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. Moose™
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Pope Button

    VVD Digne Aurier Lundy Hanley

    Salah Sterling KdB Mount Cantwell

    Vardy Haller Greenwood..

    Might WC this team to get Kun, Son, Otamendi, TAA in..

    1. Moose™
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Not worth for a top post.. Sorry..

  2. FPL Dakes
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Spewing. Sterling better come on and score a few himself now...

    Or just go home. If he gets 1pt that’s disgusting.

    1. The Train Driver
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Pep usually doesn't bring him on when the game is already won.

      1. FPL Dakes
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Well hopefully that’s the case. With my luck this season I wouldn’t be surprised though.

        Cue a Salah vc haul too

    2. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      I think he will let him have a full rest, makes more sense to give time to some youngsters in this situation...but then again, it's Pep and he hates FPL'ers

  3. The Train Driver
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    I think one of my ML rivals is from the future. He made a free hit team with Ota, Bilva, Kun (C), Wood and McNeil.

    1. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Ffs

      1. The Train Driver
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Ffs indeed

    2. TheTinman
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Wow. Well played lad

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Wow

    4. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      People from the future should definitely be banned from FPL

    5. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Steal his Grays Sports Almanac!

      1. I'm out of name ideas
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Ooh la la!

  4. have you seen cyan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    cant believe digne, he better get something in the second half. Really starting to question Silva

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      You're questioning Silva now? He was pants before he joined Everton!!

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        well I was for long time but home game vs sheffield is a new low

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Loool new low? We scored against all our away teams. Bless you

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

    Aguero to get his rest at Everton away or Wolves at home?

    1. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      After 65 minutes today

    2. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      He's not going to play midweek so what rest?

    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Midweek in league cup

  6. jia you
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Watching this game makes me believe that selling Kun is not an option in the short term (as it had been in my thought process to do so)...he's just looking so sharp and been so unlucky not to have his hattie wrapped already!

    1. doy
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Looks super sharp this season, what a man.

      1. jia you
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Yup, think we might be seeing peak Kun this season and that's saying something!

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      One look at the fixtures and the form he's in...no way is he leaving my team!

  7. doy
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Those 3 golden chances (KDB to Aguero) as an Aguero (c) and KDB owner really hurts.....such fine margins, this game.

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    If pep gives sterling 30 minutes he could get a haul

    But he won't will he. More likely with ten minutes left.....

    1. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Or like 3 🙁

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      He used to give sane 3 mins for me at the end to hold the ball up in the corner. Hope he does the same here

    3. HurriKane
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Jesus gundo and cancelo more likely to come on

      Pep will give the day off for eaz given his hectic schedule last 2 weeks

  9. Guy Demel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Whilst completely unnecessary, Sterling will still come on for a cameo 🙁

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Hahaha your name

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Demel really was an fpl legend. 2nd only to Boyd

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          No the Wilson points at the end of it

  10. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Rank GW3: 68k
    Current live rank: 1.2m
    Makes you want to quit!

    1. doy
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Keep your head up mate, early days yet....wild ranking swings at this stage!

  11. MINUS FOUR
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Never been more disappointed to have only a goal and an assist from my captain at half time. Can't believe Aguero doesn't have at least a hat-trick already. Having taken the hit to get him in last GW, you need the big, big hauls to come in, not just the 9-pointers. Doesn't help when all 3 missed chances would have been KDB assists too.

    So unlucky for all Aguero captainers and KDB owners, on another day we're looking at season changing numbers in a single half. If Aguero goes off at 60 minutes with just the 9 points it will actually feel quite deflating, which is crazy.

    1. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Oh boohoo.

    2. doy
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Well said, feeling blank......what could have been. A season-changer in every sense, had those 3 golden chances hit the back of the net.

    3. Rainer
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      It does feel like a massive (K)un fail.

    4. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Don’t be ridiculous

      You are already super lucky that Sterling was benched and Aguero has a goal and assist already at HALF TIME

      1. FPL Dakes
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Exactly this

    5. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Yeah, hear you mate, but lets just be happy with points in the back and possibly more to come! Hope he keeps fit and firing as he's looking in peak condition!

      1. jia you
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        *bag

  12. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    I've been playing this game now for 15yrs. I've had 6 top 10k finishes so consider myself to be a good manager. I've never had such a shambles of results as I've had this season. It's been utterly dreadful. Had Sterling (C) GW1 but since then nothing has gone right. Everton's defence was statistically the best this year and they started the season with 2 clean sheets so given this, their reasonable priced defenders and their favourable fixtures I doubled up on their defence with my wildcard and since then they haven't kept a single clean sheet, not even today at home to a poor team. Sterling (C) today and KDB (VC). I fully expect KDB to haul and Sterling to trot out in the last minute as a pointless substitute. Brought Daniel James in last week only for him to blank after scoring in every other game and also get injured in the process. I'm making sensible decisions and my team looks good and well balanced but I just can't get anything right. It's looking very likely that my overall rank will be over 3 million after this gameweek. I've had bad starts to a season before but I've never been in a ranking position as bad as this. I don't want to give up but I'm struggling to see where to go from here and where I'm going to get the motivation to invest any more time and interest in this for this season. I feel like the only way forward now is to take risks with captaincy and differentials etc. Absolute horror show of a season to which I'm not accustomed.

