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Topic: STRICTLY FOR THE DIE HARD SOCCER FANS. (Read 23665 times)
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veer
Junior Fan
LYKES: +6/-21
Posts: 145
I'm a Tuscon Pimp
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Re:Gerrard handed right-sided role
« Reply #816 on: August 18, 2006, 05:37:39 AM »
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I'd put him in the center with Hargreaves and replace Lampard with Lennon on the right, I know its harsh but Gerrard is a better attacker than Lampard and with Hargreaves in the middle Gerrard will be able to do what he does best
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I could not have said it better myself.
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Kendz for the avvi and Anny for the sigghy. FB for having em.
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veer
Junior Fan
LYKES: +6/-21
Posts: 145
I'm a Tuscon Pimp
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Re:The boy done well
« Reply #817 on: August 18, 2006, 05:41:21 AM »
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He is the boy who became a man before millions of admiring eyes over the course of the last year, yet spending time in the company of Cecs Fabregas reminds you that he is still just a kid.
A 19-year-old kid, in fact, but such a relevant detail could easily have been overlooked after a year that saw him step into Patrick Vieira's legendary boots at Arsenal and sparkle in both the Champions League and World Cup.
His return to the Arsenal first team last week suggested there is even more to come from Fabregas as he produced a quite stunning display to all-but secure Arsenal's passage to the first phase of this season's Champions League against Dynamo Zagreb.
Scoring twice in Zagreb and showing the sort of leadership on the field few of his age exude, Fabregas confirmed his status as the shining star among the gems Arsene Wenger has assembled in the last few years, yet when you sit next to this slight teenager and canvas his views on the game he has mastered so quickly, it's hard to neglect that fact that he still looks like a novice ball-boy.
'Sometimes I don't realise what an amazing 12 months I have just lived through,' begins the quietly spoken Fabregas. 'To look back now and say I played in a Champions League Final a World Cup at such a young age is amazing really. Everything in my life has gone so quickly since I came to Arsenal aged just 15.
'Still, that is just the start and this is probably going to be the most important season of my career. For the last year I was the little boy of the team and if I make a mistake, you can forgive it.
'Sure, last season was very important for me but this year I have to play even better and work harder for the team. I realise that it could be my year and Arsenal's year because we have a great team. If you play well, the team will do well and that for me is the most important thing. Of course sometimes individually you think about your own ambitions, but for me the most important thing is always the team.'
Composed and sublimely gifted already, those who suggest he has the potential to become one of the world's greatest midfielders look certain to be proved right when he adds some bulk to his frame. With determination and passion for the game burning through his eye, he possesses a steely determination not to allow success to throw him off track and that is why Fabregas is on course to develop into the complete package.
The fairy tale stories that surround 'wonderkids' in this game invariably end with a wicked witch, or a greedy agent, casting a curse on them, so it is refreshing to talk with a young man who refuses to allow fame to cloud his judgement.
While some teenage sporting icons choose to advertise their wealth in a lavish manner, Fabregas genuinely seems to be a lad who prefers the simple life and the ever-immaculate Wenger can take much of the credit for his modest development.
Quite how Arsenal managed to prize this sparkling jewel out of Barcelona's youth team set-up is a mystery that may never be solved, yet Fabregas is every inch an Arsenal player now and while the likes of Ashley Cole and Jose Antonio Reyes do all they can to escape from the club, he remains their biggest cheerleader.
'Sometimes people don't realise what Arsenal is like,' continues the Spaniard. 'To those outside, everything might seem big, with the new stadium and the star players, but inside everything is small.
'It's just like a family and I always know that Arsenal will do what's best for me. That's why I'm so happy here. If I stayed at Barcelona, the opportunities to play in the first team may not have been there. The same may be true if I had taken up the interest Real Madrid had in me.
'Arsene Wenger is different as he gives you a chance. First maybe in the Carling Cup, then the FA Cup, then a few minutes in the Premiership. Slowly, you feel a part of it and that is best way to learn. I'm at a big club with great players and a great manager. At my age or any age I don't think I could be at a better club than Arsenal.'
