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15 January 2016 801 comments
Mark Mark
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Our weekly members article, focusing on the Gameweek captain conundrum, has undergone some minor surgery this week.

The structure remains the same but with added insight on the specifics involving those players and teams involved at the very top of our current Captain Poll.

We check in on Rate My Team’s reckoning as usual, before rounding off with our opinion on the current poll standings in the light of the data analysis, including our view on differential captains.

The Captain Poll

We’re currently witnessing an almighty tussle at the top of our Captain Poll, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Man City’s Sergio Aguero at loggerheads with 36% and 29% of the vote respectively.

Kane currently edges the duel ahead of Tottenham’s home tie with Sunderland, although the lead has swapped hands several times in the last 24 hours.

Dimitri Payet is riding a wave of confidence following his spectacular contribution to West Ham’s midweek victory at Bournemouth and that’s enough for him to be elevated to third in our poll. However, the Hammers’ playmaker earns just 9% of the vote, considerably less than the aforementioned strike duo.

Further down the list, Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez is backed for a return to form ahead of his trip to basement-dwellers Aston Villa, while Kevin de Bruyne and Dele Alli provide midfield alternatives to cover Spurs and City’s attacking returns – they’re currently claiming just 3% and 2% of the current vote.

Are the current standings backed by the underlying statistics?

Let’s start breaking down the player and team data for the last four matches and throw some light on the situation.

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

801 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Demí
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Is there a player more influential for his team than Payet is for West Ham? Maybe Ighalo? Leicester have Vardy/Mahrez, Arsenal have Sanchez/Ozil, City have a few

    Just looking at some numbers. In Payet's 12 starts, they've scored 23, in his 8 missed games they've scored 7.

    Actually now tempted to captain him. Do we think he'll get close to 90 mins?

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I'm captaining him, form and fixtures what else could you want?

    2. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Kompany for City CS

      1. Demí
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Certainly this season, though think Mangala/Otamendi will come good

        1. luke25
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          I agree. It's difficult to play well when you don't know who your defensive partner is going to be.

        2. Your Mum's Athletic
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Think they are both underrated, once they have a season in the PL under their belts, they'll be great in my opinion.

    3. drughi
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      If they score he will be involved it seems but I just can't see pass Kane (C) this week against a woeful sunderland. Payet is my VC though

      1. Royal5
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        This I think.

    4. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Lukaku possibly, goal involment is very high

      1. Royal5
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        On the bench.

        1. Royal5
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Thought you ment captaining him.

    5. Doolittle
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Lukaku must come close for us. Taking him out and you've got Kone leading the line...

      1. Demí
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Fair point

      2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Thoughts on people benching him this week

        1. Doolittle
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          See below, I could well end up being one of them. I think he could do some serious damage, but I think that about all of my front 8.

    6. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Schniederlin for United in a different way

      13 PL starts - 1 defeat

    7. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Flamini record when he plays 😉

      1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        * Diaby

        1. Your Mum's Athletic
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Eboue - we naming random arsenal players 😆

          1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
            • 16 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            I thought we were naming players that never played for Arsenal and therefore had amazing win records 🙂 . Also I am picking the Brazil team this week has anyone updated the spreadsheet in ages ?

    8. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Cannot decide between him Aguero or Kun for the armband.

      1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Flip a coin

      2. Forget Special, I am the ON…
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Aguero or Kun ?
        I presume its Kane instead of Kun 😀

  2. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Who do I bench out of

    Ozil (sto)
    Lukaku (mci)?

    1. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Do you have Ighalo?

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Nope, Alli Mahrez Kane Aguero Payet KDB

        1. Milner4eva
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Probably Özil then

          1. Greenbackbøøg…
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            cheers

    2. drughi
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      lukaku out of those two but yeah

  3. Costa's Counsellor
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Has anyone had any great success with AOA?

    1. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I AOA when Wilson was banging them in for fun and had a nice juicy home fixture, he got injured in the first half.... no

    2. luke25
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Benched Azpilicueta to play Hazard against Liverpool. Hazard got 1 point IIRC and Azpili got an assist.

  4. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    If only Payet could be playing on Sunday or rather on Monday, it would feel so much easier to slap the armband on him.

