Dugout Discussion

Sterling benched as De Bruyne, Mahrez and Foden lead Man City attack

Pep Guardiola continues to ruffle the feathers of Fantasy managers as he named Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) on the bench for Manchester City’s Gameweek 34+ meeting with Newcastle.

The England international has been in decent form since the restart, returning double-figure hauls in both of his starts at the Etihad Stadium in that time.

But his 16.3% ownership will have to settle for, at most, an appearance off the bench tonight, where he has been selected alongside Kyle Walker (£5.6m).

Sterling’s place in the team has been taken by Phil Foden (£5.4m), snapped up by over 140,000 managers for Gameweek 34+ having averaged 11.3 points per game at home since the Premier League came back.

His backers will certainly be excited by the prospect of Foden playing in the front-three alongside Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m), support in midfield by the Gameweek’s most popular captain: Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m).

However, Newcastle will certainly do their best to put their bodies on the line as Steve Bruce has gone with a very defensive-looking 5-4-1 formation.

It features Matt Ritchie (£5.3m) and Valentino Lazaro (£5.3m) on the flanks of midfield supported by fellow defenders Danny Rose (£5.3m) and DeAndre Yedlin (£4.4m) behind them in the full-back roles.

Still, they may find it hard to ask too many questions on the counter-attack with Miguel Almirón (£ 5.8m) on the bench and Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.5m) sidelined with a knock.

Sheffield United will be in good spirits as they host Wolves, with Jack O’Connell (£4.5m) finally back in the starting line-up for the first time since Gameweek 29.

Chris Wilder also has John Lundstram (£4.6m) at his disposal, recovering from his shoulder injury ahead of schedule to sit on the Blades’ bench.

Wolves come to Bramall Lane in the familiar 3-4-3 formation, featuring Diogo Jota (£6.1m) and Adama Traoré (£5.7m) either side of Raúl Jiménez (£8.3m), Leander Dendoncker (£4.4m) dropping to the bench.

West Ham are another team with key reinforcements arriving just in time for Gameweek 34+ as Sébastien Haller (£6.8m) has been deemed fit enough for a place on the substitutes’ bench.

Michail Antonio (£6.9m) retains his starting centre-forward berth for now, but it will be interesting to see what impact Haller will have from this point onwards.

The mid-price midfielder, with three attacking returns in his last two matches, is supported by an attacking midfield of Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.2m), Pablo Fornals (£6.0m) and Jarrod Bowen (£6.4m).

Still without Ben Mee (£5.0m), Burnley hand another start to Kevin Long (£4.3m) alongside James Tarkowski (£5.2m).

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Zinchenko, Stones, Otamendi, Cancelo; Rodrigo, De Bruyne, D Silva; Foden, Jesus, Mahrez.

Newcastle United XI: Dúbravka; Rose, Fernández, Schär, Krafth, Yedlin; Ritchie, Bentaleb, Shelvey, Lazaro; Joelinton.

Sheffield United XI: D Henderson; O’Connell, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Osborn, Norwood, Berge, Baldock; McBurnie, Sharp.

Wolves XI: Patrício; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Doherty; D Jota, Jiménez, Traoré.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Rice, Soucek; Yarmolenko, Fornals, Bowen; Antonio.

Burnley XI: Pope; C Taylor, Tarkowski, K Long, Bardsley; Pieters, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Vydra, Rodriguez.

1,975 Comments Post a Comment
  1. gedda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Egan has been a BEAST since I sold him.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He was. Glad he played for me

  2. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vomit. Rivals captained Bruno. Great opportunity for KDB to make a difference. Running out of games now

  3. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Silva 3, Jesus 2, KDB+Sterling 1
    Egan 3, Basham 2, Henderson 1
    Rodriguez+Taylor 3, Pieters 2, Pope 1

    by the looks of it

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      JRod & Taylor 3
      Pieters 1

      If them numbers are correct.

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah my bad, got overexcited as a Pope owner!

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pope wont get any

      1. DandyDon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Somthing

    3. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If Rodriguez and Taylor get 3 then Pope gets sweet Fanny Adams.

  4. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane please come on and score a brace

    1. Reg83
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      he is not sterling

  5. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane captain next week?

    1. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes.

      1. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Maybe?

        1. Limbo
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Maybe not

    2. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He's my captain right now. Although Burnley with another clean sheet. They could be tough to beat.

    4. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Burnley don’t concede!

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy all the way

    6. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes for me, burnley to fold and mane is a beast at home

  6. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Loving that Sheffield goal 😀

    1. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      ok

  7. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    On a brighter note

    Sterling starts Brighton, right?