Very much a latecomer to Spain's World Cup plans, Fabregas played his part in his nation's typically disappointing effort in Germany this summer, yet he will have gained from the experience and returned to Arsenal with yet another tick entered onto his already impressive record.
His philosophies on his game are as simple as you might expect from a player whose sporting experiences to date have been almost entirely positive and he talks with the voice of a youngster when he describes how he copes with the pressures of living up to his status as a fully fledged star.
'I'm not the type to worry so much,' he says. 'If it goes badly, you wake up the next day and try something different. I want to play like I did in the street with my friends. That's when I am relaxed and at my best.
'Pressure is not a big issue for me because I have had it all my life. There was pressure to do well in the under-17s World Championship side with Spain. Then when I was 17, I wanted to be in the Arsenal first team. The next target was to play in the under-20 World Cup and I did it, and then I wanted to play in the World Cup and I did that too.
'All of it has taken hard work, but I know that if I work hard and think that I can do it then I can. I will not think it will be easy from here because to stay at the top, you need to get better and better.'
Protected so far by his tag of being a promising youngster, Wenger's decision to hand Fabregas the Arsenal No.4 shirt vacated by the aforementioned Vieira last summer confirmed he is now considered a key piece in a team that aims high as they enter a bold new world at their Emirates Stadium.
And while most have already suggested Arsenal's youthful promise will not be good enough to challenge the Chelsea juggernaut this time around, Wenger's protege is singing a different tune.
'It will be difficult to stop Chelsea, but not impossible,' he concludes. 'They have signed two more great players in Shevchenko and Ballack, but we are feeling more confident. Everyone at Arsenal is more mature and we take so much from what we did last time, getting the fourth place in the Premiership and reaching the Champions League Final. We know we are capable of catching Chelsea this year and we have to believe.'
After the year this boy has just dreamed up, Cesc Fabregas has every right to be believe nothing is impossible.
Source: ESPN
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Playing as a starter for Spain at the age of 19 with Raul on the bench pretty much says it all in my books
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Kendz for the avvi and Anny for the sigghy. FB for having em.
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veer
Junior Fan
LYKES: +6/-21
Posts: 145
I'm a Tuscon Pimp
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Re:Walcott impresses as Under-21s labour in draw
« Reply #818 on: August 18, 2006, 05:43:17 AM »
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Peter Taylor believes Theo Walcott showed enough on his under-21 debut to give England fans cause for optimism.
Walcott has not played in pre-season after picking up a virus since returning from the World Cup but he took just three minutes to open the scoring against Moldova at Portman Road on his under-21 bow last night.
The 17-year-old's substitution after 66 minutes sparked a glut of goals in the final 15 minutes of the European Championship qualifier, with the visitors picking up a valuable point with the 2-2 draw.
Despite England's qualification for next year's finals now in the balance, Walcott's performance impressed Taylor.
'I'm sure he enjoyed himself, to score very early is a bonus,' Taylor said. 'He's played no matches, so the way he played for an hour is tremendous.'
'I spoke to (Arsenal boss) Arsene Wenger this morning and I always knew and hour would be enough for him as it is his first game.
'I thought if we played better as a team he would have looked better, we would have kept possession and got him into better areas. Unfortunately we kept giving the ball away and didn't set up enough attacks.'
Moldova looked threatening on the counter-attack after Walcott's header opened the scoring.
After Walcott's departure, the visitors levelled through Serghei Alexeev's chip before David Nugent restored the lead. Substitute Alexandr Zislis denied the hosts victory, though, levelling for a second time after coming on as a substitute.
Taylor added: 'We had a good start and I thought we were going to go on from there, but the players looked a bit rusty. The players who looked the best were the ones who had enough matches in pre-season.
'Some had only a few matches and in Theo Walcott's case no matches. So Moldova must have been very happy with the date of the game.'
Taylor was impressed with the visitors' performance and hopes they can trouble Switzerland, England's other opponents in the group.
He added: 'I thought they were an excellent team, and that's a typical situation of us not taking other teams into account. They played some excellent football and will cause Switzerland some problems.'
