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De Bruyne in advanced role as Man United deploy midfield diamond for derby

12 December 2020 1330 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
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Pep Guardiola has afforded Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) an advanced role once again as Manchester City travel to Old Trafford.

The Belgian has been operating as a number 10 increasingly often this season having previously only played in that position in the big games.

And they don’t come too much bigger than a city derby for Guardiola’s men, so De Bruyne’s 24.5% ownership will be relishing his advanced runs tonight.

He features at the centre of an attacking midfield trio in support of Gabriel Jesus (£9.3m), flanked by Raheem Sterling (£11.4m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m), who enjoyed a disparity of fortunes against Fulham.

Elsewhere, it is a third consecutive Premier League start for John Stones (£4.8m) at the heart of City’s defence, while João Cancelo (£5.5m) retains a berth, switching to the left-hand side, pushing Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) to the bench and allowing Kyle Walker (£6.2m) back into the side.

Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears to have tweaked his Manchester United outfit with respect to the opposition, changing his favoured 4-2-3-1 system into a midfield diamond shape.

Fred (£5.3m), Paul Pogba (£7.7m) and Scott McTominay (£4.9m) are all included in the line-up behind Bruno Fernandes (£10.9m) in support of Marcus Rashford (£9.4m) and Mason Greenwood‘s (£7.1m) two-man strike pairing.

Anthony Martial (£8.7m) is still an option though, named on the bench alongside Alex Telles (£5.5m).

Manchester United XI (4-1-2-1-2): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; McTominay; Pogba, Fred; B Fernandes; Rashford, Greenwood.

Manchester City XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Walker; Fernandinho, Rodrigo; Sterling, De Bruyne, Mahrez; Jesus.

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1,330 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Ederson just doesn't inspire confidence in my opinion, looks like he has a mistake in him

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  2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Gary Neville surprised city are so slow on their buildup and knocking it around going nowhere

    Looks like he hasn’t been watching much city this season

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  3. el polako
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Mahrez is just rich man's Benarama

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    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Respect Benrahma?

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    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      thought they were a 1980s girl
      band ?

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      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Didn't know there was girls bands in the 80's, thought it was all about men with long hair and make up.

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        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          two of them looked like men with long hair and makeup

          https://youtu.be/l9ml3nyww80

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          1. el polako
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            🙂

            I would.

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          2. Jordan.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            get that crap off ,kashmir led zeppelin ,TUNE ...

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    3. JONALDINHO
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Benrahma is a baller don’t bring him into this

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    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Bananaman?

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      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        In pyjama ?

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  4. Miguel Sanchez
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sterling has never scored against United in 20 games against them for both City and Liverpool

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    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Wow

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    2. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      If Pep knew...

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    3. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Consistency is key!

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    4. Egg noodle
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He is due

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    5. dicky2014
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He isn't a top class player. Flat track bully.

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      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Mahrez doesn't try or care

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  5. MagicMessi
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Have Kdb and Fernandez and expected nothing from them anyway .. don't understand the captainers to be honest

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    1. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Same

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    2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I guess they didn't have Salah
      If they captained either over Salah then that's madness imo

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      1. MagicMessi
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I think Kane/Son second best on paper

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    3. Flair
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Already have KDB's 2 pointer locked in. KDB captainers were insane, said it before the match.

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      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        *3 😛

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      2. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Buggu'd.

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      3. MagicMessi
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Will still be happy if he gets anything I want points I don't care

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  6. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Time for KDB to Soucek to be considered.

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    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I'm thinking of that as well, allows me to upgrade Vardy to Welbeck

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    2. Gobigorgohome
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      yes and then Kane to Jolinton

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      1. Plant Based FPLer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        How can you all afford Walcott, then?

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  7. Gobigorgohome
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I thought City would dominate

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A lot of people did.

      But Ole's United has always done well against City. Beat them 3 times last year.

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      1. Bushwhacker
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Usually by bus and break and a touch of luck. United have actually played. Both have just been awful.

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  8. COLLIN QUANER
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Not surprised Pogba wants that Madrid/Juve move. Must be so frustrating playing with lesser players every week.

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    1. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He needs to prove he’s better than them, Pogba’s biggest problem has always been the mental side of his game. No doubt he is a phenomenally skilled footballer but he poor attitude and work ethic are holding him back. Just look at Bruno for example, he knows he’s one, if not the best player in the team and yes he gets frustrated but he keeps working and giving it all for the team...Pogba doesn’t do that and managers don’t generally like that attitude, except maybe PSG who don’t seem to mind

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      1. MagicMessi
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        How he's gonna prove that if he doesn't even start regularly I mean who cares about training etc if he can deliver on pitch that's what important and he surely makes United looks better ... Managers like Solsjkaer that don't like the attitude because he can't manage

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    2. Plant Based FPLer
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He's been playing like sh_t himself for a while now. And good players make other players around them get better. That has not been happening.

