Dugout Discussion

Sterling and Laporte benched as Guardiola rings changes

Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) has been benched for the third time this season as Pep Guardiola rang the changes for Manchester City’s trip to Watford.

That will be of huge frustration to those who have signed him off the back of his recent incredible form.

However, the England international was not the only important player left on the bench by Guardiola with ever-present Aymeric Laporte (£6.1m) named there for the first time this season.

Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) and Vincent Kompany (£5.2m) were the two that came in for them.

Elsewhere in the side there was a return for Kyle Walker (£6.5m) and Fabian Delph (£5.3m) at full-back and David Silva (£8.7m) in midfield.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus (£10.1m) and Leroy Sané (£9.4m) kept their places in the attacking line.

Opponents Watford made just one change to the side that lost to Leicester with the suspended Etienne Capoue (£5.1m) replaced by Nathaniel Chalobah (£4.5m).

In the earlier kick-offs David Brooks (£5.1m) returned to the Bournemouth side while Laurent Depoitre (£5.2m) replaced the suspended Steve Mounié (£5.8m) for Huddersfield.

Crystal Palace named an unchanged side from the one which beat Burnley while Glenn Murray (£6.7m) came back in for Brighton.

Finally, Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m) was named on the bench for West Ham while Felipe Anderson (£7.1m) and Marko Arnautovic (£7.2m) both start.

The Line-Ups

Bournemouth XI: Begovic; Daniels, Aké, S Cook, Francis; Fraser, Lerma, L Cook, Brooks; King, Wilson

Huddersfield XI: Lossl, Kongolo, Billing, Zanka, Schindler, Hogg, Hadergjonaj, Durm, Mooy, Pritchard, Depoitre.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo; March, Pröpper, Bissouma, Izquierdo; Groß; Murray.

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; McArthur, Kouyaté, Milivojevic, Meyer; Townsend, Zaha.

West Ham XI: Fabianski; Antonio, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku; Snodgrass, Rice, Noble, Felipe Anderson; Chicharito, Arnautovic.

Cardiff City XI: Etheridge; Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson; Camarasa, Ralls, Arter, Hoilett; Paterson.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Stones, Delph, Fernandinho, D. Silva, B. Silva, Sane, Mahrez, Jesus.

Watford XI: Foster; Kiko Femenía, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas; Doucouré, Chalobah; Hughes, Pereyra; Deeney, Success.

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2,957 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Wildcard fail. 😥

    1. woodles
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Was always gunna be such a risky GW to wildcard

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

      What’s the team you have?

    3. AandyzZ
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Why would you wildcard on a GW like this

      1. DeathoftheParty
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        3 weeks ago everyone was bumming off this week to WC... There was even an article about it.

      2. InTommyWeTrust
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Because I was happy to. Only Laporte not starting for me and a strong bench to cope with the next few weeks of madness

      3. Black Knights
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        What do you mean? No Aguero, possibly no mané, no Robbo, plus the emergence of spurs fixtures and arsenal...

    4. Typo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      how is it?

    5. jg7u
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Is it a fail after one GW?

    6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      just looked at your team

      it's far from a fail, what are you talking about?

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        You looked at his team. That's what he wanted.

        1. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Not at all. Trying to squeeze Trippier in late this afternoon ruined everything.

      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I was totally panicked in the short turnaround.

        The crazy price changes stopped me going back and forth on players because I was all of a sudden 0.1 out.

        Far too many rotation risks and a weak bench.

  2. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Sane (C) massive haul incoming.

    1. TAT
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Need this!

    2. BigCoupes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      heres hoping

    3. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Happy with that. As long as we also see some (K)ane action.

  3. R.C
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Ideally best week to wildcard

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      2

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

    COME ON MY PLAYERZ

  5. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Baldy fraud

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      He wants all four in the cabinet

    2. barcaa7
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Best ever

  6. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone with Aguero Sterling Laporte?

    1. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      someone in my mini league has, but i can't see what changes he has made this week until the game updates. Fingers crossed he has kept all 3!!

    2. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Just Aguero, KDB, Mendy and a 56kbps modem.

      1. DeathoftheParty
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Season 18/19 comment winner. Bookmark.

  7. R.C
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Game updated!!

  8. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Hoping Balbuena and Laporte dont make sub appearances

    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Cheeky headed goal with a minute left for Balbuelo would make me believe in Santa again.

  9. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Exact money tonight for hazard and Arnie to auba and fanderson - 4

    Priced out by the morning . Worth the gamble??

