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Man City v Villa team news: Rashford over Watkins, Savinho benched

22 April 2025 764 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Double Gameweek 33 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) continues with a huge match in the chase for Champions League qualification, so here’s the Manchester City and Aston Villa team news.

Pep Guardiola makes two changes from the side that won at Everton. Savinho (£6.2m) and Nico Gonzalez (£6.0m) make way for Mateo Kovacic (£5.4m) and James McAtee (£4.6m).

This means that Kevin De Bruyne (£9.4m) and Omar Marmoush (£7.7m) keep their place and winger Jeremy Doku (£6.2m) remains on the bench. Just like Saturday’s unused Phil Foden (£9.1m).

Both sides have a Wembley weekend after this, taking part in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Therefore, Villa continue to showcase their new squad depth by making five lineup changes, aiming for a sixth successive league win.

Marcus Rashford (£6.7m) takes the spot of weekend hero Ollie Watkins (£8.9m), with Marco Asensio (£6.2m) and John McGinn (£5.2m) also on the sidelines. Lucas Digne (£4.5m) replaces Ian Maatsen (£4.5m) at left-back, plus Pau Torres (£4.2m) enters proceedings.

As always, Morgan Rogers (£5.7m) is starting. He hauled against his former club in Gameweek 17’s reverse meeting, a 2-1 Villa win.

GAMEWEEK 33 LINE-UPS

Manchester City XI: Ortega; Nunes, Ruben, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Gundogan; Bernardo, De Bruyne, McAtee; Marmoush

Subs: Carson, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Akanji, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden, Lewis

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Kamara, Onana, Tielemans; Rogers, Rashford, Ramsey

Subs: Olsen, Maatsen, A Garcia, Disasi, McGinn, Barkley, Malen, Asensio, Watkins

FPL team previews – Liverpool: Best players, predicted XI + more

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

764 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. F4L
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    martinez just bores himself into making mistakes at this point by holding onto the ball so long

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    1. noissimbus
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      His passing is so subpar for a team trying to play out the back. Should be clipped round the ear and forced to do basic passing drills. Nothing mentioned by the commentators either.

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    2. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      He’s looking around to make the perfect pass. Emery demands it, but he’s not the right goalkeeper for that. Arteta had a problem with it too.

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      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        I think Arteta wishes he never let Martinez go tbh

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        1. Pariße
          • 11 Years
          11 months, 10 days ago

          Watch what Raya’s doing. I think Arteta dreams of it at night.

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    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Next season he’ll be giving away corners every time

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  2. Prinzhorn
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Who needs ambient white noise to fall asleep when you could just watch premier league

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    1. Hairy Potter
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      For the Love of Dogs with Alison Hammond is on ITV.

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      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 9 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        She found a truer cause. Bit hash on the husband?

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        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 9 Years
          11 months, 10 days ago

          *harsh ffs

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  3. Rwilliams90
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Only goal or assist I have this GW is Enzo sitting at 3rd sub. Fantastic.

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  4. Vazza
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    HT

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  5. fusen
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    I accidentally left my captaincy on Isak, with the intention of choosing Marmoush

    He has 140% effective ownership for me, so I'm actively wanting him to fail here

    If I bet £10 on Marmoush to score I can get £32 quid back if he does.

    Is that worth doing a safety bet to cushion the blow of him scoring? :X

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    1. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      No it's not

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    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Love a bit of emotional hedging

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    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Will you then do it every week? Slippery slide

      Enjoy the free game

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  6. Jones Town
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Been out of touch with the game but trying to have a decent finish... So, any suggestions for assistant manager for next 3 weeks? 😀

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    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      A few have been mentioned here - not mine, I've played.

      Wolves could have 3 bonus eligible games in the last 3 GWs. BRI, cry, BRE

      AM Moyes GW35,36,37 IPS, ful, SOU

      *unfortunately I should have saved the links for credits. You know who you are o/

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  7. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Is it too much to ask to get at least a return from your captain in a DGW FFS! Absolute useless turd Marmoush.

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    1. Rwilliams90
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Yes.

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    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      better than Saka's 2 😉

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    3. Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Goal coming assisted by kdb

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      1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Not in this game, he is well of the pace. Can see him getting hooked

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    4. El Presidente
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Well in all fairness he has already returned but somehow his assist has been forgotten...

