Dugout Discussion

Surprise benching for De Bruyne as Sterling and Aguero start

Amid fears of Pep Guardiola rotating members of his front-three for the Gameweek 5 trip to Norwich, he has gone to new levels of pulling the rug from under our feet.

While Sergio Aguero (£12.1m) and Raheem Sterling (£12.3m) both start for Saturday evening’s trip to Carrow Road, it was the presumed nailed-on Kevin de Bruyne (£9.8m) who has fallen foul of ‘Pep Roulette’.

After starting every Premier League match so far this season, the Belgian has dropped to the Manchester City bench, while Guardiola has chosen to deploy a central midfield trio of David Silva (£7.5m), Rodrigo (£5.5m) and Ilkay Gündogan (£5.3m).

While Sterling and Aguero both start this one, their owners may just have one eye on Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) among the substitutes with the Champions League group stages starting midweek.

With options relatively limited in defence, there were no surprises in the back-four named for this encounter.

Ederson (£6.1m) is supported at the back by Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.6m), Nicolas Otamendi (£5.4m), John Stones (£5.4m) and Kyle Walker (£6.0m).

Just as predicted by manager Daniel Farke in his Friday press conference, Norwich do indeed look very short of options in their own defence.

Ben Godfrey (£4.5m) has come through his groin injury picked up on international duty to feature at centre-back alongside defensive midfielder Ibrahim Amadou (£4.5m).

Their inclusion in the side does mean that at the very least, their fit full-backs are not called into central defensive action.

Jamal Lewis (£4.5m) features on the left with Sam Byram (£4.4m) getting his first start for the Canaries on the right.

Meanwhile, both Teemu Pukki (£7.0m) and Todd Cantwell (£4.8m) retain their places in the first team.

Norwich City XI: Krul; Lewis, Godfrey, Amadou, Byram; McLean, Tettey; Cantwell, Stiepermann, Buendía; Pukki.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Zinchenko, Otamendi, Stones, Walker; D Silva, Gundogan, Rodrigo; Sterling, Aguero, B Silva.

2,005 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Green Arrow
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Took a hit to bring KdB in. Lol @ me

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Me too man

    2. FPL_Gyarados
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Same. Sold Rashford and Siggy and got him and Barnes.
      Having terrible luck since GW2 this year. This week is ok though as I have Salah (c) and Mount and Robbo got an assist and AWB got a clean sheet.

      1. Green Arrow
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Same here. Brought in Haller this week thinking I'll get Tammy after the Liverpool game. Oh well.

        1. FPL_Gyarados
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Haller could be great though. 🙂

          1. Green Arrow
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I like your optimism 🙂

  2. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    TC Sterling lets gooooooo

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Good luck

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Not looking good so far?

  3. Rocky FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Only a Sterling hatrick can save my GW.

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

      Amen

    2. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      a long with an Aguero hatty, assisting each other for all the goals. And 7 for Norwich, Cantwell 4, Pukki 3. Assisting each other.

    3. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Four won't do it?

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

    Loosing the Ryan CS and Mount late goal is nice when opponent in h2h has him

    1. All de Gea no iDier
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Imagine the collective groan throughout the PFL world when Brighton scored though! Half of the big boys have the Pope.

      I had the armband on big ginger Kev all week and only gave it to Salah this morning. I was also crapping myself at bringing in Son for a hit as I had 'casually' forgotten that he was playing during the IB.

      Double lucky!

  5. Lucackadoodledoo
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    KDB owners thinking straight swap to Sonaldo?

    1. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      What? Why?

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I may captain kdb next week....

    2. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        No we don't get gw5 pts in gw6

        1. Lucackadoodledoo
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Aren't you clever

      • UnitedFan
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        It's just one week. We'll have to wait and see. City's group gets easier after Shaktar away so hopefully KDB gets rotated for group games after that ad plays the league mostly.

        1. Lucackadoodledoo
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Spurs good fixtures though.

    3. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Horrendous GW this.. Need about 10-12 goals in this Norwich-City game to have a chance to maintain rank

      1. Regin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Sterling (captain) and pukki brace? With zinchenko getting a couple of assists?

      2. windowview
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        What's your team?

    4. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Anything obvious to do here?

      Bank 0.0m, 2FT

      Ryan
      TAA, Digne, Zinchenko, Coleman
      Salah, Sterling, Dilva, Mount
      Wilson, Pukki

      Subs: Button, KWP, Deondocker, Martinelli

      1. Our Tiny Windows
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Consider Abraham?

        1. HNI
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          gtg. abraham looks good after liv match

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

        Wilson to Tammy
        Dilva to someone good

    5. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Not bothered about KDB missing. He is bound to miss games during the season, as are Aguero and Sterling. He is a good pick at £9.5m.

