Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Manchester City vs Swansea City

We make our way to the Etihad in the first of two Sunday fixtures now as Manchester City entertain a resurgent Swansea City in the 1.30pm kick-off.

All eyes are on new boy Gabriel Jesus, who is handed his first home start by Pep Guardiola after bagging a goal and assist in the midweek demolition of West Ham United.

The Brazilian was the most transferred in player for Gameweek 24, with 192,298 Fantasy Premier League managers scrambling for his services.

Sergio Aguero is benched yet again, with his 19% FPL owners now desperately seeking alternatives. Pep also keeps faith in Willy Caballero after City grabbed a first clean sheet in five on Wednesday.

The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, with goals in back-to-back Gameweeks, Raheem Sterling (a goal or assist in six of the last eight) and Leroy Sane (three goals and an assist in four appearances in all competitions) are also in fine form, yet City’s blank Gameweek 26 and potential blank Gameweek 28 has curbed our short-term enthusiasm.

Swansea, meanwhile, roll up on the back of three wins in four, with Gylfi Sigurdsson returning to form with two goals and a pair of assists over that period.

At present, Paul Clement’s men are one of just six sides that will definitely play in both Gameweek 26 and 28.

While Siggy is the obvious pick, Fernando Llorente (seven goals in 11 Gameweeks) and the budget defender Alfie Mawson, with two goals in four, are also on our radars as we look to navigate the upcoming blanks.

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1,712 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Wise Owl
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    KDB isn't getting the chances anymore.

    1. RÏɠBY
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      is he playing too deep?

    2. F4L
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      hes not an option, too expensive, plays too deep

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Wish I knew that before!

      2. HVT
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Jesus, Sterling, Kolarov possibly Silva look the best options right now.

    3. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      He is my C 🙁

    4. Knowledgeable meerkat
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sterling or sane looking better picks currently

    5. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      He's kinda like Pogba in terms of his attacking positioning. Plays deep, gets up for a few shots here and there and is the main playmaker.

      1. ★Kuntheman★
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Except he's miles better than Pogba at virtually everything football related

        1. Wilshere Knowledge
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          KDB cant dab for sh*t.

          1. Tansey
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Does KDB have his own emoji? Thought not, this clearly indicates Pogba is a better player

          2. ★Kuntheman★
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I knew I'd get this comment so I put "football related" in 🙂

        2. Squashed
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Agree

    6. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      What changes would you guys look to make with this lot? 1FT.

      Heaton - Jaku
      Alonso - Walker - Coleman - Pieters - Evans
      Sanchez - Eriksen - Siggy - Phillips - Capoue
      Kane - Zlatan - Carroll

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Not sure why this posted here 🙂

        1. The Head-Ake
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          I think I'd get rid of Capoue and Pieters for Chambers and Snodgrass/Stanislas

        2. Tansey
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          On the agenda on my opinion would be Pieters to Brunt, Capoue to Morrison/a 4.3mid and look at getting Lukaku in somehow

  2. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Most popular sub Pep is going to make?

    Sane > Kun

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sane > Navas

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        if there is one player who can't score it is Navas

      2. Tansey
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        There's a new Jesus in town, and he can actually score

    2. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Raheem>Kun

      1. RÏɠBY
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        ^this

    3. dark91
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      KDB-> Kun

  3. HVT
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I can't for the life of me understand why Aguero can't fit 'peps system' something way more sinister going on here....

    Quality players can fit anywhere-just look at what Pulis has done with Brunt!

    1. Top 210 Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      This!

    2. Knowledgeable meerkat
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      And mourinho with fellaini...

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      his work-rate is dreadful for starters

    4. Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Pulis > Pep

    5. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Its simple with Pep. Work hard, harass defenders, press from attack and you are in the first 11.

    6. The Enlightener
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      His rather aloof nature may not fit Pep's preference. But hard to say what might be up behind the scenes.

    7. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      100%

      Fishy waters at City....

