Captains

Captain Poll Contenders – Gameweek 9

Today, we’re rolling out a new weekly regular which looks at the Captain Poll contenders in the Gameweek so far. Analysing form, fixtures and upcoming opponents of each of the main protagonists, we run through your favourites, with Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla the runaway leader ahead of Arsenal’s home clash with basement-dwellers QPR:

Over the eight Gameweeks to date, the Captain Poll leaders have averaged 7.3 points per appearance – just shy of 15 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points per Gameweek if you handed them the armband. You’ve selected three lots of double figures – Michu (10 in Gameweek 2), Carlos Tevez (15 in Gameweek 3) and Robin Van Persie last weekend, with an 11 point haul against Stoke.

Intriguingly, the last five Gameweeks have seen Van Persie and Eden Hazard monopolise the Captain Poll. Since the start of Gameweek 4, the Dutchman has earned top spot three times, while the Belgian has been the favourite twice but with Chelsea and United squaring up at the Bridge on Sunday, neither are anywhere near the summit.

Santi Cazorla

The Spaniard currently leads the way in the Captain Poll, with 23% of the votes cast ahead of a home showdown with QPR. Cazorla was handed the armband by many last time round but provided his owners with a four point captaincy return after Arsenal unexpectedly stumbled to defeat at Norwich. The former Malaga man has mainly excelled on the road – both his goals, two of his three assists and all five of his Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bonus points have been accrued away from the Emirates.

With just a single assist over his three home games – in the 6-1 Gameweek 4 mauling of Southampton – Cazorla has produced blanks against Sunderland and Chelsea in front of his own fans but with QPR conceding two or more goals in three of their four road trips, his owners will be confident of picking up the points after the Carrow Road disappointment last Saturday evening.

Gareth Bale

The Welshman sits in second place with 13% and heads off to former club Southampton this weekend. In terms of attacking output, Bale is similar to Cazorla, producing just one assist in four matches at the Lane this term but playing away clearly seems to suit him right now. The 9.5 priced FPL midfielder has produced double figures in each of his last two road trips; a goal and maximum bonus points harvested 11 points at Reading in Gameweek 4, whilst a 16 point haul at Old Trafford came courtesy of a goal, two assists and the maximum bonus.

Nigel Adkins’s side have been dire defensively, though have conceded half the number of goals at St Mary’s than they have on their travels (eight versus 16) but with Spurs scoring two or more in each of their last five, the odds are heavily against a home clean sheet. Let’s just hope Bale is available this time; he missed out against Chelsea, of course, with his partner due to give birth.

Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero

Tevez may have failed to score since Gameweek 3 but his stats have still been strong – he has either scored, assisted or picked up FPL bonus in all his seven starts this season. He has featured in the first XI in three of City’s four home matches, producing two goals, three assists and three bonus points over that quartet of fixtures – an average of 8.6 points per Etihad start or 6.75 per home appearance. The problem, then, is whether Roberto Mancini will hand him a first-team place – the one time Tevez has climbed off the bench this season (at home to Arsenal in Gameweek 5), he returned a single point.

Aguero, on the other hand, has mainly picked up the points regardless. With Champions League duties a clear factor in Mancini’s thinking, the former Atletico Madrid man has been handed a sub role in each of City’s last two – yet still managed to produce attacking returns in both those fixtures. Since returning from injury in Gameweek 5, Aguero has outscored Tevez in FPL by 18 to 17, despite featuring for a total of 62 minutes in the previous two matches. Many Fantasy managers’ decision could be swayed by Mancini’s Champions League line-up this evening but with Gameweek 9 opponents Swansea travelling to the Etihad on the back of a run of games which has seen them ship two or more goals in five of their last six, Tevez and Aguero – with 11% and 10% of votes cast respectively – could be primed for points.

Demba Ba

Another armband contender, with 9% of votes, though it’s worth noting that Newcastle have scored a total of four goals in four home games so far. Ba has notched two of those strikes and has had a hand in seven of his side’s nine goals thus far – both his double figure returns have arrived away from St James’ Park. Nevertheless, Ba has accrued 22 FPL points over those four home games (9,2,9,2) with maximum bonus against Spurs and Norwich in Gameweeks 1 and 5. West Brom roll up to Tyneside having conceded in all of their three away trips and have a single clean sheet in their last five – if Alan Pardew’s side are to get the better of the Baggies, Ba looks a good bet to play a significant part, with spot-kick duties also likely to come his way.

Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney

Despite playing the full 90 minutes for United last night, Van Persie now has five-day break before Sunday’s trip to Chelsea. The Dutchman has lived up to the “Robin Reliant” tag since moving to Old Trafford – he has scored or assisted in all of his six league starts this term. He has averaged over eight points per away start, scoring (15,6,4) when fielded in Sir Alex Ferguson’s XI on the road and looks certain to begin the game at the Bridge. Chelsea have conceded just once in the last three in front of their own fans, though, and could provide a real test for Van Persie’s incredible consistency; he currently sits as low as fifth, with just 7% votes cast perhaps an indication of the Blues’ defensive resolve.

Rooney has just 2% of votes so far, despite returning double figures in each of his last two appearances. Since returning from injury in the second-half of the Gameweek 6 home defeat at Spurs, he has grabbed two goals, four assists and six bonus points; in spite of his new deep-lying role, Rooney has bettered Van Persie’s tally in each of the last two matches, though whether Ferguson continues with the diamond against Chelsea’s width on the flanks is perhaps debatable.

Other Contenders

Dimitar Berbatov travels to the Madejski to face a Reading side that have yet to register a clean sheet all season. He has only started one away game for Fulham this term and returned eight FPL points in the Gameweek 5 trip to Wigan; the Bulgarian has 4% of the votes. Juan Mata’s phenomenal form makes him the most popular Chelsea contender. Since returning from a rest in Gameweek 5, he has produced three goals, five assists and six FPL bonus points, though Eden Hazard has averaged nine points per home game and should be on spot-kicks if Frank Lampard misses out with a calf problem; incredibly, he has just 1% of the votes so far.

Elsewhere, Peter Crouch has scored all three of Stoke’s home goals this season and welcomes Sunderland to the Britannia – the Potters man has just 2% of the votes, double that of Arouna Kone. The Ivorian is an intriguing option – he has had a hand in four of Wigan’s five home goals this season (two goals, two assists) and plays host to a West Ham side that have conceded in each of their last four matches.

Grant Holt has scored in each of his last three, against Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, and travels to Villa Park to face former Norwich boss Paul Lambert – Villa have one clean sheet all season, while Rickie Lambert is another to consider. He has averaged 6.5 points per home game this season and squares up to Spurs at St Mary’s; although he has started all four home matches, he was subbed off after the hour mark against Fulham in Gameweek 7.

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1,522 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Scroobius Mac
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial

    Andre: "Gareth hasn't travelled for family reasons. He'll train at home to get ready for Southampton."

    Rumours be quashed.

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    1. Van The Man
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Great news! 🙂

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    2. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      The rumour now is that because he's been away from the team for so long he has forgotten how to play football. I'd be worried...

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    3. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      :-/ I was hoping he wouldn't play

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    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      It was pretty obvious AVB left him at home to enjoy his new born for a few more days. Obviously it's an away day abroad and Bale would probably not play anyway so no point in taking him all the way there.

      He probably told Gareth enjoy the next few days with the baby, train and get ready for southampton at home and then meet us when we get back from Maribor for training.

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  2. Pinoche
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Andre: "Gareth hasn't travelled for family
    reasons. He'll train at home to get ready for
    Southampton."

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I predict that he will be too tired from baby duties to perform 😉

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    2. YingYang
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I like this

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    3. OPTA FPL
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      a brace this week for the little monkey

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    4. isacki: full casual
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Bale(C), done. Article solved.

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      1. Feanor
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Now I'm back to having to start either Nolan or Michu.

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  3. Van The Man
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Have the Jelly-RVP-Giroud currently!
    Need Aguero. Should I get him for Jelly this week or for Giroud the next???
    Advice appreciated.
    Thanks!

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    1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Can you do Jelly >> Aguero?

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      1. Van The Man
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Yeah I can! 3.3 in the bank!

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    2. Butters
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I prefer to keep giroud over jelly. I think giroud is gonna explode over the next few weeks

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      1. Van The Man
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Got him in for a hit last week(for Tevez that too!). Only to see him get a blank!

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  4. isacki: full casual
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    With everyone wondering which strikers/midfielders to back this week from a selection of tough fixtures, Chris Glover's article in January on the whether "form" exists is more relevant than ever:

    http://premierleaguefantasy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/form-fallacy.html

    If you want the spoiler - he doesn't reckon it does. Not in the sense that a player scoring in previous gameweeks improves his chances of scoring in later gameweeks.

