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. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Not sure how much of a "surprise benching" this is for De Bruyne...

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

      I agree

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

      About as surprising as the surprise benching for Raz next week

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

      It's always a risk with Man City players. KDB will play most gameweeks so odd benchings we just have to take on the chin. Could easily be Sterling or Aguero benched next week.

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

      Expected surprise?

  2. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    hi my name is bruce lee and i took a -4 hit to get de bruyne in

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

      😀

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

      Hi Bruce.

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

      Hiii Bruce.

      “Welcome to the party, pal”

      1. Artemis Titans
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Did you c like me? 20-25mins pep said.

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

          Nah. Sterling c for me.

          Pep said what?

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

      G’day Bruce. Unlucky!

  3. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Disappointed in AWB. If he's not going to get baps with a CS, what's the point of him?

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

      🙂

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

      You got a cs? No other United defender did anything did they? What was the compromise exactly?

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

    Wow - just checked scores. Congrats Tammy owners.

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

      Made my day a little bit better

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

    Martial and Jota -> Mount and Abraham a bad idea before Liverpool? :/

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

      Yeah

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

        What would you do instead? 😉

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

          Depends on your team

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

            2FT, 0.0 itb

            Pope
            VVD/Digne/AWB/Zinch
            Salah/Sterling/KDB/Martial*
            Pukki/Jota

            Bench: Button, Lundstram, Dendoncker, Wickham

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

      if they turn up against Valencia midweek, possibly not. Jota needs to go

    3. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Surely hold Martial now if you kept him this long?

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

        That was only because I could see a CS from Lundstram this week

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

    Not considering to captain Salah in the near futute. Considering to get Son in for him. Yay or nay?

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      As a son owner - Yay

      😎

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

      yes if you make use of the extra 3 mil.

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Go

      Have been cautious with Son but when he starts firing you go all in

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

      What i wanted to hear. Thanks fellas

    5. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Any other Liverpool attack? Then no

  7. davies
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Crazy to wildcard with 2 FT’s?

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

      No, dont think so

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

      It can't be that bad surely?

    3. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      absolute madman

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

      Nope, did it GW3

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

      Depends on the state of your team. You could use the 2FT and take one hit instead and it would be like a 'Mini-wildcard' for your team.

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

      Need team but a minus 8 almost certainly gets you there no?

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

    Both Mount and Abraham to go up .2 each again this week?

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Not sure about Abraham if he gets flagged it could put people off him.

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

        Was it a bad injury?

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

          No just a cramp

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

            Ah ok cheers

    2. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Mount 0.1 Abraham 0.2, then they will both rise again the following GW

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

        After their blanks vs Liverpool?

        1. Nabs Kebabs
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          yep...look at their fixtures pool

          1. Nabs Kebabs
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            after*

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

              I don't have as much faith that people won't just sell them. So much recency bias. Someone else will score a brace and people will get them instead.

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

      Nah, .1 each maybe. Liverpool next.

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

        Overestimating FPL community I suspect there

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

    Kun will want to take back the golden boot throne from Tammy tonight.

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

      Norwich defensive masterclass against him incoming.

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

        😆

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Sterling*

      😉

    3. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Hopefully hatrick please captain KUN

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

      Please Sergio!

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

    Anyway, bye bye Jota. Stinking up my team for two long now.

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

      Oh yes. I lost patience last week and ditched for Barnes+ money ITB.

      Shame it wasn’t for Tammy but oh well

  11. Skalla
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Finally joined the Pukki party this week , hopefully not too late 🙂

  12. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Haller > Abraham to catch Chelsea's nice run of fixtures and beat the inevitable points rise?

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

      Can you stomach the Liverpool game?

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

      Chelsea play Liverpool next.

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I seemed to have missed where Liverpool are defensive juggernaut they were last year.

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

          1 cs in 5

    3. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Will he rise with pool being the next ?

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        !. Haller has ManU next.

        2. Liverpool can't seem to find a clean sheet

        3. Sometimes you gotta take a little pain to get the goods

        4. Have to take a chance in life every now and then

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

        Of course - hatties always rise. Think Kun did last time before a blank or if not him it was someone else

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

      since when have you had Haller? So many good options in that price bracket, you'll just end up chasing points if you keep shifting between them

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

      Do you think he'll score against Liverpool?

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Do I think Haller will score against Man U? That .3 could really come in handy later on though as opposed to maybe .1 if I wait a week

    6. nxh84
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Will you be changing Abraham back to Haller again if he don’t score against Liverpool?

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not with the run of fixtures Chelsea have after the Pool match

    7. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I think it's worth doing it. Abraham has shown enough that we're all gonna want him. May aswell get him in as cheap as you can. Chelsea have actually been extremely impressive and can see them scoring against Liverpool so there's every chance he gets something out of that game.

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        As much of a chance of him scoring Vs. Pool as Haller scoring against ManU

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

    Was Tomori a one-off or will Lampard use this wb system going forward?

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

      Started last week too I heard?

      Plus the WB system worked, so...

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

        4.5 would be pretty compelling, even in this Chelsea defence.

    2. st4rty
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Lamps used the WB system on the basis Alonso can't play in a back four and Tomori in the three next to him nullified that side.

