Dugout Discussion

Aguero and Mahrez benched as Guardiola rotates again

Sergio Aguero (£12.2m) owners once again find themselves burned by Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy as he is named on the bench for Gameweek 9.

It represents the second successive away match that the Argentinian has been selected among the substitutes with Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) chosen to lead the line at Crystal Palace.

Joining him on the bench is Riyad Mahrez (£8.7m), further frustrating those who signed the Algerian international ahead of Gameweek 8.

Against Wolves he was substituted in the 59th minute and this week misses out on a place in the starting line-up for the first time since Gameweek 5.

Those invested in Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) and Kevin de Bruyne (£10.0m) will be much happier ahead of the game as both of them feature in the first XI.

The England international continues his run of matches without a benching to three, while his Belgian colleague is back in the team after missing Gameweek 8 with an injury.

As Guardiola had promised before the international, it has proved not to be too serious and, after a pretty abject start to Gameweek 9, de Bruyne’s owners will be quietly hopeful of attacking returns.

Meanwhile, Guardiola appears to have shaken things up at the back by naming both Fernandinho (£5.2m) and Rodrigo (£5.5m), defensive midfielders by trade, in the two centre-back positions.

Nicolas Otamendi (£5.6m) has come in for some serious criticism of late and finds himself not even in the matchday squad.

Crystal Palace line up in a 4-4-2 formation with Wilfried Zaha (£6.7m) leading the line with Jordan Ayew (£5.1m).

Vicente Guaita (£5.0m) is missing from the squad, which may encourage those invested in the Manchester City attack, as Wayne Hennessey (£4.4m) comes in for him.

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey; van Aanholt, Cahill, Tomkins, Ward; McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyaté, Schlupp; Zaha, Ayew.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Mendy, Rodrigo, Fernandinho, Cancelo; De Bruyne, D Silva, Gundogan; Sterling, Jesus, B Silva.

1,433 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Vlad Tepes
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Should we get rid of Otamendi?

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah seems like it.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Should be fit next GW

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I think so.

    4. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He's a rubbish player to be honest

    5. Vlad Tepes
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I mean he had some poor defending the past few games. Is he not nailed because of that or why is he out this game?

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

      Keeping for this week, if you can cover him with your bench

  2. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Nearly KDB assist

  3. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    If Aguero was playing, City would be winning by now. Jesus just doesn't have it.

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Agree.

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Timing

  4. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    20pts from 7 so far for my wildcard team and now Kun benched. I'm beyond done this season. Hold me 🙂

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      We'll be ok x

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        CHO is the one little spark huh? Team actually looks dodgy for next week but I'm probably in fantasy black-place

        1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I think it looks alright actually, staying positive. Kun rest this week gives me confidence to captain him at home to Villa, and I fancy the Liverpool boys to haul against Spurs.

          Also looking forward to see when and how you and I diverge

          1. Fpl Richie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Vardy and Tierney are high on the watch list.

            1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Yeah, I've planned the Wilson->Vardy move but might keep an eye on Ben Mendy as well

  5. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ota Cantwell > 4.5 CHO

  6. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pep give any reasons for his defensive lineup? This is ridiculous!

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Otamendi knock.

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ota had a knock coming back from IB. They have many games coming up so he needed to rest Otamendi some time, he chose to do it this game.

      He said something like that in the pre match interview.

  7. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    City knocking on the door!

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      But Jesus fluffing it up as per usual

  8. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Jesus misses open net

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Get him off.

  9. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Probable price fall for Son & Pukki, urgent transfers need to be made.

    A) Pukki (MUN) -> Jimenez (new)

    OR

    B) Son (liv) + Pukki (MUN) -> Martial (nor) + Lacazette (CRY), for a hit?

  10. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I reckon I'll cream my pants when Bernardo scores.

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  11. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pva clean sheet locked in 🙂

  12. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Fing sterling

  13. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    City are back

  14. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    BPS positions final for 15:00 kick offs?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Guess they match the FFS ones.

  15. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How are Mahrez, Aguero and Otamendi doing? Scores not updated for me. Need some big points after Tammy (c) and Son!

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Still 0-0

    2. SomeoneKnows
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Bench, bench and didn't even make it to the squad... It's your lucky week 😉

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      🙂

  16. kraftwerker
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Half tempted to do a rage -8.

    Ota, Son, Wickham > TAA, 'doncker, Jimi.

    343 is so much easier on the eye to boot.

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      if you are half tempted then it’s not a rage

      1. kraftwerker
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Touché. A double Aberlour's taken the edge off, to be fair.

  17. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    It’s coming.

  18. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Fernandinho outpaces zaha

  19. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    LOL @ the scout picks as usual

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      They've crazy recently to be honest

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lol at every pick this week

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Been really bad since Mark stepped down. Just the template team any casual would pick.

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

        feel like half the players are jsut picked because of who they are or who they play for, regardless of form. Its like a typical england squad selection

        1. jumpinjeffflash
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Agree with all these points. I’m usually happier when I don’t own any of their picks. Shouldn’t be that way.

  20. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling is going to bag today. But Mane hattrick tomorrow will make it all okay

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      The things we tell ourselves 🙂

  21. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What should I hope for with KDB as VC when my mini league rival capped him?

  22. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    At this point - what players do you actually feel good about owning?

    TAA, KDB and Lund are my only ones

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

      rico, lunds, jimmy, kdb and mount

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Just Mane

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Button never causes me any problems, I like him.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        🙂

    4. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mane

    5. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      TAA, Mane and my new toy Vardy

    6. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      CHO, KDB, TAA, Lundstram, Tammy, Mount, Vardy, Wilson

    7. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Still happy to have KDB and Aguero vs Villa next week.
      TAA and Mount.
      ....and happy having Lacazette as my punt.

    8. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mane and Trent for now. Rico made me happy today, and KDB too.

      Aguero Tammy Wilson Soyuncu Kelly Maddison 🙁

  23. Cookie Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Jesus just seems to lack a certain Aguero-ness when around the 6 yard box

  24. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Rico 1st bench. Kinda want Kun to stay put...

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He wont if this keeps up.

  25. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Guys, i'm having a hot dog

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      for tea ?

      1. Modest Bob
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Kinda, i'm at a birthday party

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nice! Food never lets us down week after week line this game does lol

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        like*

    3. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sexualizing you dog is disturbing

    4. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Canned animal parts with sauce and white bread vs my dinner of Roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce and Mediterranean quinoa.
      Lucky you 🙂

      1. Modest Bob
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        That made me want another one

  26. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling is the new Alonso

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Did he cause the Aguero car crash?

  27. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hoping for Kun on second half to score a brace assisted by KDB.

    Even having foolishly captain Tammy ****ing Abraham I’d be happy with those points

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thought you went Auba?

  28. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling playing leftback.

  29. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Nobody looking at Ings? Seems to be on great form

  30. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    My captain playing LB ffs