Dugout Discussion

Gundogan back in City starting XI as Guardiola names strong side for Villa

After weeks of starting XI rotation around cup competitions home and abroad, Manchester City are back at something approaching full strength this evening.

The champions-elect take on Aston Villa in their delayed Gameweek 32 fixture, with kick-off in the Midlands at 20:15 BST.

Ilkay Gundogan has embodied that week-to-week uncertainty, having been benched in three successive league matches between Gameweeks 28 and 31.

The German is back in a Premier League starting XI this evening, along with Ruben Dias and a number of other high-profile, well-owned City assets.

Pep Guardiola has reacted to Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea by making eight alterations, although the likelihood is that he would have rung most of those changes anyway.

Gundogan, Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden return to the team after benchings at Wembley.

Ruben Dias, Rodri and Gabriel Jesus are the only survivors from the side that started the last match.

Kevin De Bruyne is not involved after limping off with an ankle injury on Saturday, with Sergio Aguero also absent once again.

The Villa team news is more straightforward, with Dean Smith making only one change to his starting XI.

It’s an enforced one, too, with Trezeguet out for the season after knee surgery and replaced by teenage midfielder Jacob Ramsey.

This is the youngster’s first league start at Villa Park.

Jack Grealish is once again absent with a shin injury.


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, Luiz, Traore, McGinn, Ramsey, Watkins.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Silva, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden.

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659 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo yellow

  2. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones down, Dias to go?

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

    Gundo red please lol

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

      Would be so sweet

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

        Did you take him out too? 🙂

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

          Weeks ago yeah

  4. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lol... What a hilarious YC for Gundogan.

  5. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundogan YC also. Hand on the ref.

  6. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Refs lost it.

    1. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Correct yellow. Stupid move by Gundog.

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

      He touched up the ref. Maybe a straight red if it was a woman? Lol

      1. Paul Psychic Octopus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Was it a man love thing? Or feeling for a wallet?

  7. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones, Gundo and Cancelo owner. Not working out as hoped.

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I owned those three too, until I sold Cancelo for White 😆

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        White > Shaw

  8. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    As a non city owner this is going swimmingly.

  9. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best £3.9m defender? Bryan, Amartey? Thanks

    1. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I went for Mitchell on the basis of *might* play in the likely upcoming CPL DGW and can sit 3rd on bench otherwise.

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

    People who ditched their Man City assets (principally those who got rid of KDB, Stones, Dias and/or Gundogan) on their GW31 WC are loving this.

    1. Monklane
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I am indeed.

      1. Calderano FC
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Ditto

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

      It's true.

    3. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      i ditched mine weeks ago

    4. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      So far so good.

    5. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes.

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

      Have dropped one of each of them over the last 3 gws. Finally a few decision going the right way.

    7. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Absolutely loving it indeed especially as the replacements like TAA and Lingard are doing so well.

    8. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Still have Dias but otherwise, yes.

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

    ref losing it

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

      More like City players losing it.

      Ref used VAR correctly. Ref also correctly gave Gundo a YC.

    2. #Swish41
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Incorrxt

  12. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones nailed for the European games now anyway.

  13. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones did that as a silent protest against the ESL. Have to respect him for that!

  14. Isco Disco
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jose would’ve won the cup final without Stones in that City defense

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

    Martinez
    Stones
    Gundogan
    What a players i have 😀 ?

    1. #Swish41
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ouch! All good on paper tbf

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

        Yeah this paper thing is not doing it for me last 6/7 gws
        Falling like a stones

  16. Rassi
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Come on, Watkins.

  17. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Can't f'in believe this GW , rank dropping like stone(s) at the moment..

    1. #Swish41
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Very good!

  18. #Swish41
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    All the Man City fans adamant Cooper was a straight red last week (correctly) now adamant Stones’ wasn’t...funny that. 100% correct decisions both.

  19. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Get Cancelo on!

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

    That Stones challenge was very similar to Liam Cooper's red card against City last GW. City players were surrounding the ref to get Cooper sent off. 😆

    1. #Swish41
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Karma my friend

  21. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    It’s a red. I remember Auba getting a red for a similar high foot. It’s soft but rules are rules.

    City will still win this

  22. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins or Richarlison?

  23. Pointless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How many games ban for Stones?

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

      3.

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

        Oh the final.

        2 in the league. Reds carry over, yellows don’t.

    2. #Swish41
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      3 league I believe

      1. #Swish41
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        So back GW37

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

      3 I think

    4. Pointless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thanks. That’s it then. I pull the WC trigger tonight! Cresswell, Stones out for 3, Raphinha, KaneSon blank. Can someone post the template WC team so I can cut and paste please.

  24. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo looking for a red.

  25. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Currently on -2 from 3 this half (Martinez, Stones & Gundogan)

    How is that even possible?

    Was hoping that this match could take me into the top 100 overall 🙁

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

      Brag?

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Odd one but clearly intended.

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

      Welcome to my team 🙂

  26. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Now looking forward to the commercials with Jose telling us he’s special.

    That ad hasn’t aged well...

  27. Peskey
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones to TAA tonight then?
    Can’t afford if price rises overnight

    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      F@&k yeah

  28. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones banned for 3 games. Laporte anyone?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      City always concede with Laporte.

    2. #Swish41
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      For GW33 blank...

  29. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    "Serious foul play" ; mistiming a challenge with nothing contact is not serious foul play. Joke.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 11 months ago

        You can't be serious man?

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          He's what 8 milliseconds from hoofing the ball into the stands?

          1. teddypicker
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            8 milliseconds makes all the difference. It was dangerous and reckless

        2. The Train Driver
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Just look at his past posts and you'll soon realise that he's either fishing for reactions or lacks a chromosome.

          1. #Swish41
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Gotcha. Wont waste my energy then...

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

            No I just actually know the rules . . same as the NBC commentators who both think its not a red card. Read them sometime, train journeys should allow for this.

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

          He posted in on the last page too & was a laughing stock

          Either brainless or a troll, neither are good reflections

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

        100% correct decision

      • #Swish41
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Didn’t you see Cooper last week? Rules is rules

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          That's the problem the RULES say that ISN'T a red card. Both NBC pundits agree not a red card.

      • Salarrivederci
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Can I have what you're smoking?!

        Clear red card 😀
        I can understand Pep's frustration, but everyone else should just be glad Ramsey still have his knee.

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ramsey who rolled around to make it look bad? Yeah, top bloke.

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

            If that was KDB, Kane, Antonio, Vardy or Rashford they would be out for months.

            Hope you got a free transfer to bring in another defender mate 🙂

            1. Bushwhacker
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              He's on the bench ; can stay there for a week or two!

              1. Bushwhacker
                • 4 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Good to see the ex-players in commentary teams explaining why it wasn't a red card.

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

                  Seems like Stones actually killed Ramseys knee. Poor lad.

                  1. Bushwhacker
                    • 4 Years
                    2 years, 11 months ago

                    Probably going to retire now.

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

      Can you imagine this england team with those two clowns at centre back

      Stones & Maguire... what could go wrong 😆

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Stones is a quality defender. There's nothing clown about that, it was a challenge that was late but a tiny fraction of a second.

        1. #Swish41
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          So much quality he couldn’t handle Stuart Dallas last week...

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

            Didn’t cover himself in glory for the Villa goal either

            Stones has amazing potential, but he’s played to that potential for less than 20 games in his career

            The other couple of hundred games he’s been far too scatter brained & is so prone to extremely costly lapses in concentration

            Might be better moving up & becoming a DM, not sure he has the head for the responsibility of being a centre back

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

            Oh he was all alone last week? Good to know.