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, 6 months ago

    Sterling probably fully rested.

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      looking that way mate

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Hopefully

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

    How will Mike Dean manage to be the man of the moment this game? It will take something spectacular to take focus away from this huge steamrollering.

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

    joke of the season "everton could get a top 6 finish"

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

      They're erm... 1 point outside the top 6 as it stands. Not impossible at all.

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

    2 subs down now

  5. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Clean sheets for Sterling surely a point in his favor

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

    WTF still 2 subs and no Sterling?

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

      You’re expecting him?

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

        In two minds whether I want him on, but either way I expected yes. It's extremely rare he gets 0 mins

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

          Actually he more than often gets 0 mins when he doesn't start.
          There were articles and stats on it last season

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Rested. Not needed now.

    3. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      They're 6 0 up..

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    The last sub might be Jesus in for Kun? Sterling chances are really low for the time being

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

      I might be very jammy with my vice in that case!

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

    Sterling+Jesus owners guaranteed at least one autosub

  9. Guy Demel
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    RIP Walker

  10. Arsenal USA FC
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    No Walker CS

  11. dark91
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    So you bench Sterling, sub Walker off before 60. What is next, bring Sterling on as a keeper at 90' !!!

  12. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Fully expect random Norwich defender goal to wipe out Pope CS.

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I am praying for this actually. Sorry!

      1. sunzip14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        So won’t happen

      2. Dr. Agabuse
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Haha. Me too

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

    How is Schneiderlin still playing for anyone?

  14. Guy Demel
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Good for Sterling owners, surely Jesus on for Kun in a bit?

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Hopefully now

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

    Kun off Jesus on would be nice then KDB can go mad

  16. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Get out of my team KDB

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

      ...WTAF?

      1. SirStevieG
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        1 assist from 6 goals, that's what.

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

    19% own Walker, for some reason.

    🙂

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

    Sterling ready for the Carabao cup.

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

      Lol

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

    This gameweek has been abysmal but I low-key love it for some perverse reason

  20. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Im starting to wonder about these supposed wonder stats Digne has accumulated in the past, I’m seriously thinking about downgrading him after this week.

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

    Kun 5th sitter missed

  22. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Watching today unfold and I have absolutely no idea what to do with my team.

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

      Same here.

  23. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Surely Aguero to Jesus is the obvious xfer.

    Shame as a Sterling Capper. What a terrible week.

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

    Aguero the bottler.

  25. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Mina own goal and Walker pulled from under my feet....

  26. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Aguero missing sooo many chances. Unlike him. Lucky non owners.

  27. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Aguernnnooooooo!

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

    KDB to Son a good move? Have Sterling.

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

      Nope

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

    I have KDB and Sterling but tempted by KDB to Son C

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I’d be tempted by Sterling to son

  30. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Kdb owners must be more disappointed than sterlings especially if he doesn't come on and they captained him

    1 assist in 6 goals is nothing really

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

      This

    2. SirStevieG
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      KDB is my captain and i own Sterling and Zinchenko. Just about done.

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

      Timing