    1. Ziegler1988
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Don't see why kickoff time matters at all

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Just back from injury, that is why for me.

        1. Royal5
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Been back for a while tbh

          1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            Still not had 90 min though.
            May be me being whimpy but a day or 2 longer rest would not exactly have lessened my probability to C him since he played midweek.

        2. Ziegler1988
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Played on Tuesday and came off after 80', I wouldn't worry

  5. Buck The Trent
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Please bench one attacker and one defender

    Attacker: Alli, Ozil, Lukaku

    Defender: Kosc, Moreno, Nyom, Simpson

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Lukaku and Moreno.

    2. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Morenozil

    3. el_haf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Ozil, Nyom

    4. Ziegler1988
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Lukaku
      Moreno

    5. Worzel Gummidge
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Alli, Moreno. Not even close IMO.

    6. Joshua1
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Ozil, Nyom

  6. Sess!
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Gone on Defoe son! 😎

  7. zakard
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Hi all, GTG ??

    Gomes (Butland)
    Sagna Simpson Alderweireld (Daniels, Dann)
    Alli Payet Mahrez Ozil ( Ramsey)
    Vardy Aguero(c) Giroud

    Bench ramsey good idea ??

    thx for your help guys !!

  8. Nexus
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    "Sergio Aguero is very near to his best. He is making all the movement. That means his body is OK.

    "I hope he will continue playing the way he did in the last two games. He had a lot of good moments against Everton. He is 100% fit."

    1. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      watching motd and his hit volley first time, i remember thinking 'he's 100%'

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      100% fit and blanked last game, waste of 13.1m imo

      1. Nexus
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        is that your team in your profile

      2. luke25
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        You've got him in your team?

  9. Sess!
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Why has the table been sorted by shots on target this week, rather than big chances? I think sorting by shots in the box might be better than both of them.

    1. Costa's Counsellor
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Someone must have done a comparison to see which correlates better to goals, surely?

      1. Sess!
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah maybe, guess it makes sense. Maybe shots on target better than shots in the box as you could have a donkey like pelle who has loads of shots but couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

  10. the marXman
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Thinking Lukaku and kdb out for Aguero and either wijnaldum or ayew (2ft), yes or no and which one?

    1. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      madness for me

      1. the marXman
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        So lost as to what to do this week

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      no point destroying your team for 2 pointer aguero

    3. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Fecking awful.

    4. the marXman
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I think that's a resounding no then

    5. Worzel Gummidge
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I would, like me, get KDB Lukaku and Aguero. Wouldn't touch the last 2.

  11. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Liking the new structure. May bench Mahrez over Ozil now...

    1. Doolittle
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Who are your options? See below, I'm completely stumped, interested in your line of thinking. Mahrez is statistically the weakest, but his ownership/previous hauls terrify me.

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Ozil - Mahrez - Arnie - Alli - Payet
        Kun - Kane - Lukaku

        Arnie would perhaps be the standout, but he has proven himself to be a big game player and I actually think he could be the most explosive one there this week.

        Alli is basically a striker. Payet is everything. Lukaku is on a mission against a vulnerable defence.

        Wasting my AAO on a week that ended up with two injuries was regrettable 😀

        1. Doolittle
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah I'd bench Arnie if I was you (I sold him this week).

          1. Baines on Toast...
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            You may well be right. I've developed a real affinity for that top knotted powerhouse since bringing him in for the United game though, so at this stage of the season I find it hard to let go.

  12. Doolittle
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Right, even with this article I just can't decide. Bench one:

    A) Alli (only reason for this really would be ownership, i.e. being a coward)
    B) Lukaku
    C) Ighalo

    1. Doolittle
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      D) Mahrez

    2. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      If you have Ozil, I would sooner bench him than any of them.

      1. Doolittle
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        I do have Ozil - I could basically list my whole front 8 as there's not much between any of them.

    3. Costa's Counsellor
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I was considering sticking the armband on Alli...

      1. Doolittle
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        See my comment below! I think my entire front 8 could alternatively be captaincy options, it's a horrible benching headache.

