Dugout Discussion

Mahrez and Jesus benched as Guardiola rotation strikes again

Pep Guardiola has frustrated Fantasy Premier League managers once again by leaving Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) on the bench.

That move sees Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) and Bernardo Silva (£7.8m) come back into the side for the visit of Crystal Palace.

There is better news for owners of Kevin de Bruyne (£10.7m) and Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) who both keep their places from the win at Aston Villa.

Owners of Martin Kelly (£4.4m) have some reasons to be encouraged, even if they are benching him for the Eagles’ trip to the Etihad Stadium.

Despite Joel Ward‘s (£4.3m) return to fitness, the budget defender starts at right-back while Cenk Tosun (£5.7m) is set to make his Palace debut, named up-front alongside Jordan Ayew (£5.0m).

It is Moise Kean (£6.4m) who replaces the injured Richarlison (£8.1m) for Everton, while Djibril Sidibé (£5.4m) is benched in favour of Seamus Coleman (£5.3m).

Jack Grealish (£6.5m) looks set for another outing as a centre-forward for Aston Villa as Dean Smith lines up in a 3-4-3 formation, with the midfielder at the apex.

There is a return for Matt Targett (£4.4m), who looks to operating as a left wing-back in front of a back-three.

Opponents Brighton have gone with a front-three of Leandro Trossard (£5.8m), Neal Maupay (£5.9m) and Aaron Connolly (£4.4m).

Despite suggestions of rotation at Southampton, Danny Ings (£6.9m) holds onto his starting berth against Wolves.

Mikel Arteta is forced into a change at the back for Arsenal, Sokratis Papastathopoulos (£4.9m) out with illness. That sees Shkodran Mustafi (£5.2m) replace him at centre-back.

Meanwhile, Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) holds onto his right-back berth although Hector Bellerín (£5.4m) is back on the bench.

Gabriel Martinelli (£4.5m) comes in for the suspended Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.7m).

Opponents Sheffield United are without David McGoldrick (£5.4m) who has suffered a minor foot injury, which means Lys Mousset (£4.7m) and Oli McBurnie (£5.7m) lead the line, supported by key midfielder John Lundstram (£5.1m).

Norwich have handed an immediate debut to new signing Duda (£5.0m) while there are starts in their attack for Todd Cantwell (£4.9m) and Teemu Pukki (£6.5m).

Bournemouth have lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Ryan Fraser (£6.9m) and Harry Wilson (£5.9m) either side of Callum Wilson (£7.4m).

Arsenal XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, D Luiz, Saka; Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil; Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette.

Sheffield United XI: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; McBurnie, Mousset.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Alzate, Dunk, Webster, Bernardo; Mooy, Stephens, Propper; Trossard, Maupay, Connolly.

Aston Villa XI: Reina; Konsa, Mings, Hause; Guilbert, Drinkwater, Nakamba, Targett; Trezeguet, Grealish, El Ghazi

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Mendy, Fernandinho, Stones, Cancelo; D Silva, de Bruyne, Gundogan; Sterling, Aguero, B Silva

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; Riedewald, Cahill, Tomkins, Kelly; Zaha, Kouyaté, McCarthy, McArthur; Ayew, Tosun.

Norwich XI: Krul; Byram, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Aarons; Tettey, McLean; Duda, Cantwell, Buendía; Pukki.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale; Rico, Aké, S Cook, A Smith; Billing, Gosling, Lerma; Fraser, C Wilson, H Wilson.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, J Stephens, Cédric; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg, Armstrong; S Long, Ings.

Wolves XI: Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Dendoncker; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Doherty; Neto, Jiménez, Traoré.

West Ham XI: Randolph; Cresswell, Diop, Ogbonna, Zabaleta; Rice, Noble; Snodgrass, Lanzini, Fornals; Haller.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Holgate, Mina, Coleman; Bernard, Delph, T Davies, Walcott; Kean, Calvert-Lewin

2,126 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    No Aurier BPS?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Correct.

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hope not

  2. Moose™
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Lads, early thoughts?

    Ryan

    TAA Soyuncu Stephens

    Mane KdB Alli Grealish Cantwell

    Var©y Tammy

    Subs: Button Rashy Lundstram Simpson

    2FT & 0.1ITB

    Appreciate any inputs. Thanks a lot.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Depending on Rashford (downgrade):
      - Salah in for Alli
      - Simpson for Robertson

      1. Moose™
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Plan for Salah in. But, might imvolved - 4 or -8. Worth it?

