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, 6 months ago

    Watford players and manager are a disgrace

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

      Think they all have city assets in their fantasy league 🙂

      1. Herman Toothrot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        All have Sterling C.

        Can't see the ball for the tears.

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

    Oh my god this is crazy !

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

    This is nasty

  4. vanishing spray
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    This is not the way I was expecting to be mildly disappointed with KdB(C) and D Silva

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

    If Watford rage quit right now they'll only lose 3-0

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

      Hahahaha

  6. Carlton_Goal
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    This is not a good game to only have one player on the pitch

  7. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    okay- let's predict the final scoreline now.

    City 8 Watford 1

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

      8-0

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      18-0

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

      5-0

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

    Boi boi

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

    dear oh dear, Javi Gracia must be having a chuckle to himself right about now

  10. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    W ow
    T hat was
    F ast
    !!!!!

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Will KDB make 30’?

  12. thepeen555
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Damn man 5 nil already lmao

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

    Stop the game, Watford are not ready to play ...

  14. Chirsbom
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I am watching the Norwich - Burnley for an eye test of Barnes and Pukki. Wrong game this afternoon?

    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      How’s cantwell looking?

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

    Otamendi owners.
    Otamendi sellers.

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

    What's the biggest win in PL?

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

      We're about to find out.

    2. Licious Lizard
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      9-0
      ManU over Ipswich ‘95

  17. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Has to be a record, fastest to 5 goals in Prem history (less than 20 mins).

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

    at what point do games get abandoned for score line? 15?

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      There should be a mercy rule in pro sports.

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

      Swap the teams around at half time

  19. OldBenKenobi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Watford need to just disconnect and take the 6-0 forfeit 😆

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

      If they get enough players sent off the game will stop

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

    Barnesy involvement ??

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

      not much, his nose kinda blew up earlier hasnt done much since

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Kane 2 bonus is a nice surprise 🙂

  22. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    In other news.

    Digne SOT

  23. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I'm so upset with the Sterling benching! Otamendi + Kun(C) is a small bit of consolation I guess...

  24. thepeen555
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Sterling owners. At least you prob won’t see sterling today now

  25. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Decent banter this

  26. Spab
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I've got kun Captain and here I am pissed off about otamendi.

    Sterling will never get back into this team!

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

      Haha I feel exactly the same mate as I wcd kun in and didn't get ota, stuck with digne and trent

  27. OldBenKenobi
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Throws towel in for watford

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

    What a game for Sterling to miss out on 🙁

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It's a joke isn't it

  29. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Kun eyes the record breaking hatty.

    In the mood!

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

    Man City 5-0 up after 17 mins & 2 of my 3 city players aren't playing

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

      Same

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

        Same