    Fab 4m
    Alonso TAA schindler awb vinagre
    Sterling sane hazard richi camarasa
    Kane arnie jiminez

    Thanks

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Watch the Wham game tonight first

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

      No

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I'm watching city

        If fanderson not injured think I'll do it.

    3. DROP IT LIKE IT'S HART
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn't sell Arnie after his hatty against Cardiff. I have him him C btw.

  10. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone know who I play in the FFS Cup?

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      cup next week

  11. AccountAnt80
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling & Laporte owner here \o/

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

      woof

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

        meow

    2. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      o/

  12. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Scenes when Hazard, Son and TAA are rested tomorrow 😮

  13. Marcus74
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    If memory serves me right guys Pep doesn’t usually bring Sterling off the bench in games much? Thoughts?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hoping a 1-pointer

      1. InTommyWeTrust
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        On late in search of a goal 🙂

    2. drughi
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      depends on how much points you have on bench, last week he brought silva on just to hinder my 10 points from Duffy

      1. 4-6-0
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        The struggle is real. I had Gunnarsson.

  14. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Anybody else play wildcard and pick Sterling?

    Gutted I could have had silva instead

    1. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      No but I'm picking him up on WC this week.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        This

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

      For the best long term though

    3. DROP IT LIKE IT'S HART
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      And you think Silva will not be rested too?

    4. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      yep, picked players i was comfortable with coming on while rotation was a risk too so not fussed about him missing tonight

    5. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      You did good. Sterling will outscore Silva this season.

  15. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    All i want tonight is Wilson and Sane blanks. Come on.

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I want the complete opposite.

    2. Udo
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      And then there is me, only wanting Sane to do well!

  16. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I have 0 City players playing tonight now. Cue 6-0 win and massive red arrow

  17. Boz
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    If Robbo and Alonso don't play as predicted I gave Kiko Fermina coming in off the bench. I'm fearing it could be a negative score

  18. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    So I've just discovered something a touch upsetting

    If you play your free hit, it overrides any previous transfers that week. Or so it appears. So I brought in Auber, but when I decided to free hit, it appears my team will revert to the team at the last deadline. So I will have missed a triple rise

    Is this really correct

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

      Yep, sorry.

      1. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        That's pretty rotten. I've just eaten best part of -£1m swing on my team. Why on earth would it work that way. I'd confirmed the transfers days before.

        Gutted

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

          They use the same mechanics as the rest of the game instead of reprogramming it for how you might think a FH should work. E.g. both WC and FH don't allow you to roll over a transfer; both include transfers/hits from the same week, prior to you pulling the trigger; etc

          Arguments can be made either way for how it should be, but this is just the way it is. 😐

          1. Pacer.
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Ah well. It may even turn out for the best.

            Good luck

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Yes that's why I just took a minus 8. Couldn't afford to revert back.

    3. Udo
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      As far as I remember yes. Had the very same situation last year.

    4. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      FH is a blessing and a curse

    5. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Ah well. On the plus side, I get to dip my toes in the Kane (C) pool without having rearranged my team

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

        That's the blessing 🙂

    6. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      You should have known this

      1. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Well, you say that. But we all can't know EVERYTHING haha

      2. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I brought in 4 players

        Fabs
        Anderson
        Sterling
        Auba

        If they all get crocked I may feel differently

  19. On your left
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Em, has anyone else’s

  20. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Someone in one of my leagues triple-captained Wilson ... Gulp

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Just all part of the puzzle!

  22. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Done Mane to Sane for a minus 4 last minute. Should work out mj shouldn't it?

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      yes should

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Depends on what the Mane autosub scores.

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Bench was extremely light so worth the punt.

  23. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Balbuena and Laporte benched. GW started awesome!!!

  24. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    For the first time this season, my team has got atleast one player from every fixture this GW ☺️

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      fulham leicester?

      1. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Just brought in Chambers(4.2) to facilitate Kane movie. Oop defender..might be in points soon

  25. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    At least sterling is the most offensive player on bench. If city will struggle i can see him play

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hoping for a 1 point cameo.

    2. GianniBanani
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      This!

  26. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Where is the info about Alonso possibly being benched? I can't find the reason anywhere

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

      Heard he wasn't wearing a bib or something.

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A . Bad back
      B . He was crap last game.

  27. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Just need 5 goals from Mahrez to make up for all wrongdoings

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      It's not Christmas just yet 😉

  28. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Aguero and Hazard to Sane and Kane (c) on Sunday night has been a good success before a ball is even kicked. Now for some points. Cmon Sane

  29. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Come on you Cherries!

  30. Shaikh91
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    My ML rival has captained aguero and vc sterling...