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. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Mendy off. Angekino On

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Angelino*. Mendy probably rested.

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      We knew that, Mendy will be rotated or play only parts of the games

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        More like eased. Will play many games if he stays fit no doubt. Starting today was still a good sign.

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

    Well that’s one sub done. Rip Mendy owners

    1. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lol

  3. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    This is not Hindsight talking.
    Sterling minutes over 2 weeks for club and country
    Mahrez great performance CL
    Mendy fit and Zinchenko.
    Not Pep roulette, just the bleedin' obvious.

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

      “and Zinchenko”?

      Doesn’t mean it’s not all a f***ing sucker punch.

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

    Mendy 0 attacking returns

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Just back from injury I will give him a break lol

  5. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Can we all just take a minute to think of Bemba during these dark times?? 😆

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

      OMG

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

      He has two Voodoo dolls on the go.

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

    1 sub down

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

      2 to go

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

    Pleaaaaaae Ashley Barnes man... Pukki Cantwell combo too

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I have them all so you're screwed.

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

    So basically Pep enjoys benching Sterling for the easy games where goal fests are involved !

  9. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling will come on with a point to prove and so fired up he’ll get a cheap yellow

    1. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      What’s 2x0 again?

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

    Jesus on for Aguero on the 70th minute and the third sub will be Foden or?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Foden not in squad

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

        Why not?

  11. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Gundo and Jesus to come on.
    Thats it

  12. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    KDB Goal would be nice

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

    LMAO Mendy

  14. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My rival is gonna be fuming after doing Zinch > Mendy, could have been amazing.

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

      wait for mendy next week he will come good, probably going to get him over ota. Everyone will flock to Ota

  15. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Talk about roulette. Angelino on for Mendy. Lol Pep going to make many angry....

  16. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Cantwell good enough to play every week in a 3-5-2?

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

      No not away

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

      I think so

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’m coming up with an ingenious strategy to use him as first sub to cover Dilva

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

      Norwich a home team?

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

      I would.

  17. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    So Angelino, Mendy, and Zinky will all get minutes?

    Might steer clear

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

      I definitely am.

      But Ota or 4.5

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

    Bilva goal

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A??

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

        Dilva

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

    BilvaG

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

    G Silva
    A Silva

  21. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bsilva g dsilva a

  22. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What is a bilva

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mulva, is that you?

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

        No, its Delores

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It's the Portuguese variant of the Dilva

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

    Silva G
    Silva A

  24. SpiritRising
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I am hoping sterling stays on the bench. I think it's a viable option to get rid and not just a knee jerk. I think maddison Grealish and Kane got the potential to outscore sterling, Haller and Deodoncker long term.

    Been waiting for a maddison explosion for a while and looks like Brendan will set up more attacking in the easier fixtures.

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

    Ffs 1 more kun

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

    Aguero should have had 5 goals 🙁

  27. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Silva goal
    Silva assist

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bernardo Silva again

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

    Probably not a Dilva assist, deflected

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

      Intended target.

    2. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah won’t be classed as wasn’t a clean ball through

  30. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Quique Sánchez Flores - "I enjoy setting my teams up for games like this."