Dugout Discussion

Aguero and Sterling start for City as Gracia rings the changes

The seventh match of a goal-filled Saturday takes place at the Etihad, as league leaders Manchester City face Watford.

Kick-off is at 17:30 GMT.

Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero are joined in a front three by Riyad Mahrez, who replaces the injured Kevin De Bruyne in the City starting XI.

Bernardo Silva drops back into central midfield to take the place of the sidelined Belgian.

Vincent Kompany deputises for the injured John Stones in defence, while Aymeric Laporte is fit enough for a place on the bench.

Leroy Sane is also among the substitutes.

Javi Gracia has rotated heavily for the trip to Manchester, making seven changes in all.

Kiko Femenia, Miguel Britos, Christian Kabasele, Adam Masina, Tom Cleverley, Isaac Success and Andre Gray all come into the side, as Adrian Mariappa, Craig Cathcart, Jose Holebas, Will Hughes, Roberto Pereyra, Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu make way.

Ben Foster, Daryl Janmaat, Etienne Capoue and Abdoulaye Doucoure are the only Watford players to keep their places.

Pep Guardiola’s side won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in December, when Mahrez registered his highest FPL score of the season (13 points).

Aguero was transferred in by over 125,000 Fantasy managers ahead of this Gameweek, despite City being without a fixture in Gameweek 31.

The Argentinean striker is the second-most-popular captaincy pick of this weekend, having been handed the armband by over 1.45 million FPL bosses.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Gündogan, Silva, Mahrez, Agüero, Sterling.

Watford XI (4-4-2): Foster, Janmaat, Britos, Kabasele, Masina, Kiko Femenia, Cleverley, Capoue, Doucoure, Success, Gray.

2,176 Comments Post a Comment
  1. grumpyman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    7 red arrows in a row, and this week I capped Stirling. Hard to find the words.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Boom

    2. fr3d
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Enjoy it man 😉

    3. Maddi Son
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      https://dictionary.cambridge.org/

      What kinda words you after?

    4. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      same, projected rank of 15k after sinking from inside 10k back to 50k over 5 painful weeks.

    5. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Well deserved, then!

    6. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Congrats!

    7. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Congratulations

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

      Thanks guys 🙂

    9. Make Arrows Green Again
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Oh! Is the gameweek over?

  2. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Any thoughts on mt team for 31

    Fabianski
    VanDijk Chilwell TAA Ake
    Anderson Hazard Salah Brooks
    Arnautovic Jiminez

    Hamer Rashford Doherty Pogba

    0FT 2.7m ITB

    1. how now brown cow
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      As an owner I can confirm fabs, fanderson and chilwell are all shite.

    2. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Rash to Vardy and ditch a def

      if you have chips left

      if not, then Arnie to Vardy

  3. whosBenj
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Currently have 5 starting next week, 6 with 1FT. How many hits would you take?

    My thoughts Peltier, Son, Kun > Robertson, Haz, Hig for -8 and 8 starting.

    1. Crouching Tiger
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I have 4 starting, so will obviously free hit. Do you have the chip left?

  4. Artemis Titans
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Finally after 4 (c) fails, dropped like a stone from 142k to 580k. Sterling (c)

  5. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Jimmy+son>vardy+fraser
    Or any other option

    1. whosBenj
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Like it

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Do it

    3. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  6. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Bad GW 11 from 5 thrown out from 2.4K to 5.4K. Fight for another day ...

  7. HurriKane
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Gutted. goodbye mini league hopes 🙁

    Me- Aguero(Cl Maddison

    Rival- Vardy Sterling(C)

    1. whosBenj
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      🙁

    2. drughi
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Thats rough, but that's ay the cookie crumbles

    3. Make Arrows Green Again
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah shame it's GW38

  8. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Why the heck have WBA sacked Darren Moore, what a joke

  9. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Which option?

    A) Rashford/Højbjerg to Wilson/Fraser

    B) Rashford/Højbjerg/AWB to Wilson/Brooks/Luiz for -4

  10. tucaoneo
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Glad I chickened out and moved armband from Vardy to Sterling. This match was a roller-coaster.

    1. whosBenj
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Either would've been nice...

  11. pressdpm
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Did Aguero have 3 shots on target today? Weird question I know.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      no

      1. pressdpm
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Shineonme
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      No only one on target I think ?

  12. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Which do you prefer:

    A) King/Wilson & Hazard

    B) Higuain & Mane

    From Liverpool Chelsea and Bournemouth i currently have Luiz, Robertson, Salah

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      A

      1. TheDragon
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks - with king or Wilson?

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Wilson

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

      A King

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        * sorry meant A Wilson

        1. TheDragon
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks - will probably go A given Bournemouth fixtures are so good 31 and 33.

          Is Wilson on penalties?

  13. ‘Tis the Season
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    with 6 to go and 69 ex bonus point caught my ML leader after being 59 point ahead. well chuffed!!!

