Dugout Discussion

Sterling and Zinchenko rested as Guardiola spins the roulette wheel

Pep Guardiola ‘Roulette’ has struck once again as the Manchester City manager named his team sheet for the visit of Watford.

Raheem Sterling (£12.2m) has been dropped to the bench for the first time this season, replaced in the starting line-up by Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m).

Also missing from the starting XI is Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.6m), who has not even made it onto the bench.

Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) has come into the side in his place to start at left-back.

Key options Sergio Aguero (£12.2m) and Kevin de Bruyne (£9.8m) are both in the starting line-up.

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has named an interesting formation as he prepares for a tough afternoon of football.

Gerard Deulofeu (£6.2m) has been chosen to lead the line while defender Kiko Femenía (£4.4m) is deployed on the right flank of attacking midfield.

A new budget defender has emerged in Dimitri Foulquier (£4.0m) who starts the match at right-back.

There will be plenty of interest in events at Turf Moor this afternoon as Burnley take on Norwich.

The 10% invested in Ashley Barnes (£6.7m) may be giving him his last chance as he starts against the porous Norwich defence.

Meanwhile, Teemu Pukki (£7.1m) and Todd Cantwell (£4.9m) both start for the Canaries amid continued transfer activity for both players.

Finally, Everton manager Marco Silva has trusted Moise Kean (£6.7m) another chance at leading the line this afternoon.

He and Bernard (£6.5m) represent two changes from the side that lost at Bournemouth in Gameweek 5.

Sheffield United also make a change in attack with Callum Robinson (£5.3m) coming in for David McGoldrick (£5.5m) to lead the line with Oli McBurnie (£5.9m).

Burnley XI: Pope; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Westwood, Cork, Hendrick; A Barnes, Wood.

Norwich XI: Krul; Lewis, Godfrey, Amadou, Byram; Tettey, McLean; Cantwell, Stiepermann, Buendía; Pukki.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Mina, Keane, Coleman; Delph, Schneiderlin; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Kean.

Sheffield United XI: D Henderson; O’Connell, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram, Baldock; Robinson, McBurnie.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Mendy, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Walker; Rodrigo, De Bruyne, D Silva; Mahrez, Aguero, B Silva.

Watford XI: Foster; Holebas, Dawson, Mariappa, Foulquier; Capoue, Doucouré; Hughes, Cleverley, Femenía; Deulofeu.

2,288 Comments Post a Comment
  1. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Guarantee Sterling stays on bench and rival gets Kun C

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yep 100%

  2. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who assisted the penalty?

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

      Mahrez

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

    Pep would be an idiot putting Sterling on.

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Take it you don’t have Sterling?

  4. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    omg pukki was 1 on 1 with keeper and missed it 🙁

  5. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who’s already transferred Sterling out?

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Me

    2. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Did it last week for Mane

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I’m doing it tonight

    3. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      On WC. I'll bring him back eventually

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

    Pukki sitter

  7. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Big fat red arrow incoming. Hoping Salah (C) can damage control tomorrow.

  8. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    At this rate Sterling doesn’t need to come on, but maybe he will just to increase confidence last 10mins

    1. DaniCT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Haha. That is what everybody wants to know.

  9. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pukki clean through. No goal.

  10. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wood rises high and scores

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    If after six (yes, 6) GWs people don’t own the two forwards who return every game, along with Pukki (optional), are they a serious player?

    Sign of a casual if ever that was one.

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

      Tammy over Wilson

    2. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      So you're proposing a Wilson / Kane frontline?

  12. Mr. Grv
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Aguero maybe rested as soon as jesus comeback from injury

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      LOL who start up front vs Shaktar?

  13. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Predictable Pep. Saw this coming a mile off.

  14. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez wins dangerous free.

    KDB range.

  15. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    KDB free kick range...cmon pal

  16. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    No Cantwell cleanie 🙁

  17. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wood goal

  18. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone still own Chris Wood?

  19. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez to take

  20. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    wood

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

    Mahrez is unplayable at this moment

  22. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Woods goal ruled out?

  23. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling no cameo confirmed

  24. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    OMG Mahrez

  25. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez goal

  26. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Jaysus Mahrez laser G

  27. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Feck me...

  28. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    That third goal didn't take long.

  29. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I now need a KDB-assisted Aguero goal

  30. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    When I said they can score 9 I might have been too pessimistic