both sets of fans pissed is massively greater

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            1. isacki: full casual
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 2 months ago

              Doesn't this give them more time to hang around and fight after the game?

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              1. Barry
                • 13 Years
                10 years, 2 months ago

                Sunderland provide buses there and back escorted by police they are safe no matter the time of day.

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                1. isacki: full casual
                  • 12 Years
                  10 years, 2 months ago

                  Are the police there to make sure the buses aren't nicked? 😉

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                  1. Barry
                    • 13 Years
                    10 years, 2 months ago

                    hahaha

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            2. Tommy J
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 2 months ago

              Still a bit surprising it wasn't one of the original televised games scheduled.

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        2. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Earlier technically.

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    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I think you know.
      But then who has BT?

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    3. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      google stream hunter

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    4. Absinthe Minded
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Check this out http://bit.ly/1aaE0e2

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  6. Prime
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/84504/event-history/24/

    My rival's WC team.
    Brings renewed hope ^^

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    1. Schürrle Class
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      He has the Curse of Jermaine Pennant though.......

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    2. Zombie
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I think my run in Cup should be over this week against this team - http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1954028/event-history/24/

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  7. MB10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Don't know if anyone has found this yet. I think its only running for a few weeks. Auto updates your fantasy points every 2 mins. Might be worth a look.
    http://live.premierleague.com/#/

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    1. mookie
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      thanks man

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  8. Barry
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Love checking rivals wildcard teams praying they aren't picking same players as you.

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    1. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      My closest rival who is 130 points behind me has a Team Value of just over 102M and I have 108.8M for transfers so I don't really care who they have.

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      1. Barry
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        How exciting!

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  9. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    mert to terry this week?

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    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Yus.

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      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        ta

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  10. teachmunna
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Very handy:
    Live.premierleague.com

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      aye discovered this last week, v swish

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    2. Peggi
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      is this a new thing?

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    3. Chu Young Ping Pong
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      yea saw that yesterday

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  11. Zombie
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    WCs played in last 4 GWs:
    GW21 - 282,802
    GW22 - 240,218
    GW23 - 254,234
    GW24 - 207,085
    Total - 984,339

    So, assuming most of the active managers their WC in this duration, can we say rest of of them are ghost or mostly inactive teams?

    Your thoughts please...

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    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I would say a lot of people, like my flat mates, had no idea that there was an additional one. Someone really should have told them.

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      1. Zombie
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Someone like you 😉 ?

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    2. BuK II
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Probably fair. I have someone in a ML who didn't use his (we don't think he knew and noone in his cash ML was going to tell him!!). Still active though. I imagine that is rare though.

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      1. BuK II
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Or maybe not...! Doubt there are many more that 1 million now...

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    3. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I told the people in my ML there was another WC but only 1 of them played it.

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      1. Zombie
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        But if they don't such a big fact, are they competitors ?

        What about the managers around the top of your league ? Did they know?

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        1. RabMac
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          I was struggling against them at the start of the season but since the mids started performing I have blown them away.

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    4. Qubit
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Define 'active' - thats not easy. There are people in a league I play in who are definitely active but havent actually played their winter wildcard, despite me pointing out its existence, they continue to make transfers until the end of the season.

      I think its safe to say there are at least a million active players as of this moment.

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      1. Zombie
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        You mean around a million of active players who didn't use their Jan WC ?

        That will be a lot

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  12. BuK II
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Some key decisions for next GW. Suarez captain? Boruc or Mannone?

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    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Mannone. Why don't you have rotating GK's?

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      1. Zombie
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Boruc & Mannone are rotating keepers

        It's just that this week both of them have good fixtures

        Personally, I';; be going with Mannone

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        1. BuK II
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          It's only really this week and GW28 there is an issue.

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  13. Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Try out live PL site. Really useful.

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  14. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Y the game not updated yet??

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    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Updated a while ago bro.

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    2. Peggi
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      it is, press the home button

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    3. Zombie
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Stop refreshing the 'updating' page and go to home

      It's updated long ago

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  15. Parm
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Hmmmm.

    My team doesn't look too shabby next week 😉

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    1. Mile Plankton - Myth and Ch…
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Exatly what I was thinking. Just need to survive this week.

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    2. Seamy
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Same 😀

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  16. isacki: full casual
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    I swear http://live.premierleague.com/ was designed by fantasy football addicts...

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  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    not sure if anyone has heard of it. Livefpl

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  18. andres
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    damn all my rivals got Roo for Aguero, I went for Studge...

    Worried about next week when they will (C) him...

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    1. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I would say STurridge is a better option.

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  19. rohan
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    No more RMWCT's 😀

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    1. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Prepare for those who still have their wildcard left to wave it in your face 24/7

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  20. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Check this out lads .

    http://live.premierleague.com/

    Quite useful 🙂

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  21. Heydudes13
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Don't know if it's been mentioned but there's this live premier league website.

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      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        did you design it yourself?

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        1. Heydudes13
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          No, that I did not Master Bemba.

          Did you?

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    1. RabMac
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Your opponent.

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  22. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Ward on my bench next week 80

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      😯 fail

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    2. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I find your lack of faith in Ward disturbing.

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      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        I have great faith in Ward I am just playing

        Evans (FUL), Shaw (STK) and Azpi (NEW) ahead of him

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        1. isacki: full casual
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Understandable, guess which one is likeliest to troll

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          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 2 months ago

            Evans, always Evans

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            1. isacki: full casual
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 2 months ago

              Exactly. 3 near misses and CS lost due to a Buttner error after Evra subbed off #standard

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    3. Seamy
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Same... I like the look of my team next week!

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  23. Cooper123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Is it overload to have Terry, Coleman, Koscielny and Shaw if you only intend on playing 3 at the back?

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    1. don parcheesi
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      yeah. Get Yoshida instead I'd say

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    2. Hot Sauce
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Shaw a good bench players though.

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  24. Jax
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    arsenal's biggest win this season was 4-1 v norwich. they are due giving a thrashing to someone.

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      yep, man united in a couple of weeks

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    2. rohan
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Yep. United come Gw 26

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      1. Jax
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        would be fun

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    3. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      CPL are no mugs. Pulis is master tactician at parking the bus

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  25. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    My rival is starting to go in a very different direction to me. Like it a lot.

    His front 7:

    Mirallas Lallana Mata Ozil
    RVP Benteke Suarez

    Mine:

    Yaya Silva AJ Hazard
    Sturridge Ade Suarez

    Our teams were virtually identical at christmas. He's 22 points behind 🙂 He took an 8 pointer too. Nice little head start.

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    1. Hot Sauce
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      He will catch you quick with that team I think.

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    2. Xavi Iniesta
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Cool story bro

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      1. Tim Canterbury
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        🙄 sorry to bore you with FF talk on a FF forum

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  26. Willis.
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    My defence next week:
    Ward (WBA), Yoshida (STK), Vlaar (WHM), Brown (HUL), Azpi (NEW)

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  27. Capt. Krypton
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Dzeko game time this weekend? Any guesses?

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    1. Hot Sauce
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Noone knows!

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  28. PGR
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Is Colback starting?

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      yes

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  29. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Bardaley you git, you werent supposed to play! Fabio wont start now and bardsley will score. Shelvey will punish me from the bench too

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    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      doubt he'll score

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