Dugout Discussion

World Cup 2014 – Dugout Discussion – Matchday One, Day Five

Fantasy managers are treated to a feast of football once again this evening, with a trio of fixtures on the agenda. Undoubtedly, the standout match is the 5pm kick-off, where Germany brace themselves for a tough opening showdown with Portugal:

Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Mertesacker, Howedes; Lahm, Khedira, Muller, Ozil, Kroos; Gotze.

Portugal: Patricio; Pereira, Alves, Pepe, Coentrao; Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles; Nani, Almeida, Ronaldo.

Judging by the team sheets, Philipp Lahm is set to reprise his club role for the Germans, with the captain likely to be fielded in the centre of the park. Jerome Boateng and Benedikt Howedes are set to be handed the full-back roles, whilst further up the pitch, those recent rumours suggesting Mesut Ozil could be dropped turned out to be nothing more than red herrings – as many expected, the Arsenal man takes his place in the starting XI alongside Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Mario Gotze in the four attacking slots.

Portugal line up as expected. Cristiano Ronaldo recovers from injury to take his place on the left of a front three, with Nani wide right and Hugo Almeida handed the central role up top.

Later on, the second game in Group F gets underway at 8pm, where Iran and Nigeria go head-to-head. Both sides will be desperate for a win to boost their prospects of progressing, though with upcoming clashes against Argentina and Bosnia still to follow, neither of the underdogs have been subject to much Fantasy investment. Carlos Quieroz’ side are expected to park the bus and hit their opponents on the counter, though the Africans will be hoping the likes of John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, Peter Odemwingie and Emmanuel Emineke can make the difference in the final third.

Our 11pm kick-off looks an even affair as Ghana square up to the USA. With both sides in the same group as Germany and Portugal, Fantasy investment has been minimal – Kevin Prince Boateng and Asamoah Gyan carry the main threat for Kwesi Appiah’s side, whilst Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley look the most likely for Jurgen Klinsmann’s troops.

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4,420 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Supernova
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Can someone help me out with the McDonalds game, is there any way to go 3-5-2 without it taking out Debuchy instead of the FREAKING EMPTY SPACE?!

    http://i.imgur.com/bNGRykd.png

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    1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      No

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      1. Supernova
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        Seriously? This is absolutely ridiculous.

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        1. Jimmers
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 7 days ago

          It's not known as the McCrap game for nothing!

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    2. SneakyPete
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Remove a defender who hasn't played first then change formation to 3-5-2 and put the player you want

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      1. Supernova
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        Doesn't work.

        Just confirmed it by changing formation to 4-4-2 since I don't mind losing Di Maria. It left the gap and removed the right most player.

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  2. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    I acidently changed captain in the mcds game it doesn't ask for any confirmation regarding the change so can I change this back?...

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    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Any player that has already played won't be an option to change to though

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      1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        It really is a poor setup as I didn't want to confirm captain change so should let u undo before the nx game

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    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      It doesn't ask for confirmation

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      1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        It's cost me 14 points thanks to trying to navigate on iphone screen

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  3. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Does anyone have any knoweladge which on of those 2 has a better potential for points - Sadeghi or Montazeri ? I am gonna play just 1.

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    1. LOCO ABREU
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Play Montazeri just because his high ownership 🙂 . Just kidding! No idea!

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    2. SW6
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Are you really expecting an informed answer to that? 😆

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      1. LewanGOALski
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        Probably no 🙁

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    3. SneakyPete
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Montazeri, Heart of defence

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  4. #WinterIsNotComing
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Chances of Hyderi starting?

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    1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      He starts

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      1. LSONG
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        For some reason when you google him, he's a RB but on the game he's a striker?

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        1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 7 days ago

          He is a right back McDs have put him in the wrong position

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          1. LSONG
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 7 days ago

            I have him playing as an attacker after subbing off Ronaldo lol, shame he's never scored in roughly 50games.

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            1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 7 days ago

              Might get a few recovered ball points

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              1. LSONG
                • 10 Years
                10 years, 7 days ago

                Yeah fingers crossed, won't be hard too do considering he'll play the whole game most likely and anything higher than 3 i'm happy with since that is what my boy CR7 dropped.

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        2. The Shadow
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 7 days ago

          Plays RB at club level but a winger for the national team.

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  5. laGan1n1
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    MCD fantasy managers

    how much Messi cappers have points, 11 or 22 ?

    ty

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  6. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Look who's No.1 in Uruguay in Fox 😀

    😎

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      you should have picked Croatia.

      Then you could have harshed Forca

      #wimp

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    2. LOCO ABREU
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      11 here

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  7. FACUPARSE
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Heard Adrian Chilles was being a right old twonk on TV earlier.

    What happened?

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      He turned up for work

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    2. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      He kept on, and on, and on, and on about the muller v pepe incident.

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      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        and about France's 2nd goal yesterday

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  8. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    For all the Iranian football experts out there is it worthwhile putting in Heydari for Dzeko (3pts)? 🙂

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  9. Shakshuka
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Swap both Ronaldo (3) and Manolas (5) for Hosseini and Heydari? Or just Ronaldo? As u get 3 points for showing up feel like I should just give it a shot and swap both.

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  10. Zep
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Ah shite. I didn't want to wake up to a Muller hattrick.

    Left on my bench thanks to Neymar, Sanchez and Messi.

    🙁

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  11. smp
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    AWESOME. MCD game. I have my captain on Neymar, the C still shows, but only 14 points accumulated. (NO DOUBLE points showing...) Anyone else with this problem?

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    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      just a glitch, will be fixed later

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      1. smp
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        Thanks. I feel much better that others see the same. I just made some subs. I did not touch captain, but hell, you never know with this game! 🙂

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  12. Blue Lion
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    People who have gone from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3. The new defender appears on which side of the squad?

