Apr 02
Manchester United vs Chelsea: Preview
Its crunch time in the Premier League with Chelsea coming to Old Trafford to face a Manchester United side somewhat shell-shocked from a last minute defeat against Bayern Munich, a fact the Blues will be well aware of and will of course look to exploit, not to mention the injury to a certain striker.
A tough match will ensue as the top two in the Premier League go head to head on Saturday afternoon. Manchester United will look to their defensive record at home, conceding only 9 goals in the league, but this will no doubt be tested by Chelsea who coincidentally have the most potent attack, scoring 82 goals in the 32 league games played so far.
The United line up should remain fair consistent with recent weeks, as per usual Edwin van der Sar will take up his place between the sticks. In front of the Dutchman will be Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, with Patrice Evra on the left and either Gary Neville or Rafael on the right. The club captain has been in reasonable form but has played the last nine matches, so it could be time he gets a breather.
John O’Shea could also be in line for a seat on the bench after returning to training but Wes Brown is still out with a metatarsal injury.
Of John O’Shea, Ferguson said, “John O’Shea and Owen Hargreaves have trained very well with the first team.
“They are not far away and I may use one of them as substitute tomorrow and the other on Wednesday.
“John O’Shea in particular has done a lot of work. The boy has come on terrifically well in the last two or three weeks.
“If I include one tomorrow and one on Wednesday it will give them the confidence that they are back.
“That is what they need.”
You did read correctly Owen Hargreaves may well be back on the bench come Saturday. It is likely he won’t get on the pitch but if selected as a substitute his confidence will be boosted no end.
A five-man midfield will again be deployed, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park should line up in the middle, with the South Korean acting as a defensive attacking midfielder assigned the task of keeping Frank Lampard quiet, while offering support to the front players. Michael Carrick should be dropped after a number of ineffectual performances.
They will be flanked by Nani on the left and Antonio Valencia on the right.
Many of you may have read that Wayne Rooney is injured. He has minor ligament damage in his ankle but should be back in a couple of weeks. All this means, Dimitar Berbatov will lead the line against Chelsea, though Sir Alex Ferguson is confident the Bulgarian can cope,
“Berbatov’s form has come great at the right time,” the United boss said.
“It is always hard to leave a player of his ability out of important games, and I am sure he can thrive on the responsibility. He is experienced enough to be able to handle that.”
Expect also, to see some of Federico Macheda, Sir Alex has confirmed he will play a part in the coming weeks,
“He is a terrific talent and can certainly play a big part,” Ferguson said.
“He was sub at Bolton, he will be sub again tomorrow [against Chelsea] and he will be sub on Wednesday [against Bayern].”
Chelsea will be going into the match after having a full week to prepare and rest ahead of what could prove to be a title decider, though they do have injury worries of their own.
Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Bosingwa are all still unavailable, while Branislav Ivanovic is out with a knee problem. Didier Drogba has recovered from a knee complaint and will start against the Champions.
Interestingly though, Chelsea do seem to play with a lot more vigour and freedom when the Ivorian is not in the side. He has not been part of the two seven goal thrashing Chelsea have dished out this season and having Nicolas Anelka up-front on his own frees Frank Lampard to get forward and score, something he does with alarming regularity. Something Carlo Ancelotti commented on:
“Lampard is a very dangerous midfielder,” stated Ancelotti. “It is difficult to block him because he is a very dynamic player and he gets into the box at the right moment.
“He is a midfielder who scores 20 goals every season and he is unique in that respect. I was surprised by him. I knew him but not with the timing into the box and that is his most important quality.”
Ominous for Chelsea is their coach Carlo Ancelotti who has won five of his last six meetings with Sir Alex Ferguson. While United have lost three of the four league games that have followed European away games this season.
The tightest of margins separate these two sides and if Chelsea win they will have their Premier League fate in their own hands once more. United will have to forget the defeat against Bayern quickly and move on as we are entering a critical stage of the season where complacency is not an option.
On a more positive note, for those worried about the loss of Wayne Rooney, United have won their last nine league games without Rooney so lets hope that trend continues tomorrow.
Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Probable Line Up: van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Neville; Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Park, Valencia; Berbatov
***
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Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (89)
Craig Mc (26)
Ian (18)
Owen if the quote about Fergie is true it is really sad. It is obvious to absolutely everyone except Fergie that we are a team on the decline. In 2007/2008 we were the best team in the world. The next season we regressed as the signing of Berbatov unsettled Tevez, Nani and Anderson had bad second seasons, and Ronaldo while impressive was not as imperious as the preceding season. Meanwhile Barcelona improved dramatically. Then we got a reminder in the final that our midfield was just not up to scratch.
Then we are forced into selling our best player and rather than using the money to upgrade other areas of the team, especially our midfield, we just buy Valencia.
Rooney has been amazing this season, but people forget even in previous seasons he was world class just in a different role. So we went from playing with two world class forwards, to just having one world class forward and occasionally a Berbatov.
Meanwhile for some reason our defence has become shakier, our midfield is a year older and Anderson flopped, and while Nani and Valencia are promising they are inconsistent and not world class (yet?), while we only have one world class forward in Rooney (as opposed to three in Tevez, Ronaldo and Rooney in 2007/8).
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@Owen: @colver: He’s hardly gonna come out right before the most important game of our season, and say that our squad sucks and that we need a massive overhaul!!
If I hear this after the end of the season, I’ll be totally fucking gobsmacked.
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@Redrich: Prepare to be gobsmacked then, because Fergie is making these statements, just like he did last summer
. We won’t be as lucky next year, Own-goal-inho saving us from total embarrasment 
. I fear that the Glazers are making Fergie their trained seal – who would have thought it eh, Fergie the bastion of Old Trafford covering for the Glazers OT PIRACY!
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@Johnsom33: I agree mate!
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@Owen: I agree.I like his response. Tweak Neville, Carrick, and Foster for Rodwell, Silva, and Neuer
3 players in and 3 players out is not out of the questions with this very broad statement from Fergie… plus, he says he does not speak of his plans prematurely.
Also, City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid’s transfer policies are brought about by copying our transfer targets.
City: Berbatov (bid and lost) and Tevez (bid and won)
Chelsea: Ballack and Essien were both United targets
Real Madrid: Diarra, Benzema, Ronaldo
Why not keep it secret?
If we do not see AT LEAST 2 non-GK signings , I will be very disappointed and surprised.
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@CraigMc: I still think Fergie is boss at United. He is scottish and scots take no crap especially! (I am not scottish but Braveheart taught me that much
)
Glazers are old and wrinkly and gross looking (remind me of Goldmember). No way Fergie takes out their trash (i.e. speaks their policies).
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Finally, I think the Glazers are currently enjoying their rape of United because of the on-field performance over the past couple years. However, increasing debts coupled with poor on-field performance (i.e. potential 3rd + ECL quarter final exit this season) and a lack of spending on new players would really break the dam.
MUST would have much more ammunition against the Glazer Regime and that could accelerate their demise (God willing!)
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I think SAF should sell berba and buy that young chap who was playing up front for barcelona tonight, he played a great game,get in quick before everyone knows how good he is. then with the left overs we could also put a bid in for that young gentleman, N-Gog of liverpool, although i think it might be a bit harder to get him
sure ya have to laugh or you’d fucking crie. come on utd tomara night, or someone on this site’s goin to throw the rope up. thats if i dont beat them to it first. MUFC
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I am crapping myself just thinking about tomorrows game. I was nervous today watching Barca… they are frightening… and tomorrow’s game is even bigger for us.
BTW: did anyone notice how much diving and acting Barca put up? Even Messi dove and acted like he died at least once! I think Wenger should have abandoned pretty football after their first goal and just been much more physical — you could see how much they missed Fabregas.
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50/50 we go through tomorrow… kinda like the 0-0 game last year against Inter away and we won 2-0 at home (Ronaldo, Rooney scored if I remember correctly).
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: same here m8, nerves are wrecked, was optimistic on here last week, but fear the worst tomara night. surely utd cant be as bad as they were last week. agree with about barca, they’re some side, wonder how good they are without messi, the wee man’s the best there is at the moment.
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Redrich, Id be inclined to take your view if it was not becoming a broken record:
“Our squad is great. There is no value in the market. We have the Ronaldo money in the bank. I have no problems with the Glazers. We have no financial problems…..”
It hurts to be lied to by the ones you love.
At other clubs you see managers taking a stand against the owners and pressuring them for more funds. I don’t like Benitez, but at least he tries to take on the Liverpool owners and makes his displeasure with them public.
I mean its not like the Glazers would sack Fergie if he spoke out.
