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

    Come on Joel! 🙂

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

    I need meat. I'm too pissed to drive. Home del cost a fortune when there's just you and takes ages. Walking to the KFC or Kebab shop will mean I miss the game. Cooking is slow and dangerous, nothing microwavable 😐

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

      Toast?

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

        *rises from chair

        "Raise your glasses to WR's quest for meat"

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        1. iCon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Hehehehehe

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

      Roast chicken flavoured walkers?

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    3. Somalion
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Eat your own head.

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

      Kebab after game

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

      Think I'll wait for the end of the game, get more pissed then decide between going to bedor walking to KFC

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

        wat tinme kfc closed 😕

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

          Good question, kebab shop is opposite andnever shuts if there's a chance a pisshead is around 😀

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          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            so basically, it never shuts?

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

              Almost, it's opposite the hospital so all sorts coming and going all hours

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

                wer u from rover

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

              lol

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

        KFC is garbage. I do year meat at all but I wouldn't eat there if I did. Kebab place is surely fresher food

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  3. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Looks like im totally reliant on some Algerian RB's this round

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

    How is Gombos only on 5 points?
    He went out before they conceded,right?

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

      Sorry,Gamboa 🙂

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      1. Konig Luther
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Gambos 😆

        doesn't mater in Mcd Game

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

      doesn't matter

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  5. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Would you rather watch this or Stoke vs West Ham on a Monday night?

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

      This.

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

      This

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

        This

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    3. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      This

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  6. Rinseboy
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone doing Neymar out for an Algerian???!

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

      I've never had Algerian cuisine before....

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      1. RÏɠBY
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        it's a date

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    2. elkunaguero
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      you may as well if you still have Messi as the final option

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

        Neymar out for Mueller

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

    What this game is missing is an own goal, I think

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

      Ora striker that isn't Mitroglou

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    2. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      And a penalty.

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

        Missed penalty.

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        1. Djerbil
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          We will have those in another 20 mins

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    3. RÏɠBY
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      pitch invasion by an anaconda

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

    Get some RBs Gonzalez Ffs

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  9. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    What actually is Balls Recovered??

    Winning back possession from opponent or getting first to a loose ball??

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

      no one knows 😀

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

    Campbell looks done

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      well tell him to get to Wild Rover's house then

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

        😆

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

        Salad and chilli please

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

    gekas useless.. a greek that cant head the ball is not a greek

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  12. Fresco
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Gonzalez BLOCKED SHOT !!! yeeeeeeeeah 😆

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

    This Lazaros guy has run way way lot tonight. Hats off himrunning and making those crosses, even when you know there are two idiots running around in the box.

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  14. Zep
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    If Gonzalez can score the 4pts he lost from conceding the goal, then I'll be happy...

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

      How's your team doing Zep?

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

        75pts right now, but A LOT of dead weight in this game to lose...

        Gonzalez might be the only one I keep..

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

          Yeah same. Need to get rid of Neymar, Tejeda and Manolas. I'm on 60pts at the moment.

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        2. Keepergirl
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Costa Ricans gone. Germans and Algerians in.

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

    What happens in the shootout if it gets to 10 pens taken each and Costa Rica only have 10 men?

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

      the 1st pen taker goes again

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

        For both teams or just for Costa Rica? Unfair on Greece if it's the latter.

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        1. Crazy Joe
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Pretty sure Greece have to nominate someone not to take a pen at the start, then they play as normal, but only 10 takers on each side instead of 11.

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      It "should" mean you miss one, but in fact you go back to the first taker, giving you an advantage

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    3. Heydudes13
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Advantage them as it goes back to their first choice pen taker.

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      1. gart888
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        so it would almost be advantageous to get a pile of red cards in the 120th minute. 😀

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

          Lol

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  16. Tony Warner Fan Club
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    How Manolas has ended up on a lower score than a guy sent off I'll never know...

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  17. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Raheem Sterling 19, cramp after 75 minutes in the first game

    Karagounis 37, still playing on 100 mins, in his 4th(3rd) game without cramp

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

      ya 19 :/

      anyway climate + how much has kara actually run and was it in fast sprints?

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

        #justsaying

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    2. Abrakadabraaaa
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      one word: MANAUS

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

        Recife isn't much better

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

          Nothing compares to Manaus in this tourney

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

            Ask Altidore

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  18. Zombie
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Okay...Their long names definitely not helping -_-

    It feels like as commentators take long to pronounce their names, the match takes longer

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    1. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      How are u holding up Avishek?? this ain't getting over before 4.30

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

        I am eating at this hour 😯

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    2. Zep
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Pappadappadopolous... 😉

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

        My friend can actually pronounce them all...without even looking. Sometimes I think he might be an alien

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  19. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    McD game:
    Formation ?
    You can change your formation even if a round is in progress. You are unable to change to a formation that would remove a player who has already played during the round. You can remove players who already played manually and change the formation afterwards.

    RVP and Neymar have already played for me. Does this mean that I cannot change my formation to play only one forward like 4-5-1

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    1. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      remove RVP and Neymar first .
      change formation .
      insert midfielders/defenders off bench as required

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

      You can still change.

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

      If you have 2 players on the field as forward who have already played, you should manually kick one of them on the bench to unlock the formation with 1 forward in the drop-down menu. I think.

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    4. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks guys. Removing Neymar and RVP and inserting players who haven't played yet helped in changing formation

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  20. Werkself
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Pinball

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

    5 players

    Best score is Gamboa 5

    He was subbed out at 77'

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  22. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Blocked shot

    blocked shot!!!!

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  23. Fresco
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    2 blocked shots from Gonzalez now in the last 5 mins. GIVE ME MAAAAAH POINTS!!!!!!!

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  24. Zep
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Another blocked shot by Gonzalez 😀

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

      Wish I splurged the extra 0.5M for him over Duarte 🙁

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

        Yeah, wish I had spread the risk and gone with Zapata over Duarte...

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

      Wish the dutch game went to extra time too 🙁

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    3. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      I was quietly cheering this on, but now I know it's helping you guys too...meh!

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

        😀

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  25. emperikal
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Manolas go ahead and get yourself involved in some of these set pieces you useless oaf!

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

    Shirley Holebas will finish on double figures.

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    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Yep, he will score a free kick 😉

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    2. Keepergirl
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Not sure about Shirley. Maybe Jose though.

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  27. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    How in the name of god did teams as bad as these get into the last 16?

    Dreadful stuff.

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

      Costa Rica had a piss easy group.

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    2. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      In all fairness, as boring as they are they've played the system.

      Greece, known for their defensive style, played for the draws and got the results.

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

      Ask that from Buffon

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    4. GuyIncognito
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Group C was shit, Italy self destructed.

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  28. BantamPhil
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Neymar, Maniatis, Duarte, Gimenez and Manolas all 5 points or below

    At least stick or twist won't be difficult

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  29. Saniul
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    They should give an extra point for playing 91-120 minutes. 😛

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

    How did Fulham end up paying £12m for Mitroglue? He's awful.

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