      1. Our Tiny Windows
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Aye. And will come on and assist.

      2. UnitedFan
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I agree.

      3. Regin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Now kdb will start all games till December right?

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I don't think so. I think he plays about 31/32 games in the PL if he stays fully fit. So I expect him to miss a few between now and the New Year.

      4. HNI
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        def keep for watford. Can maybe then shift for Son. good both these great fpl players at same price points

      5. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        No doubt, people need to chill

    6. Our Tiny Windows
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      This week has been so kind to me. Already 60+ with three city players to go. Finally a green arrow suuuurely. You know when all the suffering becomes worth it?

      1. MTPockets
          4 years, 6 months ago

          too soon

      2. tucaoneo
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Should have done KDB > Son

        1. Regin
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah. We are so foolish to get in kdb hype..

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

          Lol

        3. All de Gea no iDier
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          No. KdB AND Son. Both should be great value and enable a few quid to be spent elsewhere.

      3. Regin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        No mane, no son, no Abraham. Lise dunk cs in last minute. Kdb benched..
        Only positive kept rashford and AWB.
        I will accept nothing less than a sterling brace.. prefer a hattrick or 2 goals, 2 assists

        1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Own 2 of those after 4 horrendous weeks

      4. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Anybody know how to delete their FPL account?

        I waste so much of my time looking at content etc that it’s become an addiction that really isn’t fun anymore. When the fun stops. Stop.

        1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Marathon not a sprint. There will be good weeks

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Maybe so but I’m not even sure I care about good weeks anymore if you get me.

            1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Yeah probably good to quit then. Just enjoy watching

        2. DAZZ
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          When you stop worrying about rank, and concentrate on winning your Mini Leagues, that helped me

          1. All de Gea no iDier
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            That might make him feel worse 😉

          2. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Sound advice cheers.

          3. FPL_Gyarados
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Yeah I need to think like that right now.
            I'm keeping up with my cousin and beating my friend from work 🙂
            Overall? Not great. Barely made average the last 3 weeks. Week 1 was great though.

        3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I quit last season and I enjoyed football again. Reccomened a year out if you feel like that

          You can deactivate it tells you in the FAQ

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            This is my feeling too. Thank you much appreciated.

            1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Come back stronger next season. I looked forward to it again but I certainly didn't miss it at all.

              Good luck 🙂

              1. Athletic Nasherbo
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Top man. Appreciated. Actually feels like a weight off the shoulders.

                1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  Any time mate 🙂

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

          It can get like that mate. Best to take a step back sometimes and remember that it’s just a bit of fun. I sometimes fall into the trap then I step away and look at all the other things in my life. It’s only a game and good to have a reality check sometimes.

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Very difficult for myself to take a step back. Prefer to not have anything to go back to when I cave in.

        5. FPL_Gyarados
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          If you really want to delete it:
          1. Log in to your account
          2. Click on the home page for Premierleague.come
          3. Click on your name in the top right
          4. Click on manage profile
          5. Click on delete account

        6. F4L
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          doesn't help being on here. Doesn't matter who scores, there's always people on here who will own the player

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I don’t mind people on here to be honest. Like who am I to tell them to not celebrate etc when they do well.

            Straight up just don’t enjoy playing it and the time I waste putting into it because it’s an addiction is not good.

            1. Hitmonlee
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Fair enough mate. Best to walk away if it’s not fun.

              1. Athletic Nasherbo
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Ay cheers good luck!

            2. Cok3y5murf
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              This early in the season though, if you delete your account and then get withdrawal, you're going to have regrets and it's going to feel like ages before the next season starts.

              1. Athletic Nasherbo
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Yes might happen but I’d rather still enjoy watching football throughout the season.

            3. Markus
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              I've quit at about this point 3 seasons for that reason, not necessarily doing badly, doing reasonably well but just too engrossing. I've played 4 out of 10 seasons properly n that feels a better balance

              1. Athletic Nasherbo
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                That’s fair. Yes played seriously last 2 seasons.

        7. Four Hit Wonder
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Remember it's just a game of bingo. You pick your numbers and sometimes they are drawn, sometimes not. You can't predict who will score in FPL and who will not. Statistics don't do much.

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Absolutely agree don’t know why I spend so much time into FPL.

        8. Longlatini
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Chin up mate

          My live rank is now 2.5 million!

          Hoping an Aguero hat trick saves the day

          It is hard when Fpl takes up so much or your life/time when things don’t go well it does hurt.

          Just got to keep going though

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I do agree yes.

            Then I really think hard about why I need to keep going through... like the game isn’t fun anymore.

      5. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        The inner debate whether 3rd attacker should be Barnes, Wilson or Abraham is probably solved now.

        1. Hitmonlee
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I’ve Barnes and Pukki. Enough money for Abraham so I think my decision is made!

      6. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Kane owners must be fuming with that. 4-0, 1 assist, he isnt the same old dangerous fantasy asset. I used to be terrified of not owning Kane, not anymore.