    1. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      100%

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I wouldn't say 100% now, but anyway... 😀

  8. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KDB captain and city 5-0, one assist really

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Should have had about 5 assists but the rest were a bunch of wasters

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Its not his fault. He created big chances, Foden was missing

    3. Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah this game is about pure luck

  9. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    We’re all thinking city players who played 90 will now best rested next game etc - not necessarily, pep likely to rest players in game directly before cup semi which is 3 days later. Could start KDB next game Away to Brighton THEN rest him v Bournemouth. Alternatively could rest him for both games!

  10. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bench boost success. Juuuhuuu. Thank you Eagan and Hendo.

    It would have been huge pain if i didn't play it...

    Those pts on the bench would have killed me literally.

    Anyone else played the BB?

    1. SpagBol
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah i played bench boost and got Pope, Taylor, Saiss, Greenwood

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No, I have 26 points on the bench and played it when someone got 0 a couple of weeks ago.

      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Same played the week saka got 0...hes returned both games since.

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Well played. Foden should have got you returns today.

      Benching martial for dcl, only on a bb lol.

  11. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else correctly choose playing Pope over Martinez this GW? Feels like a miracle!

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Had pope on FH last week and Martinez back for this week.....fml

      1. Baron Penguin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Wrong three weeks in a row now. Also thought Salah would be rested so sold for Foden and benched Charlie Taylor.

  12. Manani
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Doh > Saiss, Jimenez>Vardy

    that is the popular this week I think?

  13. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I am so gutted above that Wilves double defence lost C.S. Absolutely gutted. Was flying in my leagues over rivals. Has put me on a real dampner!!

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

      I just checked after ManC game. YES Double Wolves defence CS in. Went back to this site and all the post where EEGANN

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Heartbroken, like... 🙁 🙁

      2. Pied Mee Ince Silva
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        My rival bench boosted Henderson and Egan as well, I own Patricio and Doherty. 🙁

  14. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Foden the highest expected goal involvement of all players in the City game :/
    KDB 7 chances created

  15. krzys
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I felt so smart choosing Patricio over Pope on my wildcard

    1. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Been a disaster hasn’t it!

    2. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Me to. Killed me. Went Martinez or Pope in every draft. Final: Patricio.

  16. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Rashford to Vardy
    Jimenez to Ings

    For free. Yay or nay. Nothing Itb so cant just do Jimi to Vardy

    1. Jet5605
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not a bad shout. You could also get Greenwood after with the spare Utd slot.

  17. GoonerGirl
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I've got 30 points on my bench

    1. Big_Andy_GAWA
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Geez.

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      18 from 2, with Williams starting for Liverpool

    3. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ouch!

  18. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KDB captain, Foden, Mane Doherty, wow just wow, there is no being good at this game it is pure pure luck and anyone that says differently is obviously very lucky! I work hard at this but constantly get unlucky.

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Happens. I have KdB, Foden, Mane too. Hopefully Mane can pull a Sterling and get points off the bench.

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Swings and roundabouts. You’ll do better next week when our mahrez and salah picks get benched

  19. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So glad I sold Egan 2 weeks ago
    Nearly as good a decision as getting Fabianski over Pope :role:

  20. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Trent masterclass needed

  21. james 101
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I reckon my double wolves cleanie would have put me more or less top of the charity league - at least before pool play.

    Life goes on though.

    1. Big_Andy_GAWA
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Aye. It hurts me bad at times, these things, but we soldier on, eh...!? 😉 🙂

  22. Champ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mass exodus now for many from Jimi to vardy, flush with all that free cash from greenwood. The remainder of the fpl season is starting to write itself and splutter over the line

  23. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    -8 hit central for the next game week ... why not eh 🙂

  24. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Start Foden or Mahrez next week?

    1. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      you'd expect Foden to start next gameweek with his minutes

  25. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Absolutely no pressure on Mane. All he has to do is come off the bench and he'll have done his job lol. Nketiah first sub.

  26. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    At least Doherty dropped out of the BAPs if it had remained at 0-0...

  27. Somar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So KDB captaincy was virtually a fail if we're being honest.

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Don't know that yet.

    2. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It certainly feels that way as I’ve only just got green arrow despite also having Pulisic and mahrez score...2k rise really, I’d dropped 30k the last two weeks!

  28. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    There's the first Salah goal ....uh oh

  29. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Get in Mo!

  30. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I did Salah + DCL --> Kane + Foden. For a hit...

    Help