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      He must be gutted

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        i am sure but managed to gain top spot from TC in Dec

    2. Butcher
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Did you create an account just to say that?

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        no been on here for this season. to be fair i have been active for some time

  14. Hughes the Daddy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Boak

    1. I'm out of name ideas
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I'm reasonably familiar with the Scottish vernacular but could you explain 'boak' to me please?

  15. Tomas Brolin ate all Depays
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Who could potentially have a blank gameweek 33 and when do we find out ?

  16. micsway
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    today i learnt that transfers may not pay off immediately so it pays to show patience, last week I brought in Vardy and Sterling for Son and Aguero, best move I've done all season.

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Wow

    2. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      how does this show patience pays off? quite the opposite in fact

      1. GREEN IS GOOD
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        oh sorry, you showed patience for a week, like.... wow

      2. how now brown cow
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah. I'm not understanding the moral of this story.

  17. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    The TC Chip is overrated ;), bench boost and FH are far more powerful 😀

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Lol depends who you triple captain!

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      indeed it is

    3. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      No, statistically not true. The TC and BB have very similar expectations based on historic scores among top 10k players. In addition, the TC needs no preparation whereas the BB has unseen costs. The TC is more valuable than the BB, no doubt of it.

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        TC is extra 16 if you catch it perfect but BB Is almost like minimum extra 16 points! But you have a point here I agree..

        1. Ruth_NZ
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Seriously... every season I make an analysis of the top 12 teams and a cross-section of the top 20k. The averages achieved in both groups over 2 seasons are virtually equal between TC and BB but that's the headline score only - what they achieved the week they played it.

          The BB has invisible costs, however, because you have to prepare to field 15 players and then unwind from that. It usually involves hits and/or the use of a wildcard to support it. The TC has none of those hidden costs.

          Give me only one and I'll take the TC every time. I agree that the FH is better than either, though, because you can guarantee a return from it pretty much.

          1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            Those are realtor valid points, it makes a lot of sense.. well yeah it is a bit misleading tbh.. I just blew my TC on Aguero today for 5 points haha so was trying to console myself maybe..

            1. Ruth_NZ
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 8 months ago

              Ah, OK. Didn't know that. Should have realised maybe.

    4. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Join the club 😀
      We've got one less thing to worry about now !

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        : D

  18. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Anderson to Fraser ?

    1. fr3d
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah

    2. how now brown cow
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I'd swap Anderson for a fruit bowl right now.

  19. Hughes the Daddy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    The law also says deliberate handball Peter but you still think Man u PSG was a penalty lol.

  20. Crouching Tiger
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    And now the FH template planning begins...

  21. Ronnies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    2 free transfers...

    aguero & pogba >>> vardy & hazard ?

    Thanks guys

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  22. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    anyone activated fh chip yet?

    1. Crouching Tiger
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Soon soon, need to think this through and see what happens in games tomorrow.

    2. fr3d
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      In 7 days 😮

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

      About to deactivate my fpl account lol

  23. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Aguero + Jimenez -> Higuain + Vardy (-4)? Have to make atleast Aguer -> Vardy today if I want both

    1. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      just do Aguero to Vardy now then, and wait for Higuain as long as possible

  24. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    After Sterling (c), I can afford a bit of a chuckle as a Lascelles owner that, despite the big Lascelles/Schar debate a few weeks back, it looks like neither of them will start in GW31.

  25. The Senate
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Looking like 62 after bonus, 6 players left, first sub has 9 - is that alright?

    1. jam
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Oh puhlease.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      When something ends in "is that alright" or "any good", it normally is.

  26. Niho992
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    For third time in season Sterling most points in GW. Underratted champion.

    1. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      GW not over yet. Salah may contest that. 😉

      1. Where has all the rum gone?
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Liverpool got to turn the throttle, klopp better play Shaq...

  27. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy/wilson/king?

  28. Eytexi
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    FH32 so 1FT to burn:
    No WC so also prepping for DGW35.

    Boruc.
    TAA, Robbo, Clyne, Chilwell.
    Mané (C), Hazard, Barnes.
    Vardy, King, Arnautovic (VC).

    What to do with FT?
    A) Sell Clyne (even though Smith injured).
    B) Sell Arnie (even though should start).
    C) Something else to that eleven.
    D) Use to prepare bench for DGW35.

  29. Danstoke82
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Current team;

    Alisson
    Robertson Laschelles Chilwell
    Salah Anderson Brooks Puncheon
    Vardy Jimenez* Aguero*

    Subs; Speroni Pogba Bednarek Doherty

    4.4ITB

    These moves yay or nay?

    Doherty + Jimenez > Clyne + Wilson?

    Will give me 10 players for 31 and 33. Plan to FH in 32.

  30. Sonder
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Quick advice please:

    Aguero or Vardy?
    Brooks or Fraser?

    Thank you!