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. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Robbo, Vardy and Martial to Ota, Abraham and KDB for -4?

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

      Yes. With kdb benched today, he will be nailed for some time

  2. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Barnes -> Tammy

    No brainer?

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

      Not a no brainer. Barnes vs Norwich, Tammy vs Liverpool.
      That Said, considering the same move

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

      Not if you have to ask.

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yes, great fixture for Tammy next weekend

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

        Ever think about form?

        1. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Can’t see Barnes get past the Norwich defense, go for it chief

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

      If he isn’t injured yes. Although I like Barnes and would happily keep him I would rather a Chelsea forward than a Burnley one

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

    City are going to score 10

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

      Against Man City? I doubt it.

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

        You make me laugh a lot. I love you

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

          Get a room

          Jeez

    2. Party time
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yes Yes Yes!!!

      • TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Need KDB for that.

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

          This

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

          Not really

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            You'll see.

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

              😀

    3. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      When do the stats in the members area update to include the current GW?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Should be already.

        1. sully29
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Good to know, thanks!

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

      Lets do this! D.Silva and Sterling owner here.

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

        Let's go!

    5. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tammy bought by 100,000 so far this gameweek

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        WCers getting their 0.1 profit.

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

        I will have triple Liverpool and no Chelsea for next week. New owners in for a 2 pointer next week.

    6. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      LMS safety score currently 16

      https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

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

      That Mount goal was a killer

      1. Party time
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Wolves are finished

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

            Wolves. as a club, are a bit thin on the ground.

      2. Weeb Kakashi
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        WC or not to?

        Pope
        Robbo Otamendi Coleman Montoya Lundstram
        Salah Sterling KDB
        Rashford Haller

        Dendo Cantwell Wickham

        Need to WC
        1 need a formation change
        2 Tempted to get Tammy and Son in
        3 Salah and Robbo> Mane and TAA

        Thoughts?

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

        Carrow road the place to see goals this season.

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

        Would like to see Farke make sure none of his three keepers concedes more than two.

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

          Come on Krul, game of your life, you've got double competition

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

        A. Robertson
        B. Aurier + 2M

        I was one of the few who held Robertson. I know he couldve had a goal today, but now fixtures dont look good and at this point i think the spare cash will be better + aurier looked amazing and only 4.9M

      6. LewanGOALski
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Kane and King to which 2 FWDs?

        17.5 mln to spend
        Already have Pukki

        thx

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

        Barnes has Norwich at home and and top of transfers out

        Tammy has Liverpool and top of transfers in

        Crikey

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

          I think I'm getting Barnes in this week.

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

            You sir, are an anti casual

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

              Not according to my rank thank you very much.

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

                😀

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

          Chelsea are a better team

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

            Steady on fella

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

          Well

          But consider how sterile Burnley are and that their do called great fixture run is simply against teams around them or slightly better than them and then look at how many goals Vheksea are scoring and who’ve they have

          Mid term absolute sense

        4. The Chosen One...
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          tbf Liverpool don't keep clean sheets

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

        Get Tammy for

        A) Pukki
        B) Haller

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Let both play.

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

          Pukki or Haller lol

          You put them in for a reason and Norwich / Pukki will likely score more than Burnley

          And as for Haller he plays for West Ham who again expect to be better than Burnley again

          1. Bartowski
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            What does Burnley have to do with it?

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

        8-2 Man City win I think

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

          6-1

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

          Pukki scoring 8! 0 0!

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

        Well done Norwich, 3 minutes so good

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

        Callum Wilson to Abraham?

        1. Now
        2. After the march with Liverpool

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          After midweek maybe.

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

        Haller to Tammy now?

        Or wait until Monday and miss the rise. If Haller got two attacking returns I would hold for one more week at least

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

          Haller hasn’t even played yet

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

            Pointless comment

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

          When did you even get Haller in? He's not done anything wrong!

      13. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Classy female Norwich fan

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

          Delia?

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

          Wayne is that you

      14. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Well done to Abraham owners what a season he's having

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

          I owned him for the first 2 weeks and then sold him, does that count?

          1. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Definitely not haha hard luck !

      15. NWallis
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        When I see Zinchenko I pretend it's KdB. Makes me feel better.

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Until he passes the ball out of play

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

            Hah!

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

        Anyone saw Abrahams "injury"? Think he is out for a week or more?

        1. DR0GBA
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          seemed like it was just cramp, and he came off as there was no point risking him with the game already won

          Chelsea play midweek so see what happens then

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

            Game was not shown in my country and could read he was forced of due to bad landing according to the first news articles..

            1. DR0GBA
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              I watched a stream... he jumped up and as he landed he felt something in his leg.

              He was walking fine after it and didn't go down the tunnel or anything so he will most likely be fine for next GW

        2. MTPockets
            4 years, 6 months ago

            No comment from Lampard about it, so assume nothing serious
            https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/fixtures-results/chelsea-press-conference-live-frank-16920306

          • Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            How can anyone answer this unless there was bone sticking out? Pundit said cramp but he’s only guessing

          • Pedersen
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Thanks for answering everyone

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

          Since Mendy is not even in the squad, is it safe to assume Zinchenko is still a safe option for a while?

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

            Not if he keeps playing "passes was" like that 🙂

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

            My english is not great, apologise

          3. Yank Revolution
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Until he isn't, sure.

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

            Pep never puts two left backs in his squad. Wouldn't read too much into it.

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

              Cheers

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

          Chelsea are going to break FPL aren’t they?

          It’s not just that cut price attack it’s also a defence that is Norwich bad even without injuries.

          Mane is coming back in next week for me and I won’t be holding off Chelsea long either now.

        5. Ambrosiana Inter
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          HOW S THE MOOD ON HERE TODAY?

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Cappy.

          2. Yank Revolution
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            As salty as a mine....

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

            Cordial and friendly

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

            Steady, as usual, only GW5 😉

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

            Awful!

          6. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Lots of shouting. And whinging

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

          Wont be any goals in this game... Nice way to round off a horrible day

        7. Moose™
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Any thoughts?

          Pope Heaton

          VVD Digne Montoya Lundy Hanley

          Sterling Salah KdB Mount Dendonky

          Vardy Haller Greenwood

          2FT & 0.3ITB

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

          City looking a bit sloppy ....

        9. Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          This is going to end 0-0.. no kdb no show. Thank God I captained Salah.