Preamble

The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 25

A few seasons back I mentioned, or tapped out, the term “vanity transfer”, referring to a Fantasy Football trade that wasn’t designed to fill the void left by injury or repair the damage of a player dropped or suffering rotation. Instead, such a move gave us Fantasy managers the option of almost bringing in a player for the sake of it – to follow a hunch without any real risk but with the chance of plentiful rewards. It’s an indulgent transfer, without any real purpose.

From the depths of a forgettable season, somehow I’m sitting here this morning pondering my own vanity transfer. Rickie Lambert is not a player I have to bring in – I may just reserve my trade and opt to keep Wilfried Bony in my lineup, perhaps in hope that the new regime at the Liberty will revive the dying Swans and bring me some belated returns. The urge to bring in Lambert is strong, however.

The Saints stalwart is a player I’ve long admired but not often invested in. It remains a mystery why he’s failed to find a place in my squad – even when he’s proved, with some consistency, to offer strong value as a striker option.

This morning, I’m wondering if I’m letting this sway my decision. Whether I’m being drawn to Lambert, not because he’s the right trade but because I’m harbouring some odd notion that I should show some faith in the Southampton man for failing to back him before now.

Certainly Lambert’s prospects look decent. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are oozing class and confidence, with Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana central cogs in a string of impressive attacking showings. Lambert came away with a goal and a pair of assists in the win at Fulham, however and, with spot-kicks and set-plays, he’s almost guaranteed to be amongst things should the Saints turn over Stoke at St Mary’s as expected.

Although he has been benched on some occasions against the big sides – Chelsea and Man City being recent cases – with fixtures looking kind in the coming weeks, Lambert would seem certain to maintain a run of starts and continue to reap the rewards from the tireless leg work of Lallana and Rodriguez.

There’s the logic, then. It’s a convincing case but maybe not quite enough to warrant a transfer than can only really be described as a luxury. For once I’ve no fire to fight, no urgent gap to fill or problem to resolve. I can sit back and wallow in the extravagance of carrying out a transfer because I genuinely believe it will add to my Gameweek tally. It feels new and exciting – when was the last time that was written in the same sentence as Rickie Lambert?

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

1,820 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard can't even speak english 😯 sounds really weird

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      'Azarrr ... ! 😀

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    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 month ago

    Whilst I wait impatiently to see if Dzeko starts (yes, I did it 🙁 ) and before United thrash Fulham, I thought I’d give my opinion on why United have struggled this season.

    If you ask me, there is obviously a lack of quality in the squad. But I think the key issue is that there are not enough players at their peak. Half the squad is young and inexperienced, whilst the rest are past their best. I’ve had a look at those who have played in the Prem this season:

    ARSENAL:
    Age >24 : SZCZĘSNY, Jenkinson, RAMSEY, WILSHERE, Gnabry, Oxlade-Chamberlain
    Age 24 - 29 : KOSCIENLY, GIBBS, MONREAL, Vermaelen, OZIL, MERTESACKER, CAZORLA, WALCOTT, FLAMINI, GIROUD, Podolski, Bendtner
    Age 30+ : SAGNA, ARTETA, Rosicky

    MAN CITY:
    Age >24 : Nastasic, Rodwell
    Age 24 - 29 : HART, Pantilimon, ZABALETA, KOLAROV, CLICHY, KOMPANY, Richards, NAVAS, SILVA, NASRI, FERNANDINHO, Milner, Javi Garcia, AGUERO, NEGREDO, DZEKO, Jovetic
    Age 30+ : DEMICHELIS, Lescott, YAYA

    CHELSEA:
    Age >24 : HAZARD, OSCAR, Schurrle
    Age 24 - 29 : IVANOVIC, AZPILICUETA, CAHILL, LUIZ, RAMIRES, WILLIAN, Mikel, MATIC, TORRES, Ba
    Age 30+ : CECH, TERRY, Cole, LAMPARD, Eto’o

