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. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Hope Pep will be stubborn and kept KDB on the bench. Got Cantwell as first sub.

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

      The opposite

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

        You’ve got KDB on the bench!?

    2. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        ditto but as he's an assister for others not sure it's for the best

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

        He’ll come on for sure. And I have AWB on first bench

      • Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Me too

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

      Wow Sterling bashing is out of control here

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

        It's my fault. I got him for the Brighton game.

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

          Glad you’re taking the full responsibility

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

        Captainers, and frustrating when Aguero is performing and

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

        Raz isnt

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

        Salah bashing was too. Until he scored.
        Mount ditto.
        Such impatience

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

          I concur

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

      Given Norwich's immediate fixtures, should Cantwell be a starting 4th mid rather than a 5th mid in our teams?

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

        Has to be considered really

      2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        He’s my third

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

      Give me one good reason why you shouldn't start Cantwell regularly ?

      Honestly cant see one

      - Combined 4 goals+assists in 5 games
      - Fixture proof (got returns against city and chelsea)
      - Got great fixtures in next ,8 ( bur cpl AVL bou MU bha WAT eve)
      ,- - Bargain price of ,4.8 allowing you to own extra premium attacker

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

        Potentially the bargain of the year. Full of running , gets in the box, likes to shoot. Can see him getting at least 10 goal and assists for the season ... He'll stay in my 5 man midfield

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

          Really impressive considering he wasnt a starter in championship unlike mount tammy mcginn etc

          Agree with you. Doesnt seem like slowing down any time soon. Can see more end product on the way

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

        I really need to get him for Donck to at least give me more options.

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

      KDB on to assist Sterling brace would be nice.

    7. Party time
        4 years, 6 months ago

        People are forgetting it is only 1st half... Don't write Sterling off yet, he scored a hat trick in the 2nd half against west ham!

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

          He also got nothing at home to Brighton though

        2. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          May your tongue be blessed..
          Oups... your fingers who wrote it even

          1. Party time
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Amen

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

            Even if he does, I'm still shipping him.

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

              He has Watford at home next

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

          LMS safety score currently 22 with live bonus.

          https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

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

            Squeaky bum time

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

            And here I thought I was in trouble on 33 with baps

        4. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Early transfers..

          Kane + Dendo >> Pukki + Son

          Yay or Nay?

          1. MTPockets
              4 years, 6 months ago

              CL midweek but ok in principle

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

              I’m gonna wait on Son for another week

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

            Right, I'll do Salah to Mane and Sterling to Pepe, which would leave me with 3.9m ITB.

            I can't take these pedestrian performances from premiums anymore. Out of my team, mugs

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

            Stupidity playing Lundstram ahead of Cantwell. Oh, well.

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

              You are not alone

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

              Lund ahead of Pukki

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

                That just ridiculous

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

              Yeah I played O’Connell over Cantwell but got him as first sub. If kdb doesn’t get mins then cool!

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

              wan an obvious decision

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

              Played Lucas Moura ahead of him

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

            I'm happy with Firmino's performance... however, why was he benched?

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

              Klopp wants salah and mane to learn to play together?

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

              International duty in America

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

                thx, so he's expected to start next week?

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

              Brazil.

          5. squ1rrel
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Have Son, Abraham, and Pukki, but Cantwell on the bench and KDB(c) 🙁

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

              weird flex but ok

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

              Son and Abraham should do you fine...
              Who’s VC

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

            How's this 4 5 1 wildcard? Tough to get those 4 in, and still no Kun but I like the power!

            Heaton
            Soyuncu Digne Matip AMN
            Salah Sterling Mane KDB Cantwell
            Pukki

            Button Ayew Connolly Rico

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

              Just go one of Mane salah and stick with it.

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

                Everyone says this. Why not have both? Fixtures?

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

            Just saw Neymar’s goal
            Take a bow son

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

              Why appreciate son for neymar goal?

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

            Bottomed... 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

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

            Lads, I apologise for insisting, and I know how annoying it is when people chase points. But I really do think this is sound, and I'd appreciate your thoughts very much.

