Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne in advanced role as Man United deploy midfield diamond for derby

Pep Guardiola has afforded Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) an advanced role once again as Manchester City travel to Old Trafford.

The Belgian has been operating as a number 10 increasingly often this season having previously only played in that position in the big games.

And they don’t come too much bigger than a city derby for Guardiola’s men, so De Bruyne’s 24.5% ownership will be relishing his advanced runs tonight.

He features at the centre of an attacking midfield trio in support of Gabriel Jesus (£9.3m), flanked by Raheem Sterling (£11.4m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m), who enjoyed a disparity of fortunes against Fulham.

Elsewhere, it is a third consecutive Premier League start for John Stones (£4.8m) at the heart of City’s defence, while João Cancelo (£5.5m) retains a berth, switching to the left-hand side, pushing Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) to the bench and allowing Kyle Walker (£6.2m) back into the side.

Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears to have tweaked his Manchester United outfit with respect to the opposition, changing his favoured 4-2-3-1 system into a midfield diamond shape.

Fred (£5.3m), Paul Pogba (£7.7m) and Scott McTominay (£4.9m) are all included in the line-up behind Bruno Fernandes (£10.9m) in support of Marcus Rashford (£9.4m) and Mason Greenwood‘s (£7.1m) two-man strike pairing.

Anthony Martial (£8.7m) is still an option though, named on the bench alongside Alex Telles (£5.5m).

Manchester United XI (4-1-2-1-2): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; McTominay; Pogba, Fred; B Fernandes; Rashford, Greenwood.

Manchester City XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Walker; Fernandinho, Rodrigo; Sterling, De Bruyne, Mahrez; Jesus.

Lessons learned from FPL Gameweek 12

1,330 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Neville "the diamond hasn't worked them" when Neville when?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Has*

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      can someone translate for me?

      1. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I think it's a veiled Pogba reference

  2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah effective ownership is just under 100%
    Am I right in thinking that this is comparable to being the only one to own Salah as a player? In terms of effective points I mean

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yep

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If you haven’t captained

    3. Bunk Moreland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No, its more comparable to everyone owning him.

  3. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Torres on at 65 for the winner and max BAPS!!

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

    Should I bring Stones in for WBA?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      no

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      not for me

  5. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I hope Mahrez is taken off on 65 mins after his brace

  6. TOLV TUMS
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Here in the USA, Tim Howard can't find words for why in the world Pogba would possibly be starting

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      pogba is world class

      1. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        just ask his agent!

      2. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Username checks out

      3. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        This. Was watching Howard as well, not the brightest tool in the shed.

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Might get some sharp ones not too many bright ones

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

        Truly world class players are consistent first

  7. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Would you do son to rashford for -4 (already have kane)?

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Madness

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Wouldn't do it for +4

    2. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Could be a lovely diff move. Not sure about the minus 4 though.

    3. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No way.

    4. 1zverGGadeM
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Are you mad or something?!

    5. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bad quality weed + hooch

  8. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Where I can see EOs e.g. KdB

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Live fpl

    2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      livefpl.net

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      FPL was more fun before EO

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        It was fun once?

  9. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I'm glad I did not fall for the Wilson trap

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Did you fall for the Watkins one though?

    2. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Was hoping he’d do well, give me an obvious Vardy downgrade to fund Bruno.

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

    Looking forward to Joshua vs Pulev tonight.

    Hopefully AJ comes through this bout to set up the biggest ever fight this side of the Atlantic ocean.
    Pulev is a bad man and there is every chance he will deliver an upset.

    1. 1zverGGadeM
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Really hope for Pulev to make an upset then get 2nd match

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

        Pulev is not to be underestimated having only one loss on his record against a prime Klitschko,no shame in that.

        Even though he is pushing on now at 39 years old he is still a very dangerous fighter with a good ring IQ.
        If AJ loses again it will really take the shine of the potential Fury vs AJ fight.

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ferguson vs. Olivera

    3. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Meh, I'm bored of AJ. Been dodging the big fights for far too long.

      Pulev is 39 years old. He may have power but all AJ has to do is stay on the outside.

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

        Eddie Hearn has done everything to try and protect his prize asset but i think he is ready to cash out now.

        I agree he has fought a lot of older fighters that are past their primes along with smaller men but that said he is a very exciting heavyweight to watch and has the power to get anyone out of there on his day.

        Part of what makes AJ so interesting to watch is that you know he is not the finished article who has a mistake in him and will take some big punches as well as landing them.

        He is still one of the top 3 heavyweights in my books and hopefully we see him in some big fights in 2021 as in against Fury and Wilder.

    4. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pulev KO/TKO

  11. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Jota to Rashford -4?

    1. 1zverGGadeM
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hell NO!

      1. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Well, Jota out for the next two months so some kind of move makes sense. Rash could be interesting, he's really good at football

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I would wait for someone actually in the know to confirm Jota. Like Klopp.

        2. Ozzy smith
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Where this been said?

    2. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      How about Greenwood punt?

  12. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I'm too tired to watch this game. I'll try and stay awake for you guys tho.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers Fudgy

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        😀

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      New v WBA sent you to sleep too?

