Dugout Discussion
26 February 2012 2162 comments
Akers Akers
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Three games wrap up Gameweek 26 today, before Liverpool and Cardiff square off at Wembley. The Dugout Discussion opens for the Premier League games, but will stay open until the Carling Cup is handed to the winning captain.

We start with the televised North London derby, as Harry’s Spurs look to reign supreme over their arch rivals. The Champions are also in action, making their trip to Carrow Road to face all-but-safe Norwich City. The team sheets from both games are in, and are as follows…

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Song, Walcott, Benayoun, van Persie.

Spurs XI: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Kranjcar, Parker, Modric, Bale, Saha, Adebayor.

Yossi Benyaoun starts at the expense of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the home side, and Laurent Koscielny comes through a fitness test to play. As for the visitors, Louis Saha retains his starting role, which keeps Rafael Van der Vaart on the substitute bench. He partners Emmanuel Adebayor up front, who once again faces his former club.

Norwich XI: Ruddy, Naughton, Ward, Whitbread, Drury, Pilkington, Fox, Johnson, Surnam, Holt, Jackson.

Man United XI: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Welbeck, Hernandez.

For the Canaries, Simeon Jackson gets the nod ahead of Steve Morison, and Zak Whitbred is passed fit for the game. Looking to bounce back from midweek defeat, Sir Alex makes eight changes to his starting line-up. It includes Ryan Giggs, who makes his 900th club appearance today.

Before the final whistle blows in those games, Stoke host Swansea in the last game of the week. The Dugout Discussion is open, and can be accessed right here.

Akers Richard or Akers, as he is known, has been regularly haunting this site since July 2008. He is young and foolish, take what he says with a pinch of salt. Follow them on Twitter

  1. hvsauce
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    wenger out

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    1. Kagawa-san-mia
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      yes

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  2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Oi parmtree, unlucky mate, think I can safely say I have won our match...

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  3. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Schwarzer coming off my bench, so cue a 2nd half sub for Sorenson....

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    1. udit
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I would love that! Not for you, but in the europa league RCA has schwarzer too

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      1. Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I'm 2 points behind in my H2H with me having Sorenson (Schwarzer) left and him no one left. So if Sorenson comes on for 1 point I will be more than a little peeved!!

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  4. HappyAnkit
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Shotton's assist.

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      shotton me pants

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    2. HappyAnkit
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      He's on my bench.

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  5. Hate that rotation
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Is Vorm not playing a tactical thing because he is not commanding in the air?

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    1. DLL18
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      No he's got a virus

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      1. Hate that rotation
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks

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    2. Cruicky
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      No, out with illness.

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  6. I taught Ashley Young how t…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Robbie Fowler always looking at Jamie Redknapp

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  7. Spike ⚽️
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Come on Walters do something !!

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    1. asyrafdanial
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      And Siggy !! 🙂

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  8. Burly - swear i wont ever (…
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Looking to ship Richards out now, too much of a rotation risk?

    But for who?

    Is Kompany nailed on? he missed a few games last in the last 4-5 weeks

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    1. hvsauce
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      uhhhh kompany was suspended for a few games. most nailed on defender on that side

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  9. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Shotton assist. YES! Finally something has gone well this week.

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  10. udit
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Shotton assist 😀 Hell yea, RCA Sorry mate!

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    1. HappyAnkit
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      He's on bench. 🙁

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      1. drunken_mess
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        mine too 🙁 curse u Ox!!

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      2. udit
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Coming on for Richards!

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    2. AIRMILES
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      EFFING BRILLIANT!!!

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      1. udit
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        For weeks he's done naff atleast he's done sumthing

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    3. Kagawa-san-mia
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      on my bench dunno why i didnt start him over ekotto
      knew arsenal would score goals

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  11. Mattymo23
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Any news on GW29 fixtures

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  12. UnderstandablyDistraught
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Anybody watching McIlroy/Westwood?

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    1. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      yeah me..

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      1. UnderstandablyDistraught
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        shaping up to be a good back nine

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        1. Djerbil
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Westwood is driving it so well..they have 2 par 5s and a short par 4 from hole 10-15...He could finish it there..

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          1. UnderstandablyDistraught
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            I think it will go down to the wire

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  13. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    hope swansea score

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    1. HappyAnkit
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      +701
      Rangel to be the one.

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    2. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Booooooooooo.

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      1. udit
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        + infinity

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        1. HappyAnkit
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          -702

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  14. ColeHole
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    UCL - It all comes down to Simpsons' assist.

    If FF towers add it, BATE have come through a very testing away fixture with a narrow, narrow vistory.

    If there's no justice in the world, the BATE boys can hold their heads high - a battling away performance, marred only by the manager's recklessness in taking an unwarranted and unfocused panic points hit.

    Can BATE transcend their manager's incompetence?

    WILL SIMPSONS POINTS BE ADDED??????????

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    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Should think so! Congraaaaats.

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      1. ColeHole
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Yippee!! How'd you do?

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        1. Elniñorules
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Loss at home. Captain's choice and the Utd CS made the difference.

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          1. ColeHole
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            Yowser! It was quite a late goal for Holt as well...

            Any hope of recovering it with boni?

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  15. Holy See
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone watching the Real match? Mad stadium.

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    1. HappyAnkit
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Hope they lose.

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    2. Miro
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Any news on Benzema ? Will he be alright for the next CL game ?

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  16. Burly - swear i wont ever (…
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Vorm's time is up in FPL i think.