I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Id say our chances are considerably less than 50-50. Bayern are considerably better on current form than Chelsea, and we lost at home to them, and we look toothless without Rooney and all our central midfielders (even Fletcher!) are struggling for form, and our full backs look very suspect defensively, which is kind of a problem when you are lining up against Ribery and possibly Robben.
But if we get knocked out and don’t win the league, I want Fergie to speak out and say he needs money to get us back on top.
In a way it would be a blessing in disguise. If we get lucky and win the league and get to the Champions League final, it just gives the Glazers and Ferguson an excuse not to spend delaying the restructuring process another year.
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“We have some ideas at the moment but not many players will be joining the club.
“No wholesale buying is needed as we have a very good squad that just needs tweaking here and there. But in any case, the transfer market prices have been terribly inflated over the last year.”
The quote in full
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@ROOOOONEY: I despise Barca, but only because I’m jealous. No team should be that stacked with talent and never have any of their players ever want to leave. It’s disgusting how good and harmonious they all are and playing in a city with a hot climate which gets seems to seduce every panzi assed wimp on the planet who shudders at the thought of a little cold or rain. I HATE THEM!
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@Johnsom33: You know I do not want to get into a debate over who’s better, Ronaldo or Messi but seriously, even though Messi has been dynamite tonight, three of his four goals were gifted to him. Full credit on the first shot because it was a cannon but the way it fell in to his path was just ridiculous. The second was as bad a gift as Bayern’s winner handed to them by Evra last week. Only Anderson would miss that chance. The third one was truly a brilliant effort by Leo and I applaud the chip but seriously, how can you give a player a breakaway from the midfield stripe? Finally, the fourth was a nice effort by Leo to get the first shot off which was blocked, but wouldn’t you know it, he gets it back has no angle and still beats that useless git Almunia.
My point is that had he played against a team that could defend and a manager that was so inept in trying to place a blanket on him, he would have been lucky to score a goal. Still, full credit to him as he made Barcelona look like a one man team tonight because the rest of the squad was pretty useless. Instead, Messi made four goals out of nothing and three were true gifts from the footy gods. But I guess you have to be pretty damned good to be that bloody lucky. HE MAKES ME SICK!
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Grognard, I hear you. I dislike Barcelona intensely. For the past two seasons they have been a class above us and it hurts. Especially as they do not spend loads of money, have the home-grown talent thing going for them, which we haven’t had since the 90s, and play football all the neutrals cream over. Last year’s final was absolutely awful to watch.
My hope during the 2007/8 season was that we would dominate Europe for a few years at least. This was obviously before people became aware just how bad our finances were. After all before that season we splashed £80 million on Tevez, Hargo, Ando and Nani.
But Barcelona have knocked us off our perch and it is difficult to see anyone matching them for a while now. Even when players like Xavi and Iniesta get old, they’ll probably nab Fabregas or develop some other youngster.
They are not as good as people make them out to be. Arsenal rolled over tonight, which is a shame because after their first goal I thought they would make a game of it. They do have defensive weaknesses. But they are so good at their passing football and so good at pressing in midfield and winning the ball back, that it is difficult to actually get stuck into their defence.
Out of curiosity Grognard, if we did make it to the finals and drew Barcelona…what would be your gameplan for beating them?
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@Johnsom33: What is more unbelievable is that Arsenal team is tied with us in the EPL. I still don’t know how Wenger does it. Now he has no Fabregas or Arshavin yet this club is a couple of points out of first. After what Barca did to them over two games, it doesn’t speak well of the EPL.
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@EduardoDaVinci4: He’s great but he’s also very lucky as three of those goals were gifted to him for sure. But like I said earlier, to be that good, you have to be that good. Still, he plays for Barca so I hate him.
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@colver: I’d bring back Roy Keane and have him break Messi’s little legs like fucking twigs.
Seriously, the only way to stop Messi is to stop supply to him. Once he gets the ball and has even a second he can cause havoc. The old basketball double team works well here. One guy in front of him and one guy behind him, and every time he touches the ball, you make him pay for it by getting physical. Oh it might not be sporting but if you want to win, that’s what has to be done. Fletcher on him like glue and a defender depending on which side he is playing.