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah lol. Early Bruno goal and I'll be awake again for sure

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

      Where you watching from? Hopefully it’s worth staying up for

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        England

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

          Haha 🙂

    4. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Let’s go mate

    5. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Generous

  13. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    John Stone playing his second game?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      3rd

      1. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I actually meant that he played for WBA earlier

  14. TKC07
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Greenwood (7.1 OOP mid) a good replacement for Jota?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks like he’s forced his way back in. Think I’d go Ferran Torres though.

      1. TKC07
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Pep spoke about giving more game time for those who score goals.

        Do you think Forres starting ahead of KDB, Raz of Mahrez atm?

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I mean he's literally not starting today

          • Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I do vs West Brom

    2. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      3-1 for City

      1. 1zverGGadeM
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        2-0 City

      2. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        3-1 united

      3. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        4-0 City

      4. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Prefer 2-0

      5. TKC07
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        1-1

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Fernandinho and Rodri covering the counter attack. Reckon Pep has called this right.. 244 in attack and defend with a box shape while Walker and Cancelo drop back in.

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Best available 11 that Pep has picked till now.

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I agree. He’s not trying to be too clever.

          1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Yes. which normally leads to him losing face. Especially in CL knockouts!

    4. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy,Jota to Bamford,Bruno(-4)?

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yep

        1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Any reason to move early you think if it looks like prices might change tonight? Could be swings worth 0.4 before deadline...

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I’m not the best to advise as I sold Bruno last gameweek and keep avoiding Bamford. But they’re both great picks. Should be reasonably safe to make the moves tonight as they’ll both have played already.

      2. JBG
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes

      3. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Anything with Jota in it seems viable.

    5. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Richards starts talking and I have to change the channel, he chats nonsense not a great pundit at all

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He's crap, he only has the job because he's laughing constantly

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He’s likeable though.

      3. TOLV TUMS
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I don't mind him - he and Carragher were pretty entertaining as half-time heads for the US CL coverage

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

        I really like him but each to their own.

      5. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 4 months ago

          What does he chat nonsense about to the point you have to change the channel? Very strange

        • FPLHaggis
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Mute button is surely easier.

      6. Saka Rice
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Did Wilson have any chances?

        1. JBG
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          1 I think.

        2. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          no

        3. TOLV TUMS
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Not really

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

          N O

        5. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Nope but was waiting for a cut back which never came from big Linton on a counter

          • DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Chance to remove himself from his FPL team last week? Maybe.

          • HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Joelinton>Wilson

            1. Saka Rice
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Refuse to do that this whole community was certain Wilson was the best cheao forward with Bamford. And Joelinton has only performed today

        6. money face bandwagon
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          The jota injury means i miss out on dcl -> wilson transfer

          1. HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Lucky, like me

        7. Gemma817
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          How was Grealish today?

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Has no balls

            • Gobigorgohome
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              non existence

            • Fudgy
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Horrendous display after his absolutely pathetic and ridiculous antics. Wish I sold.

            • DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Fell down a lot. As usual. And picked up his customary "I am an irritated little baby" yellow card!

            • TOLV TUMS
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Very captain-ly. Handed the pen to El Ghazi.

            • Sz21
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Avoid or look to bring in still?
              I've got Mahrez holding his spot but may just keep now.

          2. HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Ok I’ll admit it?
            I considered DCL to Wilson for a hit 😆

            1. Gobigorgohome
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              me too haha

              almost did it

              1. HuttonDressedasLahm
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Still, I benched DCL and played Bowen instead

                1. wulfrunian
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 4 months ago

                  Do you know that Dcl has scored a brace last year vs Chelsea?

            2. wulfrunian
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Me too.It wasn't a bad move.He will score vs Leeds.

          3. Sz21
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Which looks better. 2 ft's.
            1. Jota + DCL -> Bowen + Ings.(Exact cash atm)
            2. Jota + DCL -> Soucek + Werner.

          4. Flair
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Big match today, City have been poor in big games recently and Ole beat Pep thrice last season. Very pessimistic myself, expect a 2-1 United win. They're bipolar like that but let's see.

            1. JBG
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Utd fan for over 25 years now, don't see us winning this. 3/4-1 trashing incoming.

            2. Bushwhacker
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              They get panicked when they don’t score fast and then leave holes at the back. Ole’s bus will be in full force.

          5. Bushwhacker
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            City have to score early. If United survive 25 minutes they’ll grind it out. City get frustrated too easily.

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

            KDB Master Class please 😀

            1. Dynamic Duos
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Inevitable

          7. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Were the Stone Roses United fans?

            1. TOLV TUMS
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              weren't they scottish?

              1. Miguel Sanchez
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                You might be thinking of Primal Scream

            2. Gleys11
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Yes, except for the drummer (he supports City)

            3. emyoueffsee
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              John Squire, Mani and Ian Brown are reds.Reni is a blue.

          8. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            is liam cooper nailed at leeds? need a 4.4 defender to replace mitchell and he looks the best option. thanks and gl 🙂

            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              I think a couple more poor results and Biesla will start making big changes

              1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                thanks Miguel

            2. dontyouknowimloko
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Looking at Balbuena from WHU, same price and decent fixtures coming up. Quite attacking too.

          9. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            This may go like United Chelsea, a dull chess match both frightened to lose

            1. ivantys
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              What about the game where pool parked bus against city?

          10. Egg noodle
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Foden has been a great investment. Keeps giving me Soucek points off the bench.

            1. Ajax Hamsterdam
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              haha nice one 🙂