Dugout Discussion

Aguero and De Bruyne start but Mahrez benched for final Gameweek 26 fixture

The final match of Gameweek 26 is one that should have been contested ten days ago.

Manchester City v West Ham United was the only Premier League fixture to fall victim to Storm Ciara, with the postponed clash at the Etihad swiftly being rearranged for tonight.

This evening’s game brings to an end the longest Gameweek of the season (possibly ever?) and it could be one that has a significant bearing on many Fantasy managers’ overall rank.

Sergio Aguero (£12.1m) is owned by just 30.11% of the top 10,000, with over half of those having handed the armband to the Argentinean striker.

Whatever Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m) does tonight will be less significant for his owners, with the Belgian’s effective ownership at 98.91%.

Both of those players start this evening.

Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m), the only other player from Pep Guardiola’s side who can boast an ownership of higher than 1% in the top 10k, is only among the substitutes.

Guardiola has made five changes in total from the side that lost 2-0 at Spurs earlier this month, with Aymeric Laporte (£6.3m), Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m), Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m), Bernardo Silva (£7.8m) and David Silva (£7.4m) all returning.

Fernandinho (£5.2m), Ilkay Gundogan (£5.2m) and Mahrez drop to the bench, while Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.2m) is suspended and Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) injured.

Leroy Sane (£9.3m) is not involved in City’s matchday squad despite a return to training.

Interest in West Ham’s FPL assets is more muted, with Robert Snodgrass (£5.2m) the only one of the Hammers’ squad who has an effective ownership of more than 1% among managers in the top 10,000.

Snodgrass keeps his place, with David Moyes making only one change to the West Ham starting XI that drew 3-3 with Brighton and Hove Albion over a fortnight ago: Arthur Masuaku (£4.2m) ousting Sebastien Haller (£6.9m) in what is clearly a signal of Moyes’ intentions this evening.

Felipe Anderson (£6.6m) returns from injury and is among the substitutes, along with new signing Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m).

The reverse fixture of this evening’s game ended 5-0 to City in Gameweek 1, with Sterling bagging a 20-point haul and Mahrez registering a hat-trick of assists.


Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Mendy, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Silva, Bernardo, Jesus, Aguero.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku, Rice, Noble, Soucek, Snodgrass, Antonio.

1,358 Comments Post a Comment
  1. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Off topic!!
    Just returned from Miami. Rented a Gand Cherokee there for two weeks. Seems a decent car but not enough funds for sich a new model.
    Any info on the older ones?

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      This reads like an actual Ron Burgundy quote.

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Can’t you just imagine me riding that glorius SUV with my hair flowing in the open window? I would look amazing!

    2. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Gas guzzlers are so noughties.

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        The mrs has a hybrid so lets call it even.

    3. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Off topic. BAN!

    4. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stateside here. Owned one back in the mid 00s and loved it. However, a mate has had nothing but serious issues with his 2016.

      1. sminkypinky
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Right. Hard to find that old with low mileage. Will have a look and a test drive on one. Thanks buddy!

  2. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Weird seeing a Spurs side without any of Son, Kane or Eriksen playing.

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

      Real Eriksen left before this season. It wasn't him. Sad how it ended. Really liked him tbh

  3. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Chances of Kun staying silent and Mahrez coming on for 1pt and blocking ppl’s autosub hauls?

    0.01% you say? So there’s hope!

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

      Pretty good i guess
      Mahrej Will haul though. Tired legs and all that

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        One of them is bound to!

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I thought Kun to Mahrez was an obvious sub. Get Kun off early to rest him for the big match. Give Mahrez some minutes too before the big match.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        That’ll prob be the 65 mins move

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      9 more saves from Fabianski and Pep throwing on a few late subs and you may get just get it!

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Glorious:P

  4. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Clears up any debate on the goal:

    https://twitter.com/PillingAnthony/status/1230227225879945217

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      The only debate was between the people watching from the Specsavers waiting room

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

      Real time it was a very deceptive angle.

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

        Or it was pessimism of us Kdb owners 😀

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          FPL has me riddled with pessimism 😆

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

            All of us mate 😀

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      This

  5. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Has Aguero scored yet ?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Of(c)ourse not

  6. Captain Beefheart
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Already managed my expectation, am getting nowt from Kun tonight

  7. fridge
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Remember kids, if it doesn't feel right dont do it!

    My Martial > Mahrez looking worse by the minute...

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Unlucky

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Mahrez is a rotation player. Martial will always start. Yes unlucky . . but with a side of "this was going to happen."

        1. fridge
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Exactly, kinda new it with Mahrez...

    2. RealVirg
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks for the reminder, I have dark thoughts but as long as they just remain in my head, all will be ok.

  8. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    doing KDB -> Son after the GW started rather than before has not really gone particularly well 😀 😀

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

      Oooof

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        🙂

  9. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Early Kun goal will settle the nerves.

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ssshhh

    2. Teahupo'o
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not with Jesus still getting in his way.

  10. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Perhaps Bowen will get some minutes if City are kept quite.

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      *quiet*

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hes my mates cousin, im rooting for him!

  11. HamezMace
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    All you ‘Aguero C fail’ posters, I’ve noted who you are. If you come back gloating in 45 minutes time claiming you were right all along, I’m reporting you to the FPL police.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      😆

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      They should have their armband revoked. No vice

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I’m sending Ogbonna round to sexually abuse them!

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          I said no vice 😉

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            😆

  12. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    % chance of KDB being next pen taker?

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      18%

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

      50.

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      1% ; Kun will take today.

    4. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Noble

  13. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero stays on after the break. aguero owners having the last laugh after all, sigh

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero owners always get lucky

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I know , I wish I owned him

    2. SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Only for 15mins more though.

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        How do you know ?

  14. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    So non of the big captain options were gold in this looong GW....

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Apart from Pepe.

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Auba did ok

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

      Son was an option.

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      You’re right

  15. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Werner big miss.

  16. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    50 minutes no Aguero goal yet

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It is coming.....

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      10 min to go

  17. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kun captain fail, Mahrez massive fail, KDB irrelevant... Whats the point

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No point, get Noble

  18. tricpic
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Awful gameweek.
    Need to ship at least three - Wood, Maupay and Mahrez, maybe Digne too.
    -8 hit
    Or play wildcard?
    Question is whether to save it for the DGWs.

    If I take the hit now, and later activate wildcard do I still lose the -8 or not?

    And when will we know about DGW dates for sure?

  19. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Rice very good at winning it back. Also great at giving it away.

  20. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    It was inevitable

  21. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero chance, but wide

  22. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Sitter for Kun

  23. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Why so many empty seats?

    1. Dokdok666
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      plastic fans

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

      After the ban and Mondays result they’re back to supporting United.

    3. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Plastic fans, title challenge over.

    4. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Stadium allocation expanding while ticket prices continue to increase, fixture rearranged for the midweek (away allocation is also looking pretty empty), traffic problems across Manchester today... or just go along with the 'plastic' meme that doesn't apply to most matchdays.

      1. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Makes sense. Thanks for your reply.

  24. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kun messes up KDB assist !

  25. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Imagine being KDB and watching everyone waste the chances

  26. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Cannot help but notice all those empty blue seats. Oh Kun just missed...

  27. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ball boy is lucky Hazard isn’t playing.

  28. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ball boy whoops

  29. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Mahrez gonna do a Lundy off the bench, you know it.

  30. JRD
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    you ballboy !!