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. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Kun owners, who's first on bench?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lundstram

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cantwell with Tammy vc

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

      Dunk

    4. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Dunk. Wish Brighton kept a cs.

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

    Do Palace still have a resident Eagle at their stadium?

  3. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    It's actually quite astonishing how bad my captain picks have done this season. Would have done better pulling a name out of a hat including defenders and goalkeeper

    1. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Same. Although mine is, would have done so much better if I'd switched Captain and vice captain at the last minute. Although kdb could still do something, Alonso is my vice.

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

    Sterling close.

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

    Useless Sterling

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

      If Sterling is useless, what is Tammy Abraham?

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

        an oscar nominee for his portrayal of a good striker

  6. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Mount is my highest scorer with a mammoth 3 points.

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

    Will Sterling even make 60?

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

      Yes

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

      Would be terrific if he got an early subbing

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Confirmed.

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

    Is Kelly in the first 11 if fit ?

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

      Not if the other CBs are also fit.

  9. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Raheem just please put it in the net

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

    Missing out on this cs ... Thanks ota

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

      No CS if he was playing.

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

        True that's why I benched him

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          You are not missing out on cs then?

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

            Good point

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      That might not be coincidence

    3. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      That's the reason there's currently a clean sheet though.

  11. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hmm to keep Aguero or not. Never thought I’d ask myself this question but Pep’s constant rotation is killing it

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

      Keep for next two home games

  12. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I need a 5.3 defender. Who would you pick? Is Stones or Cancelo a viable option going forward or would you pick another more nailed on player, eg. Boly? Welcome any recommendations please! 🙂

    TAA - Tomori - Lundstram - Rico
    are the rest

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

      Soy is a popular pick

      1. Andy Mac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers. He’s popular but don’t think he will score big. Too leaky at the back for me....

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

      Soyuncu

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

      Own soy since gw1 and wouldn't get him

      1. Andy Mac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Agree fudgy. Who would you go for?

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

          I'd punt on Cancelo 😀

          1. Andy Mac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I’m tempted to! But will walker come straight back in??

  13. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What’s the deal with Otamendi?

    Random rotation or out of squad for good now?

    1. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Slight knock in international apparently

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

    Get off the pitch

  15. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling is useless indeed.

  16. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Townsend is on...Double Townsend screamers incoming

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

    Pie, chips and onion rings in the oven - highlight of my weekend!

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

      Salad for tea for me

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

        Hope you had a good game week

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

          Disasterous gameweek and disasterous tea

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

            I feel for you!

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

      sounds good, you need some beans or alphabet spaghetti as well

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Bbq beans

  18. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Fernandinho should be reclassified as a defender

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

    Get something Kev!

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

    Dont understand why Townsend doesnt start. Hes quality, even though hes not that often in the goals and assists.

  21. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who do we fancy in for Pukki with 0.5ITB?
    1 Keep
    2 Jimenez
    3 King
    4 Haller
    5 Maupay

    6 Wilson and take a hit downgrading elsewhere

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Is go jimi

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

      I just did Pukki to Connolly, just so I have funds to upgrade Cantwell to 352

    3. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I’m getting 2!

    4. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      none

    5. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      All are flipping right now. If Wilson can't score at home against Norwich, ..

      1. Regin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        *flops

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

    Really need a Palace goal and then Sterling off before 60 for Kun...

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

      Looks unlikely...

  23. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    exact money for pukki to vardy today .Do it?

    1. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Easy yes!

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yup

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

    Townsend looks like an undercover cop in a 1970s drama

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

      Undercover as a footballer? Would explain a lot.

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

        lol no one saw it coming

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

    It's actually laughable how much Sterling is for what he gives this season

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

      How come you’ve kept him all season?

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Worst captain this season.

      Did not cap him once when I had him so no need for him in my squad 🙂

    3. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Plenty of time left this season

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

    Mane (c) next week?

    1. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yup

  27. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pep said Walker lost 4-5KG because of a stomach issue, well that's serious. Cancelo wagon anyone?

  28. pulpy77
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Can anyone confirm bid Connolly was subbed tactically for Brighton today or was there any injury?

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

    Aguero nodding off on the bench.

  30. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How did maddison and Wilson play today? Considering bringing them in as upgrades from bench players cantwell greenwood

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Maddi is overated.

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Better options up to 8.5

        1. Rhodes your boat
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Midfielder wise