634x258 Dugout Discussion
29 June 2014 3432 comments
Paul Paul
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Sunday evening brings us another couple of World Cup fixtures to focus on after the knockout stages got underway last night. Louis Van Gaal’s free-scoring Holland are bidding to join Brazil and Colombia for a place in the last eight but face a tough task in the 5pm kick-off – opponents Mexico conceded just once in the group stages and have already stopped Neymar and co from finding the net:

Holland: Cillessen; Vlaar, De Vrij, Blind; Verhaegh, De Jong, Wijnaldum Kuyt; Sneijder; Van Persie, Robben,

Mexico: Ochoa; Aguilar, Rodriguez, Marquez, Moreno, Layun; Herrera, Salcido, Guardado; Dos Santos, Peralta,

The Dutch welcome back Robin Van Persie from suspension after their skipper served a one-match ban against Chile in the previous match. Van Persie is one of only two changes to the XI that beat the South Americans, with Paul Verhaegh replacing Daryl Janmaat on the right of the midfield four – Dirk Kuyt keeps his place on the opposite flank, with Daley Blind utilised in the back-three once again by Van Gaal. The United striker will be hoping to continue the form that has seen him score in both his appearances thus far, whilst Arjen Robben owners will also have high expectations after the Bayern man served up three goals and an assist over the group stages.

Mexico make just one enforced alteration from the side that won 3-1 against Croatia in the final match of Group A, with former Fulham man Carlos Salcido handed his first start of the tournament. Up front, Giovanni dos Santos will be desperate to open his account for the campaign, whilst his fellow forward Oribe Peralta – along with skipper Rafael Marquez – has already chipped in with a goal and assist over the opening three fixtures.

Later this evening, Costa Rica and Greece go head-to-head after both sides exceeded our expectations to reach the last 16. Jorge Luiz Pinto’s side cannot be underestimated after topping the so-called “Group of Death”, with wins over Uruguay and Italy underpinned by a defensive resilience that has served up two clean sheets in three matches. Pinto is understandably expected to keep faith in a 5-4-1 formation, with Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell carrying the main threat further up the pitch.

Despite a last-gasp win over Ivory Coast, Greece have failed to impress. That 2-1 triumph was the only time Fernando Santos’ side found the net in the group stages and, even then, they had to rely upon defensive mistakes from the Africans to make a breakthrough. With a converted spot-kick and assist to his name, Giorgos Samaras has been the main up top for the Greeks – once again, we can expect Santos’ side to keep it tight at the back and look for a goal on the counter.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

  1. Declan
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Cmon RVP(c)

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  2. Les Bleus
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Predictions? 1-1 penalties to Netherlands

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    1. Declan
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      2-1 Netherlands

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    2. GTS
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      3-1 Netherlands

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    3. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      1-0 Mexico

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    4. X T I A N
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      3-1 Netherlands

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    5. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      4-1

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    6. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      2-0 Dutch

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    7. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      3 - 2 Mexico

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    8. Pilleri
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      0-0 regular time

      Netherlands wins in the end

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  3. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    It's all about the Sun game for me.

    10pt goals for RVP Robben and Blind please 🙂

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    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      JRod went up to 70pts today 😛

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      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Nice!

        My work is organising our money league, and I asked to change one of players to JRod last minute.

        Best. Decision. Ever.

        I think it's won me 1st place.

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Same here, had him from the start. No one else has him. My lead? 70pts 😛

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  4. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Captain Herrera or Ochoa?

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    1. Declan
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Ochoa

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  5. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Anybody not got Robben in the Fox game ?

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    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      o/

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      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Blimey..are you feeling lonely..?. Good shout though.

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        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          I don't play the Fox game.

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    2. Ben Mee Over A Table
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Posted about it in the last article. I'm going to get destroyed.

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      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Didn't see it, just got in. Wish I'd ditched him now.

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        1. Bubz
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Why?

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          1. Dr Dream
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            It's not very exciting having the same team as everybody else...not in that game anyway. Dunno what I was thinking. Should have gone RVP and Hazard over Robben and Benzema or something...Started the week in 19OR = going nowhere...

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            1. Bubz
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 7 months ago

              That attitude is what made me go into a spiral in rank last season in FPL 😆 . I know what you mean.

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              1. Dr Dream
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Yeah but at least you gave it a go..you and Doosra. You didn't need to be a genius to know Suarez was a good pick...along with 3 million others.

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        2. Ben Mee Over A Table
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah, why? I figured he would have to have an off game eventually, and Mexico have been quite tight at the back and are quick too, which negates his best asset. But he's still pretty damn likely to score.

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  6. Shels
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    ffffsssssss holland playing now WTF i thaught was funking france ffs missed putting in blind by about 2 secounds.. red card blind now

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    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      😀

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      1. Shels
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        this match is awfull to watch now, not enjoying it 🙁 blind gone into middle

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        1. Dr Dream
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          That's where my Gimenez pick ended up playing against Colombia...4pts incoming for you.

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          1. Shels
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            i hope he gets 4 :/ he on the bench for me

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  7. Damo.
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Wonders how and why this site has become obsessed with talking in the third person.
    Scratches balls. Watches match

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      GB agrees. He thinks it's crazy.

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      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Jafooli begs to differ.

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        1. JT's Dog
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Mark says stop it

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    2. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Just keep it tight at the back Netherlands!

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      1. Fray Bentos
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Forget double Dutch, triple Dutch here!

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    3. JT's Dog
        11 years, 7 months ago

        That's the worst balloon animal I have ever seen

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          😆

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      • Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        What has Martin O'Neill said? He's getting some horrible abuse about whatever it is on my Twitter feed.