    LIVERPOOL:
    Age >24 : Sakho, Flanagan, Kelly, HENDERSON, STERLING, COUTINHO, Moses, Allen, Alberto
    Age 24 - 29 : MIGNOLET, SKRTEL, JOHNSON, AGGER, ENRIQUE, CISSOKHO, LUCAS, SUAREZ, STURRIDGE, Aspas
    Age 30+ : Kolo, GERRARD

    UNITED:
    Age >24 : DE GEA, JONES, RAFAEL, JANUZAJ, WELBECK,
    Age 24 - 29 : SMALLING, EVANS, Buttner, VALENCIA, MATA, CLEVERLEY, YOUNG, Fellaini, Kagawa, Nani, ROONEY, Hernandez
    Age 30+ : EVRA, VIDIC, FERDINAND, CARRICK, Giggs, Fletcher, VAN PERSIE

    REGULARS in the wrong age brackets:
    Arsenal - 5
    Man City - 2
    Chelsea - 5
    Liverpool - 4
    United - 10

    And this has been the difference if you ask me. 🙂 Just a theory. Feel free to share yours.

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    1. Parm
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Shite tactics and a shite midfield.

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      1. BONZ
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        SPOT ON in concise summary!

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    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Could you summarise this?

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      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        REGULARS in the wrong age brackets:
        Arsenal - 5
        Man City - 2
        Chelsea - 5
        Liverpool - 4
        United - 10

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          • 10 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          thanks Ginkapo - I did summarise it Woy. 🙂

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          1. Woy of the Wovers
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            I know. Just a long read. 😉

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      2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        they old

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        1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          thanks ollie

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      3. Flycroft
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        it's not complicated

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    3. SW6
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Age isn't the issue, it's quality.

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    4. JT's Dog
        10 years, 1 month ago

        You are classing RVP as a weakness

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      • Rödallegabomb ᴿᴮ
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Yoyo is an old fart isn't he?

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          • 10 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Didn't say that. 🙂 Him and RVP just fall into that category. Both are exceptional talents and defy age.

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          1. RedLightning
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            http://www.bettingexpert.com/blog/age-performance-football

            I think this helps to explain why at his age RVP is now starting to slow down and become more injury-prone.

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          2. RedLightning
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            ... and why Chelsea only give one year contract extensions to their over thirties.

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      • Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Sir Szcz is under 24? Happy days

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      • Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Same squad that won the title last year.

        To say there's not enough quality is stupid - there's something else

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      • Nabs Kebabs
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        it should be < not > for the young players 😉 good post btw

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Then the whole post disappears though 😉

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      • SamH123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        nice post but their ages can't have been that much different last year..

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          • 10 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          the one difference? Fergie. He hid all of these issues.

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      • RabMac
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        I think their problems lie elsewhere.

        1. I believe Moyes has had problems with some of the player, i.e. Vidic, Ferdinand, Nani, etc.

        2. They have had their key players out for significant periods.

        3. Too many individual errors and bad defending at set pieces.

        4. Moyes inability to adapt his system and fit the system round his top players.

        Yes some of the things you mentioned above have also contributed but I would say to a lesser extent.

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        1. Whitman2013
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          By the way pip great article
          and cheers for going to all the effort to bring it our attention

          it was a good read!

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      • Chris_Fàbregas #DOOS…
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Is this just the long winded version of Hansen's "you'll never win anything with kids"??

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        1. Whitman2013
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          or oldies.

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    5. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      I am getting so much abuse of my ML for Captaining RvP.

      Must be fear.

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      1. Whitman2013
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        lets hope so... ive done the same 🙂

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    6. President Giggs
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Most exciting gameweek of the season imo. I'm not overly confident, but bring it on!

      Mannone
      Cahill-Ward-Coleman
      Navas-Mata-Hazard(C)-Lallana
      Suarez-Sturridge-Negredo

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    7. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Wow cant belive i captained Dzeko, that must of been on there for 1 week. at least. No time to even check FPL after my move to Darwin. lol

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    8. Rice Pudding
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Why do I do this to myself?
      Cazorla (c)

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      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Same here .

