Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne out of Manchester derby as Aguero starts City’s Double Gameweek 29 opener

The first of two fixtures for Manchester City in Double Gameweek 29 takes place this afternoon at Old Trafford.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.7m) will not be involved in the fourth Manchester derby of the season, however, as he has failed to recover from a shoulder injury and is not even among the substitutes.

Pep Guardiola said of the Belgian ahead of kick-off:

He feels better but he doesn’t feel 100%. And we don’t take risks. We have three important games in the Premier League but of course, the position that we have, Madrid and Newcastle are the real important games for us.

Sergio Aguero (£11.9m) leads the line for City, while Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) and Phil Foden (£5.1m) are also among the starters.

Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m) has to be content with a place on the bench, as do the likes of Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m), Kyle Walker (£5.7m), David Silva (£7.3m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m).

Pep Guardiola has made five alterations overall from the side that beat Leicester City in Gameweek 27, although the Citizens have contested three cup matches since then.

Mendy, Walker, the injured Aymeric Laporte (£6.3m), De Bruyne and Mahrez are the men to make way from the win at the King Power Stadium, with Joao Cancelo (£5.2m), Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.2m), Nicolas Otamendi (£5.0m), Foden and Sterling all recalled.

Harry Maguire (£5.3m), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.3m) and Daniel James (£5.8m) have all recovered from injury to start for the hosts this afternoon, meanwhile.

James and Brandon Williams (£4.1m) in for Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) and Scott McTominay (£4.9m) are the two changes that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made from Gameweek 28.

The Red Devils look to have switched to a wing-back system, as they have done in several of the “tougher” matches this season.

The three previous meetings between these sides in 2019/20 have all been won by the away team.

Aguero, who averaged 12 points per Double Gameweek last season (City had three of them), was the second-most-popular option for the Triple Captain chip in Gameweek 29, with De Bruyne just behind him.


Manchester United XI: de Gea, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Fred, Williams, Fernandes, James, Martial.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Foden, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.

1,641 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Ole has got his tactics spot on

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Again

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Pep made it easy by fielding a team with 9 players. Sterling and Foden completely useless first half

  2. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Whatever about Mike Dean making the mistake with the card for Fred, VAR came to the conclusion that there was not enough contact to warrant him to go down. Let’s wait and see how consistent that is. Put any money on it that there will be a way softer penalty than that given for less contact.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Before the seasons end. There has been already this season.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Like Bruno vs Watford?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        It’s horribly inconsistent as it’s still clowns looking at the replays.

    3. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Always said it was a danger. Something about referees doing VAR opens up the possibility of refs not wanting to undermine their fellow referees. Remember these folk work together a lot.

      I think it would help if we stopped calling it VAR and called it for what it is...another ref.

      1. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        It's already in the name - Video Assistant Referee

  3. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    I hope City keeps Targeting United right wing. We got a 50m £ Wall in the summer to deal ...

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Its astounding the money United spent on him without any other team in for him.

  4. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    About time I start bringing in my United boys. They seem a completely different team per and post Bruno's arrival.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      After GW 31 I'll probably bring Tony to partner Bruno

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Just like when Ole took over. Things will get normal soon.

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        I dunno ; when you get refereeing decisions week in / week out there’s something more to it.

    3. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      *pre

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Pep Guardiola net spend at Man City = £432m
    Jurgen Klopp net spend at Liverpool = £70m

    And people think Guardiola has done a better job than Klopp? You have to be kidding.

    https://www.transferleague.co.uk/managers-comparison-table/transfer-league-tables/transfer-league-managers-table

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Liverpool spent that on VVD alone mate

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

        "Net"

        Means after player sales. Liverpool got rid of Coutinho. Guardiola has pissed away £100m+ on full backs that don't play.

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 21 days ago

          Apologies I just skimmed over your comment and didn’t click the article.

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Uh yes but we sold. NET.

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Nobody's an island.

      Liverpool's transfers are mainly down to Ian Graham.

    3. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      I'd say klopp has done a better job than any manager in the league bar wilder. But I dont agree that pep is a fraud earlier. Not many teams can get 198 points ot whatever in 2 season. Of course liverpool might but that's coz klopp is even more special.

    4. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Who thinks Guardiola has done a better job than Klopp?....Most folk I know think they’re both brilliant in equal measure.

    5. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Pep fan bois wont listen to reason. Fact is he got carried by the golden generation of spanish midfielders and Messi in his prime at Barca. At other clubs he has underperformed compared to the budgets he has been given. My granny could win the league with Bayern

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 21 days ago

        Do you realise how many managers have made a complete mess when spending big money....it’s a long list...

  6. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Bruno the White Mir Pur has to come into my team, #1 target after the blank.

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Come ooooon Agueroooo

  8. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Man City without KdB is very meh

  9. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Anyone still looking at that City starting 11 and wondering WTF?

    Oh well, 1 match less for Liverpool to win the title 😀

  10. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    AWB's attacking play is gradually getting better. If he can continue improving and produce a consistently good final ball he could be an unbelievable player.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Let’s target decent first.

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Armpit

  12. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    This is ridiculous DDG bloody stopped !!!

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Aguero scored. Var check

  14. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    OMG AGUERO.... possible VAR goal.

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Given offside.

  15. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    This is ridiculous

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    GNev saying DDG stopped? His own fault.

    1. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      True
      Play till decision made
      Don’t just assume

  17. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    What an absolute joke that wouldve been

  18. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Auba & Madders -- Jota & Mane -4 sound reasonable?

  19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Wow he disallowed it 😆 😆

    Incredible

  20. -Klaus-
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    With a great run of fixtures after the blanks is there for both Martial and Fernandes in our teams?

  21. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Good job once more by VAR.

    Martial dead in the net

  22. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Biggest shortcoming of the rule right there

  23. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Dodgy ederson

  24. Poseidon.
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    How’s that offside? 😆

    1. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 21 days ago

      Knees were offside.

  25. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Wearing green boots would make life hard for VAR

  26. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Phew!

  27. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Should be goal whatsup with Var

  28. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Ederson lost the plot

  29. tm245
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Ederson believing his own hype.

  30. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 21 days ago

    Martial sitter missed.