    8. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Pep is just aping Johann Cruyff's total football...there's nothing genious in it.

      Aguero can't be a total footballer, he wants to hang around the edge of the penalty area, will never lift a finger to come deep and defend.

      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Personally I wouldn't want him too, he's class-he'd be in my team all day, I'd find someone to compensate for his apparent 'laziness'

  4. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Jesus is even wearing the gloves/short sleeves combo, City really have swapped their old Mustang for a younger, better make.

    1. Top 210 Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      2 tap ins? WTF doubt he can score a hatrick against Neuer in champs league...

      1. ★Kuntheman★
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Okay but if I'm being completely unbiased, outside of that game Aguero has been pretty poor in most of his UCL games

  5. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    John Stones on 3 baps punishing all his sellers. Why did I get rid in GW14? 🙁

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      City weren't keeping clean sheets and he was being benched regularly.

  6. F4L
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Everyone keeping the faith with Alli/Eriksen?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      would do with Liverpool up next for sure

    2. HVT
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No moving on one of for Siggy.

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        which one? Thinking I might drop Eriksen

        1. HVT
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Eriksen I think, v hard to split them-you?

          1. F4L
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            was thinking the same. Playing 4-2-3-1 makes Eriksen play too deep for my liking

    3. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Transferring one out for GW28 assuming they have a blank. Will bring in Kane afterwards

    4. vectorman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      That's what I'm debating this week myself, whether to sacrifice one of them for Siggy or Barkley. They have some cracking looking fixtures coming up Spurs and I don't think Swansea's are quite as nice as people think. Could be tight old affairs

    5. Espen8
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      If I had both I would get Alli out.

      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Why?

        1. Espen8
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Think both is too much. Both can be on bad form, but Eriksen gets points from set pieces.

    6. vectorman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Liverpool aren't looking the best at the back but they do seem to up their game for the big boys.. Difficult one ain't it?

  7. Jay_
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Stones 31
      Kolarov 30
      Jesus Clichy 29
      Cabellero 21

      1. Knowledgeable meerkat
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Jesus 33

    • RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      What changes would you guys look to make with this lot? 1FT.

      Heaton - Jaku
      Alonso - Walker - Coleman - Pieters - Evans
      Sanchez - Eriksen - Siggy - Phillips - Capoue
      Kane - Zlatan - Carroll

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        needs more Jesus and Stones

      2. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Save transfer to combat the blanks in GW26

      3. The Head-Ake
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I think I'd get rid of Capoue and Pieters for Chambers and Snodgrass/Stanislas.

    • Legomane
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Any sign of Sergio yet 🙁

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Warming up now

    • 1justlookin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      my front 3 is currently

      ibra, costa & defoe.

      Am I mad not to not get Lukaku until GW 28?

      Was just going to play Capoue(WHM) when Ibra blanks in GW 26 so I can keep him for the BOU game.

    • Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Who does Aguero come on for Jesus or Sterling mu guess is Sterling

      1. Coaly
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Sane

      2. The Big Fella
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Sane

      3. Ravager
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Sane. So Jesus could go left

    • Fred54
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Twitter saying no Rooney in Man Utd squad. Good riddance.

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Off to China?

    • Vinyl78LP
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      C'mon Pep, get Aguero on and kill those Kaku (vc) hopes.

      1. Arctic monkeys
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        This

      2. F4L
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        plz

      3. Squashed
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Me love u long time

    • ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Poor by Silva

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        great flick on from Jesus do

    • Coaly
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      a) Kane and Zaha/Snoddy
      b) Costa and Siggy

      1. Knowledgeable meerkat
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        B comfortably for me

    • La Roja
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Silvia past it

    • ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Mawson looks decent. First time watching him

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        that's probably why you think hes decent

      2. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I think he has been in the team of the week twice already this season he has been on my watchlist for a while

    • Ziro
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Today's starting XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan (c), Huth, Fuchs, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Musa, Okazaki, Vardy. #LeiMnu

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Very defensive and no Mahrez.