  3. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Swear Pep doesn’t actually use KdB to his full potential

    1. Penang Sandman
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He has the energy and drive to fit better in midfield trio, rather than wings/no 10 imo

      1. Penang Sandman
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Not that i agree pep stubbornness to stay 433 rather than plays best players to fit in any formation (451 with kdb no 10)

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ahould play no.10 always.. Would have broken some nice records i guess

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

      Ederson
      Walker Stones Laporte Mendy
      Foden Rodri Bernardo
      KDB Aguero Sterling

      Bravo
      Cancelo Garcia Otamendi Angelino
      Zinchenko Fernandinho Gundogan
      Mahrez Jesus Sane

      Let Silva retire in Spain. Give Fernandinho some more rest time because of his age.

  4. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Guiata 🙂

  5. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Digne on FKs and pens I wonder?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Don't think he's on penalties.

  6. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    C'mon Raz!

  7. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Come on all* my beautiful sons

    * apart from KDB

  8. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Need a KdB blank so much

  9. Sailboats
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ings (c) here. Come on my boy. Make me proud

  10. Whats the Huth
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibé on the bench!? Noooooo

    Why has this happened

    I need a Sheffield clean sheet now. Double Sheffield with Henderson and Lundstram off the bench

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What a surprise, ML rival started him and has Aurier first on bench

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

      Sidibe will come on for a 1 point cameo.

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        No chance

  11. Whats the Huth
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sidibé to Holgate.
    Easy move ever tonight

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn't. Holgate next up for rotation.

  12. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mings starting. Is he soer cheap?

  13. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    KdB playing behind his two CBs 🙁

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

    Mousset wasting Lundstram assist

  15. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Both KDB and Parry above 100 eo

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Do you have the exact figures? Thanks

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        133 and 138

  16. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Pepe is a bit crap isn't he?

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah. Only good for LigueOne. So is Sarr for me.

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

      too one footed

  17. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Comeeee ooooonnn Grealish!!!

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

      Assist?

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

    About 5 Mendy crosses already.

    Everything done the City left, Sterling playing right side, trying to get on the end of them.

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

      5?

  19. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Where is Zinchenko btw

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

    My word, it’s like my whole ML has torn up there teams to have Aguero and or Mahrez. Desperately beed them to blank!

    1. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It was obvious that one of them will get benched

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

        True, just hope they’ve already missed Aguero’s pts

  21. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any idea why sidibe is benched?

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Simple rotation

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

      He's not as good as FFS makes him out to be.

    3. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Tactical imo he will start midweek

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

      Cause my ML rival has Aurier first on bench

  22. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mina has a howler in him trying to play out from the back I reckon

  23. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    My team is suddenly crap

    McCarthy Button
    TAA Soy Dunk Lundstram Rico
    Mane KDB Alli Willian Cantwell
    Vardy Rashford Jimenez

  24. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Grealy and Jimmy hauls needed asap

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Approved

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Both already looked very lively.....in the warm up

      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        😛

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Sold Jimmy, expect a super haul...

  25. Reiger
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Good to see KDB playing up near the box. Bodes well

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

      21 players around it tbf 😀

      1. Reiger
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Pep has been known to occasionally keep him back in a more defensive stance

  26. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Cheeky Trossard punt anyone??

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thought about it, but stuck with Alli. Trossard not nailed

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Great player but rotation risk

  27. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sheffield United better than Arsenal

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      The table standing shows it

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

      Much better

    3. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sheffield Wednesday are better than Arsenal

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        😀

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        zing

      3. Reiger
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Any day of the week really

    4. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lundstram is nailed on for a 9 pointer

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I think you're right since I benched him for Sidibe.

    5. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      As a team they are way better than Arse

  28. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Benched Lundy and Rico... CS guaranteed along with some juicy baps...

  29. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mousset is terrible. Almost as bad as McGoldrick

  30. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    West ham mid most likely to play two games next week- Snoddy? Fornals?

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Against top 2 in the league though.

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

      I'd consider Noble as an useful 1st sub - but that's about it