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    1. isacki: full casual
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Also he did an FFS article around the same time in the January wildcard looking at players regressing to the mean (they're overachieving, ie. Fletcher).

      http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2012/01/13/the-numbers-game-opportunity-knocks/

      His predictions for those which would improve weren't that great, but his predictions for those who would deteriorate were.

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      1. simsey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Sure, but after Fletchers start to the season for sunderland and using Michu at Swansea as another example, absolutely everybody in here knew that they would not keep up that points per game average over the entire season so 'regressing to the average' is really easy to spot.

        As for form, that certainly does exist regardless of what conclusions he decides to derive from statistics.
        Football is not a game that can be explained by stats.
        But bottom line, if a 'team' is playing well and in form that the players in that team are a lot more likely to pick up points.

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        1. isacki: full casual
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          The point is that the fundamentals (shots on target, etc) change and that's what causes the improved returns for a player when he and his team are playing well.

          Not some mystical force caused by him having put the ball in the net last week a hundred miles away perhaps.

          Hindsight is 20/20 - at the time, everyone was going crazy about Michu and Fletcher and while many cool heads who relied on - you guessed it - stats said they had to deteriorate, that was far from universal judging by the boards.

          IMO if your sample size is large enough, virtually anything can be explained by stats. Stats is the drawing of conclusions from appropriate amounts of data.

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        2. Chris Glover
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 9 days ago

          Regressing to the mean doesn't really mean that a player will get worse. It's more about looking at, for example, the rate at which a player is converting his shots into goals and accept the fact that some conversion rates just aren't sustainable. The ability to hit the target is obviously skill (so we can't compare Suarez and van Persie on a level playing field) but there's a bigger question around how much control a player has over what happens once he hits the target. Very few players have shown an ability to convert shots on target to goals at a rate significantly above the mean over a prolonged period, suggesting there's an element of luck involved.

          If therefore a player has 9 shots on target and 7 goals, we're simply saying such a conversion rate is not sustainable. The fact that you cite Michu and Fletcher show that we're really talking about the same thing, it's just the stats can help us identify the less obvious candidates for improvement/deterioration.

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    2. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Thanks, I love reading his stuff.

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  5. Fifa las vegas
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    What points did people get last night in UCL, if you don't mind me asking?

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I cannt see my players atm ! Crap site

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        I don't get too much problems like that after the first matchday

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      28, but took 8 out already

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Ooh, i did well so, got 43 took out 6

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    3. 4vets
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      33, down to 23 with subs, but i'm rubbish.

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    4. King Nil Miss ✩
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      6 FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF´innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng 6!

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        🙂

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  6. olidooley
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Walters or Lallana for my WC team?

    Also, who to captain: Santi, Bale, Tevez, Ba?

    Thanks for opinions

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    1. Butters
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Walters imo and no idea on captaincy

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      1. YingYang
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        +1

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  7. Fifa las vegas
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Pienaar to who, for 7.4?

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    1. kaz 96
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      keep him

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    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      So nobody then, put in ? for Pienaar, he should do well, has a good fixture this weekend

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    3. Fifa las vegas
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      But i've only got Kaca to fill in

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  8. OPTA FPL
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Ba or Defoe for next 2 weeks?

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    1. rvp786
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      iv decided defoe for next two then switch to BA.

      cant see ba exploding in next two games but i can see defoe exploding.

      i had defoe in a few seasons ago against wigan when he scored 5 goals

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        nice Fatman & Robin

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  9. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    nice article on dzeko

    "Since the 08-09 season he has scored 124 goals in 219 appearances for club and country, a record that matches up with the best forwards out there"

    http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/edin-dzeko-mancini-must-put-his-trust-in-the-ultimate-underdog/?

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Ronaldo 09-Now
      161 in 156 games

      Messi
      188 in 181 Games

      Not "up with the best" imo!

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      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        hes hardly in that catergory..

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    2. SW6
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I'd like to see him be the no. 1 at a club. Maybe Liverpool should try buy him haha

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  10. Timmy Cahill Rules
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Jelevic and Kightly

    or

    Fletcher and Michu

    after this weekend ?

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    1. Timmy Cahill Rules
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      or Taraabt instead of kightly

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  11. Locarno
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    If Tevez is benched tonight, he gets the armband. If not, Figueroa.

    Er... I mean Cazorla.

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      if he's benched tonight, it doesnt mean he'll start this weekend i would say

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      1. Locarno
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Comment duly noted.