    Terrible returns, 1 clean sheet in last 10

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    1. Kagawa-san-mia
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      i said that awhile back and someone said i was knee jerking well i now have harts clean sheet

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    2. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Got him at 4.0 so he's ok for the bench but abandoned the cheap keeper strategy and got Hart now.

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  17. Gargamel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Two goals and nothing for Shawcross - devastating

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    1. Hate that rotation
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Imagine if Huth was on the pitch. Why oh why huth did you have to go ice skating.

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  18. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    just my luck when i play sorenson

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      and have vorm as back up....tekkers

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  19. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Big Grant Holt, you will be in my team again at some point this season. If only Lambert didn't rotate soo much!

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    1. Gargamel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Should be going to the Euros.

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      1. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        I agree. Plan B.

        Seriously thinking about Ba -> Holt before Norwich face Wigan. Don't like being locked into the same three strikers, would like one i can rotate.

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    2. hvsauce
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Really surprised Morison didn't get in today! Straight swap to Holt for me I think.

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  20. tosey
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    rooney out of england squad, hopefully thatll keep him flagged for next week n he'll drop in price a bit

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    1. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Did you see the Aguero AGS at 4-1 bet that was posted on here? Easy £40 🙂

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      1. tosey
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        yeh was for new customers though wasnt it? cracking bet to be fair shame i couldnt do it

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        1. 1966 was a great year for E…
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          No, just had to go via the City website, ugh!

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          1. isacki: full casual
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            Haha, no problems here, made me £40!

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          2. tosey
            • 16 Years
            13 years, 11 months ago

            bloody hell didnt realise that!! oh well worth keeping an eye out for them

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  21. seanrior
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Had Rooney as captain 🙁

    But RVP as Vice and Kelly coming off bench 😀

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  22. Water_Pink
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    wot happened to vorm?

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  23. King Eric, in America
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Europa Match 1 seems sorted for me. Vorm's lack of immunological form brings in Schwarzer's 8. Assuming no cataclysmic BP allocations, bring on Microcuts!

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    1. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      The Erics are cleaning up, I win unless Siggy scores twice...

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      1. King Eric, in America
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Collar turned up, back straight, chest stuck out, we glided into the arena as if we owned the f*cking place.

        😀

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        1. 1966 was a great year for E…
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          😆

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    2. Back to Back Ballacks
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Finally caught you both in the same place at same time.
      ALWAYS mix you guys up 🙂

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      1. 1966 was a great year for E…
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        He's the one with the far superior rank 😉

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        1. Back to Back Ballacks
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Ahhh,,and your'e the one who wonze called hiz managur e bag of sheeet!

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        2. King Eric, in America
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Luck, fortunate decisions, and a lack of transfer penalties (so far). That's it.

          I'd stipulate to your far greater knowledge of the game.

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  24. सनकी
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    looks like Siggy is not gonna do double digits again today?

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    1. Menly
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Hope not. Benched the iceman

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  25. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Who is a good keeper to rotate with Mignolet? I need to get rid of Sorensen.

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  26. Brian (Not the Messiah)
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    I feel sorry for anyone who took RVP out...

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    1. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I really don't.

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    2. Kagawa-san-mia
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      why i got points from the money spent elsewhere

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    3. Hate that rotation
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Do you really? I understand looking for differentials is needed, but selling RVP!?

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      1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        yeah I suppose its pretty short sighted! let me change that to: LOL @ anyone who took RVP out! 😆

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        1. 1966 was a great year for E…
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Better 😉

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        2. Back to Back Ballacks
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!1

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  27. Menly
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Billy Ketsu around?

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  28. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    It's really hard for me as Gooner to know if this result signals a winning run or is the result of a side playing us wrong. The fact is that if you let Arsenal wingers into the game we'll tear you a new one, otherwise we're pretty tame through the centre generally. The Spurs fullbacks had a nightmare game, both being attacking in nature and leaving huge gaps for Walcott, Rosicky, Gibbs and Sagna. With so little cover Parker couldn't cope, he was totally overloaded. The Chelsea match was similar, again, ridiculously attacking fullbacks that let our wingers rampage - Walcott and Gervinho on that day

    Not every side will let our wingers make them their b*tch, and that's why Walcott, Ox and Gervinho are erratic prospects. If they're set up to stifle the game, we don't have the same slow passing build up to break defences down. Fast games suit us.

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    1. Menly
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Funny because in truth, Spurs have a similar style of play, but seem to have forgotten it.

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Might have been their downfall, playing the wings might have created the gaps...

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    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      I thought it was a slight tactical change, Benayoun was picked to allow Walcott to galavant up the pitch to support RVP safe in the knowledge that benny was covering in a 4-4-2

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 11 months ago

        Good point, while I didn't see Benny involved in much of the attacking play he did help the attacking balance. Interesting because Wenger talked about using Walcott as a forward. And he is scoring like one

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        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 11 months ago

          Gerviniho did the same when he came on with Rosicky covering. I think Wenger wont play walcott and Gerviho at the same time again.

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  29. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Why are there hardly any matches gw29??

    Also is it likely to have extra games added?

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    1. King Eric, in America
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      Cup replays forcing rescheduling. Matches *might* be played later on in GW 29, or planned for a later week. Unreported at this point what will happen. Chels might also be off in 29.

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  30. div
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 11 months ago

    Is Senderos likely to get his place back or a rotation risk?

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    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 11 months ago

      He should come back soon but Hughes has had two clean sheets so may have to wait for a chance

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