      2. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        No Ulloa?...shocked 😉

      3. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Huth Fuchs Drinkwater 😯

        Surely a YC offence?

        1. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ndidi it is

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Ah...Huth Fuchs, Drinkwater.....just rehydrating after a bit of nooky I guess?

            1. Business Cat
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Musa Drinkwater after downing Captain Morgan

    • Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Herrea, Pogba, Mata, Mkhi, Rashford, Ibra

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        no martial still

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Very attacking, but no Carrick is not good. Pogba deeper role.

      3. Squashed
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Rojo as left back? Uh oh

    • Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      #LCFC XI to face #MUFC: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth. Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Musa, Vardy, Okazaki

      #MUFC XI to face #LCFC: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Herrera, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimovic, Rashford.

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks Ziro!

    • Ziro
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Leicester City: Schmeichel, Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Musa, Vardy, Okazaki,
      Subs: Chilwell (3), Benalouane (29), Albrighton (11), Zieler (21), Gray (22), King (10), Kapustka (14)

      Manchester United: de Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Herrera, Pogba, Mkhitaryan, Mata, Rashford, Ibrahimovic,
      Subs: Lingard (14), Romero (20), Fellaini (27), Young (18), Martial (11), Carrick (16), Blind (17)

      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Rashford > Martial and Tojo > Blind and that's close on our best side.

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Leicester - very defensive and no Mahrez.
        Utd - very attacking, but no Carrick is not good. Pogba deeper role.

        1. Dirty Harry
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Mahrez is starting but...

        2. HVT
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Lol!

      3. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        No Carrick 🙁

      4. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Benalouane wagon....

    • HVT
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Genuinely feel sympathy for Kun owners, as a fellow manager I feel the pain.
      What's worse is that most could have bought in Lukaku but decided to give Kun one last try V Swansea,
      Tough times these.

      1. The Big Fella
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Your kind words help to heal the hurt a 30 point GW bring. Ibra better get a hattrick now.

    • Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Jesus dead

      1. Top 210 Club
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        =D

    • JIM BOB
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      All this rubbish about City's awesome new front 3.....Sane and Sterling have been poor.

      Given possession away so many times.

    • ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No Roonpig

      1. Reedy
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Illness apparently

    • Stokelona
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I'm starting to hope pep won't bring kun on (Lukaku vc). He can't take Jesus off given how well he's playing, and he won't play Aguero wide..,

      1. JIM BOB
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        He can play Jesus wide...in place of either Sane or Raheem who have been poor

        1. Stokelona
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          I'm trying to convince myself

      2. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        City could do with a 2nd goal do

      3. Espen8
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Haha get´s 5min in the end xD

    • Espen8
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Can´t believe Mourinho keeps playing Rashford over Martial.

      1. Arctic monkeys
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        It's understandable. Lingard tho when he starts over the two is madness

        1. Espen8
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Rashford isn´t a good starter. Martial isn´t a good sub. Easy choice really.

    • Scotty B
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks to everyone who said I should get Mane in for Lallana instead of Jesus in for Gray. Cheers

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        You make your own decisions.....

        1. F4L
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          exactly, cant blame others

      2. Stokelona
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yeh these are the kind of posts I hate

      3. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Name checks out

      4. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Lol your own fault mate

      5. Scotty B
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        No its yours I'm done with this site. You all talk the talk but no nothing. That's a few times now this season I've been talked out of things on here so I'm done

        1. Goal Digger2016
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          We had to keep the Jesus captainer inside but now you know 😉

    • makaveli123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No Carrick, no fun.

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        We look terrible when he does not play

        1. makaveli123
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Yes. And I don't like Rojo as LB. Easily exposed.

    • Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Oh, so Jesus is one of 'those' players. Rolling around in no pain, whilst slyly looking at the referee, hoping for the opponent to get a yellow card.

      1. Goal Digger2016
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Otter bug lol