        And ignored.

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        1. Demí
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Hah

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    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      rvp to berba worked well? 😉

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      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        My Zamora to Berba didn't even work out well based on last GW alone, so let alone RVP to Berba!

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      2. Locarno
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        It will, fella, it will.

        At least, it might. Maybe.

        Probably not, though, when I think about it.

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  12. Cap'n Crash - Just Fan…
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Duff to Nolan or Michu? Perhaps even Lennon against South Hampton?

    Cazorla Mata Sterling

    Penny for your thoughts?

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    1. olidooley
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I'm still a fan of Michu.....tough games comin up though

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    2. Butters
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Nolan and michu's fixtures aren't the greatest over the next couple weeks, depends if you want short term or long term and whether you prefer form or fixtures. I think walters good long-term, and nolan for this week.

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      1. Cap'n Crash - Just Fan…
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Tanx a mill guys! I guess Lennon isn't in anyone's watchlist after all.

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        1. Butters
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          He is, but probably after city united away games...

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          1. Cap'n Crash - Just Fan…
            • 12 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            Gotcha!

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    3. hazza
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      why would you transfer duff out when they have reading this weekend?

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  13. isacki: full casual
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Anyone know how to delete your UCL team?

    I think I've finally lost patience. I was quite patient.

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Just ignore it??

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Being irrational here but it's pissing me off that I have a team 'collecting' points that I still haven't made a transfer in.

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        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Probably beating me too 🙂

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        "Sorry 'www.nevergotothatsiteagain.com' does not exist or is not available."

        Just like UCL fantasy then.

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    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      You as well?

      I can't make substitutions. In fact I can't even see my whole team when I log in. It only shows me having 1 keeper and 2 subs on the bench. No dropdown option to change captains tonight either.

      And before any smart arse chimes in, I tried this morning and had this afternoon off work so I was trying multiple times during the day when it said Substitutions open but still could not make any amendments whatsoever.

      The game sucks ass in a truly epic and mighty way hitherto-fore never seen before in all of gaming history.

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Yep. Missed all three transfer windows and substitution windows myself because the site would fail to fully load. Will display sh*t but not let you change it.

        ALL THREE!!!!!

        CHOCOLATE TEAPOT!!!!

        AMATEURS AMATEURS!!!!

        We now officially have disowned UEFA and do not care.

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        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Glad its not just me then. I swear some of the smug gits on here think we're just making up excuses because we missed the deadline or something, but we genuinely have had no luck being able to change our teams.

          I have not been able to change my day 1 team to day 2 team in any of the gameweeks. Genuinely not making this up, I cannot physically do it because when I log into my team it won't ;et me change anything.

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          1. Ginkapo FPL
            • 13 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            You have to do it when you get up in the mornings (if british)

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            1. isacki: full casual
              • 13 Years
              12 years, 10 days ago

              But the whole point of these substitutions was to let you respond to the teamsheets.

              That's what I did in Euro 2012... when they actually had a working site

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        2. Ginkapo FPL
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          I am doing rather well having managed to do subs everytime

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        3. Son is Rising
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Its run by Platini, what do you expect. He hates technology.

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          1. isacki: full casual
            • 13 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            😆

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Thanks, done!

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  14. .
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Defoe or Berbatov in the long-run?

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    1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Berbatov - he will be involved in more of Fulham's goals, focus point of the attack. Defoe's form will inevitably regress to the mean and threat from Adebayor will play a role.

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I did Defoe to Berab, last week. Didnt go to well!

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      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        *Berba

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        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Berab would have probably score you more points too!!!

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    3. .
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Cheers lads, just hit the transfer button.
      Berba it is 🙂

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  15. olidooley
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Front 8 on a WC:

    Santi, Bale, Mata, Walters, Sterling
    Tevez, Suarez, Ba

    Q: Suarez to Rooney (have the money) or wait till next week?

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    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Probably hold off til next week.

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  16. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Just like we have a 'From the Physio', we should have a 'From the Shrink' - analyzing the psychology of press conferences.

    When asked which forward would start tonight, Mancini said he has 4 top strikers to chose from - Tevez, Aguero, Dzeko and Balotelli. In that order. Would you venture to guess that Tevez is at the top of his thinking this season? 🙂

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Maybe we could have " from the crystal ball" too, where Mystic Meg tells us who will score the most at the weekend?!!

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      1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Psychology is a science, not a crystal ball 🙂

        Someone could watch press conferences, read body language, get subtle hints...and tell us what Fergies REALLY thinks. Right.

