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. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Norwich with 65% possession last 10 minutes 😀

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

    Some people played their TC on Aguero or Sterling today. Damn!

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

      Makes me feel a tiny smidge better

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

    Any better option than Lundstram under 4.3m?
    Sheffields fixtures are turning now but need a cheapie

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

      Don't see any really.

    2. 404_FC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      i would say no

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

      Thank you guys

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

    If you show this game to anyone that has no idea he will be pointing city on the yellow shirts

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pukki is Kun then

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

        But is kun pukki then?

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

      Uhhh ..

  5. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    No team seems capable of clean sheets at the moment, may as well just pick the most attacking defenders possible

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

      true

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

      TAA, Digne, Lundstram,

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

        Tick

  6. 404_FC
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    greenwood + lanzini to abraham + cantwell for -4

    Y or N

    also own pukki + mount

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

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

        Yes!

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

    Digne better go HUUUUGE

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

      Or bench, Cantwell first sub

  8. George Sillett
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What a shock this been at Carrow Road. Delia is sober.

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

      😆

    2. The Albatross
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Won't be for long

  9. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Oh precious Sergio, why must you bring shame to my team? WHY?I

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

      At least he scored. I’ve got Sterling captain !

  10. Alexis Nonsense
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Wonder how Pep would do with a budget midtable team...

    He's always had quality in his teams, not ot take anything away from him, but I would love to see him do a "Benitez"

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

      He's no Benitez

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

      That and not being able to win CL without Messi has him firmly below other managerial greats despite his current dominance over the PL.

  11. Says
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Impressed that sky commentator pronounces Teemu correctly (it's actually tay-mu not tee-mu)

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      None of them can get KDB right though.

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

        lol true, certainly not Carragher

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

        Kevin de Brre-neh.

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

      Its not tay-mu, its teh-mu

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

        I guess both of those sound identical the way I would say them, but maybe not for others

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

          Try it in Google translate in Finnish with the sound functuonality.

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

    Strange thing is .... Norwich are play quite open football and City haven't created much. Just an off day for them l think .... defensively poor which has had them on the back foot, chasing the game .

  13. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Just turned on to see the score at Carrow Road.

    OMG - will Norwich ever keep a clean sheet !!!!!

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

      Well done son

  14. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pukki is currently in both the top 5 transfers in and transfers out...

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

      lol. FPL paradoxes.

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Smart people, sell him to bring the price down and buy him at a cheaper price.

      *Puffs Cigar*

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

      Prob just the same ppl fixing their mistake 🙂

  15. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Still don't really know what team I want. Weird season.

    Hope Arsenal look good tomorrow.

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Same still got WC in pocket though

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

      Good. Template slowly washing away, will make this interesting again

  16. George Sillett
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Zinchenko best get used to benches.

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

      Harsh to blame Zinchenko today. Otamendi, Stones, Walker all been worse. What has Sterling done today?

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Zinchenko has been appalling. Agree the rest have been bad but not quite as terrible as him.

    2. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I am getting rid ASAP. He has been terrible today

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

      zinchbenchko

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

    Norwich had seven players ahead of the free kick taker there. Unbelievable

  18. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pep should sign Pukki.

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

      Norwich should sign this Sterling lad, he's decent. Could eventually cover for Cantwell or Buendia.

  19. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Haven't been watching but which defenders are the problem in that City team?

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

      Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko

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

      All of them

      1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        This

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      ALL

    4. The Albatross
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      None of them have played well but Otamendi & Walker have made the big mistakes

    5. Joyce1998
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      ota made a mistake, zinchenko made a mistake, stones no idea and walker thought he was xavi alonso

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

    Worth doing VVD + Greenwood > Lund + Tammy tonight before price rises?

    Already have TAA and Mount.

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

    Last few captain picks have been fat rips.

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

    WC must haves? Thinking 3 Norwich and 3 Pool and then auto select?

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Norwich will not face this defense every week.

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

        Fair point! 😆

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      3 Norwich? Come on now

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

        Calm down big man! Don’t they do sarcasm where you are from?

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Thing is there's a lot of people that would be deadset on bringing in 3 Norwich this week... I assumed you were one of them lol

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

            Haha! Good reply 🙂

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

    How does mahrez take corners off kdb?

  24. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Is Abraham essential? Worth doing Haller > Abraham?

    Other strikers are Pukki & Barnes.

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

      No

    2. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I have the same front 3 and can't work out how to get him in. Barnes I think but Chelsea next game is tough

      1. Jet5605
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Chelsea seem to be in goal fests at the moment. The Liverpool game could easily have 4 or 5 goals in it.

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

    Pukki, Haller, Abraham front three the way to go.

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

      Aguero has scored in every game so far, been my perma captain

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Oh dear.

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

      This! Considering getting Abraham in tonight.

    3. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes?

    4. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes to Abraham worth it though? Fixtures look so good for Burnley which is stopping me

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not worth it

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

    SHOOT

  27. Party time
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I need a City penalty urgently!!!

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

      Of all the big 6 teams to lose this week, I didn't think City would be the ones to go down...

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

        I honestly thought they were gona win with like 7-0

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

        Maybe united but they aren’t top 6

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

      Montoya and Barnes -> Lundstram and Tammy -4
      Have to do it tonight or im priced out
      Yay or nay?

    • Bob_the_builder
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Sterling to Son?