Pep Guardiola stuns us all by starting both of his strikers against Wolves. Phil Jones is fit enough for the Man United bench ahead of a massive weekend clash with Spurs and Bournemouth might just have found a new old solution up front.
Elsewhere, Riyad Mahrez continues to find form as Leicester City win again, Arsenal turn to the kids and Crystal Palace are at their woeful worst.
Here are the notes from a night of Carabao Cup action full of talking points…
Guardiola’s striking selections
It all seemed so simple – whoever Pep Guardiola used as his starting striker against Wolves was likely to be benched for Saturday’s trip to West Brom.
Maybe he wouldn’t even pick a striker. Maybe he’d play a false nine. Or a youth teamer.
What none of us saw was Pep playing both of his regular frontmen. So that’s exactly what he did.
Sergio Aguero – he of the 245,000+ new managers this Gameweek – and Gabriel Jesus (who’s lost nearly 175,000 of them) both started. Against Wolves. In the Carabao Cup.
And after 120 minutes of exciting but goalless fare, the Argentinian was still on the pitch and scoring the winning penalty in a shoot-out.
Throw in the fact that the 14.8%-owned Raheem Sterling was another to start and finish City’s midweek marathon and the ramifications for any number of Fantasy managers could be huge.
Aguero, now owned by 14.1%, has played 195 minutes in four days. It now seems unlikely that he will be starting all of Man City’s next three fixtures – the Baggies match, a trip to Napoli in the Champions League and then a visit from Arsenal – over the week and a half to come before the final international break of the year.
As for the 21.4%-owned Jesus, the fact he ‘only’ played 82 minutes last night to follow up a 14-minute cameo in the 3-0 win over Burnley would suggest he’s in pole position to lead the line this weekend at The Hawthorns.
And owners of Sterling will now be hoping that his zero minutes against the Clarets stands him in good stead for The Hawthorns.
But this is Guardiola we’re talking about.
So the only thing we know for sure is that the Fantasy managers who’ve made the Argentinian the most popular transfer target and the Brazilian the most sold player heading into Gameweek 10, may now be ruing their early moves in the market.
A number of City’s other well-owned assets also featured on the night.
Kevin De Bruyne (19.6%) replaced Jesus, Leroy Sane (12.9%) and Kyle Walker (14.6%) came on in extra time and John Stones (9.6%) was introduced after 90 minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan, meanwhile, played the full tie, but Guardiola revealed post-match that the midfielder had ‘finished with some problems’ and would be assessed today.
However, the German seemed to allay any concerns post-match by suggesting via social media that he is “wellâ€.
All rather clearer for United
If City’s match was all about who played, Man United’s 2-0 win at Swansea City was rather more notable for the one that didn’t.
The presence of Phil Jones on the bench for Jose Mourinho’s men was great news for his 10.6% ownership after the centre-back limped off in the first half of United’s weekend loss at Huddersfield.
Jones was an unused substitute at the Liberty Stadium, but Mourinho was optimistic on the availability of his defender post-match.
“There were no injuries either, so it is a good day. I believe that Phil Jones will be fit for Saturday against Tottenham, but apart from that I have no news.â€
Jesse Lingard followed up his first league start of the season at the weekend with a star turn last night, scoring both of the goals for United. Assists came from Marcus Rashford and Matteo Darmian.
Regular starters Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic were handed 23-minute run-outs from the bench.
As for Swansea, their defensive resources were stretched that much thinner when the side’s only specialist left-back, Martin Olsson, had to leave the field with a hamstring injury.
Post-match, Paul Clement conceded he’s uncertain on the extent of the Swede’s injury, with Kyle Naughton or Sam Clucas set to deputise should he miss out.
A move to the left flank for Naughton could see Angel Rangel – at just 3.9 in FPL – take up the right-back role. The veteran was named captain last night and played the full 90 minutes. He could be tasked with silencing a rejuvenated Alexis Sanchez on Saturday.
Up front, though, Tammy Abraham was limited to just 18 minutes off the bench ahead of a weekend trip to Arsenal.
Wilson makes timely return
Bournemouth’s 3-1 win over Middlesbrough came courtesy of a goal and an assist from returning striker Callum Wilson.
The forward had been out since January with a knee injury, and his performance will have heartened boss Eddie Howe.
The Cherries have struggled for goals this season – they’ve managed just six in nine league outings – and both Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Josh King (illness) sat out last night’s match.
A visit from Chelsea awaits Howe’s men this Saturday, but after that their schedule improves hugely – new HUD swa BUR SOT cry.
Wilson, at 5.9, could be the answer to both Bournemouth’s frontline and our own budget third striker issues – if he can build on his excellent return, that is.
Debutant Jack Simpson and Benik Afobe, who has failed to find the net in seven league appearances this season, were also on the scoresheet, with assists coming from Simpson and Ryan Fraser.
Mahrez in fine form
More than a quarter of a million managers attempted to tap into Leicester City’s recent improved schedule by buying Jamie Vardy (14.4%).
But it has been Riyad Mahrez who has been the class act.
While Vardy has endured three successive league blanks, the Algerian has produced a goal and two assists from his last two matches and followed that up with another strike in the Foxes’ 3-1 win over Leeds last night.
The midfielder only came on after 65 minutes, while Vardy managed a mere nine, leaving others to do much of the work in a second straight win for caretaker boss Michael Appleton.
Kelechi Iheanacho opened the scoring and then set up the second for Islam Slimani, before Mahrez sealed the deal with a trademark individual effort.
Reports suggest ex-Southampton manager Claude Puel will be in the Leicester hot seat sooner rather than later, so Iheanacho’s performance looked particularly timely if a new broom sweeps through the first team.
But neither of the side’s star turns are likely to be dropped by whoever is in charge, and the club’s fine fixtures – only visits from Man City and Spurs look truly tough through to Gameweek 18 – and Mahrez’s form mark him out as a 3.8%-owned differential in the making.
Elsewhere…
Crystal Palace’s shock 2-1 win over Chelsea in Gameweek 8 is already starting to feel like ancient history as Roy Hodgson’s men were beaten 4-1 at Bristol City.
Admittedly, the Eagles’ boss made 10 changes from the team that faced Newcastle last weekend, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek – their most-owned player at 5.5% – staking a claim for a first-tem berth by supplying the assist for Bakary Sako’s opener.
Bristol equalised almost immediately and then ran away with the tie, leaving Palace to concentrate on a league schedule that looks very inviting, but must be offset by the side’s woeful lack of form and confidence.
Arsene Wenger sent out a standard Arsenal Carabao Cup side of bit-part players and youth teamers against Norwich City and came horribly close to coming unstuck as a result.
The Frenchman made 11 changes to the team who beat Everton 5-2 on Sunday, but had to rely on teenage substitute Eddie Nketiah to spare his blushes with a late equaliser and an extra-time winner in the 2-1 victory.
Assists came from Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny.