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        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          No, I mean as well as, sometimes I think i take this "game" a little too seriously?!!

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    2. .
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Yep, I think that order is spon on.

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    3. OPTA FPL
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      psychology 😯

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    4. Ginkapo FPL
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Tevez is the most affected by the comment, the other three know they are top strikers. Balotelli would believe it whether it was true or not, much like Bendtner.

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      1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Ha - but that's not the point. The point is - who does Mancini perceive to be the best options 🙂

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        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Which is not going to be found in his words, as everything he ever says is to pyschologically improve his players.

          If your going to study pyschology, then study the reason behind the words first, only after that can you begin to disect their meaning. And their meaning is useless to us.

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          1. 4vets
            • 14 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            Aaah... Miyagi! 🙂

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    5. olidooley
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I think Tevez is the main man and will start the majority of gameweeks. He has the all round game. Dzeko from the start would'nt lace his boots. Balotelli the odd time and Aguero will accompany Tevez (who will only last 65 mins if they need a goal), Dzeko is nailed on as a supersub

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      1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        I happen to agree with you. The fact that Dzeko scores when he comes on does not mean he should start. Supersubs are super important. Ole Gunnar, anyone?

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        1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          exactly, it's one thing starting and another thing coming off the bench. Some players just have more impact coming off the bench

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          1. HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 14 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            And as starter he isnt as good

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        2. Dr Dream
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          IF !! you can find a striker like Ole and Dzeko who is happy to come off the bench then you are worth your weight in gold to a manager...A pound says Balotteli chucks his toys out the pram soon

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    6. heartsattack
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Maybe he just wants us to think that.

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  17. Demel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Who would you rather lose?

    A) Felliani
    B) Michu

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    1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      A), if you had to

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    2. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      At this stage, Michu. Awful fixtures, plus Fellaini could be back soon.

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      1. Elwood
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Michu, playing upfront.

        Fell, no one knows.

        Keep Michu, ship Fell

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  18. ddp
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Who was it that said Bale may not be playing in Satudays away game to Southampton? Is this true, or just a rumour that's going around?

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      please look up

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      1. ddp
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Yup ignore me! seemed to have completely forgotten I'd read that in the article already.. doh!

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    2. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Seems like he will play on the weekend, based on latest information.

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  19. Timmy Cahill Rules
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Jelevic and Taraabt

    or

    Fletcher and Michu

    after this weekend ?

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  20. Scroobius Mac
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Is it time to abandon the idea that a tough fixture for the top teams is when they face each other?

    In the past season and a half we've seen United demolish Arsenal, City batter united, Arsenal destroy Spurs, Chelsea get mauled by Arsenal and erm Spurs thrash Newcastle (hey that counts!).

    Perhaps not surprising considering the top class defenders in these teams are Sagna, Cole and Kompany. On the other hand the attackers they possess in a similar class to those defenders: Van Persie, Rooney, Hazard, Mata, Silva, Cazorla, Aguero, Bale.

    Probably not shocking that those attackers can on their day run the likes of Gibbs, Cahill, Evans and Walker absolutely ragged.

    So the next time your top 5 players come up against a run of other op 5 teams is it time to reconsider?

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    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      United, City and Che are fixture proof Attacking wise. Arsenal and Spurs are close.
      Yes, i agree.

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    2. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I think those tough fixtures on paper usually bring out the best in each teams top attackers. Those world class players you listed love to play against the best opposition so they can prove their worth. There's a reason why they're considered the best...and there's a reason why teams pay so much money for these guys...so they'll perform in the most difficult games.

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    3. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      There are generally 4 outcomes

      a) High-scoring win
      b) High-scoring draw
      c) Low scoring draw
      d) Low scoring defeat

      When a top team plays a bottom team there is a high % that a will happen. There is a low chance that c or d will happen. When a top team faces another top team then all outcomes are of an equally likely outcome. They have a far higher chance of losing or drawing the game than if they were to face a lower team. Yes one team may win 3-0 but who's to say you don't have the players who have scored 0 rather than those which scored 3?

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      1. Pratik
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Surprisingly makes sense

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      2. Scroobius Mac
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        8-2, 3-5, 6-1, 5-0 and the more recent 2-1 between Arsenal and City and 3-2 between Spurs and United and 2-4 at the weekend has showed a 5th possibility.

