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. Mumble Pie
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Big Adrenalin spike for Norwich.... be a bit flat now

  2. Manani
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    my only hope this week is a Digne 13pointer it seems

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

      17 and we have a deal

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

    Poorest offensive display from city that I cud remember

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

      manchester or norwich?

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

        Shittey

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Norwich is quite nice really

    2. CARROW ROAD
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah Norwich can do better

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

    tammy abraham is very impressive. 8 goals in his last 3 pl games... unreal

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

      50+ goals this season for sure

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

        70 even 🙂

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

    I'd be amazed if I don't play the wildcard after this gw…

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

      Problem is my players are just disappointing

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

        Same here. Time to consider some punts I think.

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

    I heard from some people that Aguero was awful away from home? Where are these overthinkers?

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

      Captain hindsight, please tell us what will happen in the 2nd half.

      Now. Not after the game.

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

        Lol. This again. Check my comments history. Dismissed anyone who commented that throughout this week.

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

        4-3 to City

    2. Party time
        4 years, 6 months ago

        HHahahhahahhahahahahaahaha. They are hiding in the bunker

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

          Yeah, I saw this.

    3. Party time
        4 years, 6 months ago

        and Agüero said let there be light & there cometh light!!!

      • jtreble
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        It’s KDB time.

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

          Pls

        2. SHOOTER MCGINN
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          They need him here. Look lost without him today despite playing most of last year with him out.

      • dshv
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Waiting for Sterling(captain) time? When ?

      • PrettyDick
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        One (possibly) positive thing from this is that Pep should feel inclined to 1. keep Aguero and Sterling on for longer and 2. Get KDB in as soon as possible

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

        Up 1M this GW atm, too many games left though.

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

          Wow

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

            Lucky to break 1M by the end.

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

          I daren’t check my predicted rank now!

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

            It so bloody annoying looking at livefpl. Great start every week did was it fizzle away

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

              Watch

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

          Dream team this week so far!

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

          Aguero effect?

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

        Ship Salah or Sterling?

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

          Razz

      • Skalla
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Went Buendia/Rashford to D.Silva/Pukki and losing out atm!

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Why did you do that tbf?

      • HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Gundo/Sterling--> KDB half-time sub

      • Messiah Hazard
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cantwell first sub. KDB please stay on the bench.

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

          This

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

          He won't

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

        TM having an awesome week. Cantwell Mane and Kun captain. Oh my

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

          Awesome would be Mane, Son, Abraham etc.

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

        Do you think aguero wud see as many minutes as Sterling for the season. ?

        If yes, I wud want to move from Sterling to Kun

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

        GW1: 600 k
        GW2: 800 k
        GW3: 700 k
        GW4: 1.6 mil
        GW5: 2.4 mil (and counting)

        Cantwell autosub, but bloody heck! My team isn't really even that bad.

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

          I feel you. Rank not quite as low but also in freefall with a puzzlingly disappointing team.

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

          Similar story

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

          It doesn't sound great...

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

            Pope
            TAA / VVD / Digne
            Salah / Sterling / KDB / Cantwell
            Pukki / Barnes / Jota

            Button // Montoya / Dendoncker / Kelly

            Obviously haven't had all every week, but wrong captains & transfers at the wrong time.

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

              I'm exact same. Wildcard so so tempting soon :/. Struggling atm, can't get anything right.

      • Mumble Pie
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Really dont understand Sterlings showing ... he looked dynamite in his last England game ...

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

          Should have a goal tbh.

      • Calderano FC
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Sterling in the same class as Messi/Ronaldo...havin a laugh?

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

          he scores a couple of tap ins and people think he's at their level haha

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

            So basically what Ronaldo does

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

              ah, so you are actually trying to compare Sterling to Ronaldo? shameful..

            2. SHOOTER MCGINN
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Lol

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

              Ronaldo is gonna end up having the most International goals of all time, not bad for a tap in merchant.

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

          Sterling in the same class as Richarlison

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

          Lol, has anyone been saying this? Hes not a good winger, hes not very good when he has to take the main role instead of just scoring tap ins and make runs behind the opposition defense. Hes very good at that but nowhere near top 10 players in the world even.

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

            Pep said he can try to aspire to it maybe someday ..,
            Might have well said he can't as we all know full well

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

          Seen this before, when players get compared to likes of Messi / Ronaldo / others, form suddenly drops off....

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

          He would get into every team in the league. Maybe not Liverpool. Maybe.

      • Who are all Lukakus
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Me rightnow
        Cantwell: sitting as 3rd sub
        Canwell: martial montoya greenwood dont play 🙂

      • Regin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        The biggest mistake of my fpl career. Getting into this sterling hype! All he does is stand at the corner flag! What the hell is wrong with me? Selecting sterling over superstar aguero!
        After news if Jesus injury last week, I selected kdb over aguero. A difference in rank of probably a million. Had I selected kun, I would have captained him.

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

          Same here. The guy's a joke.

        2. Mumble Pie
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          What are talking about ... he's sitting 5th in total points. You either pick one or have both and gamble with Captaincy.

      • Sailboats
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Which is the better option guys? Both moves are for free.

        Dendoncker > Cantwell (5th mid in a 3-5-2. This move will give me like 2m itb to upgrade other positions.
        or
        Greenwood > Tammy (have Mount and 0 itb)

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

          Probably B but they are both good moves. A lot of people weren't sure about Cantwell as an actual fielded player but that's what I've done and I've got the jammy points off it

      • Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Otamendi wagon most hilarious.

        Like expecting ox to score 30 goals if salah gets injured

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

          Try smiling for once mate.

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

            🙂

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

          Bit comical. Hard to predict this though

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

        Where to even prioritize spending here? 1.7m ITB.

        Pope 4.0
        TAA Digne Zinchenko Lundstram Rico
        Salah Sterling KDB Mount Dendoncker
        Pukki Barnes Greenwood

        :/

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

          Zinch and Greenwood to some guy and Tammy

      • have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        City goal within 1 min of restart?

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

          Norwich City

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

            Pukki City

      • MOZIL
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        how was Lamela performance? Will he be starting next game?

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

          Hard to drop Lamela given Spurs are winning and he is playing well.

        2. Sharkytect
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Someone behind me in the stand said “he should carry his own yellow card around with him”. Not one of our best attackers - could easily be rotated with mouth and Dele Alli. Not a good option in my opinion

      • Blunder fc
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        This performance makes me worry about zinchenko's minutes going forward. Has been awful

        1. Mumble Pie
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Backline hasn't been tbf.

      • jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        If I bring in Son on WC, I'd have to go thin on defense. Worth it?

        Team would/could be:
        Pope, Button
        TAA, Lundstram, Soyuncu, Mings, Kelly
        Salah, Sterling, KDB, Son, Cantwell
        Tammy, Pukki, Greenwood

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

        Wildcard incoming

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

          Oui oui. Tempting