The Pre-Match Preamble - Gameweek 38 Preamble
1 December 2012 1337 comments
Mark Mark
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This is a troublesome morning. It’s one of those mornings for Fantasy managers when you know you’re on the edge of making a decision that could make or break the day – one that, if it falls badly, will curse the weekend and hand you the task of picking yourself up off the floor for the next Gameweek.

Leighton Baines is a doubt and it’s a situation that causing me no end of consternation. With two transfers tucked under my arm, this Gameweek should have been in hand. However, hesitancy on Wednesday night (see the ScoutCast) deprived me of my decided transfers and meant that, with Baines a doubt, I’ve now dug myself into a scouser-shaped hole.

This morning’s press fail to provide answers. If anything, they confirm the worst. Only the Guardian finds a tentative spot for Baines in their Everton lineup at City, with the The Sun and The Independent drafting in Bryan Oviedo at left-back, while the rest opt for Sylvain Distin against his former club. In short then, the press have little hope that Baines will turn up at City.

There’s an obvious replacement and, in many ways, it’s a decision that requires little consideration. Jose Enrique is set to play another game pushed up in the final third to support Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling and he faces Southampton – a fixture that offers goals for Brendan Rodgers’ side and maybe even a clean sheet. When you look at Liverpool’s fixtures compared to Everton’s there’s even a case to extend Enrique’s stay over Baines for the coming weeks. Liverpool have three home games in four and, if Enrique can maintain his advanced starting role, he should rival even Baines for attacking threat.

The trouble, of course, is that Baines is a favourite player of mine – a designated season keeper who may have disappointed in recent weeks but who has shown potential almost every match to deliver strong attacking returns. Losing him now is a tough decision when, in the back of my mind, I just know that there will likely be obstacles to getting him back in a hurry.

At least there seems to be little concern over Enrique’s credentials. All the press lineups name him safely nestled next to Suarez in the Liverpool attacking trio; Andre Wisdom makes his return in The Sun, The Guardian and The Telegraph, with Stewart Downing making way. In our other three papers, it’s β€œas you were” for Liverpool, with Downing retaining his start at left-back at Wisdom’s expense on the bench.

Today’s other decisions are also calmed by the press lineups – Tevez is included in all but the Daily Mail’s prediction, Theo Walcott is listed in every one of our morning papers for Arsenal.

It’s left to Baines to cast a cloud over my morning, then. To leave me facing the prospect of losing one of my darlings and approach the Gameweek with three Liverpool attackers. How did it possibly come to this?

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

  1. Spike ⚽️
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    @ ROYSCALLERANNE - Good luck in our Cloud Nine Hd to Hd πŸ™‚

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    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Watch him - he's crafty. Beat my by a point this week in UEFA πŸ™

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      1. Spike ⚽️
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        I'm hoping his 4 pt hit will swing it my way πŸ˜‰

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  2. ΰ€Έΰ€¨ΰ€•ΰ₯€
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    @Hanamichi

    did Viet got knocked out yesterday ? :p

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Shame I've not watched any Vietnam game these days. They're rubbish, same as V-League, have no clue about them.

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      1. Gobigorgohome
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        LOL Myanmar is more rubbish! LOL I watched all including Myanmar- Vietnam one though.

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  3. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Re last page:

    @Berbilly: Shelvey CF, Suarez LW, Sterling RW ?

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I'm gonna say it'll be a narrow front 3. Not sure but Suarez will be shooting plenty regardless of where he plays.

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  4. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Have a feeling Selling Tevez(for suarez) when i could've sold Ba instead is gonna come back to bite me over the season

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    1. ΰ€Έΰ€¨ΰ€•ΰ₯€
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      naw Ba always start atleast.

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    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      im lookin forward to monday night strawbeery syrup fueled ba

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    3. FPLCEO
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Ba will score this week....

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  5. Paulo67c
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Probably the hardest GW for me this season; a few injuries and tempting transfers but I ended up refusing to take a hit in the end.

    Jussi
    Baines, Clark, Cameron
    Bale, Cazorla, Michu, Sterling
    RVP (c), Suarez, Ba

    Ruddy, Lallana, Demel, Hughes

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  6. bdwhite91
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    One of my rivals shipped Mata for Hazard. Don't understand that move when Chelsea are in poor form and have a blank

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    1. big oak
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      he though that since mata missed the last two, hazard is now nailed every game
      what he dsnt know is that hazard will miss this week πŸ˜‰

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    2. MCH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      That is what the masses think is a good move. At the end of the day people be crazy.

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  7. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Genuinely nervous. Good luck all. Especially to those like m that took a hit....

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  8. Bad Seed
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Just sticking on No Expectations to get me in the mood for this GW

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    1. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      nice avatar

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  9. cylus11 ( Manager) - Russia…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Captained Bale over Suarez.

    Thought Liverpool will win 1-0. Goal scored shelvey, assist Enrique.

    Bale scoring 1 and assiting 1.

    Always expect a good GW for every one.

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    1. Milner4eva
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      nice, i like it

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  10. Sir_Dunc
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone else give Walcott the armband? It feels wrong to have taken it from RVP... I'm scared.

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    1. Spike ⚽️
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Speculate to accumulate πŸ˜‰

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    1. bdwhite91
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      He's not feeling well.

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    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      πŸ™‚

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      1. Mindless Freak
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        Demi did the lineup for liverpool but with no wisdom hence i dont believe πŸ˜›

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        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          13 years, 1 month ago

          You are silly.

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  12. Mindless Freak
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Jordi Gomez (C) FTW!!!!

