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. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Midfield of Iwobi Sterling Mount Salah in tears

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      brutal. zinch sterling mount here

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

    How long before Marco Silva is sacked?

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

      only if they can get Jose imo

  3. Random Name
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Emery should be sacked after this game

    Dude dresses like a headteacher

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Emery and Arsenal don't play today lol

      1. Random Name
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        completely went over your head

      2. Dr. Agabuse
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Should be sacked before the game zhen

  4. JIMMY TUGGINS
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    All 3 of my subs needed, great.

    1. EMBOLOFAN
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      zinch sterling mount here. bench is dendo greenwood wickham 🙂

  5. Respect My Authoritah
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Putting the City game to one side for a minute, Sheffield yet to take a shot at goal, and here I sit with double Everton defence 🙁

  6. Make United Great Again
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    NEED A KDB GOAL

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Mahrez assist, KDB goal coming

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yup

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        almost happened KDB goal, Mahrez assist

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Norwich looks like scoring or they have been caught up, their style is not that a surprise and we should sell Pukki?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Seems like a different team at home.

  8. Spab
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I don't think Watford are getting back into this.

    1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      You don't say!

  9. Royal5
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Didn't even know Angelino played for City. Why waste his career being 3rd choice at City?

    1. Andy'81
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Lots and lots of money.

      1. Royal5
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        The sad truth.

  10. Maddi Son
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Otamendi CS banked. Watford goal would be gorgeous

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

    + No Sterling cameo as captain
    + Rico off bench
    - Kun gets 90 as a non owner
    - Digne(vc)

    Rage induced wildcard is tempting

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

      Seriously down to needing a Pope goal as i'm running out of options......

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Same same

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

      ...never captain (or by extension vice captain) a defender

  12. Make United Great Again
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Selling Sterling!

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Relax
      © Him next gw

    2. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      that is madness. the dreaded rest is out the way. Time to sit back and relax now for a few weeks with him!

  13. A Team Of James McCleans
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is Sterling having an affair with Peps wife or something? What did he do to him

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Smartly resting him...as many on here predicted

  14. Pacer.
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    If KdB doesn't get bonus I'm writing to my mp

  15. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Mahrez bar, take that BPS off him.

  16. DAZZ
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling (c) KDB (vc) lundstram 1st bench so a SHU cleanie would be nice

  17. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    De Bruyne VC and Pieters first on the bench. I swear to god Pep if you bring Sterling on I will hunt you down

    1. DAZZ
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Theyve made 3 subs mate

    2. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Just realised he's made all 3 subs, all good here haha

  18. Ambrosiana Inter
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Otamendi cleanie locked

  19. onceuponatyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero really hasn't been that good today.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      are you watching the game?

      1. onceuponatyne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yep. Does he get bonuses for all the missed sitters?

        1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Actually those missed sitters get baps deducted

  20. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    KDB more crucial to City than Sterling.

    Also, Mendy looks like very important too.

    1. Ligdon
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mendy ? Off at half time

  21. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Average is 28 at the moment by the looks of things

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A lot of VCs coming

  22. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Alright, Mane(c) then with Lundstram coming on. Lets see how this pans out. 🙂

    Glad Pep kept Sterling on the bench.

  23. Zladan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Wildcard active.

    Sterling, Zinchenko, Digne, Salah Adams out

    Son Mane Aguero Rico Abraham In.

  24. A Team Of James McCleans
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I don’t think I could hate Pep Guardiola anymore right now

  25. DAZZ
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Kiko femenia TCers punching the air rn

  26. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling cappers who is your vc?

    1. DAZZ
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Kev De Bruyne boiiii

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

      Salah

    3. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mo!

    4. tafrère
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Aubameyang.

    5. dark91
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Pukki 🙁

    6. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      KDB, Mount first sub

    7. SM001
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Pukki 🙁

    8. Royal5
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Kenneth De Breuyne

    9. Zladan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      It was KDB until I messed around with colour coordination and it flipped to haller.

      Absolute nightmare.

    10. FPL DONKEY
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      De Bruyne

    11. H-SF
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mount...

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

      KDB
      Mount first on bench

    13. Pukki Party
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

    14. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mane

    15. Markus
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Salah - needs to save the gameweek. Looking at 9 men with mount/james/hanley probably not playing!

    16. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

  27. Yank Revolution
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero out of the BAPS picture...nice

    1. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      KDB matching Kun, noice

  28. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Lundstram 3rd on bench but Greenwood 2nd. Kind of stupid from me.

    1. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Greenwood is a trap

  29. ZeBestee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Watford players have lost all the energy to attack. Absolutely horrified. Can't wait for the final whistle to blow.

  30. SirStevieG
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    KDB could have like 6 assists so far, frustrating