Tonight Arsenal capitulated without even trying. They had three great early chances where they had Barca’s defence in sixes and sevens and only came up with a goal. Had they scored that second goal while 1-0 up, this might have turned out different because Barca would have reacted differently with pressure and a knife at their throats. Their approach was correct but their lack of quality players cost them. Attack Barca and take advantage of their hubris and willingness to play high up the pitch. Catch them napping the way Messi caught them napping with his third goal. They are niot gods, they are human but teams are intimidated by them. But not clubs like Chelsea or United because those clubs have experience and hubris themselves. United cannot match Barca in talent but they have the players and the back four to take away their weapons. Lets not forget they did it two years ago over two games by cutting off Messi’s supply. Last year in Rome we were just not mentally ready for the game, and still, we were clobbering them up until they scored that first goal. I mean it, they can be beat. I still think Chelsea got royally screwed last year by the refs. And the refs to protect those assholes more than they should, believe me.
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@Owen: Is this some kind of a surprise to you or anyone else? I’m not surprised, not one little bit.
All I can say is the idea of being United for life is starting to taste a little rancid to me about now.
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@Owen: If a takeover takes place I would demand as a very very minor share holder that Fergie get the sack. I’m sick and fucking tired of him. I care not for the past, I am thinking of the future and with both the Glazer’s and Fergie in charge, there is no future. He is betraying us for the last time.
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@Owen: It was not that long ago mate when they were two pounds short of total ruin. They haven’t always been this great or this stable. All these things are cyclical in structure. No team stays on top forever and stays financially successful forever.
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@CraigMc: Put him on the wall and shoot him I say. Fucking old fart.
He has gone from hero to traitor with those comments. Grognard’s on the warpath.
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Good points Grognard. My main worry against Barcelona is that aside from Fletcher (and sometimes Park) we do not really have players capable of pressing their midfield.
Like I was saying in the final last year, Messi didn’t do all that much aside from the goal. It was Iniesta (and to a lesser extent Xavi) who were doing the damage.
As for Arsenal, I guess they are where they are in the Premiership because they are good at spanking the weaker teams, even if they cannot really match the big boys.
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@colver: Well you have to know when to take things in their right perspective.
At the end of the season, when all is said and done, those kind of words will worry the shit out of me.
At this time of year, with much still hanging on the line, it would be as much folly for you, as it would be for opposition management, to pay much heed to the words of SAF!
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@Grognard: You really are a jerk!!
Oops, I mean a knee jerk!!
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@Redrich: What is SAF said, yes, the goalkeeper situation is bad and we’re looking at bringing in some midfielders as well. This would also disrupt team morale and player attitudes.
SAF said the right thing. Tweaking is a good broad word.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: if SAF said the above…. THEN it would disrupt the team…
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@Grognard: I think that’s a bit unfair mate! Le Arse had their best defenders sidelined with injury, and their MF devestated with very good key players out, and were also missing Van Persie who I think is a great goal scorer when fit.
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@Redrich: I don’t pull any punches mate. I am really pissed at Fergie right now and seriously have had enough of his bullshit and Glazer ass kissing. Call it knee jerk all you want, the fact is I am truly fed up.
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@colver: Fergie can be quite the hypocrit – can’t he? Spouting about inflated prices this last year WTF? Fergie started the whole transfer inflated prices debacle, and then he pissing moans about the deluge it brought to the rocketing transfer market
. This is something I don’t respect about Fergie – sorry!
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@colver: I think it is like the Glazers would sack Fergie mate, because they don’t give a fuck about United history, fandom, or anything else we care about regarding our club. United is just the greatest of all money spinning FRANCHISES to them, and inheritance forever for their grandchildren, and all other family members bleeding the club dry. Apart from going and supporting the lads on the field by ticket purchasing, I don’t buy another thing concerning United anymore, and have just cancelled MUTV and would NEVER have United credit card – because it is all filling up Glazer coffers and keeping those SOUL LESS GITS at the helm of our club. Fergie is just a YES MAN now in my opinion. I’m fucking gutted about it all! Where’s the Strong Fergie we all knew and loved? All I see is a Glazer arse licking Gill and Fergie
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: Mate your wrong truly! Fergie has always been an idol and worshipped by United fans, but he is in denial and every truthful fucker knows it! All this garbage he spouts out, we have a very good squad, no need to spend in over inflated marketplace, just tweak here and there – sure Fergie we believe you – NOT, because we are seemingly coming unstuck in the TWEEKY BUM department late season, something we have always excelled at. Even if we win both pots, by a miracle, we still are NOT convinving contenders, and it will be due to others errors or just plain Fergie luck again! I am one very sad Salford Red mate – but I will remain Man UNited til I die. Man UNited though, not Glazerism, Fergie or Gill LIES-ISMS.