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  13. Spike ⚽️
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like Carroll is out (Talk Sport)

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  14. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Is the Pool team out yet?

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    1. bdwhite91
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Enrique back at LB and Shelvey starting.

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      1. Sarnab
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        So is Lucas Leiva

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      2. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        BR you tw@t....... πŸ™‚

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    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      yes, enrique blindfolded in goal

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    3. Spencer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Demi posted this earlier:

      Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Gerrard, Lucas, Allen, Sterling, Suarez, Shelvey

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

      Why do you think Enrique will play LB again?

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  15. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck everyone!

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  16. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    So, who's covering for Demi today?

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Haven't seen Nitin in weeks either. He usually deputises πŸ˜•

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    2. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Half the site as usual πŸ˜›

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    3. Mindless Freak
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Demi cover, do not fear i am here.

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    4. La Roja
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      his mum

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      1. Sarnab
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        Mate, he is ill. Atleast have some respect

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    5. Chu Young Ping Pong
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I am.

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    6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      everyone

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    7. ΰ€Έΰ€¨ΰ€•ΰ₯€
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Gerrard, Lucas, Allen, Sterling, Suarez, Shelvey

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    8. Smarty Pants
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Demi lineups fail.
      Who is first on the bench?

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    9. Caine & Co.
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      alonso14

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      1. β˜…FC Borecelonaβ˜…
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        πŸ˜€

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    10. Sarnab
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Everybody will post the lineups.. That will be a heck of a chaos

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    11. Nopli
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I'll cover CFC team news only πŸ˜‰

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    12. mgrea
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      We will all have to dig in and put in the work

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  17. 1LHerne
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    I went mental and bought Johnson and Enrique, the two wingers/forwards in disguise. So I can smell the Southampton goal already.

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    1. Sir_Dunc
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      haha, you crazy man

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  18. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    RVP most captained, Teves most vc'd

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    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Oh that's a guess by the way......

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  19. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Good luck all. Calling it a night. πŸ™‚

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  20. TheKingThierry
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Just to ease Walcott owners

    He starts with jenkinson in for Sagna

    Still not sure on Giroud but does look like he is rested with Gervinho in the team and Podolski too

    Word is it will be an interchangeable front 3 so they could all play CF sometime during the game πŸ™‚

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  21. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    tried to bench Felliani in favor of Sterling at the last moment but when I tried to confirm the game started getting updated... not sure if the move happened...

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    1. Sir_Dunc
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I did the same with Sterling in favour of Silva. A moment of pure madness, I'm glad the update put a stop to that one..

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  22. paraman
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    wh wouldn't arsenal rest giroud in the CL, they are already qualified no?

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    1. Caine & Co.
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      maybe they rest him in cl also

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  23. Bullet Tooth Bony
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    How are your predicting powers feeling today fellas?
    United to win 3-0.
    Everton to win or draw.
    Fulham to draw 1-1 with Spurs.

    How about it?

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    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      2-0 United
      City 1-1
      Fulham 2-1

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    2. @theTinkermen
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      chelsea draw
      united win
      west brom win
      everton win
      fulham win
      liverpool draw
      arsenal win

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  24. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Shelvey RB?

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      CF

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    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Ah, no πŸ™‚

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      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        Suarez RB?

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          13 years, 1 month ago

          Confirmed by BR himself #LFC πŸ˜‰

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  25. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Was going to take a hit this morning subject to the Liverpool lineup.

    Saw lineup, decided to save FT.

    Had an idea at 11.25, spent 4 points.

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      Always the way πŸ˜€

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      1. Mílanista
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        On a keeper and a defender as well 😯

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          13 years, 1 month ago

          Who?

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          1. Mílanista
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 1 month ago

            Injured Foster out for a hot cross Bunn and a seemingly dropped Wisdom for Nasty.

            I figure between them there's a good chance of a CS to recover the hit and my bench was looking a bit thin.

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  26. @theTinkermen
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Did no transfers this week and I feel fine about it.

    Anyone go a bit crazy?

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    1. Sir_Dunc
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      how about everyone? Some of the posts have been comedy gold the last few days!

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  27. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Early #AFC team news; Giroud & Ramsey set to be rested, Gervinho & Podolski start

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      1. Billy Gilmore
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        Goal.com πŸ˜†

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        1. mgrea
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 1 month ago

          πŸ˜€

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      2. Sarnab
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        Hehe goal.com πŸ˜€

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      3. Spencer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        Goal.com

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      4. Lawrø
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        Goal.com, it must be true...

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      5. Chu Young Ping Pong
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        goal.com πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€

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    1. Caine & Co.
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      shit. hes my captain =(

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    2. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      This was early an hour or two ago.

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    3. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldnt say 'Ramsey set to be rested', they should write 'Ramsey set to be dropped'

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    4. cylus11 ( Manager) - Russia…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I guess then Walcott would be in good position to score a brace or hat trick now that Giroud is not playing.

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  28. Scholsey
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    anyone without both enrique and suarez??
    i am afraid though i have sterling!!

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    1. Tin of Directors
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I have Enrique and Sterling but no Bugs.

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    2. Chu Young Ping Pong
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I bought both for 1 hit, but I'm not confident at all.

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    3. @theTinkermen
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      yup havent got either.

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    4. mgrea
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 1 month ago

      I have Sterling. Kinda' wish I didn't have him too!

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      1. Scholsey
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 1 month ago

        lmao!!

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  29. Nopli
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Line-up in a bit

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  30. Batigol
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Any realistic chance of De Gea playing today?

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