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  9. Duke Silver ☑
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Man this has been one boring half.

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  10. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    KdB getting frustrated.

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  11. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I'll take my Dias clean sheet and call this a day now. Pretty boring

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    1. Flair
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Spaces have been their for United on the counter, wouldn't count his points yet

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      1. Flair
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        *there

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  12. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Is Kun not fit, Pep should drop Jesus and play Torres a striker. He is way better striker than Jesus atm imo

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Half time talk

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    2. JJO
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Agree
      You cant play Jesus and Sterling together

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    3. MagicMessi
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Think he'll start against WestBrom ?

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  13. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Quite amusing watching City players complain about professional fouls that disrupt their attack...

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  14. ivantys
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Just blow the full time whistle already, boring game.

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  15. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Man U haven’t been the same since the dropped Dan James - really missing his energy 🙂

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  16. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Roll on Everton v Chelsea

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    1. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Sold DCL and with Jota dead I have dbl Che def now - dreading that game!

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  17. camarozz
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Iv already resigned myself to an awful gw, no Spurs or Salah.

    Kdb/Bruno here.

    Robbo/DCL/ Vardy (c)

    Don't feel its gonna end well

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    1. JONALDINHO
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Martinez carrying me right now. Mane(C) is going to make or break it

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    2. Party time
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Party tomorrow

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    3. JONALDINHO
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Bruno and KDB better come out guns blazing this second half. The one game I don’t want to be scoreless ffs

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    4. Fudgy
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping Bruno and KDB was a huge mistake

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      1. JONALDINHO
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        After this week they’re both arguably essential

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      2. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        -8 to ditch them and -8 to get back hardly much better

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    5. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Can see Pep hooking a couple of players at half time

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      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Mahrez and?

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      2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Not Cancelo please, he can do it after 60 if he wants

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    6. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Honestly don’t know why I do this to myself

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      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        This, I'm very close to stopping to be honest

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        1. Pacer.
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Mate, I played a WC in week two and took out Kane, Son, Ings, Barnes, Mitrovic etc etc. My new team scored 50, my old team scored 100. I did the same with FH, new team scored 35, old 70. I must be the only person in history to feature in consecutive weeks on ffs rough with the smooth. I have a screenshot of joe/az etc with their head in their hands reading out my WC.

          5 green arrows in 5 weeks and up from almost 5M to knocking on the door of 1M

          Don't give up.

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      2. Gudjohnsen
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Play this game?

        I agree.

        It wastes too much time.

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      3. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Put it away...

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    7. Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Not even the fans could bring life to this match.

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    8. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Oh my word, this is looking like a huge kdb (c) Bruno and Grealish fail, going to need a sofa the size of the titanic for the Liverpool game at this rate

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      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        KDB Bruno Grealish Wilson Coufal for me so far mate

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      2. Pacer.
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Early days mate. Many a times players haul from just one goal

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    9. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      DCL, Mendy and Chilwell owner

      I should hope for a Chelsea CS vs Everton right?

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      1. TKC07
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Attacking returns for Chilwell, Pen Save for Mendy and Hattrick for DCL.

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      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Right

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      3. Hazard_18
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yes

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    10. WVA
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Woohoo
      Coufal blank
      Grealish blank
      Wilson blank
      Bruno blank incoming
      KDB blank incoming

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      1. JONALDINHO
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Lewis Grealish Bruno KDB here. Martinez saving my week!

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      2. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        All set up nicely for Kane(TC) 😎

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        1. WVA
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Dont have Kane so that could be great

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      3. Pacer.
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Three of those blanks are very common. A budget defender is very common. This isn't a big deal

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    11. Pedram
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      This game has 0-0 written all over it.

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      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Man U will sneak a late goal, you know it lol

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        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          And no kdb/Bruno involvement, it feels

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          1. have you seen cyan
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            yea probably slab head lol

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    12. Grounderz
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Fred 360, fwww.

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    13. F4L
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Does Rodri know what a forward pass is 😐

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      1. Flair
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        He's supposed to be Busquets 2.0 lmao

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        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          He's just not good enough

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      2. JJO
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yes if he has to give tha ball away

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        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          this, he's nowhere near as good as Fernandinho in his prime.

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    14. Flair
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Low scoring game so far, to absolutely zero surprise. Was always happening.

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      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah.... There are never goals in the Manchester derby!?!?

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        1. Flair
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Not many for sure. Plus City have been much more conservative this season.

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    15. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Salah cappers cheering this game on at 0-0

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      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Nope, I have also Bruno and KdB. Son and Kane owners look like the winners.

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