[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
23 June 2014 2806 comments
Paul Paul
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Matchday 3 gets underway this evening, with Fantasy managers treated to four games for each of the next four days. The final two fixtures in Group B are first up at 5pm. Joint-leaders Holland and Chile go head-to-head to decide who will finish at the summit, though the Dutch are definitely at a disadvantage with Robin Van Persie suspended, whilst defending champions Spain and Australia will both attempt to pick up points before heading home:

Holland:Cillessen; Janmaat, Vlaar, De Vrij, Blind; De Jong, Sneijder, Kuyt; Robben, Lens, Wijnaldum

Chile: Bravo; Silva, Medel, Jara; Isla, Aranguiz, Diaz, Mena; Gutierrez; Sanchez, Vargas

Louis Van Gaal makes a total of three alterations from the side that started against Australia. Bruno Martins Indi and Jonathan de Guzman join the suspended Van Persie on the sidelines, with Dirk Kuyt, Jeremain Lens and Georginio Wijnaldum all drafted into what looks like a 4-3-3 formation. Arjen Robben owners will be optimistic of further returns after the Bayern man notched three times in the opening two fixtures.

Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli makes just one change from the side that defeat Spain in Matchday 2. Juventus’ Arturo Vidal is replaced by Felipe Gutierrez in a continuation of the 3-4-1-2, with Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas both looking to mantain the form that has produced a goal and assist apiece so far.

Spain: Reina; Juanfran, Ramos, Albiol, Alba; Koke, Alonso, Iniesta; Cazorla, Torres, Villa,

Australia: Ryan; McGowan, Wilkinson, Spiranovic, Davidson; Jedinak, McKay; Leckie, Bozanic, Oar; Taggart

After seeing his side concede seven goals and fail to pick up a single point in what has been an embarrassing defence of the trophy, Vicente del Bosque axes seven players from the XI that faced Chile last week. Only Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso keep their places as the champions attempt to save face before exiting the tournament.

Ange Postecoglou makes two changes from the side that narrowly lost to Holland. Australia’s chances are dealt a bitter blow this evening with Tim Cahill suspended up front – Adam Taggart is set to lead the line, with Oliver Bozanic replacing Mark Bresciano in the attacking midfield three in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

At 8pm, Brazil face Cameroon and Mexico square up to Croatia as Group A comes to its culmination. All bar the Africans have a chance of progressing and, despite drawing a blank against Mexico last time around, the hosts are heavily backed to return to form and turn on the style in order to ensure they finish at the summit – Neymar owners will be desperate for points, whilst Fred’s starting berth is perhaps at risk following a pair of disappointing displays.

The Mexico-Croatia match looks far more evenly matched. One of only two sides to keep a clean sheet in both their opening matches, the Mexicans may struggle to keep out an attack that put four past Cameroon last time around, with Mario Mandzukic’s return from suspension proving pivotal for Nico Kovac’s side. Oribe Peralta carries the main threat for the North Americans, who need only a draw to ensure their progress to the knockout stages.

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2,806 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    i think ill be twisting cesar this time

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    1. Tommytour
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      As soon as the cleanie went he went

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  2. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Long shot but does anyone have any idea whether Drmic is likely to start for Swiss versus Honduras? Cheers

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    1. Saniul
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Probably, will.
      Seferovic was shite in the last game, and was hauled off before the 60' mark.

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      1. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        OK, that's a bit of hope. Cheers.

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  3. funny money
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    neymar performing take the stress out of the captaincy decision

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  4. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Skillz to pay the billz on show here.

    Neymar seems to play like a man possessed when he puts on that Brazil jersey. Fred, on the other hand....

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Would love a Fred goal for the Sky game.

      Neymar assist of course 😉

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Not sure who's worse, Fred or Lukaku?

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        1. Dr Dream
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          Behave...Lukaku is head and shoulders the worst player in the tournament.

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          1. Captain Shirokov
            • 14 Years
            12 years, 24 days ago

            lol

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  5. tw
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Who scored well (McDonalds game) from the first set of games today?

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    1. Shels
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      alba -_-

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      1. tw
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        How many points?

        And anyone else?

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  6. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    However, Brazil really are very, very bad.

    No chance to win the WC.

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    1. funny money
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      better than England!

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    2. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Classic World Cup winning performances for me.

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  7. Damo.
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Dunphy taking sense as usual. If it's an end of an era for Spain. It's the end of the World when this is the best Brazil have to offer

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    1. Captain Shirokov
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Can't beat RTE.

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      1. Damo.
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        You really really can't. They wipe the floor with all other channels. Sky as well during UCL. None of em have a patch on them

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        1. Captain Shirokov
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          Even when they didn't have HD before Sky Sports (and I can't stand SD) I used always watch the matches on RTE because it's so much better.

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    2. Optimus.
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Thankfully we don't have to watch ITV or BBC 🙂

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Prawn sandwich crowd inside in the stadium.

        199M Brazilians outside the stadium shaking their heads 😆

        So true

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        1. Optimus.
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          😀

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    3. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      My channels on the Saorview got wiped and I haven't bothered to re-tune them 🙁 on ITV/BBC for now 🙁

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      1. Shels
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        rte.ie

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  8. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Not bad so far!

    Had Neymar first goalscorer at 3/1, made £15.
    2 x £5 free bets from Paddy Power
    Ranked 16th in McD (43 mins ago)

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    1. Optimus.
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Can I play you in the movie?

      😉

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      1. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Sure! Might only be a 1 second movie though!

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        1. Optimus.
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          🙂

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    2. JT's Dog
      12 years, 24 days ago

      I was ranked 16th 23 min ago

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      1. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Mine says 278 points, quite a few people will be on the same rank.