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    1. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      RIGHT!

      As everyone keeps saying.

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    2. SMELL MY CHEESE YOU MOTHER
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Right

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  13. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Ox looking good for comeback, will only be benched though 🙂

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  14. Sweetpea
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Can i McSwop Midfielders and defenders interchangeably?

    e.g. di maria > Iran defender

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    1. Shakshuka
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      If hes on the right of ur midfield

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    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Need to change formation which has some peculiar implications

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    3. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Yes if unsure check hot topics I posted about changing formation this morning

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  15. #WinterIsNotComing
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Coentrao has got 6... no deduction for goals conceded yet...

    should i change him with John Brooks of US?

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  16. Kostja
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    So no Hashem BEIKZADEH? Correct?

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    1. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Yes.

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    2. VougieDipond
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      nope

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    3. Kostja
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      boo

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  17. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    THEY HAVE CHANGED HOW THEY WRITE CAPTAIN SCORES. NEYMAR HAS NOT LOST ANY POINTS.

    Gink out

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    1. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      You cheeky monkey.

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  18. tm245
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Germany just won 4-0 and its players' points are not a part of the rankings. (C)roos approaching in the rear view mirror...

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  19. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Screw the McDonald's game. The fact that you don't get to confirm changes is just the stupidest thing ever. I tried to change my formation to put a stupid Iranian defender in for DiMaria, and the game removed Kroos and his 14 points. There go 14 points I'll never get back. Thanks McDonald's, I'm not fecking loving it!!!!

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    1. SneakyPete
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      we all know about formation problems why did you do that ?

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      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        Cuz apparently, I'm an idiot

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    2. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      You people really need to talk to your friends before trying something you've never done before, especially if you get warnings and ignore them...

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    3. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      To be fair it's been being discussed all day

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      1. SW6
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        and the past 3 days before that

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        1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 7 days ago

          I didn't know myself 3 days ago so nigh on impossible

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      2. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        To be fair, some of aren't on here all day

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        1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 7 days ago

          I know mate the question just seems to pop up on every page of every article. If the game was ran correctly we wouldn't all be in this mess

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          1. Disco Stu
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 7 days ago

            I hear ya brother. Just needed to let off some steam. I'd be sitting on 126 points right now with DeBruyne and Lukaku to come in for DiMaria and Valbuena, and I'm just really pissed off at myself for not just waiting until tomorrow

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  20. teddy.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Oh. Balls. I benched Muller in the Mirror game.

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    1. User
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Same here. 🙁 Rookie mistake benching an OoP player for Germany, he really should have been one of the first names on my team sheet. Instead, I started Stocker. 😛

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  21. crystalpalaceRus
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Montazari could get high pts right? Didnt ramos get 11?

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  22. Camp No No
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    So, now the important point: Reza Ghoochannejad is the safe bet for MOTM, right?

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    1. VougieDipond
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Name Of The Match maybe

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      1. teddy.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        Mehrdad Pooladi, surely!

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    2. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Moses I reckon

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      1. VougieDipond
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        on him first scorer 17/2

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        1. Reedy
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 7 days ago

          Nice

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  23. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    I tried to change formation from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3

    1. Took out DiMaria (empty slot in mid)
    2. changed formation to 4-3-3 to add a defender slot
    3. It took out Juan CUADRADO (14 Pts) and gave me 1 empty defender slot and midfielder slot

    🙁

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    1. crystalpalaceRus
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Hi Jesse

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    2. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      I am created Shiva, the Destroyer, Death, the shatterer of worlds

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    3. The Shadow
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Captain Billy is not gonna be happy.

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  24. #WinterIsNotComing
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    I've Abdelmoumene DJABOU from algeria.. is he a regular starter?

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  25. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    I should be ashamed of asking this but Sadegi or Montazeri?

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Montazeri

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    2. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      You tell us.

      You're team Iran. The Ayatollah won't be very happy with you there. 😉

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    3. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Both?

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  26. GunsnRoses
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    I have Alba and rightmost midfielder as Moutinho. Should I change twist it to Hosseini and Sadeghi ?

    I have KBD and ALDERWEIRELD as back up for them and also Yebda and Bentaleb.

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    1. Telpuialion
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Twist.

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  27. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    If you squint a bit and look at Heydari through one squinted eye he looks just like Suarez..Not sure why I tried that but it's true...!!

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    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      To be fair, I look at things through one squinted eye from about 7pm most evenings.
      So I noticed this also! 😉

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  28. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Is Beikzadeh on the bench?

    Might as well bring in for ozil's 4 pointer as i'll anyway bring in Bentaleb and KDB.

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    1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Not risking him a red card would be disastrous will rely on my Belgians

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      1. McGrubbs
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 7 days ago

        Are you sure you can't replace a red carded player? Theres nothing about it in the rules. Dont think Ronald's crack team pf programmers would be able to implement something so complicated...

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        1. alkac
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 7 days ago

          Yeah what's this red card talk? Was a thing last time they did this comp, but nothing in the rules this time.

          Maybe someone with Pepe (lol) could enlighten us?

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    2. McGrubbs
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Yeah i took di maria off for him, can replace Beikzadeh anyway so no brainer really...

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  29. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Anyone got Bakhtiar Rahmani? Is he even likely to come on?

    Worth twisting for Di Maria?

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    1. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Yes. No. No.

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  30. Blue Lion
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 days ago

    Succsfully shifted from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3. Bye bye Di Maria!
    #nervewrecking2minutes

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    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 days ago

      Just did the same with Ozil out, Iran defender in. What a thrill this game is turning out to be!

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