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    5. The Reptile
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      He's been totally useless

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  8. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    A snoozefest.

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  9. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Marmoush yet another City fraud. Nothing on target and all fart and no poo.....and I'm afraid KDB well past his sale by date....

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    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      KDB has looked very basic, not sure what possessed me tbh

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  10. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    This may bite me in the second half but it’s not hard to see why Man City chose not to renew KDB’s contract

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    1. Rwilliams90
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      He's finished, one good performance doesn't change that.

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    2. El Presidente
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      He's already retired

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  11. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Rogers over Rashford final

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    1. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Fail* ugh f this game

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    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Level on points over the 2 games. Rogers has another 45 mins Vs Rashford's 12 as well.

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  12. JBG
    • 7 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    I knew there was a reason why this DGW felt very meh... so poor pool of players to pick from.

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  13. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Going differential with Trossard captain working well, till now.

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    1. Rwilliams90
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      You won. Relax.

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      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        This..

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    2. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      What do you mean til now? At least your captain already hauled or are you that greedy?

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      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 9 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Chasing. Still 16 points behind.

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    3. Sun God Nika
      • 5 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Weird link to this game

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  14. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Wow that was no pen

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    1. El Presidente
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Crazy isn't it

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  15. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Thats quite clearly a Martinez OG. Why cant they get these very simple things right FFS! Owners getting away with 2pts.

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    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Was it off target?

      Not an OG

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      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Yes the shot was on target but watch the replay. Martinez saves the initial shot but then hits it into his own net with his leg. Even Shay Given in the Sky studio who was a keeper said it was a definite OG.

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      2. Kaneyonero
        • 9 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        The initial save came back away from the goal and then hit off Martinez and back into the goal. That sounds like an OG unless the whole phase is considered all part of the shot.

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      3. Captain Beefheart
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        He saves it then kicked it back in the goal, he should be awarded the assist and a OG.

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    2. Captain Beefheart
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Think it will change to OG

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    3. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Much to learn.

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      1. Pariße
        • 11 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Sorry I take it back. I’ve seen him do that before 🙂

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  16. Tcheco
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    If it’s not a Martinez own goal then it has to be a Marmoush assist?

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    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Not
      Intended
      Target

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      1. Tcheco
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Sure I agree. But it’s not that wild of a deflection

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      2. El Presidente
        • 6 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Not that clear cut is it. His pass is directed to an open space, not really any player un particular but is definitely intending to

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    2. Sly Fly
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Apparently that's not the issue. Martinez kinda saved it, and then knocked it back into his own net. Or knocked it "away" and it hit him again and went in. Or similar.

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      1. Tcheco
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Couldn’t argue against that either. They’d have to change it to an own goal then. I’m just saying that it it’s not an OG then Marmoush set up Bernardo

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        1. Sly Fly
          • 16 Years
          11 months, 10 days ago

          Ah I see. Yup. You're correct, Sir!

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      2. Pariße
        • 11 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Maybe it was a double touch with a bit of a rattle, but looks like a normal GK reaction and a bad one at that. Should be kept as a goal, on target anyway.

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    3. Kaneyonero
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      I just want an Martinez OG cos my ML rival has him lol

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      1. Goro Majima
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        So does mine, along with Dan Burn on his BB.

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  17. Vinyl78LP
    • 16 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Gvardiol, Konsa, Digne (+yc) cleanies gone, Marmoush and Rogers anonymous and Savinho picking splinters from the bench - gotta love double gameweeks... 🙁

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    1. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Should’ve gone Watkins, Rashford, Henderson, Trossard

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  18. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    So you’re telling me that Wissa (ars, BRI) out for Marmoush (CPL, eve, AVL) was a mistake?

    Go figure…

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    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Wissa to Mateta here...

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      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        What the hell

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    2. Captain Beefheart
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      I get what you're saying, that's one of the transfers I done, and looking at the points total I got it wrong, as I did captaining Saka, although Saka situation just pure bad luck I suppose.

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    3. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Wissa’s just quality. He’ll be expensive next season.

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  19. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Unpopular opinion, but Man City need to let Pep go. His time with Man City is becoming similar to Wenger at Arsenal. Hanging on too long and so can't evolve the club any more.

