Dugout Discussion
21 April 2013 3775 comments
Mark Mark
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Park the lawnmower and throw the kid next door a fiver to clean the car. Let nothing tear you away from the couch as Sunday presents a double bill that will surely keep us out of the sunshine, warmed only by the rays of our telly screens.

It all starts at White Hart Lane, where Spurs take on Man City in what looks a vital encounter for Andre Villas-Boas’ side. With rivals Arsenal stealing a somewhat unconvincing march on third with the win at Fulham, it’s over to Tottenham to see if they can navigate past second-placed City to earn a precious three points. As for Roberto Mancini’s side, they’re surely fighting for pride, regardless of the maths at the top of the table.

The big news from the Lane is that Gareth Bale is fit to start for Tottenham after making a rapid recovery from an ankle injury. Aaron Lennon misses out altogether, though, and with Jermain Defoe taking his place on the bench, Villas-Boas hands Clint Dempsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson places in the attacking midfield three behind Emmanuel Adebayor.

For City, Sergio Aguero only makes the bench and David Silva misses out altogether due to a hamstring problem sustained in the recent Manchester derby. Mancini opts for Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko up top and brings back the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Matija Nastasic and Gael Clichy after resting the trio in the midweek match with Wigan.

That ample lunchtime treat is followed up by a trip to Anfield for the four o’clock kick-off, as Rafa Benitez returns to the venue of former glories. His Chelsea lineup take on a Liverpool side that’s stuttered of late and with Luis Suarez blanking in the last four, Fantasy managers will be looking for the Uruguayan to get back on track, although Daniel Sturridge, against his former club today, will also be looking to crash the party.

Our Dugout Discussion chatroom has been fired up and is ready to take you right through to the evening roast.

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

  1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Walker should have just smashed that first time

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  2. Crouch Potato!
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Looks like City have found a good one in Nastasic for the future.

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Agreed. He works his socks off.

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    2. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      I never really notice him when he plays, but maybe that's a sign of a good CB

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  3. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    What a challenge by Parker.. bad cross to Bale thou..

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  4. Bullet Tooth Bony
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Chelsea or Liv?

    Will Rafa put out the strongest Chelsea team do you think?

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Of course, why wouldn't he?

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      1. Bullet Tooth Bony
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Because it's Rafa!

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    2. iain_90
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      I'm needin' some Eden.

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    3. Siva Mohan
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      COYB! Yes!

      Cech
      Azpi Luiz Cahill Cole
      Mikel Ramires
      Mata Oscar Hazard
      Ba

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  5. Shane Ferguson 4.0
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Who would you chose for DGW?

    Ba (utd, TOT)
    Defoe (SOU, che)
    Walcott (qpr)

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    1. Burd Turglars
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Of those 3, Walcott

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      1. Shane Ferguson 4.0
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        I thought so, thanks

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        1. Little Dancer
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          All other things being equal, Demba Ba. He is likely to play both and even with those difficult fixtures he is an excellent striker.

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  6. ...---...
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Clean Sheet Clichy.

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  7. JWF
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Bale's been anonymous, stick him out wide on the left. Need width.

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  8. Willis.
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Nasri is such a classy player. ❤

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  9. boc610
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    adabayor gets paid to do this.

    fair play to him.

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    1. Siva Mohan
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Nasri.. miss!

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      1. Siva Mohan
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        lol.. post fail..

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  10. GlasgowFF
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Bale having a mare.

    £100MM lol

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    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      😆

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    2. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      That figure was always laughable. Only Messi could be considered near that price.

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    3. charlie1X
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Bale is too injury prone to receive 100 million + offers.

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      1. Kagawa-san-mia
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        injury prone ???

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  11. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    so close Nasri!

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  12. Red-United
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    For those of us with United players such as RVP, perhaps a City win today would be a good thing?

    Would not allow Fergie to get complacent and rotate players thinking the league is already won.

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    1. charlie1X
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      If united fail to win tomorrow the fixtures stiffen meaning potentially less rotation.
      van Persie hattrick in a 4-3 loss then.

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  13. ...---...
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Bale isn't fit. Cue a 30 yard top corner screamer.

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    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Anyone else having problem with th FPL pages? On my devices they are a mess

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      1. Podge
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Yeh all week it's fooked on Iphone, probably trying to get people to buy the app.

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        1. cravencottage
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          ipad too- its really a mess

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      2. Siva Mohan
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        same from last 1 week.. try mobile version

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  14. kaz 96
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Tottenham are never going to finish top 4 if they keep starting Adebayor

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    1. GlasgowFF
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      They have no-one else though, Defoe is crap as well.

      They need to sign Benteke or maybe even Lambert.

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      1. Red-United
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        I don't agree, they need someone who is a level above those two you've mentioned.

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        1. GlasgowFF
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          It depends on whether you class Spurs as a top club. I would say they are not in the top bracket but above the mid tables teams such as Liverpool.

          That said Liverpool have a better striker so maybe Suarez should go there.

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          1. charlie1X
            • 12 Years
            12 years, 9 months ago

            Lukaku would do well at Spurs. Chelsea would rather see him rot on the bench that go there though.

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    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      They need a new striker desperately.

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    3. Declan
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      People in glass houses........Giroud?

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      1. Billy Gilmore
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        😀

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      2. kaz 96
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Giroud's better imo

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          That isn't saying much.

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        2. Declan
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          Just.

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  15. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    so far Adebayor had been good for Chelsea's & Arsenal's top 4 hopes!

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  16. Vasty Deep
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    dembele picked yaya there.....nice

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    1. Siva Mohan
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Parker picked Yaya next..

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  17. Milhouse
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Look Bale.Stop mucking about and just score!!!!