        I just think the attacks outweigh the defences in all those teams so much that is causing high scores on both sides,

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        1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          I think defending literally goes out the window in some of these games. The adrenalin and the pressure plus the unbelievable wealth of talent in attack...it usually boils over and the scorelines defy logic.

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      3. isacki: full casual
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        That makes sense. I would say you left out e) Low scoring win which is one of them most likely outcomes, and f) High scoring defeat which is an unlikely outcome. And also I'm not sure all outcomes are equally likely in top games. But good breakdown.

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    4. isacki: full casual
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I agree, hence Mata (or Hazard) is looking tempting this weekend.

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    5. Sw££t Sci£…
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Good point Mac

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  21. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    This should be interesting. As a quadruple, which 4 strikers do you prefer. Not talking FPL wise.

    A) RVP Rooney Chicha Welbeck
    OR
    B) Aguero Tevez Balo Dzeko

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    1. Scroobius Mac
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      B

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    2. 4vets
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      B by quite a bit.

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      1. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        I disagree with the quite a bit bit 😉

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    3. Van The Man
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      B

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    4. Kostja
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      B if you look at the 4 but if you would take out Chicha or Welbech with any of the City strikers I would say A. Since as the main 2 RVP and Rooney are much better than Aguero and Tevez

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    5. ★FC Borecelona★
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      B all day

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      1. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        What moves you thinking of this week? I don't want any surprises :p

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        1. ★FC Borecelona★
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Gonna do Rafael ➡ Wilson. Might add Lambert ➡ Defoe for some flair

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          1. Lateriser 12
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            12 years, 10 days ago

            Ah i see. I am looking at a boring Keeper or Rafael downgrade.
            Might do Tevez->Kun(c) for a hit. Might.

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  22. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Lads, much that Walters and Crouchy have decent fixtures coming up, which would you choose for the most attacking returns?

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    1. heartsattack
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      If pushed id go Crouch but wouldn't choose either.

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      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Mmm...really? Yeah, I'm in two minds now. I was half thinking Duff of Fulham but he didn't start last week!

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        1. Sw££t Sci£…
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 10 days ago

          Im going to stay away from both.

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  23. Fifa las vegas
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Anywhere i can get previews/ likely team lineups for UEL?

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    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      http://www.whoscored.com/

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    2. 4vets
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      UEFA site in 25 odd mins time. Where else did you think?

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  24. Butters
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    As a chelsea fan (and from fpl perspective) torres frustrates me.
    He is the most nailed on striker from the top 4 teams in england, at a reasonable price and yet somehow he's still not cutting it. There's never any torres love here!

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  25. olidooley
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Suarez to outscore Rooney this weekend??

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      No

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    2. GREENDREAMS11
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Good chance

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  26. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Just to add to the question above, which duo do you prefer.

    A) RVP Rooney
    B) Aguero Tevez (you can replace Tevez with a 2nd city striker of your choice)

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    1. lazybones18
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      When in doubt = RVP !!!!!

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    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      A

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    3. Van The Man
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      A!

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    4. heartsattack
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      A

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    5. 4vets
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      A... just 😉

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    6. ColeHole
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      C) Aguero Dzeko - matches A

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  27. Denis Tueart on the wing
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Aguero or Tevez for Saturday ? Not bothered about a 4 point hit.

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    1. heartsattack
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Aguero if he starts.

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      1. Denis Tueart on the wing
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        That's the point, Looks like Tevez is not starting tonight, which means, if it follows the last CL tie, the following weekend Tevez started in the PL!

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  28. drughi
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    city team according to my sources, not 100 % so dont bash if its wrong

    Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov; Milner, Yaya, Barry, Nasri; Aguero, Dzeko

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    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Lovely, i would love this.

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    2. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Why post a team which isn't 100%. Surely this is called a guess?

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    3. lazybones18
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      source?

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    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Would do nicely

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    5. Fifa las vegas
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Nasri better start he's my punt for this week, did him over Fabregas could pay off.

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      1. 4vets
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 10 days ago

        Nah... Dzeko FTW!

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    6. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      I'm going to bash you if this is wrong

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    7. Piggs Boson
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 10 days ago

      Damn Kolarov, Bale(C) it is then.

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  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    Looks like Sammy Ameobi will start v Brugge on Thursday night

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  30. kaz 96
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 10 days ago

    did anyone actually watch fulham's last game?

    i saw some of the action and from i saw, petric seemed to be playing up front on his own with berba playing as the "supporting striker" or in the hole.

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