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. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Before gameweek 22 I had to decide between

    A) Aguero (C) + Traore for two weeks
    B) Sterling (C) + DCL for two weeks

    Should have went with my guts instead of listening to to all the "aguero is a rotation risk" bs. Effectively cost me over 60 pts (have not done the math) . Can only blame my self though. Spending to much time on this site makes one 2nd guess every decision you make. No more.

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bye 🙂

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Are you leaving? In that case, bye

        1. UTD - HATED, ADORED, BUT NE…
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          ‘Spending to much time on this site makes one 2nd guess every decision you make. No more.’ - you said you were leaving?

        2. FPL.team
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Nope 🙂 You said you are though. Bye 🙂

    2. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aguero was and still is a rotation risk though, I wouldn't say that is bs

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Everyone is a rotation risk at City bar KDB. Sterling was benched last week. Mahrez this week.

    3. thomashl
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ah, dang. Totally get what you’re saying, this forum drives overthinking lol. Don’t do the math...

    4. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This is true I can confirm
      I went Aguero 2 weeks ago and logged off

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Well done sir

    5. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling horrible form. Clearly kun the better option

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Okay captain hindsight. But that was not the advice I was given. The decision to go with B was unanomous.

        1. Regin
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          If u watch city games, u can see sterling is terrible right now.

    6. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      But you make the decisions mate. Can't blame anyone else

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I blame my self. Look at what I wrote.

    7. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I spend lots of time.on this website guess who had the captain armband on Aguero for 4 GW's? Me always go with your head and gut you click the button nobody else is too blame

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

      Funny stuff

  2. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    That Jiminez > Ings transfer not looking too clever now, even if it does free-up the funds to get Salah.

  3. BrutalLogiC
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    That 2nd Jim and Aguero goal killed me:(

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Joke of a season

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

    Nice to see 8th attackers biting back this GW!

  5. thomashl
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rash Dilva -> DCL Salah for free?

    Have Mane, TAA, KdB, Vardy

    1. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes.

      1. thomashl
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks, will do it tomorrow if no price changes

        1. FPLtfs
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          DCL great value, and Salah DGW, seems reasonable. Good luck

          1. thomashl
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Thanks mate!

  6. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Well the Jimmy to Ings move didn’t work so well, thankfully my main ml challenger don the same move

  7. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jimi 》》 Ings

    This game can be absolutely logic defying.

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimi and Ings both had similar ceilings this week imo.

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

    Is 61 good? Alisson and Tarkowski left.

    Oh yea, thats my draft team btw, my actual team has 19 with 3 left LOL..

    1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Lmao!!

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Proves what a joke the game is

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

      My draft lol has Fleck, Pukki, Kun, Traore and Trossard. Even benched Foster for Allison. Crazy

  9. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Knew Ings would blank when on the Scoutcast they were talking about him being essential and it not being a question of if he scores, it's how many he scores etc.!

  10. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Horror he. 8 from 5. Need vardy captain to save this gw

  11. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone else noticed how deep kdb is playing ever since kun came back??

    ...
    ...

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

      As expected.

      1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Kdb to kun then??

        ...
        ...

    2. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I am fed up of kdb. Sellling him for Salah now

    3. The Fed
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Couldn't have played deeper if he tried to

  12. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    2 or 3 bonus for Grealish?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      None hopefully

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Hopefully 3!

    2. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Makes no difference when you wake up and bench him for Cantwell before the deadline

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        It was tough but if you see my post history i suggested to everyone to start Grealish.

      2. Dr. Agabuse
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        feel ya. traore for cantwell. no brainer uff

  13. 1zverGGadeM
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish to get 3 bps Yey!

    1. Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Hell Yeah

    2. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Transferred Jimenez and Traore into my team/starting 11 this week, actually worked out.

    3. nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      22 from 5, how's everyone else doing?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Shocking, season over

      2. TheDragon
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        28 from 7 - big regret captaining KDB over Abraham

        1. TheDragon
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          34 post Baps

      3. Skalla
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        10 from 5, Captain to come so still hopeful 🙂

      4. clempro
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        10 from 5.... and one hit taken

      5. Regin
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        8 from 5

      6. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        23 from 6. Another small red so far

      7. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        23 from 6, captain still to play.

      8. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        24 from 6 post baps, Vardy(c)

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

        13 from 6. They all had great fixtures too. I hate this game, wont enter any mini leagues next season.

      10. Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        27 from 7. Need (C) Abraham now to deliver some points.

    4. Party time
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Leicester & Liverpool will take advantage now.City got themselves done

      • BrutalLogiC
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        15 for 6

      • Waynoo
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Another red arrow for me

      • Chucky
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Ings and KDB to Aguero and Duda for free? ready to do it.

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Kun rotation

      • Babelcopter
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Pool can rotate so much and just focus to winning UCL. Huge turning point when pool assets no longer needed.

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Hopefully they do and we see a Leicester miracle

        2. Dr. Agabuse
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          yes

      • Dr. Agabuse
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Talk Bonusses?

        DCL

        Grealish look close.

        Changes?

        1. TheDragon
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          How is Holgate on for 3 bps?!

          1. Skalla
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            He had an assist

      • jimmyabs1987
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        +250,000 rank so far

      • Party time
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Well Played to those that did Jimmy > Ings. Thanks for giving us Jimmy owners a differential today. Allah bless y'all

          1. Woy_is_back
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Yup

            Probably still selling Jimmy ahead of next gw

            1. Party time
                4 years, 3 months ago

                🙂

                1. Woy_is_back
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  u keeping?

                  1. Party time
                      4 years, 3 months ago

                      Yes.I believe so 😆

                    • Party time
                        4 years, 3 months ago

                        No reason to sell actually

                      • Party time
                          4 years, 3 months ago

                          He is just a Sensation

                2. Woy_is_back
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  37 points with Vardy(C), Reece James, Salah and TAA left. Ok´ish I guess

                  1. Hazz
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 6 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    37. "Okay'

                    Okay mate!

                  2. TheDragon
                    • 6 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Very good obviously

                3. Van der Faart
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Changed captain from Vardy to KDB late this morning. He'll definitely be on the WKD tomorrow I can feel it

                4. Stef rocks
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Congrats to all Kun captains.

                  Bad things so far:

                  10 pts from 5 players - I kind of want to cry

                  But to be positive there are a few Good things:
                  - Ings blanked
                  - All other city mids blanked
                  - have 6 players left C

                5. FPLtfs
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Been a while, but: Aguerooooooo (c) 🙂

                  1. Lecky Legs FC
                    • 8 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Hear hear

                6. Party time
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    1st time I ever captained Kdb. Sorry guys

                    1. Chucky
                      • 10 Years
                      4 years, 3 months ago

                      lool

                  • BNMC
                    • 4 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Zaha in? I need a sub-7m midfielder to fund my triple LIV plans.

                  • Lecky Legs FC
                    • 8 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    47 points with Mane,VVD, Vardy,Willems & Willian left to go wowser thanks Cappin Aguero made up so far me

                    1. Salah’s Sonnet
                      • 12 Years
                      4 years, 3 months ago

                      K

                      1. Lecky Legs FC
                        • 8 Years
                        4 years, 3 months ago

                        ?

                      2. Sun Jihai
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 12 Years
                        4 years, 3 months ago

                        ?