Dugout Discussion

Gundogan, Dias, De Bruyne and Mahrez benched as Aguero misses Leeds match

As predicted, Pep Guardiola has rung the changes for Manchester City’s latest Premier League match, making seven alterations for the visit of Leeds.

Ilkay Gundogan (£6.0m), Rúben Dias (£6.2m), Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0m), Riyad Mahrez (£8.2m) and Phil Foden (£6.0m) are all among the substitutes for Gameweek 31.

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) misses out altogether with an injury not hinted at until Friday night, confirmed only as Manchester City released their team news on Saturday morning.

Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) has also missed the cut, reportedly not “fully fit” according to the club’s official team-sheet bulletin.

His absence, and Dias’ benching means Nathan Aké (£5.4m) comes in for his first Premier League minutes since Gameweek 15, playing at centre-back alongside John Stones (£5.2m).

Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) and João Cancelo (£6.0m) are handed with the full-back positions while it looks as if Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) has been trusted with the central midfield role he often fulfils on international duty with Ukraine.

Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) joins him in the middle while Raheem Sterling (£11.3m), Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) and Ferran Torres (£6.9m) are the front-three this afternoon.

By contrast, Leeds make just one change for Gameweek 31; Jack Harrison (£5.4m) ineligible to face his parent club.

Hélder Costa (£5.0m) comes in as his replacement on the left-hand side of a midfield quartet alongside Stuart Dallas (£5.1m), Tyler Roberts (£4.6m) and Raphinha (£5.6m).

Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) remains on the bench with Liam Cooper (£4.3m) and Diego Llorente (£4.4m) earning a second successive start as a centre-back pairing.

Gameweek 31 Line-ups

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; B Mendy, Aké, Stones, Cancelo; Zinchenko, Fernandinho, B Silva; Sterling, Jesus, Torres.

Leeds United XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Alioski, Llorente, Cooper, Ayling; K Phillips; Costa, Roberts, Dallas, Raphinha; Bamford.

Gameweek 31 so far…

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1,303 Comments Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Red Cooper

  2. Muchentuchel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    haha match fixing on highest level.
    Sterling get nothing and Cooper plays the ball and is just unlucky to hit Jesus after that.

    If they want City to win, they will win.

    1. Penang Sandman
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      huh?

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Eh?

    3. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Clear red card mate stop crying

      1. Muchentuchel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He's played the ball. What has become of the sport of football is sad.

          1. Muchentuchel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I hate double standards. This is a perfect example. If you don't recognise this, you should have your eyes checked as soon as possible.

        1. G-Whizz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          We're not playing 70's football anymore mate, can't tackle like that in the modern game I'm afraid...

          1. Muchentuchel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            So why can Sterling?

    4. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Oh shush you

    5. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      LOL

  3. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Here I am still getting the Ederson and Meslier combo wrong

  4. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bamf subbed

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bamford off
    Struijk on

  6. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    One day Peter Walton will get a decision right 😆

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bamford subbed

  8. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bam subbed

  9. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Now time to get KDB and Gundo on to break down the 10 man defence!

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      THIS

  10. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sets up an Alamo/Zulu type scenario second half now

  11. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bamford benchers blessed

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      They didn’t think so a few pages back

  12. LE CHARO
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Got KDB and Gundo, and Dallas second on my bench. He's not coming on, is he?

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nope

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      50/50

    3. Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      At least one of them will come in.

  13. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    In the 90's this would have been considered as a good tackle.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Vinnie Jones special.

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Even the opposition fans would applaud it. Not anymore

  14. Brehmeren
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Horror tackle

    1. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That because it wasn’t a tackle, he was clearing the ball and it was a coming together of two players. How was he supposed to stop his momentum? If Jesus didn’t back out of the challenge it would have been fine

      1. Brehmeren
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        What!? He went flying studs first into his knee!?

        1. Keep Calm and Play On
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          He cleared the ball and can’t stop his momentum, what was he supposed to do? If he didn’t get the ball it’s a red but he clearly made solid contact with the ball first

  15. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Very harsh. Gets the ball and Jesus comes flying in.