            Before price rises: Martial, Greenwood out / Cantwell, Abraham in (- 4)

            (Heaton
            TAA, VVD, Maguire, Coleman, Lundstram
            Salah, Sterling, Martial, Mount, Dendo
            Vardy, Pukki, Greenwood)

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

              Easy yes imo

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

                Great! Thanks, mate!

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

              dont ask during games

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

                Apologise!

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

              Yes and Yes . Both have great fixtures in the next 6gws

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

                Thanks, mate! Thanks indeed!

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

              Vardy > Abraham

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

                Sound advice, but I do like Vardy. Still, thanks, mate!

            5. MTPockets
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Maybe but trade-off is Chelsea have CL midweek, play Liverpool next week, he came off with cramp/injury

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

                  Good point! Cheers!

            6. Ange Ball
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Worth minus 8
              AWB to Kola
              Wickham to Barnes
              Anderson to Guendouzi
              Van D to Robertson

              Just bring in Barnes Guendouzi for free

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

                No.

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

                Awful moves

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

                What. That looks terrible.

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

                Barnes was absolute codswallop today, he’s got one more week to redeem

            7. All For One
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              P#ss!d if Sterling doesn't at least score one goal have Mane and Son who both scored a brace.....

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

                At least you have them though.

              2. Ange Ball
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                At least you got 4 goals from two kids I just be happy with that even if Sterling blanks

                1. Ange Ball
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  Mids

                2. All For One
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  Cash league is close rival is leading by picking right captain so lucky

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

                And when this type scenario happens every week having what looks a better 11 than most is no good when you pick the wrong captain every time

                1. All For One
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  yep...

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

              Still no KDB

              1. All For One
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Madness

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

              Is it worth swapping Sterling for Aguero?

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

                No imo

                It’s like having mane or Salah

                Stick with what u have

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

                  No thats saying u need to convince yourself whoever u have is the better pick

                  it's about getting who u think will get more points

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

              Best two of these? A and B?

              A. Abraham
              B. Haller
              C. Pukki

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

                At the moment its A.

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

                AC

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

                AC

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

              Still no kdb? Wow Norwich to punish fraudiola

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

              What is the difference between catastrophe and gw5?!?

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

                No difference

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

                spelling

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

                The spelling is different!

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

              A) Salah, Sterling, James
              B) Mane, Pepe, Son

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

              Bring KDB on you eejit

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

              Looks like Pep is giving it 10-15 mins to see if City can get this back to 2-2 before calling on KDB. No point playing him if not required.

            16. bigdip
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              What do you guys think and any helpful suggestions pls:

              Current team
              Ryan, Button
              TAA, Van Djik, Digne, Zinchenko, Lundstram
              Mount Sterling, Salah, Trossard, Dendocker
              Haller, Puki, King

              Going to take a 4 hit for Trossard & King to Cantwell or 5.5 midfield & Abraham
              OR do I wild card:

              WC Team (1)
              GK: Adrian, Ryan
              DEF: Soyuncu, Mings, Pieters, Zinchenko, Lundstram
              MID: Mane, Son, Sterling, Cantwell, Douglas Luiz,
              FWD: Abraham, Aguero, Ayew

              WC Team (2)

              GK: Gunn, Henderson
              DEF: Digne, Pieters, Matip, Zinchenko, Schar
              MID: Lamela ,Sterling, David Silva, Cantwell, Richarlison
              FWD: Abraham, Firmino, Vardy

              WC Team (3)
              GK: Gunn, Adrian
              DEF: Digne, Pieters, Aurier, Zinchenko, Schar
              MID: Son, Sterling, Douglas Luiz, Mount, Hayden
              FWD: Abraham, Firmino, Aguero

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

                Wait until after the game.

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

                Stay calm

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

              Going to need to bite the bullet and get Cantwell in this week - daft to ignore him

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

                See comment below...

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

                Cant do well without him

            18. RAFA THE GAFFA
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              It appears Norwich’s back up defence is better than their actual defence

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

                Right

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

                Lol appears that way.

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

                They don't have to deal with KDB passes ... yet

            19. MikeBravo
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Just seen a photo of Cantwell celebrating; he's got an Alice band on his bonce! Might have to get rid...

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

                🙂