And now it seems that Leroy Sane is Pep’s new favourite. Surely we can’t go on like this, bending to Guardiola’s whims and moving from player to player as he switches his affections?
And yet, as this is typed, Fantasy managers are doing just that, making way for Leroy Sane’s arrival in their squad by selling David Silva and even Raheem Sterling. Just as last week we saw thousands eject Gabriel Jesus to welcome back Sergio Aguero.
As it turned out, that move went unpunished. The Brazilian could not deliver at The Hawthorns on starting ahead of Aguero, failing to even record a single shot on goal in a match that City dominated and registered 15 attempts.
That’s an alarming statistic and one that hardly offers encouragement for his security of start. Jesus’ owners will already be concerned that today’s decision to rest Aguero is further indication that Guardiola’s two main strikers are job sharing.
The midweek teamsheet in Napoli will provide new clues as to the intention for Gameweek 11, when Arsenal visit the Etihad Stadium. Depending on the teamsheet in Italy, Aguero could get the start against the Gunners, as he bids to finally break the club goal scoring record on home turf. That could see Jesus back on the bench. Maybe.
Pep’s rotation across his “five forwards” is clearly in full swing. There’s almost a system; almost a tantalising pattern forming.
Today Bernardo Silva started, while Raheem Sterling was omitted for a second successive Gameweek. However, this time it was Sterling who was the one of the five chosen for the now standard 30-minute cameo. He capitalised on that opportunity. Sterling’s goal – a seventh of the season – issued a reminder that he can work for us, even when handed limited pitch time.
But just three weeks ago, the idea of back-to-back bench roles for Sterling seemed improbable. He had started five successive league matches when available, with Pep smiling on the winger as his favoured “support striker” option.
Now Guardiola’s gaze appears to have shifted to Sane. The German has now started five successive league matches and seven of last eight in all competitions. In those five Gameweeks, he has supplied four goals and five assists and now sits on top of the overall FPL standings.
The case for Sane is strong, but is he really immune to his manager’s selection policy?
These continued attempts to break the code and work out Pep’s next shuffle is tiresome, but perhaps not as futile as the current market trend of moving from one City asset to the next.
Surely we have to commit, accept some frustration and hope we get value from our weapon of choice.
It’s highly debatable if that can be either Aguero or Jesus at this present time. However, one of Sterling or Sane, with Silva the less explosive but more dependable choice, looks the way to go.
Playing for higher stakes could pay off, but Guardiola’s game of roulette appears to be a major distraction for our transfer policy at a time when options like Eden Hazard are edging back into contention.