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      City's defence is brilliant.

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      1. Kagawa-san-mia
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        bale isnt involved imo

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  18. Rafabio
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Scott Parker is THE definition of a headless chicken...

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    1. Burd Turglars
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      He has a thankless job, but I think he was much better last year and more so the year before for whm

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  19. JELLYFISH
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Starting to think I may do a Citeh defender instead of Vert for the DGW

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    1. Red-United
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Maybe get Dawson instead of Vert? Cheap as chips.

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      1. JELLYFISH
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Yes, thats another otption

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    2. Declan
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      problem is Kompany is the only one nailed on.

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      1. JELLYFISH
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Clichy would let me upgrade Coutinho>Nasri

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      2. Red-United
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        I think I am going to go for Hart over a city defender.

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        1. JELLYFISH
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          Johnson>Dawson & DDG>Hart....now there's a thought!

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  20. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Surprisingly, no width for Spurs. One aspect at which they're supposed to the best at.

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Not surprising when you have Bale at CAM and two other CAMs on the wings. They miss Lennon.

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    2. kaz 96
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Playing Bale centrally and no Lennon

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      1. Elniñorules
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        They'll never be able to exploit the space behind the full-backs if they keep doing this. Saints were brilliant at this.

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  21. Shane Ferguson 4.0
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    If you have one moment for my DGW team....

    HART
    KOMPANY - VERTHONGEN - IVANOVIC
    BALE - MATA - MALONEY - MICHU - Walcott
    TEVEZ - KONE

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    1. Red-United
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Nice...

      Go out on a bang!

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    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Mata won't start both, get Ba

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      1. Shane Ferguson 4.0
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Interesting.... But it will not be easy games for Chelsea anyway....

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      2. Shane Ferguson 4.0
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Would you play Ba in front of Walcott???

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  22. GlasgowFF
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Is anyone on here old enough to remember when Liverpool were a top club?

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    1. Declan
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      2005?

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    2. Siva Mohan
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      define 'top club'?

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      1. GlasgowFF
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        Title challengers.

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        1. @ImpressiveTackl
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          2009, they came second.

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        2. kaz 96
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          No one's here younger than 4

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        3. Siva Mohan
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          they fought for the title until 2009..

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          1. kaz 96
            • 14 Years
            12 years, 9 months ago

            `They were never really title challengers after '02.

            08-09 was one odd season

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            1. GlasgowFF
              • 14 Years
              12 years, 9 months ago

              Yeah, my definition should prob be a team sustaining a title challenge over 3-5 years.

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            2. Lawrø
              • 14 Years
              12 years, 9 months ago

              Should've won in 08-09, Only lost 2 games, superior goal difference, I blame Arshavin's freak four goals against Liverpool, Man Utd stumbled over the finish line!

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        4. BONZ
          • 16 Years
          12 years, 9 months ago

          The were challengers and the better team much of the season before "RafaRant" which back fired and allowed Man Utd to pip us to the title.

          Whilst i will respect Rafa that personal rant that was prepared and planned sought personal glory & he seemed to lose the plot after that 🙁

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          1. Granville
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            12 years, 9 months ago

            I think he lost the title when they were running away with it before xmas and he decided to rest Torres for a game against Portsmouth. I think they drew that game, drew a few more at home and it allowed United back in the race.

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    3. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      I'm not.

      By my estimations you'd need to be mid to late 30s.

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      1. GlasgowFF
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        agreed

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    4. Lawrø
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      08-09?

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    5. kaz 96
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      2009- Finished runners-up in the league

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    6. charlie1X
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      I remember a wall collapsing at a ground in Belgium.

      They were arguably the best team in the world at the time.

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    7. Little Dancer
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      I really don't feel like they've been genuine title challengers since 1991 despite good league finishes over the last decade. Still been what would have to be considered a top club until the last few years, and arguably, they still are.

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  23. nedfoo
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Spurs playing too narrow..

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  24. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Good match this so far, I think Dempsey might score, only Spurs player getting in the box

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  25. BONZ
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Spurs missing the pace and width of Lennon - a real threat this season and big loss. They just dont have any real pace other than Bale who looks a little off the pace.

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  26. Declan
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Martin Tyler 😆

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  27. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Am I the only one that thinks Parker is a good player?

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    1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      he's very good today

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    2. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      maybe his mother.

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    3. Darth
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      He's ok at what he does

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    4. Crouch Potato!
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Not as good as Sandro though.

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      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        No, I agree.

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  28. Darth
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Spurs suck

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  29. ipsilon
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Look at my bench. No, seriously: look at my ckufing bench.

    I'm a kcufing idiot.

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      😯

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    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      😯

      😆

      To be fair, Sturridge won't start, so you might get Nasri's points

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    3. Declan
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      😯 I thought my 22 wouldn't be beaten.

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    4. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      Going for Doosra's record? 😀

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    5. CarelessGenius©
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      More points on the bench than off it....

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    6. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 9 months ago

      😯

      Another goal for Nasri and a DDG CS could put you in contention for Doosra's record.

      Benching DDG and Merte to play Bunn and Azpi/GJ was a bit silly though.

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      1. ipsilon
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 9 months ago

        My logic was that if Utd keep a cleansheet, I'll get 2 points from Kagawa. If they don't, Norwich may keep one.

        And I was sure Arsenal wouldn't keep a cs. And I'm still sure that if it wasn't for Sidwell's sent off, they hadn't. The goal, oh well. You can't really predict when a defender, specially a defender like Mert, might score, can you?

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  30. kaz 96
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 9 months ago

    Ignore this if you're not a tennis fan but

    Djokovic 3-0 up in the final

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