        What have i done?

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        1. ILOVEBAPS
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          What about your Grav name??!! 🙄

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          1. Chucky
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            I meant bony

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      2. Woy of the Wovers
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Hoping for a repeat of last season?

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      3. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Bony (c) 😛 Sometimes it's better to be fun 😉

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        1. Chucky
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          😯

          Lets do it 😉

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          1. Les Bleus
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            Haha 😀

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    9. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 month ago

      Does any one know anything else about the Terry out rumour. can't see anything about it anywhere. Would not be happy if it's true seeing as i just got him in.,

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      1. Demí
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Have you checked out the stickies? Source is there

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      2. JT's Dog
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Super ted baddy?

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          1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            him n ronh

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        • TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Twitter says not starting. Find out soon.

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        • Jax
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          it was on twitter just believe it.

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        • Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Sticky by Demi

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        • rohan
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Go back a few pages. Demi posted it with a link

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      3. FantasyFS007
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        How do we reckon Rooney going to perform for the next few games? Can't afford RvP 🙁

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        1. Flycroft
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          i'd swerve rooney. no more set pieces/penalties for him which were a large source of his points

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        2. FantasyFS007
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Or Negredo? Trouble is I don't have any MU attacking coverage and already have Yaya...

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        3. Spike ⚽️
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          It wont matter if he fecks up tomorrow cos he'll be out of my team

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        4. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          The flatter his tummy gets, the better he will perform. Two weeks ...

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        5. FantasyFS007
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          So worth bringing in Negredo with no United coverage elsewhere? It's a toughie...

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      4. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        No players playing on Sunday for my team! Hmm

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        1. Chucky
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          4 here .

          Baines Eriksen Mata and Mirallas

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        2. Parm
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Just Van Persie(c) and Mata for me 🙁

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          1. Whitman2013
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            RVP and eriksen

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      5. Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Hey where's that Smarty Pants dog?

        He did good things...

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

          http://fpldiscovery.wordpress.com/

          Doesn't post these days.

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          1. Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            Thanks

            Bit of a shame - good timely post

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

              Should be on his site soon.

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

          He made an unsmart comment and was disciplined

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

            Ok

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        3. Konig Luther
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          you can check his site:

          http://fpldiscovery.wordpress.com/2014/02/03

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          1. Whitman2013
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            what about that whitman2013 he writes some great comments..

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      6. jas5sk - Youtube channel
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        These Ramsey-less Arsenal games are painful to watch

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      7. New Post
      8. Chu Young Ping Pong
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Boardwalk Empire any good?

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

          Good luck in Cup of Tea.

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          1. Chu Young Ping Pong
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            Ty. You too 😀

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      9. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        OMG Maicon died in a car crash 🙁 RIP

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        1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          seriously?

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          1. jas5sk - Youtube channel
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            different maicon...sad all the same

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

            Shakhtar striker.

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      10. Woy of the Wovers
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Who wants to tell me where the 4th game (minimum) in GW29 is hiding?

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      11. FACUPARSE
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Just saw three girls come out on their balcony in their lingerie... when they clocked me looking they waved.

        Thats a good sign for a good weekend.

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        1. No Arsene Around
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          Not when they are the Golden Girls....

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          1. FACUPARSE
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 1 month ago

            they were alright

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            1. No Arsene Around
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 1 month ago

              or when you are introduced to Bruce, Warren and Alex

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      12. Peggi
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        putting Koscielny 3rd on my bench has been the best decision of the week

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      13. @FuzzyWarbles
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        soooo......I just looked at Everton's next six fixtures. 😯

        Ozil-> Mirallas without a second thought right?

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      14. The Reptile
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Dzeko even not starting - where do FFS get their team news?? its a joke

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        1. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 1 month ago

          "with Stevan Jovetic pushing for a first start since returning from injury. The summer signing could replace either Negredo or Dzeko upfront"....

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      15. Zeeco
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 month ago

        Last minute I changed captain hazard to mata,i thik it was the biggest mistake of my life.

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