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        1. JT's Dog
          12 years, 24 days ago

          Zooooooooooom

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  9. rozzo
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Where would you rank neymar in the list of worlds best players?

    If he played for someone other than barca where he can be the main man i think he would be higher rated.

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    1. Saniul
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      After Ronaldo, Messi, Suarez and Ibrahimovic. 5th for me, crrently.

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      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Aguero is better than him :3

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      2. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Thiago Silva? Vidal? Robben? Pirlo? Or can only strikers get on the list?

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      3. rozzo
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        I agree, and in that order as well, spooky

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    2. SW6
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Messi - Ronaldo
      Suarez - Neymar - Bale - Ibra

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  10. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Neymar(c) already on 30 points. 😯

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    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Not good enough. Needs to be 60

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      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        This

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    2. Red Devil Swede
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Just lovely! Got Alba as well.

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  11. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    The FWC Gods are kind. This is to redeem Bentaleb (c) last week 😕

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    1. JT's Dog
      12 years, 24 days ago

      How did you end up in that situation

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      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Got greedy with Valbuena --> Messi --> Lukaku (who failed) 🙁

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  12. Dušan Citizen
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    39 points from Neymar and Ramos 😀 Not bad

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    1. JT's Dog
      12 years, 24 days ago

      But not quite carling

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  13. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    I'm glad Costa has had a shite WC, less people will get him for FPL. He is made for the Prem and Chelsea will be awesome this year 😉

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Given the fixtures, I can't look past an RVP Costa Austin front line atm.

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      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Nice but you gotta have Suarez 😉

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        1. Piggs Boson
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          At 14.0m, and with UCL?!

          Yeah, you're probably right 🙁

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          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            12 years, 24 days ago

            Austin and Arnie could be the budget options that get us there. Stoke's fixtures are awesome

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          2. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            12 years, 24 days ago

            RVP, Costa, Suarez and a pile of cheapo's 😀

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            1. JK - Cønt ⭐
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              12 years, 24 days ago

              AVL, hul, mci, LEI, qpr, NEW, sun, SWA, sot, WHM, tot, BUR

              Stoke's first 12

              Am all over Arnie

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              1. Piggs Boson
                • 14 Years
                12 years, 24 days ago

                Hopefully he's a mid.

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      2. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Only issue with Costa might be double Chelsea defence and Hazard

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        1. Piggs Boson
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          I won't be doubling on Chelsea defence 🙂

          Good value, but it'll upset long term balance.

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          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            12 years, 24 days ago

            Just a defender then since I'm guessing you'll be on rotating keepers?

            Yet to find a rotation I like. But until prices are released I can;t know if 1 keeper every week is worth it

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            1. Piggs Boson
              • 14 Years
              12 years, 24 days ago

              Yeah, I will. Cheap keepers, minimal defence, leaving the funds, and flexibility, up top.

              Quality over fixtures though for me though, even at the back. In the first 10 weeks anything can happen, and I want players that will last. No doubt we'll be using our transfers on bandwagons, injuries and players losing their XI place!

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              1. JK - Cønt ⭐
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                12 years, 24 days ago

                I'm looking at Trippier, Dann +1 but the only teams that it really works with are QPR and WBA so I'm a bit sceptical

                My dream is Flappy comes in at 4.5 and Vorm leaves and Bego is 5.0 That rotation is a dream until the end of the Jan WC window

                Cahill or Azpi nailed in for me. If Courtois comes in at 5.5 I can see myself being tempted to just leave him there and forget about a keeper

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    2. Fray Bentos
      • 17 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Shhhhh!

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  14. GunsnRoses
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Overall 4th rank in the world 🙂 🙂

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    1. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      How many points are you on, I have 278 and ranked 16th overall.

      Ranked 4th in the FFS league.

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      1. SW6
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        That completely up to date(with Neymar points)?

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        1. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          Nope, says 278 points - updated 49 mins ago.

          Currently on 131 + 116 + 54 = 301 points

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      2. GunsnRoses
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        284 but going down with Neymar show 🙁

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        1. GunsnRoses
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          286 actually , Subhakimi

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  15. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Prawn necklace 😆

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      im not up with sex lingo these days

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        RTE inside joke 😉

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  16. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    I'm top of a league where you win VIP tickets to a premier league match. Does anyone know what the VIP bit means?

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    1. LOCO ABREU
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      drinks and chicks?

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  17. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Looking at the line up England could go out losing all 3!

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  18. Optimus.
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Alba owners take your seat..

    http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/10172/hide.gif

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    1. Optimus.
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Alba (c)ers 😉

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      1. Primpod
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        I hate this game. Just when it looks like I've got a random stroke of luck.

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  19. funny money
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    has anyone seen the cumulative points per player so far in the world cup? In McDs??

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  20. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Finally that useless Paulinho fella is off

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  21. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Finally Fernandinho. Glad Scolari realised this before the knockouts.

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      There was something in the air that night
      The stars were bright, Fernandinho

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  22. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Thought the commentator said Neymar was coming off 😯

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  23. tw
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Which of these group A matches was better in the first half?

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    1. SW6
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Brazil game has been great

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  24. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Paulinhoe off

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  25. Esalman
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Who is the top scoring mid in mcd game?

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  26. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Hulk.

    Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

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  27. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Hulk is feckin terrible

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  28. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Hulk is Brazil's answer to Torres

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 24 days ago

      Or is that Fred?

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      1. Fray Bentos
        • 17 Years
        12 years, 24 days ago

        Definitely fred, at least hulk has a bit of presence

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        1. Fray Bentos
          • 17 Years
          12 years, 24 days ago

          Timing

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  29. Prime
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Hulk fails twice in 1 minute...

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  30. Declan
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 24 days ago

    Fred on target 😯

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