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        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          He said LVG's coaching isn't revolutionary. Plenty of teams have used this so called revolutionary 532 system etc. He was spot on.

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          1. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Well he actually claimed to have started it. Sort of

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          2. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Ah, that too then. Certainly gone down well on the interweb. Apparently he's a 'bitter abu'.

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        2. Lord Dragon
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Said van gaal gets on like he invented the 5-3-2, but Martin said he was using the formation 20 years ago etc etc

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          1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Thanks Nedved51.

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        3. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Never mind, apparently he called Robben Holland's main man.

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      • Tomlette Greggs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Netherlands about to make a change already?

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        1. Tomlette Greggs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          de Jong off

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          1. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Transferred him in on Friday in McDonald's game.

            Fail.

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          2. Jafooli
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Reported

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        2. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Not good news for them.

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      • Bubz
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Wtf. Was de Jong injured?

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        1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Must have been. Didn't look it, mind.

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        2. The Missing Link
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah, muscle strain

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      • Demí
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        De Jong(C) fail

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        1. 4vets
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Ouch!

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      • JT's Dog
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Nigel de long
          He didn't last long
          If I ain't wrong
          This could be a song

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          1. Jafooli
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Nigel de Jong
            Forgot his bong
            He's left the pitch
            Cause he's got a stitch

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            1. JT's Dog
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Nigel de long
                He wasn't on song
                Had to go off
                Cause he forgot his thong

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                1. Jafooli
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Nigel De Jong
                  Thought he was wrong
                  But he went to the bog
                  To drop a log

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                  1. Jafooli
                    • 13 Years
                    11 years, 7 months ago

                    *Ode to Jason Puncheon

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              • Shels
                • 11 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Nigel de Jong's
                touchline song
                indi on
                holland gone

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          2. ManofKent
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            There goes my Dutch player...

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            1. JT's Dog
                11 years, 7 months ago

                With the guy you used to call you're friend

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                1. JT's Dog
                    11 years, 7 months ago

                    *your

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                    1. The Bandit
                      • 15 Years
                      11 years, 7 months ago

                      The extra post has ruined the continuation so I won't adding the next line 😛

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              • Shels
                • 11 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                dutch dient arm up for long.. if dutch go out van gaal will be to blame surley

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                1. The Bandit
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Is there a translator in the house? 🙂

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                  1. Shels
                    • 11 Years
                    11 years, 7 months ago

                    🙂 warm :/

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              • Jafooli
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Blint OOP?

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              • Tommytour
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                If Netherlands lose I will have to WC in Fox game

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              • Saniul
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                What formation are Netherlands playing anyway?
                All I see on the pitch are 5 backs, and 5 strikers/attackers.

                You can't win a match like that. 😐

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                1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  4-3-3 apparently. Looks 5-3-2 to me.

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                2. Louis
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  5212

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              • The Bandit
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Mexico should be 1-0 up

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              • MJ6987
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Mexico looking much more dangerous at the moment!

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                1. Jafooli
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  It does have a high crime rate. Holland safer place to holiday.

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              • LewanGOALski
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Herrera you gotta score sth like this 🙁

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              • r0nh
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                In McDs, what is your rank?

                Mine is 40k after changing captain

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                1. Damo.
                  • 16 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  338,580 Vlaar (c) today

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                2. The Bandit
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  3 Stars on my badge. Taking the supersize training tomorrow

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                3. Mr Sarcastic
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  About 500

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                4. LewanGOALski
                  • 14 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  207th atm 😎

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              • Gubbins94.
                • 11 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                That is what I mean about the space the Dutch cb's give away. There were 3 players unmarked in a dangerous position.

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                1. The Bandit
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  They should have just given a penalty away

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              • Saniul
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                United could've bought this Herrera. 😉

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                1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Would've probably still offered up 30m.

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              • The Missing Link
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Thought Herrera was a cdm 😀

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                1. Lord Dragon
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Same, I brought him in for the rbs, a goal would be ok too 🙂

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              • Mavric Marco
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Afternoon gents,
                Any other Man Utd fans hoping Holland get knocked out.?
                LvG's got more important things to be doing 😉

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                1. Tommytour
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Hope they win it to give the players a massive lift

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              • Wilshere Knowledge
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Herrera looks like a good buy so far.

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                1. Wilshere Knowledge
                  • 12 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Well done Man U.

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                  1. Tommytour
                    • 15 Years
                    11 years, 7 months ago

                    Wrong Herrera 😉

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                2. Louis
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  They bought Ander Herrera from Bilbao, not this one.

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                3. Mavric Marco
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Errr, he's spanish! 🙂

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                4. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Lot of biters so far WK!

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              • MJ6987
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Ed Woodward must be pleased watching Herrera here, although slightly confused at the same time why he signed his name Ander and not Hector.

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                1. The Missing Link
                  • 12 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  😀

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                2. The Bandit
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Edward Woodward would, would you?

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              • Shakshuka
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Is it safe to access MCD from mobile devices now? Thanks

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                1. Tomlette Greggs
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Although some people had trouble making changes on the iPhone earlier, I didn't have any problems a couple of days ago. Worked like a charm.

                  If changing formation though, remove a player first, and then change formation.

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                2. Mr Sarcastic
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  I suppose so, but I'm still avoiding it.
                  Already stressing, because I need to make my team/transfers for semis by ipad.

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                3. FPL Daniel
                  • 16 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Don't dare I say

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                4. Shakshuka
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  Thanks guys, ill proceed with caution

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