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. trikster102
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Every decision I made last night was wrong. Took out AWB when so far he'd have been my only clean sheet. Didn't do Rashford to Abraham costing me 5 points, had Cantwell on the bench and made KDB my captain 🙁 Starting to remember why I nearnly packed this in last season.

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Don’t get too down about it mate know it’s tough, you made predictions based on the info at the time no point beating yourself over it

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

      you just had an unlucky week, it happens

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

      Dry your eyes mate

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

      Here !! Have my nipple

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

    To think about all the new people who bought Kevin de Bruyne this week.

    Should have gone for Rodrigo instead !!!! 🙂

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

    Regardless of how this game ends I think it’s fair to say that Norwich is this seasons Wolves

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

      Pukki is the new Jimenez?

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      And looks like Pukki is the new Michu/Vardy/A.N. Other ridiculously productive cheap attacker

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

      They're not that good assuming you mean that they will be challenging for a Europa League spot.

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

        FPL wise

  4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    20:20 hindsight is of course a wonderful superpower which we can all enjoy at times... but that being said

    Does anyone have a teachable point of view on why Pep didn’t sign a centreback in the summer after losing Kompany?

    Surely going into a 70-game season with only 3 recognised centre halves (who can play in a two) was always asking for trouble, regardless of Fernandinho’s planned conversion?

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

      He wanted Maguire and got out bid

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I find it very strange, I’d have thought they’d have a short list at least 3-deep for every position... was it FFP or something?

        But they signed Rodri for big money so possibly not... really bizarre - just carelessness/a mistake/poor planning?

        None of those seem to be words you’d ever really associate with someone as meticulous as Pep so I doubt it

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

      They are man city they don't need defenders

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

      You expect an injury but not for so long. Ota can cover for 3 4 games but not till Christmas

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        3 players for 2 positions is always thin though - especially with the competitions - 4 recognised & top quality centre halves is surely a bare minimum for a team with ambitions like city’s

    4. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pep said they were after Maguire.

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

      Complacent. Probably felt invincible

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        That’s what I’m currently coming to - but it doesn’t feel right from a gut perspective - very “un-Pep” if you will

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

      By signing Rodri City maxed out on 17 non home grown players so were limited in possible Kompany replacements.

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

    Is krul on 100 saves yet?

    1. Birds of Prey
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      that makes 103

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

    While I would like my Man City players to get pointy point points Norwich deserve the win.

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

      This

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

    4 minutes of torture

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

      Of hope for Sterling captainers

  8. Warbling Wendy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Rodri 1.3%TSB
    Jesus 1.5%TSB

    The most differential City goal ever?

  9. Yome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    If only I had captained Mane, went sterling because of all Norwich injuries. This game is so frustrating.

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

      Agree

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

        Forever losers in FPL with wrong captains.

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

    Ffs Aguero

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

    Poop absolutely steaming on the sidelines

  12. Green Arrow
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Time to PANIC

  13. The_Socca_Philosopha
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Captained Sterling, but screw that lol
    LET’S GO CANARIES!!!

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

      That's the spirit!

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

      Indeed!!!

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

      Triple captained and concur.

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

    KRUL ESSENTIAL

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

    Quick tip on how to do well... Don't captain who I captain 😉

  16. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Lol jesus

  17. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Man City have just woken up. Should've done half an hour ago.

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

    David silva to who?

  19. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What is wrong with Jesus?!!!
    Does be realise they are trailing

  20. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Captain fails realy hurting my rank & MLs this season

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

      Same here, I am drifting towards the 3 million at this rate

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

    Pep should have benched Sterling and not KDB

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

      Very easy to say retrospectively.

  22. moment
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    my triple city attack wildcard was a dreadful dreadful error

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

    Boy, this is awesome.

  24. EMBOLOFAN
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    salah (c)

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

    So lovely resaults like this

  26. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pep Gurdiola is a Real Sportsmen. Congrats Farke.

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

      Farken hell

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

    Norwich were 20/1 with Corals to win.

  28. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Cantwell injured

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

      Cramp.

  29. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Great game. Massive respect.

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

    Abysmal from City

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

      Brilliant from Norwich too.