Source: ESPN
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well im happy for theo.. he scored earlier in Englands U21's game against moldova..apparently he played 66 minutes and scored in the 3rd minute!
well everyone who has worked with him has given him big wraps! now even Taylor the U21's Boss is giving him big wraps too..
"he will live up to expectations if he gets some games"
welp lets hope it can only get better for the lad
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Kendz for the avvi and Anny for the sigghy. FB for having em.
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veer
Junior Fan
LYKES: +6/-21
Posts: 145
I'm a Tuscon Pimp
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Re:Hargreaves agent seeks Bayern talks
« Reply #819 on: August 18, 2006, 05:45:31 AM »
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Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves is believed to be on the verge of a move to Manchester United if the two clubs can agree a deal.
The 25-year-old starred at Old Trafford for England on Wednesday as he helped the team to a 4-0 win over Greece.
Bayern are reluctant to let Hargreaves go but he has made it clear he wants to join United and £13m could seal it.
Hargreaves will return to Bayern on Thursday where he is expected to reiterate his desire to move.
He is already understood to have had meetings with the Bayern hierarchy where he has stated his intentions.
And Hargreaves publicly signalled his intent for the transfer to go through when he said: "To play (for Manchester United) is a great opportunity and I would be happy if I got that chance.
"Particularly as an England international, it's of interest and you never know if such an opportunity will arise again.
"Now is the time to take the next step to develop even further."
Hargreaves seems determined to seize on his raised profile in England following his combative and tough-tackling displays during the World Cup.
He was seen as England's player of the tournament and continued his impressive rise in the international ranks in the friendly against Greece in new manager Steve McClaren's first game in charge.
Bayern would be reluctant to sell Hargreaves after fellow central midfield star Michael Ballack left them to join Chelsea at the end of last season.
Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness said: "Hargreaves is not a subject of discussion.
"Owen has a contract until 2010 and he will complete it. The issue is closed."
Hargreaves has been at Bayern since moving to the club from Canada as a 16-year-old in 1997.
He helped Bayern to the Champions League crown in 2001 and has also won four Bundesliga titles with the club.
His inclusion in former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for the World Cup raised eyebrows after he had failed to establish himself since his international debut against Holland in August 2001.
But he was in impressive form in Germany and starred when he played against Sweden and Portugal.
Bayern coach Felix Magath added: "I am not planning to get rid of any players, particularly not Hargreaves - it has never been an issue."
Hargreaves has been linked with numerous Premiership clubs over recent years, including Arsenal, Tottenham and Middlesbrough.
Source: BBC Sport
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Owen Hargreaves has refused to rule out the possibility of a move to Manchester United.
The England midfielder confirmed earlier this week that he was closer to leaving Bayern Munich for the Premiership than he had ever been.
However, fresh reports have emerged in Germany claiming the 25-year-old is mulling over an offer to join United, even though Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness has stated firmly the Bundesliga champions have no intention of releasing one of their star men.
Hargreaves was alerted to the content of the article by telephone yesterday, just hours before his man of the match performance in the 4-0 win over Greece at Old Trafford.
But, while claiming sections of its content may be inaccurate, he opted not to play down the United aspect of it.
'I have not read the article,' he said. 'It is the way it always is with these things. Some of it is accurate, some of it is not.
'I cannot go into specifics but we will see how things pan out over the next few days.'
On last night's evidence, any potential suitors may have to cough up slightly more for the Canada-born player than they bargained for.
Just as he did in the latter stages of England's ill-fated World Cup campaign, Hargreaves excelled in the midfield holding role, showing the discipline to remain in defence as the likes of Gary Neville and Ashley Cole pushed forward, while also covering the forward thrusts of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
New England coach Steve McClaren has already hinted he may build a team around Hargreaves and could not have been more fulsome in his praise for the player.
'Owen was phenomenal,' he said. 'He set the standard for the others to follow in his attitude and whole game and both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard followed him.'
By the time England next gather, for the opening Euro 2008 qualifier against Andorra on September 2, Hargreaves' short term future should be decided.
Although he has only just signed a contract at Bayern that would keep him at the club until 2010, he is clearly considering the prospect of riding the wave of his new-found popularity all the way to the Premiership.
'I am at a great club in Bayern Munich,' he said.