    1. JonBoy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      :'-(

    2. doy
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Unlucky man, just keep on plugging away, heaps of time to climb back up the rankings.

    3. TheTinman
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Stopped reading at I’ve

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Any reason why?

    4. Bartowski
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Paragraphs can be your friend.

    5. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      We are only 6 weeks in - there are 32 more to go

      You can easily still finish top 50k minimum

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        It generally gets harder and harder to climb rankings as the weeks go by particularly when template teams start to form. If we were only 2 weeks in, it would be fine as one good week would propel me significantly up the rankings. At 6 weeks in though, I'm already miles behind and really need 3-4 exceptional weeks in the next 5 which will be hard to do when so many teams have the same players. Even then I will still be lucky to rise up into the top 1m.

        Having played the game for so many years now, I know how hard it is to climb up the rankings to an acceptable finish (top 10k is the level I'm happy with. Outside top 10k is a bad season in my view) when you are significantly adrift after 10 or so weeks. I was able to do it one year but it was largely down to incredible luck.

        City 6 goals and only 1 assist for KDB. You have to laugh.

    6. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      There will be better days mate.

    7. Legendary!
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Dude calm down. If you’ve been playing FPL for 15 years you know that there are good weeks and bad weeks. Ignore your rank for now (there are more people playing FPL than there were a decade or even 5 years ago so there no way you can evaluate to determine if your performance now is worse than 5,10 years ago) and focus on your team selection. If your team is good then keep the faith, if not then figure out the changes you need to make.

      Be patient, if you think you need to take risks go ahead - its your team

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        I'm gonna do nothing and just let my team be a ghost team, it will probably do better. You end up falling between the gaps by changing. For example I could do away with my Everton defence double up only for them to finally start registering some clean sheets.

    8. fusen
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      As someone who has history in this game like you've said, surely you know that boring wins out most of the time. Sensible and boring will eventually return you to normal places.

      Just keep doing things sensibly and eventually it'll start to look good again, unless it's an entire silly season but then meh, who cares.

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        I've just noticed that Walker was subbed on 54 mins. Guess who has Walker in their team? Yep you guessed it. Just unreal.

  13. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Surely it wouldn’t be right to start an out of form Sterling at Everton?

    90 minutes for him at Preston would do him the world of good.

    1. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Lmao if he gets that I’m wildcarding and selling him idc

  14. Zladan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    I need Sterling to come on... I left my VC on Haller lol

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Rather have a player that plays 90 minutes with the armband.

    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Snap. Think our best bet will be if Sterling doesn’t come on, then hope for a Haller hat trick to save our game week

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Aguero 31 but this could be his best season goal wise.

    1. TheTinman
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      It’s one match home against bottom of the table. Give me a break man

      1. JonBoy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        ? Scored every game, right?

        1. TheTinman
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Yes factual statement

        2. KrisMCFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 day ago

          Correct

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Bit like lampard. His best season came when he was over 30 I think

  16. BARIO MALOTELLI
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    This pep roulete for real. Just when i remember TC Sane last season on DGW and got 3 points

  17. TheTinman
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    City will switch off and cruise in the 2nd half. Just wait and see

    1. BARIO MALOTELLI
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Ye true i can feel it coming aguero stays on one goal

      1. TheTinman
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        Probably something like this. Maybe 2 goals ( that’s fairly quiet for them)

        Ideally they concede 1

  18. FPL Dakes
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Down to 1.5 mil and counting. Such fun!

    1. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      You still have nice autosubs coming as things stand now

      1. FPL Dakes
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        You’re right. Yet another captain fail though

  19. have you seen cyan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    think sterling will come on for an ez goal to get his confidence back

  20. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Aguero captainers complaining about him not scoring ten goals whilst I'm sitting here waiting for that bald t*** to screw me over one more time by bringing on sterling with 30 seconds to go

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      ^ This

    2. Rainer
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      😆

    3. BARIO MALOTELLI
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Yep feel you bro i TC sane last season on DGW and he just played 20 mins and got 3 points, peps intention is to svrew us fpl managers for real

    4. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Exactly. Get a grip people. Even if you’re trolling.

  21. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    City Subs 2nd Half
    Jesus for Kun
    Gundogen for Dilva
    Sterling for Bilva

    1. FPL Dakes
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Confirmed???

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 day ago

        eye in the sky zoomed in on Pep's notepage

    2. dark91
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Mendy approves

  22. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Digne and VVD out to cheaper options and load up in MF/FWDs?

  23. have you seen cyan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    well digne>ota or mendy looks like a no brainer

  24. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Now Sterling has had his rest. Will people still hold him? or drop for Aguero?

    1. The 12th Man
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 day ago

      Considering Sterling,Barnes > Maddison,Aguero for free

  25. DantheManinaPan
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    I'm in a very odd position... My team isn't performing, and I don't own Ota/Abraham/Aguero/Son, yet at the same time I'm content. I've got three City players, a defence I like, and Haller + Pukki up front who I also like...

    I'm contemplating burning one of my 2FT to get Adrian in...

  26. FPL Dakes
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    No more goals unless it’s from Sterling off the bench. I beg.

  27. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Mendy subbed lol

  28. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Angelino on 😀

  29. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    C'mon temuuu

  30. Herman Toothrot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 day ago

    Mendy owners