      Once Emerson is back, I expect it to be dropped. Tomori could nail down a place over time, though.

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

        Thanks for the insight.

  14. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    2 weeks and hours spent thinking about the wc, and you end up pretty much making every incorrect decision on the 50/50 calls.. bloody typical.

    Whole reason I triggered it initially was the need to get in KDB ffs, am sure it will pay off in the long run having him!

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

      I made some bad decisions too.

      I had 2 FTs a few weeks back and decided to use both to sell Vardy+Robinson to get Moutinho+Rashford.
      Rashford missed a penalty while Vardy scored his first goal of the season. Next week. Vardy 2 goals. Rashford nothing. Moutinho didn't start one game and Robinson came back and scored his first goal of the season.

      My other plan was use 1 transfer and swap Robbo for TAA so I missed out on 2 assists and bonus also.

      Easily a 40pt swing over 2 weeks because of my one decision.

      I spent 4 to get KDB this week too.
      Sold Rashford+Siggy and got KDB+Barnes.
      Rashford scored again (I had him the only weeks he blanked now in the first 5 gws). Barnes did nothing and KDB benched.

      My luck is out at the moment. Barely making average week 2-4.

      Hoping my fortune changes soon. Did ok this week overall so far as I kept AWB and had Salah(c) and have Mount.

      Lot of ups and downs this year I think.

  15. Pia06rc
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    If I have Sterling but not captain, will my rank go up or down if he scores points (currently c70k OR)?

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No. 80% EO

      1. Pia06rc
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        It will stay the same or go down?

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

      Probably down at that rank I'd guess

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

      down

    4. Pia06rc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers!

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

      No, looks like he has about 80% EO so points are good for your rank.

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

        Ah great, is that EO of top 100k though, would have thought higher but I guess quite a few might have aguero if done well so far

  16. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    knee jerk barnes to abraham?

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

      No

    2. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tammy injured

      1. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        He had a cramp. Don't really think that's much of an injury

    3. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Well imo it’s a safer choice as plays for a better team

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

    Why is son price 2m less than Mane? Been thinking about this for a while and it makes no senaste to me

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

      Sense*

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

      Mane being top scorer last season. Son never really plays a full season so he doesn't have a consistent record of getting north of 200 points and commanding such a premium price

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

        Yeah, Son is not a season keeper but when he plays he scores and assists plenty.

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

        Son is hit and miss, spurs lose to people like Newcastle, he's consistently just under 200 when not injured so 9.5m is about right value (ie needs to improve on previous average to justify cost)

  18. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    This is bad.
    12 points and Kdb benched. Omfg

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

      on 16 so not much better... 6 to play inc kdb

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Could be worse, could be less than 12.

  19. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Sterling x 4 goals.

    Kun missed penalty and red card.

    Zinchenko brace of assists.

    And whilst I'm at it, a Papa John's and six numbers on the lottery

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

      Il take this as Salah captained

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

      This ans a Pukki brace

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

      I like this...

  20. st4rty
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Son, Tammy and Mane. 8)

    Now for Sterling (c) to do the biz.

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

      Wow, that's some serious points. Well done

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

      Well played

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Crikey! Well played.

      Sterling blank would be in line with probabilities of all 4 hauling 😉

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

      Nice

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

      Nice one!

  21. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Worth having a defence of Otamendi and 4.5s for this...?

    Mane, Sterling, KDB, Son
    Haller, Abraham, Pukki

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

      no TAA the most essential player in the game

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

    How to fit Sterling, Mane, KdB, Son and Mount into the one midfield....

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

      Cheap defence

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Playing 352

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

      You can't, just choose 1 of KDB or Sterling and you might be able to fit in the rest by going cheap 5th mid and cheap in either defence or forwards.

    4. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tammy, Barnes up front and cheap def

  23. Skalla
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pep prefers 25-30 min for KdB today so likely to be subbed on

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

      Silva off at 65

    2. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I hope that he can do smth for that 25-30 mins 🙁

  24. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Callum Wilson for Abraham (already have Mount)

    1. Si
    2. No

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yes.
      Having Mount means nothing.

  25. Plant Based FPLer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    -4 for kdb here too. Did Roy Hodgson's bus rental not come through? 4-0?

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

    Might just become a professional scout pick player. 🙂

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

      Your prediction, mate... Thankfully, I benched your boy, Lundstram 🙂

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

    This match has been talked up so much that it wouldn't surprise me if it finished 1-0 or 2-1 to City or something

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Norwich city yeah? Lol

  28. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    And with another Djenepo masterclass, we get the three pts and sneak to 10th. 3 away wins in a row, first time since 1986.
    Away wins, we're actually winning games away from home as a habit for once. Color me surprised, what a change Ralph has brought on the club. So many good performances today, and we rode our luck at times, but happy nonetheless. We March On!

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

      Did you go to the game mate? Like to know what you thought...

      You took your chance tbf, we had several but such poor finishing. Defo a red card aswell imo. Think a draw would've been fair but Djenpo and Boufal looked v threatening.

  29. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    what's the deal with this Tomori character...didn't realise he played last GW too

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

    Let's go, David Silva! Moura replacement.