'They have been great to me over the last few years.
'But with the World Cup and the way I played there, there has been more attention on me and people are interested.
'I don't want to go into things too much but it is just a case of waiting until the transfer deadline on August 31 and seeing how things pan out.'
Source: ESPN
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Owen Hargreaves' agent claims the player is planning to again tell Bayern Munich of his desire to sign for Manchester United.
Bayern have so far insisted the England international is not for sale, and have no intention of losing another midfielder after seeing Michael Ballack sign for Chelsea this summer.
However, Hargreaves' agent Roman Grill believes the player's wishes must also be considered.
"It is not a question of whether the club want to discuss a transfer, it is obvious that they need players like Owen and they don't want him to leave, but on the other hand, the player wants to talk," Grill said.
"Owen wants to tell the club how he sees his future."
Hargreaves is now preparing to hold talks with Bayern after returning from international duty with England, although Grill added the 25-year-old midfielder does not want to leave Germany on bad terms.
"Owen has never had any problems with Bayern and has been here for nine years now without any complaints," added Grill.
"The time has now come to evaluate where he is in his career.
"Maybe later (Thursday) he will talk with the coach Felix Magath and see how he views things.
"As he has already said, Owen sees this as an excellent opportunity."
Source: Fox Sports
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You ppl must have heard the recent transfer speculation about Hargreaves being offered a move to united, but do you think he is good enough for Man U? I dont pay much attention to the Bundesliga, i dont no how to spell it either, so ive only ever seen him play for england. Yes he was very good at the world cup, but can we judje him on a few performances?
What are you thoughts?
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Kendz for the avvi and Anny for the sigghy. FB for having em.
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Deger
Senior Fan
LYKES: +49/-25
Posts: 396
I ain't no llama!
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Re:Gerrard slams United winker
« Reply #820 on: August 18, 2006, 11:14:04 AM »
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English pips shld learn to accept like Australia, USA & other African countries that they are not one of the best in the world and it is not because of refs, Seaman, Rooney injury or C. Ronaldo...
Shut up Gerrard...I cld just lose the lil respect I had for the long nosed ball wacking scouser!
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let's put things into perspective:
FACT - England missed 3 out of 4 penalties. and 2 of those misses came from Gerrard and Carragher.
OPINION - England would have got further than the last eight if Defoe or Bent was selected instead of Walcott.
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Alwayz ballin, never fallin
Alwayz pimpin, never trippin
Caroline for the superb avvi and sig by Farrah.Have to thank FB for the great creative work. THANXXX
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Deger
Senior Fan
LYKES: +49/-25
Posts: 396
I ain't no llama!
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Re:Rooney and Scholes lose appeals
« Reply #821 on: August 18, 2006, 11:15:46 AM »
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so that means they'll miss games against charlton, watford and crucially spurs. i wish i could say i was surprised, but Man U have the worst uck in pre-season. this crap is just bloooody typical.
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I am strating to hate pre season and the first 5 games, but i think that Man U are better equiped to deal with this now. I say start Ole and Saha and I guess Gigs in the middle if SAF doen't buy someone. I think that they can pull through and get 3 wins without them. I hope everyone will be back to kick Arsenals butss. The we kick theirs. 
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i really cant understand what the stupid FA is thinking about. rooney's foul probably doesn even deserve a yellow, this foul clearly isnt as malicious as the infamous groin incident. i mean, perhaps there shldnt even b a hearing in the first place! this kind of decisions r increasingly against rooney n manutd huh? crap FA.
let's hope the rest of the squad could b spurred on to win the next 3matches without them..
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come on!!! BIG FREAKING DEAL!!! if there were not going to be available for the first 3 games of the season, then a problem is what we would have had. They will be ready to go for the season. I believe this is a good test!! A good team works through problems, and if they can get through this, it will show they might be the squad we have waited 5 years for. They have saha, ole, smith, Rossi.... who are all quality. They cannot be a one dimentional team, which only plays well with rooney. Rooney already knows the ropes, so it is time to let the others get used to playing tough matches, and make us an ALL ROUND TEAM, which can win without a "star" player.
