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. Andy'81
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    No citeh goal for 10 minutes, pathetic.

    1. banskt
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Poor misses, shots on post... playing like a bottom team.

  2. Stef rocks
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    That was the end of my patience towarda Sterling captaining him 3 weeks in a row - awful.

    And half my minileague has Kun Captain - disaster - my only hope is now he gets subbed at 55min and get less BPS 🙂

  3. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Kun misses an assist!

  4. Baked baines
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    As a sterling captainer and a non Kun owner ive never been so scared of watching a game in ff in all my life. This sucks so much.

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

      It's days like this where you just need to remember it's just a game. You'll get your great moment this season.

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

    Watford should be allowed to bring on a second goalkeeper.

    1. Old and Slow
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      This.

  6. Daddy Kev
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Gonna be watching these highlights on P*rnHub tonight.

  7. Moose™
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Only 1 assist KdB? Cmonnn

  8. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Just need a Pukki goal please...

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

    Aguero wearing Costen Pantilimons old shorts?

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

      Costel

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

      I'd worry, he was a bit of a wet dreamer...

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

      I'm impressed by the way you think.

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

    Sterling cappers, would you rather have 20 mins or 0 mins from him?

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

      0.

      Auba (v).

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

        Understandable

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

      Hope 30 mins please..

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      0. KDB vc

    4. Old and Slow
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      0 (salah)

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

      Tough one. De Bruyne is my vice captain so that could be awesome, but on the other hand my bench is cack.

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

      0. If he comes on they'll really have taken their foot off the gas.

    7. adibo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      He will probably come on so i hope he comes early tbh

      1. Ritchies Magic Hat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Feels wrong but hoping for 0 so Rico can come off bench with his 5points!

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

      Wanted to captain sterling but with all my wc changes forgot to take the armband off salah aha!

    9. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      0. Salah (C) and Rico's assist off the bench!

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

    It's so cruel for Sterling owners (myself included) that it becomes funny. That why we love FPL.

    There's always next week. Or, at this point, next season.

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

      Exactly how I'm viewing proceedings. Being Pep'd is part of the FPL experience these days.

  12. The Chosen One...
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    would be silly to bring on Sterling surely...

    1. Old and Slow
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Because Pep would never do anything like that...

  13. FPL Hitman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    WC seems to hv gone well. On 49 points already.

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

      Christ

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

    Is Ota nailed this season? I don't think he is quite nailed.

    Must we spend the .5 more to go Zinch to Walker?? Walker attacking threat and for sure on every team sheet...

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

      What has this and last game showed? There is no such thing as a sure thing on City. Other than Ederson..

    2. HellasLEAF
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Zinch owners. let's talk here!! pages flying!

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

      He is until laporte is fit again

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

      what? who else is going to play cb

    5. Viper
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      They don't have any other central defenders

    6. Stokelona
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No one at city is on every team sheet, except ederson

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

      How is he not nailed?

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

        This.

    8. Kip
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Atm its Zinc=> aurier for me

  15. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I think the biggest surprise is Mendy 0 assists

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

    Pereyra on

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

    I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ota getting subbed at HT. Only fit CB

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

      Wont complain.. bt at 60min.. it would be nice

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      only if he's injured.

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

      Fernandinho is their best CB.

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

      Nah. Ota & Fernandinho need minutes together

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

    Foulkier wagon derailed after 30min.

  19. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    City were on for 28-0 when the 5th went in, it's now only 15-0 at the rate they are scoring !

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

    That was done debut.

  21. Viper
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    You'd imagine Sterling just sits this out altogether now

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

      As if you're trying to second-guess Pep.

      1. Viper
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I did already by captaining Sterling & look how that turned out 😆

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Fingers crossed!

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

      I think he'll get 10 minutes.

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

    Foulqier with the dream debut

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

      I might put him in for a laugh.

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

    City should be fined for making that Watford player cry lol

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

      exactly...cruelty to debutants

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

      And they should shave Pep's head as punishment

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

    Foulquier is like us Sterling cappers.

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

      LoL tHiS

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

      Foulq hero

    3. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Completely and utterly foulq'ed?

  25. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ben Mendy will claim all the credit for this in his social media later 😀

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

    Pogba, Martial and Shaw ruled out, what are the chances of Greenwood starting?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I hope Greenwood does start or gets some much needed game time. That will be my 3rd striker sorted 🙂

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

        Lol I need him to start with Zinchenko not in the squad and Sterling benched as captain, have Soyuncu as 1st sub.

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

    Sterling now has 1 of Man City’s last 24 premier league attacking returns

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

      Wow, that's awful.

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

      Lol getting rid should of done -4 to bring in Auba, people saying he wouldn't blank 3 games in a row...

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

    Watford bossing it

  29. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Barnes looking lively?

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

      MAN CITY!

  30. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Patience in Wood finally pays off!

    1. mrodgers91
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I knew chris would score eventually

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

      Lol