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. 4toon31
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    So with Murray and Arnautovic both going off injured in the first half and Aguero already injured I now have no forwards. What is life?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Wildcard

      1. 4toon31
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yep because I definitely haven't used it already...

    2. Ghost Gooner
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Unlucky

    3. jezstatham
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Baby dont hurt me

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

    Where's Leroy come from?

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      His mom I reckon.

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      The nightmares of non-owners.

    3. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Shelbyville

  3. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Mahrez is such a downgrade from Sterling.

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      "Raheem Sterling, he's top of the league."

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

      He created 2 100% chances in 30sec
      He is so bad

  4. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Is it just me or Walker seems to have put on some weight.

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Bulked up.

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I think I was just paying attention to his arse then.

    2. janowsc
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Big boi

  5. balint84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    duffy-arnie-awb... definitely wildcard situation

    1. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Same but with Hennessy instead of awb

  6. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hats of to Numb who brought Fabianski this week

  7. Pooodle
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Raising my hand for an early rough with the smooth after taking my first hit of the season after two horrendous weeks to remove Hazard, Gudmundsson and Aguero for Fraser, Sane and Kane (c).

    Shame about Arnie, AWB and Laporte though...!

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

      Has yet to haul

      1. Pooodle
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks for the support...

        Got Sane's goal in the bag so I'm pretty happy there. Even if Haz scores I'm likely to pretty much break even on that one transfer plus I'm getting Fraser's big haul and whatever Kane brings in is now a bonus.

  8. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sane, Mahrez and Fraser prettying up my team nicely.

  9. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Oh, wow. My nearest ML chaser has Aguero (c), Sterling (v), Arnie, Laporte and played bench boost with Brooks, AWB and Gunnarson (and Fabs). Weird dude.

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Like crazy smart!

      1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        There's a lot going on there, at least 😀

  10. jam
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    What a horror week. No Sane, Fabs, Wilson or Fraser.

    Do have Arnie though. Yay.

  11. Planet Head
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    OR just went to 8k for the first time since GW1. When do I get to start an FPL Twitter? 🙂

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I look forward to your FPL podcast.

      1. Planet Head
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        You're the 2nd person today who's said that.

        According to my calculations, there's a high chance at least one of you might not be being sarcastic

  12. Pigsinblankets
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Brought in Fabianski but took out Fraser on the wildcard, rough and smooth!

  13. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Haz > Sané will be popular if haz blanks v Wolves

    Sané triple rise likely

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Did that move this week.

      Hope it pays off with a Haz blank

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      That's not likely before City v Chelsea

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Th masses won’t look at fixtures, or likelihood of rests etc.

        They’ll see his points and his price tag and jump on board.

        It’s not a bad thing tbf

  14. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    All im saying... Arni commuted the foul for the pen that fab saved and will likely get 5 points and 3 baps for. So Arni got me 9 points this week? Ty 🙂 happy owner

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      First year playing, right 😉

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yupp. Why?

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Rondon a good three week punt for Arnautovic?

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      have you seen him play?

  16. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Fabianski - 7
    Sane - 6
    AWB - 0
    Arnautovic - 0

    Not sure if happy/10

    1. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Exactly same here. I am quite happy to be honest. Arnie obvs gone before next GW to though!

      1. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, swings and roundabouts.

        Think I would prefer Anderson anyway so that forces the move.

    2. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      AWB 0
      Arnie 0
      Wilson 8
      Balbuena & Laporte not playing

      You should be happy!

  17. dee_top
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Good move for -4 to do now to catch price rise?
    Arnie+Salah to Kane+Fanderson??

    1. dee_top
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Done!

  18. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Shocking, shocking GW. Like truly grim.

    But thankfully it's another GW in just a few days. Think I'd be suicidal if we now had an international break.

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Omg same, this is depressing...

    2. jam
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      With you.

  19. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Clear Ryan assist??? Wth why they taking so long

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Dunk wants his assist

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Was it really?

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Busy comparing it to Sané's assist.

  20. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    How bad is Arnie injury?
    Becoming too much of an injury problem anyway and needs to go?

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Hamstring. I'm selling tonight.

    2. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Must go

    3. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He’s done for.

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Who for tho??

        Have Auba and Wilson

  21. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    On -7 so far this gw. (-8) + 1 😀 Great!

  22. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Mahrez after ruining HoleBAPs 😆

  23. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Was planning Arnie and Hazard to Auba and Anderson. Is Sane and Laca a safer bet?

  24. bitars
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Changed captain to Arnie just before deadline, now this!!!

    I literally hate this Captan mode in this Game. GW is over!

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Risky tho...I always tend to captain the most expensive (best) player on my team...

    2. zon
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Captaining a hammers player is never wise.

  25. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Duh I hope Salah doesn't blank

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      At this rate he’ll score, concede a peno and punch the ref.

  26. mr. inconspicuous
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Arnautovic and Salah to Auba and Sane?

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I'm doing it, getting Alli and Auba and shipping Salah and Hamstrie out.

  27. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    GET A GOAL DILVA

  28. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Currently 17 from 4 (including an Arnie 0), couldnt be happier

  29. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Foster playing an absolute blinder of a 1st half there.

  30. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Wish I had my WC available
    Duffy, Murray, Arnie