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    1. El Presidente
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      You're right, unpopular.

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      1. Vazza
        • 5 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        This

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Hahaha the disrespect comparing him to Wenger

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      1. Pariße
        • 11 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Heyy! Wenger never had the funds you know that, totally different environments they worked in. Barcelona, Bayern and new age City. Both revolutionaries, and by the looks of the modern game, Pep’s probably for the worse.

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        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          11 months, 10 days ago

          Totally different environments but you can’t believe that Wenger would be doing what’s Pep done with this City side, even if he had the same budget surely?

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    3. Tcheco
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      I think his playing style is slowly getting outdated. Similar to Jose’s years ago. We’re well into the counter pressing era and even that is being evolving into a more pragmatic approach. Cycles

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    4. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      This is Peps first season of not winning the league though? Not really comparable to Wenger's at Arsenal.

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      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        This is a pretty good reflection of the average fans' thought process though

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      2. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Wenger was at Arsenal for 22 years. 1996/97 was his first season where Arsenal finished 3rd. You can then split the next 21 years into three eras of roughly 7 years each:

        1997/98 - 2003/04: Arsenal did not finish outside the Top 2 in the PL
        2004/05 - 2010/11: Arsenal only had one Top 2 finish, but always finished in the Top 4 (CL qualification)
        2011/12 - 2017/18: Arsenal only had on Top 2 finish, but fell out of the Top 4 on two occasions

        There was 7 years where Wenger was ahead of the curve, 7 years where Wenger was on the curve, and 7 years where Wenger was behind the curve.

        My opinion is the Pep is going the same way.

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    5. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      1 bad season after 6 consecutive successful ones, and he's hanging on too long?

      They are literally the Premier League holders

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    6. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      A couple of big money signings in the summer and City are favourites for the League and Chsampions Legue next season.

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    7. Cold Palms
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 10 days ago

      One not so good season for Wenger had loads

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      1. Cold Palms
        • 1 Year
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Reply fail - Pep being compared to Wenger dot fink so

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  20. KeanosMagic
    • 4 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Absolutely hate the way Guardiola sticks his tongue out to spit. Disgusting. Should be minus points on the assistant manager

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    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Spitting is a disgusting part of the game. Spreads disease and is illegal. Not sure why its allowed in sports. I understand that with physical exertion its hard, but really, 22 players each spitting 50 times on the pitch, then rolling around it, yuck.

      Its the players using snuff which are the worst, they spit like every minute.

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      1. RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Absolutely agree

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      2. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        Less smokers these days...

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      3. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        ‘Several studies have shown that exercise increases the amount of protein secreted into the saliva, especially a kind of mucus called MUC5B. This mucus makes the saliva thicker, which makes it harder to swallow, so we spit it out.’

        I can relate to this from when I played football. A nasty thing to see but during high intensity exercise or sport the thick saliva in the mouth is unbearable and it needs to go.

        No excuse for Pep though, he needs a slap for that.

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        1. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          11 months, 10 days ago

          Oh interesting.

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    2. Vinyl78LP
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Unless you're actually playing and really need to, its a pretty vile habit when also televised.

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    3. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Yep, it’s revolting. Every time the camera cuts to him he seems to be loading up another. It’s disgusting.

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  21. Vazza
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Pep still fuming

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    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Foaming

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      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        😆

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        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 12 Years
          11 months, 10 days ago

          Like a P.E teacher from the 70’s.

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    2. El Presidente
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      And with good reason

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  22. RICICLE
    • 3 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Who’s ready for a second half lullaby?

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  23. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Looking forward to 60min points for KDB, Rogers, Marmoush, and Gvardiol, a sad state of affairs.

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    1. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 10 days ago

      Same players
      Almost give up with football

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      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        11 months, 10 days ago

        At least Watkins will come on and score.

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  24. Vazza
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Rogers booked

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  25. dhamphiir
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Rogers YC

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  26. RICICLE
    • 3 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    ROGERS YC

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  27. noissimbus
    • 3 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    O'reilly the bright spark this game.

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  28. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    finally something good this gw. rogers reverse differential yellow

    yes that is the level we have stooped to this gw

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  29. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Rogers Serial Fraud Troll

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  30. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 10 days ago

    Rogers pi$$ing away points

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