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This decision is absolute garbage. The red card was nothing more than player reputation than anything. It wasn't even worthy of a yellow card. I can deal with Scholes' red because it was a stupid foul for a player to commit when they are already on a yellow card. At least this will give Rooney enough time to fully recover from his groin injury.
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now u understand why no real manutd supporter supports england. its because the FA is behind them. the FA treats united like absolute crap with that nonsense rio ban, this stupid ban and the countless number of other bans in the last 10 years that have just screwed us. and to think that by having our first ever board member in the FA things would be a little more lenient.
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These things happen for a reason, trust me we'll be laughing about it after the season is over when the lads lift the premiership trophy. Chill it's nothing the team can't handle...
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Alwayz ballin, never fallin
Alwayz pimpin, never trippin
Caroline for the superb avvi and sig by Farrah.Have to thank FB for the great creative work. THANXXX
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Deger
Senior Fan
LYKES: +49/-25
Posts: 396
I ain't no llama!
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Re:Gerrard handed right-sided role
« Reply #822 on: August 18, 2006, 11:17:07 AM »
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should McClaren play him there or should he remain in centre midfield? with Beckham dropped I thought Lennon would be given his chance but it doesn't look that way.
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I'd put him in the center with Hargreaves and replace Lampard with Lennon on the right, I know its harsh but Gerrard is a better attacker than Lampard and with Hargreaves in the middle Gerrard will be able to do what he does best
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Stevie will be first choice over Fat Lampard either way. McClaren has named him Vice-Captain which means that Stevie will more likely than not play in the middle with Fat Lampard and Lennon,SWP (if he can get any time of day at cheski) or Pennant will play on the right. Hargreaves had a decent world cup but can't be picked over Fat Frank or Little Lennon
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the problem is Lampard is perhaps too good a player to be left out, even though he had a poor world cup. McClaren is probably trying to play them both, although not together in the centre like Erikson did, but unfortunately this is at Lennon's expense.
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I think this can be sort out by next euro cup.. too early to plan. Who knows wright philips, pennant or ....... gets revive in this season or next season. Eitehr way it was proven at Liverpool that Gerrard can play the RW effectively and better than most but he SHOULD play in the center and be free to roam. Lampard is one dimensional, and as good at attacking as he is his defensive shortcomings get hidden by Makelele and Essiens defensive skills. Lampard is like the kid at school who does one thing for a big project and gets as much credit as the rest of the group. i think in a friendly McClaren should give this midfield a shot and see if it is explosive, if not keep Lamps in
.......Hargreaves.......
Lennon..............Cole
.........Gerrard........
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Lennon or SWP SHOULD be given their chance
He should be brave and go for dropping either StevieG of Lamps - either one dropped would make little impact to the team with Lennon out wide right.
Downing shouldnt even be in the squad - time to give Barry another crack of the whip. THe team looks very much same ol same ol
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On form Lennon should be infront of Lampard and i'm not sure about Downing either but this is somewhat of a make-ship team so why worry?. Stevie will do a job wherever he plays and he might not play him as a out and out winger anyroads.
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Alwayz ballin, never fallin
Alwayz pimpin, never trippin
Caroline for the superb avvi and sig by Farrah.Have to thank FB for the great creative work. THANXXX
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Deger
Senior Fan
LYKES: +49/-25
Posts: 396
I ain't no llama!
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Re:Walcott impresses as Under-21s labour in draw
« Reply #823 on: August 18, 2006, 11:19:35 AM »
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well im happy for theo.. he scored earlier in Englands U21's game against moldova..apparently he played 66 minutes and scored in the 3rd minute!
well everyone who has worked with him has given him big wraps! now even Taylor the U21's Boss is giving him big wraps too..
"he will live up to expectations if he gets some games"
welp lets hope it can only get better for the lad
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Scores after 3 mins - does bugger all after that - if he was truely the 2nd coming you'd think he have bagged another couple of goals.
Hopefully he should figure in the leauge cup sides this season and hopefully some more gamers too
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Alwayz ballin, never fallin
Alwayz pimpin, never trippin
Caroline for the superb avvi and sig by Farrah.Have to thank FB for the great creative work. THANXXX
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