        1. Costa's Counsellor
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Same. I'm thinking of using AOA but that doesn't seem to have worked for many...

          1. Doolittle
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            I used mine last week so I could play both Alli and Arnautovic. Can't believe a week with a chip got me 28 points...

            1. Costa's Counsellor
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 7 months ago

              Haha, oh dear.

              27 for me, so maybe it did pay off...

              1. Doolittle
                • 14 Years
                10 years, 7 months ago

                I really wish I had it this week.

    4. Your Mum's Athletic
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      B out of your options

      1. Doolittle
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Open to hearing suggestions outside of the ones I said:

        KDB/Ozil/Alli/Payet/Mahrez
        Kane/Lukaku/Ighalo

        1. Atwood
          • 16 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          I have the exact same front 8...

          It's between Ozil and Lukaku for me.

          1. Doolittle
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            It's so tough, I can see reasons to bench/play them all, and any one of them could come up with a monster haul.

        2. Costa's Counsellor
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Lukaku is the only one I don't have, so him 🙂

          1. Doolittle
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            Aha I like your thinking.

    5. drughi
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      C for me

    6. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Lukaku

      1. Doolittle
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Don't think he could destroy a Chelsea defence that conceded 2 to a Tony Pulis side?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          No. I think it will be a much closer type of game.

    7. Worzel Gummidge
      10 years, 7 months ago

      A or C for me. Probably C. His time has come.

      1. Doolittle
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        I only just bought him last week...for Giroud.

        *Cries*

        1. Worzel Gummidge
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Sorry :(. Just my opinion. I could be wrong.

        2. Joshua1
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          It's not pleasant but Ozil or Ighalo from that front 8. I would abandon thoughts of benching Lukaku in his current form, he looks electric every week

    8. Doosra - ☭BowenOfRice☭
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      B), then. But I am benching D).

    9. Caleb's Kitties
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      B

  13. el_haf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Big selection dilemma this week:

    Aldy - Kolarov - [Blank] - [Blank] - [Blank]

    Payet - Mahrez - Alli - [Blank]

    Aggy - Kane - [Blank]

    Fill in the blanks with 3 of: Simpson (avl), Ozil (stk), Lukaku (che), Azpi (EVE), Cresswell (new)

    1. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Cresswell
      Ozil
      Lukaku

    2. Doolittle
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Well, no doubt play Ozil and Lukaku. Probably Cresswell of the defenders.

  14. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Have a spare FT, so who to sell?

    Butland
    Moreno
    Bellerin
    Dawson
    Ogbonna
    Ward

  15. Atwood
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone else thinking of going Alli captain?

    1. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Nah, I have Kane so I'll be picking him

    2. el_haf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I like Spurs' prospects, but I have Kane and Alli, so probably doing Kane.

    3. Doolittle
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      The horrible thing this week is that I think Alli is a viable captaincy option, and I may bench him.

      1. Doosra - ☭BowenOfRice☭
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Don't do that!!! 😯

        1. Doolittle
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          See above Doos, any thoughts? I know, going by stats, it should be Mahrez, but his ownership/previous hauls are scaring me.

          1. Doosra - ☭BowenOfRice☭
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            I no longer own Lukaku, and am benching Mahrez again, fwiw.

            1. Davido989
              • 16 Years
              10 years, 7 months ago

              🙁

    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      now that would be silly

    5. Nexus
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      ive got him and kane, so enough risk ill captain aguero

    6. Costa's Counsellor
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Thinking. Probably not doing.

    7. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Ayew tormented Sunderland, pace could be the key in behind...

      1. Sess!
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Lord knows what cattermole was doing for the Ayew goal. Got up behind him, turned around then started running the other way. Shocker.

  16. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    So, if K save this week.

    VvD and Wally to Simpson and Alexis.

    Yay or nay, any other defender (4.2 maximum)?

    1. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Too early for Sanchez

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Hmm thx.