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jesus got there before him

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Disagree

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          His boot was high of the ground though

      2. Keep Calm and Play On
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Two players going for a 50/50 and Cooper gets the ball, football is a contact sport. No way that’s a red

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          My thoughts

        2. Penang Sandman
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          at least dont make contact with studs onto someone's knee

          1. Keep Calm and Play On
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            So if a player takes a shot or makes a clearance and an opponent runs by trying to block it but gets there LTE and the player kicks him in the knee it’s a red?! Guess we will see a lot of reds coming if that’s the case

            1. Penang Sandman
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              season almost over and i cant think of another case like this happens before, although i didnt watch much football this year.

              Anyway as you said its 50/50 and whatever you do, you dont swipe/follow through you studs onto someone's knee

              1. Keep Calm and Play On
                • 8 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                It happens quite often, players make a pass, clearance or take a shot and the momentum carries them into another player.
                The “tackle” is part of the motion of clearing the ball though, he was reaching for the ball and that momentum made him leave his feet, it was a clearance with contact, not a dangerous tackle. No red for me, yellow justified

              2. Postman Ty
                • 9 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                I can't think of any high profile controversial cases off the top of my head but there's undoubtably been countless examples (without significant contact). Literally every clearance of a bouncing ball look at how it's hit; you don't kick a ball without follow through. Catching someone on accident who throws them self in the way, late, without getting near the ball is completely incidental to intent and shouldn't be considered evaluating a possible foul. The same way a random injury doesn't make one foul worse than the exact same challenge which doesn't happen to injure. Of course there has to be a line somewhere for recklessness but you have to ask the question - should he challenge for that ball? If the answer is yes (which I believe yes here), these types of things will happen every now and then. Unfortunate doesn't equal unfair.

      3. Tommy J
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        If Cooper kicked the ball before Jesus how did Jesus get there first? Unfortunately nowadays it’s purely about putting an opponent in danger which I guess he did but think it was a genuine attempt to clear the ball and a bit unlucky.

  16. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bamford Off

  17. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bam noo

  18. Flair
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Got to imagine KDB and Gundo come on now

  19. JJO
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ohhhh come on score that Stones

  20. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I think that was a margin call and certainly not one that VAR should be intervening with.

    Ruined what was Otherwise shaping up to be a great game

    1. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Agreed

  21. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    8 touches for Bamford and an assist.

    First on my bench for Mahrez!

  22. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Also classic example of slow motion making things look worse. Technology destroying football yet again

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dinosaur

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Dinosaurs were awesome and rendered extinct by circumstances beyond their control so I accept your compliment

    2. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No way that should have gone to VAR, it’s not serious foul play. It was a clearance which he got the ball and then caught the player, call on the field was fine

    3. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Is it just me or is that an extremely harsh red? He got to the ball first, made firm contact on the ball unchallenged, and I refuse to accept the term "high" when it's below the waist for a bouncing ball - is he supposed to dive to the floor to head it, can't use his hands? By this example attackers can just throw themselves at any player attempting to clear a bouncing ball and hope to get hit.

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It would be umpires call in cricket. The first instinct of the referee should be trusted rather than slowing everything down

      2. Keep Calm and Play On
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Bingo! Jesus foot was just as high, he just backed out of the challenge and too the contact. No way it’s a red

  23. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundogan (C), Bamford 1st sub.

    Rival: KDB (C), Dias - Bamford & Dallas 1st/2bd sub

    Couldn't write it really :/

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Gundo and KDB will come on surely

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not necessarily. Plus, that doesn't really help me either.

      2. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Would have thought the opposite

      3. Salan
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not surely, but probably, at least KDB.

  24. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Dallas and bamford benched cancelo and gundog in. this is a cruel joke.

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Is Gundo playing?

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What?

  25. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Should have gotten that red before Dallas goal 🙁

  26. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ref is 5 minutes into 3 minutes of added time...

    1. Muchentuchel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He's trying too hard to make City the winner of this.

    2. Says
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      3 minutes displayed, means 3 minutes minimum. There is no maximum.

  27. Lukakuna
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    See you guys next week, when the "Dallas/Bamford off the bench posts" have quieted down!

  28. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    No way to play Dallas this gameweek.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Third on my bench behind Saiss and Bamf. On 1 Neto pt.

  29. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I’ll be getting those jammy Dallas points off the bench, just keep picking his points up! Lol

    1. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Praying Dias doesn't come on and Shaw doesn't get any minutes. Same thing happened when I benched Shaw against Man City but there was no chance those points made it off the bench.

  30. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sterling (c) 2
    Salah (c) 42

    40 point swing looking likely