Dugout Discussion
30 December 2018 2155 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Two more Premier League matches kick off at 14:15 GMT today, as Manchester City look to bounce back to winning ways against Southampton and an in-form West Ham United make the trip north to face a Burnley side who shipped five goals on Boxing Day.

The headline team news at St. Mary’s is the benching of Leroy Sane, with the German winger missing his first Premier League match since Benjamin Mendy picked up his latest knee injury ahead of Gameweek 13.

Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez start in a front three with Sergio Aguero, while the influential figures of David Silva and Fernandinho return to the City midfield.

Aymeric Laporte is the only defender to keep his place from the defeat to Leicester, while Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are not part of the 18-man squad.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has made six changes to his Southampton side and appears to have ditched the three-man backline, too.

Danny Ings, Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong are among the players to make way, with 18-year-old defender Kayne Ramsay making his debut against the reigning champions.

Marko Arnautovic makes a quicker-than-anticipated return to the West Ham United starting XI and lines up in Manuel Pellegrini’s side for the first time since Gameweek 15.

Felipe Anderson and Robert Snodgrass start in midfield for the Hammers, who have five wins in their last six league matches.

Sean Dyche has rung the changes after the 5-1 trouncing at the hands of Everton on Boxing Day.

Joe Hart is dropped to the bench as Tom Heaton makes his first league start since September 2017, with wingers Dwight McNeil and Johann Berg Gudmundsson also returning to the team.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Gudmundsson, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Barnes, Wood.

West Ham United XI (4-4-2): Fabianski, Antonio, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Rice, Snodgrass, Anderson, Arnautovic, Perez.

Southampton XI (4-5-1): McCarthy, Ramsay, Stephens, Bednarek, Targett, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Lemina, Romeu, Elyounoussi, Austin.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson, Danilo, Laporte, Kompany, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Silva, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero, Mahrez.

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  1. Dannyb
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Genuinely think I'm missing a trick not having Bilva. As nailed as anyone can be I reckon.

    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Not with KDB (proving he’s fit) and Dilva fit.

      1. Team Bobcat
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        BSilva has beaten DSilva and KDB since this season began
        All kinds of excuses for this have been brandished. Most nailed player on the team barr Ederson

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Excuses? You mean reasons.

        2. Smurf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          What are you talking about? Complete nonsense.

          There are two spots available next to Fernandinho. No way Berando plays all the time with both KDB and Dilva as competition. Foolish to say otherwise.

          1. Team Bobcat
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            Not really. DSilva is moving on a bit in football terms and needs the rest more than BSilva all the time. Therfore I think DSilva is more at risk to roatation. BSilva can also play in the front three but he has not gotten as much opportunity to do this largely because of KDB injury. BSilva is the most versatile midfielder city have at present. He is safer from rotation than DSilva and KDB. KDB is a little injury prone. Watch this space.

            1. Smurf
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              7 years, 3 months ago

              Bilva only played RW last season at times because there weren’t many other options. Now they have Mahrez there’s no way he plays there again.

              Watch this space.

          2. Team Bobcat
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            He will not play every minute but he will play more minutes than both kdb and dsilva

    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Never

    3. F_Ivanovic
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      eh he's just not explosive or consistent enough for a 7.5m player especially when you can have both Richarlison and Anderson for cheaper.

  2. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sane to Silva tempts... had the wee Spaniard before his injury

    1. Adriano
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Everyone seems so busy marking City's front 3 it seems Silva will continue getting those shots

  3. Monkey Hanger
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Silv boys

    1. Tshelby
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Kinda easy to post a feeling that you have and then refer to it.. Buy the player then and you will get alot more respect

    2. Fitzy.
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      You predicted a City mid would score against Southampton? Uncanny...

    3. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Do you have him?

    4. Tsparkes10
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Queue the nibbles 😉

      1. Les Bleus
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Nah you weren’t fishing.

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          😉

      2. Fitzy.
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        *Cue

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Whoops

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

    Laporte grab one for me asap ...

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      What size do you prefer?

      1. Chucky
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        😛

  5. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    That Austin attempt was ridiculous, how did he screw it up

  6. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    So City are back?

    1. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Yes. Spurs were gonna win the league last week, now it's City again.

  7. Chirsbom
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Dilva has hair? Though he shaved due to baldness..

    1. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      That is some quick growth eh?

    2. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      He shaved to disguise his hair transplant whilst it grew out

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        This. Actually looked better bald. Looks like a mess now. That hairline has not grown well.

        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Like all the other top level footballers with more money than brain cells, he will not have done much/any research and so gone to a clinic with good marketing but poor staff a la Rooney and Belgravia

    3. Jon Snow
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Wanted to be twins with Pep

  8. waitinginthelonggrass
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    As a Sane owner this is even more frustrating to watch.

    Are people selling?

    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Surely you didn’t think he would start Every game?

  9. fenixri
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Sane to Dilva is tempting, he should be nailed bow right?

    1. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      It is isn’t it...

    2. Numb
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Nailed as

  10. Clintymints
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Brought Haz in for a hit and kept sane

    Seeet

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      😎

    2. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Do you have him?

      1. Numb
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Not yet sadly

        1. Les Bleus
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Then sorry to say, but your brag is useless

          1. Numb
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 3 months ago

            🙁

    3. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Wrong account Sparkes

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

      I miss owning Dilva, had him most of the season when everyone else was on sterling and Sane and it was only when he got injured that things started to unravel for my team.

    5. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      😆

  11. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    This is going to be an absolute drubbing

  12. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    The question will be, if City get back to winning ways, does Sane still walk back in or does Mahrez keep his spot?

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sane 100% starts vs Liverpool.

      RW is dependent on Pep. Stick with Sterling who rarely performs vs Liverpool or trust Mahrez again...

      1. Clintymints
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Ofc yea.taa can be exposed

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Delph's red card sealed Sane's fate, I think.

      1. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        In what way?

      2. MTPockets
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Why's that?

        • Clintymints
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Definitely didn’t help for sure. That and a little tiny rest

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Weird watching Southampton trying to pass the ball. They are at a speed / pace disadvantage. Surely long ball football would be better for them?

    4. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Time to bring Sane on so he can join in

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Who would you take off? Ederson?

        1. FPL Scoop
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 3 months ago

          Yes. They won’t need him

    5. fenixri
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Kane, Sane, Fraser -> Jimenez, Salah, Dilva (-4).

      I have Auba

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Kane out is a no

    6. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Fabianski CS gone

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Oh boy

      2. Numb
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Might as well get it out of the way now

      3. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Perfect

      4. waitinginthelonggrass
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        ......

        Not a good day so far

      5. Clintymints
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Nice and early to be cheering for saves

    7. FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Get fcking stuffed west ham defence. Ffs

    8. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Oh piss off Fabianski

    9. Jon Snow
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Have a weird feeling that City will win this game

    10. yakirh
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Horrible GW so far

    11. Chucky
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      WOOOD

    12. Monkey Hanger
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Barnes assist.

    13. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling spotted

    14. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Wood G
      Barnes A

    15. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Go to hell West Ham defence

    16. Richd
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Oh yeah. City are back. That was just a case of when.

      Salah not essential.