  17. Lingardium Leviosa.
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    @NUFC 1m1 minute ago

    SMc: "(Jonjo & Henri) have trained a couple of days and we knew their quality. It's about them bedding in & getting used to the team." #NUFC

    1. Lingardium Leviosa.
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      ‏@NUFC 1m1 minute ago

      SMc: "Both players are in the squad (for tomorrow) and both have a chance (of making their debut)." #NUFC

  18. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    right, I'll try again as my head is spinning

    play

    a) Smalling (liv)
    b) Johnson (ARS)

    bench

    1) Lukaku (che)
    2) Ramsey (stk)
    3) Ozil (stk)

  19. the marXman
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Is Dann to alder a good move? Really don't like the look of having 3 spurs in my team (kane/alli)

    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Having three Spurs is great. They are a reliable team who rarely rotate, are great value and in solid form.

  20. Lingardium Leviosa.
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Koeman says Maarten Stekelenburg remains out with a hamstring injury, but #SaintsFC have no other injuries.

  21. TheSteel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Dont stress about Kun vs Kane. Both very great picks and very little separates them

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      And Payet is better than both 🙂

  22. FPL Daniel
    • 17 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    I am not sure am I right about benching Arnie for Stanis and Francis for Moreno. Thoughts? Bellerin is my 3th sub currently.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Currently Stanis and Moreno are starting btw

    2. Davido989
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Arnie over Stan for sure.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 17 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        But Arsenal defense are better, Stanis has Nor and Arnie is injury doubt too. Not sound enough?

        1. Davido989
          • 16 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Arnie has delivered in big games

  23. Scotty B
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone triple captaining Kane this week?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      None of us would use the triple outside of a double game week.

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      not me

  24. marquinhos
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Afternoon all,

    Butland

    Bellerin, Toby, Simpson (Bennett, Ward)

    Ozil, Mahrez, KDB, Arnie, Payet

    Kane Kun(c) (Lukaku)

    good to go?

  25. Costa's Counsellor
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    I wonder how many of the single highest points scored by a player in a season actually came from a double gameweek...

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      DGW's are mostly disappointing

    2. luke25
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Not many I imagine.

    3. luke25
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Benoit Assou-Ekotto is one player who I can recall getting a high DGW which shows how disappointing they can be

    4. Doolittle
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I'd guess rarely, but I would also guess that the average DGW player score is substantially higher than the average SGW score, so it's more likely to pay off.

      1. Costa's Counsellor
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        I don't doubt that, I just can't see any of us matching those plucky souls that slapped the triple armband on Kun for his 5 goals.

        1. Doolittle
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Nope, agreed, but there was no predicting that.

    5. Ha.
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Matt Phillips did alright last season

    6. Caleb's Kitties
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Yaya Toure did a 31

  26. luke25
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    So triple captain for a small double gameweek, Bench boost for a big one?

    1. Pasqualinho
      • 17 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      If the biggest one is big enough. The biggest DGW over the last 2 seasons has been 4 teams, which is only Max 12 DGWers. So not much of an advantage for bench boosters over wildcarders.

      1. GS456
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        But how will the wildcard be anymore effective for double game weeks?

  27. Ha.
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    All this talk of AOA...I'm tempted to stick Ozil back in and take out Moreno - thoughts?

    Butland
    Moreno, Toby, Simpson
    Alli, Mahrez, KDB, Arnie
    Lukaku, Aguero (vc), Kane (c)

    Hennessey Ozil, Kosc, Ward

  28. Mitts1411
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Pick the better front 8 please;

    A)
    KDB / Alli / Mahrez / Ozil / Payet
    Ighalo / Lukaku / Kun

    0.7 in the bank to upgrade defence

    B)
    KDB / Alli / Firmino / Ozil / Payet
    Ighalo / Lukaku / Kun

    Nothing in bank

    C)
    Firmino / Alli / Mahrez / Ozil / Payet
    Kane / Lukaku / Kun

    Nothing in bank

  29. Worzel Gummidge
    10 years, 7 months ago

    So who else thinks the time has come for Butland and Ighalo?

  30. Scotty B
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Shall I use AOA chip?

    Butland

    Toby VVD
    Mahrez Ozil KDB Alli Arny

    Vardy Kane(c) Lukaku

    Subs: Hennessey Clyne Richards McAuley

    1. Cov
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I have the exact same midfield and are considering it

    2. Gatsby
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I would