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LUHG!
Bed, sleep, meeting, class, UNITED!
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@CraigMc: if by end of this summer he does not purchase AT LEAST two quality non-GK players (i.e. not smallings, no offense Smallings!), I will join your boat of SAF-disgust. QUALITY = Rodwell, Silva, DiMaria, Klasnic, Schweinsteiger, Benzema, Ribery, Ronaldo, Bendtner, etc…
Until then, I will take Fergie’s 24 years of successful service as a marker for his trustworthiness.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: Good for you mate, but for me my mood is changing by the minute with Fergie, only on certain issues though, and I have made those issues clear!
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For fuck sake, united fans stop being so spoilt, we lost the best player on the planet and very good striker replaced them with average players. Before crucifying this team, let fergie finish rebuilding it. We are a long way from being there. Off the top of my head, at least 4-5 positions (maicon, silva, benzema, neuer, rodwell and milner (replacing park) would be nice) need to be addressed and to be competing to on so many fronts, is credit to the players and the manager. To beat the Wolfsburg team who have two very good strikers with a centre defense partnership of Fletcher and Carrick is unbelievable. What is worrying is the fact that fergie had no natural defenders in the reserves that he had faith in. I’m not talking about someone who would come and contest for regular starting place, but someone one who could play one or two games just as the regulars were on the mend.
Fergie isn’t all knowing and is allowed to make mistakes, he has proved time and time gain he is a fantastic man manager, and where I don’t believe he is a master tactician, i firmly believe he makes up for it with his fantastic man management and methods of motivation. He has turned Fletcher into a world class midfielder, he still squeezes out respectable performances from “the three kings” (Neville, Giggs and Scholes) even though I think they should never start another united game. Yes I believe he has made mistakes with team selection and his transfers. But what I will say is he never wants us to loose and will do whatever he can to ensure we are successful and all of you know this. i know it gets frustrating, come on fellas, cut him some slack.
What I will say is contrary to what fergie makes us believe, his is formations are based on containing rather than taking the game to whoever. I think its negative, he always packs our midfield which I guess is an indication of how poor our midfield is/ how cautious he is. I remember our pathetic showing against Barca in the champ final last season, the home game against Arsenal, Bayern and just recently Chelsea.
And for those who criticize and commend players. I find most of them laughable. its ridiculous people were calling for Nani to be sold and Obertan to start ahead of him, and I though my God because this Obertan fella shows a couple of good touches, he is the next best thing and is better than Nani .:roll: or Valencia is too one dimensional, so fucking what. He gets the job done.
All I am saying is be patient with this team and understand fergie. We have won so much over the past few years because our attack and defense has been immense. The midfield on the other hand has been so poor. No creative spark but amazing work ethic. Even the simple things like passing directly become difficult for them. And fergie counters this by packing the midfield we cannot beat any top team because of this.
Last thing, I don’t believe what Wayne Rooney is doing is special. He is good, no doubt . But very few top players if played as a lone striker and has had the support he has had wouldn’t score this amount of goals. I wasn’t the biggest fan of him as a striker r the beginning of the season. I never thought he could score goals with such consistence. However he has proved me wrong, but he has also had the benefit of playing in one position all season long. He has been the focal point of all our football. So no more critiscm of him from me. I will ask this though hve Nani, Berbatov, Tevez, Anderson even forlan have as consistency in the the starting lineup as Wayne Rooney as had. Even when tevez was hot, he was always taken off or dropped for the next game. I mean call a spade a spade. Look at Ronnie, he frustrated us in the beginning and but the manager backed him and he’s a monster now. Picking and dropping talent, does nothing for confidence, form or self belief. He is doing his job well, as Ronald0 did, as Ruud did, as Defoe, Darren bent, Carlos Tevez, Didier Drogba an Fernando Torres are doing. But because its Wayne Rooney , he cant do any wrong. I have seen him play better but I can’t knock his scoring and I am grateful.
good luck tonight boys- i enjoyed that rant
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@one united: Sooooooooo mate seeing as all you say is true, why are you defending it all?
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@CraigMc:
Exactly what I was thinking bro.
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