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. Mr. Grv
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Chances Sterling is benched next week ?

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

      Always a chance

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

      He could be benched if he starts midweek

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

      Think he will get his rest in the Champions League game

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

        No way. Not the first cl game.

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

      Depends on next 2 games.

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

    Tim Krul owner here. Feeling really good about this one.

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

      Krul could get 20 points here.

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

        Score goals?

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

        2 penalty saves?

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

          And loads of saves and bonus

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

      Krul saves 2 penalties, keeps a clean sheet and have 2 assista to Pukki

  3. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Kane + Maddison -> Mane + Abraham (-4)?

    Would leave me with

    Pope - 4.0
    TAA - Dunk - Digne - Lundy - AWB
    Mane - Cantwell - Sterling - James - KDB
    Barnes - Pukki - Abraham

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

      I’d do that for sure

  4. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Livescore app is playing up, anyone else having issues with it ?

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

      Website is drunk.

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

    Is sterling assigned to take throwins? He can't be wider!

  6. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Kane to auba now or wait .?

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

      No brainer.

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

      No urgency I think ...

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

        If TM says it's no brainer than it is

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

          Okay, maybe I don't care 🙂

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

          No brain if asking.

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

      Aubameyang hasn't played?

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

        TM what is your strategy with Mane? Keeping him all the time and going without Salah?

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

      No need to do it now. Auba could drop in price. -93 on fplstatistics

  7. RubeRx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Proud Tammy owner since GW1

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

      Bravo. Standing ovations

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

      Respect man. Respect!

    3. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Proud Jota owner here.

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

      Thumbs up

  8. 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

    How to bring Son in?

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

      Not needed.

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

      Vardy, Haller, Mount out
      Son, Tammy, 6.x striker in
      For a hit?

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

    Mount matching Salah!

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

      Wow breaking news!

  10. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Without KDB city looks s***

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

      Agree. Looking bang average at the minute.

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

      this

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

        won the league without him.

  11. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    KDB is so much essential for city gameplay. They look much better with him

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

      Yeah. What was the bald fraud thinking? Especially with Liverpool on fire, he can't afford to rest his best players.

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

    Looks like Norwich are going to make this very difficult for Man City. Proper bus parking.

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

    City can't even score against this Norwich defense without kdb. Glad I only have kdb in my team.

  14. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Get KDB on Pep

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

    Bring KDB in

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

      Oh yes

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

    City without KDB is like Spurs without Eriksen. Turd

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

      jesus

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

      and they still won a league without him

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

      Spurs scored 4 without Eriksen

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

        Eriksen played the entire game

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

      Not really. City without kdb is like Barcelona without Messi. Instead of messi goals, kdb assists

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

    KDB to Son or Pepe?

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Keep

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

      Pepe

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

      Kdb to kdb

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

      Aaaaand we're here 🙂

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

      Pick one and good luck!

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

    KRUL Captainers Hands up.

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

      I think the chance of krul captainer is a 1 in 6 millions

  19. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Citeh are toothless. Kun blank confirmed

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

      Please 😉

  20. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    15 mins and no goals. Captain fail. I can't wait to buy Djenopo for Sterling.

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

      Oh no.. u r emery, you should buy pepe

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

    Haha, Norwich score

  22. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Goal Norwich yessssss

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

      Wow, who did score? Not watching here ...

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

    You beauty

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

    LOL. Norwich score.

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

    Canary POWAH!

  26. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Norcelona

  27. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    YWAASSS now get KDB in

  28. Typo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    McCleansheet gone

    1. Mr Peanutbutter
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      unlucky bottom

  29. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Get in!!!

  30. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    LOL at Zinchenko pick on WC