        1. UnitedFan
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah, he's simply not the asset he once was. Surely they have to sell him now. Can't trust him with captaincy.

          1. DAZZ
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            2-3 seasons ago, home to Palace he was a prime captaincy candidate, probably #1 in the poll.

        2. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          It is not that Kane isn't the same IMO.

          It is that Spurs are not the same. They have transitioned away from relying on Kane. In a similar way that City transitioned away from relying on Aguero.

          1. learnedlizard
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            this.

        3. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Had a good game today, but he was genuinely a midfielder again.

      7. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I think back to a gameweek last season where I was having a shocker, before Sterling(c) hattrick turned it into a green arrow.

        More of the same?

        1. Hitmonlee
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Let’s hope so mate (hides face)

      8. theodosios
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Abraham's hatty means nothing with that YC and OG...

        1. El Matador
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Lol

        2. El Matador
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          14 points means nothing??

          1. theodosios
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            yc and og for a striker dude...that's insane

        3. Regin
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Didn't realise he got an own goal. Has there ever been a player who scored a hattrick and an own goal in one game?

          1. Markus
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Dunno, didn't mitrovic score a hattrick and get sent off on last day of season a few years back?

        4. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I would still take it lol

      9. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Ahhhh. V disappointed, honestly might just use my WC and go rogue. Cba

        1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          How rogue will you go hahaha

          1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Get Ozil, Jesus, Shaquiri and Sarr

        2. clodhopper
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Glad i didnt join any leagues this year less stress and im doing RUBBISH not bothered though

      10. BrutalLogiC
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        as a non-Sterling/Aguero owner and Salah captainer with only 10 fit players, I'm bricking it

      11. Captain_Shirokov
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Well done Mount, lively all game, late goal well deserved!

      12. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        What a depressing environment this forum is after a few strange results, cheer up a bit lads, jeez. Season literally started 4 weeks ago, there’s 8 months to correct things.

        1. Longlatini
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          100%

      13. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        At this point my OR is going from 25k to 175k...lovely.

        1. MTPockets
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Add a zero for mine

          • Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Nothing on me - 300k to 800k, Sterling(c) KDB Pukki Zinch Digne left 🙂

          • clodhopper
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Thats a great rank

          • Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            But what can ya do

            1. tiger
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Hoping for captain Sterling to do something incredible 😀

          • Longlatini
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            900k to 2.5 mill

        2. Z3US
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Who is the best 4.5m defender to go for please - need to do tonight before Abraham rise...

          Soy / Tomori??

          Have Pope in goal already so no Burnley.

          Thanks!

        3. FISSH
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Sterling (vc)

          KDB (C)

          KDB to come on with 2 mins to go

          1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            100%

          2. F4L
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            sadly for you I think he will. Silva doesn't play 90

        4. The Red Devil
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Definitely WCing GW7, load up on Chelsea attackers, maybe mane instead of Salah & triple city

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            May do similar, who knows.

          2. F4L
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            see how CL affects them. They just played 3 of the worst teams in the division

        5. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          VVD Jota and Sigurdsson to Lundstram Barnes and KDB (-4) in looked much better for this week pre deadline 😆

        6. SkeletONv01
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Get rid of AWB - bam 6 point, get rid of Rashford, BAM 6 points 😛 I will get rid, not for hits tho buds 😛

        7. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          TAA, Salah, Cantwell to 4.1, Mane, Son for -4?

          1. F4L
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            no. TAA will get >180 points this season, no one at his price point will come near

          2. La Roja
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            You’re few hours late for that pal

        8. TheSteel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Anyone worse than 15?

          1. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            How many? 19 from 7 for me. And KDB on the bench

        9. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Theres nothing surprising about KDB benching. I have no idea what I was thinking bringing him in on WC. Ive been saying all morning and yesterday that he would likely be benched and still kept him instead of Son. Absolutely braindead decision.

          1. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Bit of a whinge?

            But yeah, I brought him in for a hit rather than getting Son, too (not on WC).

            Ah well

            1. Brosstan
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Whinge at my own idiotic decision, yea.

          2. F4L
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            you'll want him for next GW, and the next, and the next. I wouldn't want to pre-plan transfers for future GWs when playing the WC

          3. Cok3y5murf
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Benching is a part of City assets and will happen once in a while. You'll still have KDB playing next week where he could outscore Son. How does one benching change anything about KDB's value?

            1. Brosstan
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              I could have brought him in next week.

          4. Alan Watts
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Every chance he comes on late and gets something....

            Trippled up here on Aguero, Sterling, KDB.....(took out Salah ha ha)

            TCd Aguero....

            Need a cricket score to save GW..

        10. GE
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Martial and Jota -> Mount and Abraham a bad idea before Liverpool next weekend?