Dugout Discussion

Sterling benched as De Bruyne, Mahrez and Foden lead Man City attack

Pep Guardiola continues to ruffle the feathers of Fantasy managers as he named Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) on the bench for Manchester City’s Gameweek 34+ meeting with Newcastle.

The England international has been in decent form since the restart, returning double-figure hauls in both of his starts at the Etihad Stadium in that time.

But his 16.3% ownership will have to settle for, at most, an appearance off the bench tonight, where he has been selected alongside Kyle Walker (£5.6m).

Sterling’s place in the team has been taken by Phil Foden (£5.4m), snapped up by over 140,000 managers for Gameweek 34+ having averaged 11.3 points per game at home since the Premier League came back.

His backers will certainly be excited by the prospect of Foden playing in the front-three alongside Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m), support in midfield by the Gameweek’s most popular captain: Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m).

However, Newcastle will certainly do their best to put their bodies on the line as Steve Bruce has gone with a very defensive-looking 5-4-1 formation.

It features Matt Ritchie (£5.3m) and Valentino Lazaro (£5.3m) on the flanks of midfield supported by fellow defenders Danny Rose (£5.3m) and DeAndre Yedlin (£4.4m) behind them in the full-back roles.

Still, they may find it hard to ask too many questions on the counter-attack with Miguel Almirón (£ 5.8m) on the bench and Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.5m) sidelined with a knock.

Sheffield United will be in good spirits as they host Wolves, with Jack O’Connell (£4.5m) finally back in the starting line-up for the first time since Gameweek 29.

Chris Wilder also has John Lundstram (£4.6m) at his disposal, recovering from his shoulder injury ahead of schedule to sit on the Blades’ bench.

Wolves come to Bramall Lane in the familiar 3-4-3 formation, featuring Diogo Jota (£6.1m) and Adama Traoré (£5.7m) either side of Raúl Jiménez (£8.3m), Leander Dendoncker (£4.4m) dropping to the bench.

West Ham are another team with key reinforcements arriving just in time for Gameweek 34+ as Sébastien Haller (£6.8m) has been deemed fit enough for a place on the substitutes’ bench.

Michail Antonio (£6.9m) retains his starting centre-forward berth for now, but it will be interesting to see what impact Haller will have from this point onwards.

The mid-price midfielder, with three attacking returns in his last two matches, is supported by an attacking midfield of Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.2m), Pablo Fornals (£6.0m) and Jarrod Bowen (£6.4m).

Still without Ben Mee (£5.0m), Burnley hand another start to Kevin Long (£4.3m) alongside James Tarkowski (£5.2m).

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Zinchenko, Stones, Otamendi, Cancelo; Rodrigo, De Bruyne, D Silva; Foden, Jesus, Mahrez.

Newcastle United XI: Dúbravka; Rose, Fernández, Schär, Krafth, Yedlin; Ritchie, Bentaleb, Shelvey, Lazaro; Joelinton.

Sheffield United XI: D Henderson; O’Connell, Egan, Basham; Stevens, Osborn, Norwood, Berge, Baldock; McBurnie, Sharp.

Wolves XI: Patrício; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Doherty; D Jota, Jiménez, Traoré.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Rice, Soucek; Yarmolenko, Fornals, Bowen; Antonio.

Burnley XI: Pope; C Taylor, Tarkowski, K Long, Bardsley; Pieters, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Vydra, Rodriguez.

1,975 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is that a 7-2-1 formation by Newcastle lol

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Brucie been studying the Southampton performance intently.

      Maybe it's finally Joelinton's time to score a worldie?

  2. The Strokes
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Where is Mendy ?!
    I had transfered him in this GW ...

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Hasn't been seen since the Pubs opened on Saturday

      1. Superflymonk
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Lol

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      The full backs are always the most rotated with Pep.

    3. The Strokes
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Damn and I have Nketiah on my bench before Saka, great ...

  3. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Stones & Otamendi

    Top notch defenders..... CS Locked In

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Joelinton will have a field day

      1. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He'll be playing CB so I doubt it.

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          😀

  4. Alexis Nonsense
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Of for fs sake Pep give me a break

    Salah --> Sterling big red arrow incoming 🙁

    1. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Same, for a hit Hahahaha 🙁

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

      Same, worst move on all season

  5. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    EOs of players playing tonight.

    KDB - 161.6%
    TAA - 82.7%
    Jiménez - 73.1%
    Doherty - 54.9%
    Salah - 50.3%
    Pope - 45.4%
    Foden - 28.2%
    Mané - 21.5%
    Mahrez - 21.1%
    Saïss - 19.5%
    VVD - 15.4%
    Patricio - 9.6%
    Boly - 9.3%
    Henderson - 8.4%
    Ederson - 7.2%
    Sterling - 6.8%
    Robbo - 4.6%

    As a KDB non-owner, f*** me, I just might be flicked to oblivion if the man hauls.

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      But just think if he doesn't ............

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Paradise.

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      lol same, I have Foden(C), Mahrez and Jesus, luckily I'm already in oblivion.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Foden (c) and Mahrez myself. Fingers crossed.

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      TAA with 82.7% damn

    4. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I own:
      KDB (C)
      TAA
      Jimenez
      Doherty
      Salah
      Foden
      Saiss

      And I’ll still find a way to get a red arrow

  6. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Positive with Silva starting is, expect KdB to play a bit deeper and not behind Jesus.

  7. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Come on KDB, mop up all those points, Foden/Mahrez stay nice and quiet please 🙂

  8. Bob_the_builder
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Not that I am starting him this week but is Lascelles injured or dropped?

    1. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Injured

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

    Who KDB/Foden/Jesus here?

    1. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I cannot believe you've been dissing Sterling to high heaven on previous article and you own Jesus.

      Sterling is 10x the player he is.

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

        Who cares who the better player is, Jesus is nailed when Kun is out. Sterling is a massively overpriced rotation risk.

        And its honestly not much between them in skill. Both are hard working tap in merchants with limited technical ability.

        1. JabariParkersEyelid
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Okay I'll accept you're right in that it doesn't matter who is better, but honestly think you're hugely underselling Sterling's ability.

          He's looked extremely sharp post lockdown, was very relieved as a Saints fan when he was hooked early on the weekend.

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

            I have a habit of exaggerating. My main point is that I cant understand how he keeps getting more minutes than Mahrez and B.Silva who both offer so much more in terms of overall ability.

  10. teddypicker
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Captains in top 100:
    KDB 72
    Fernandes 17
    Kane 3
    Sterling 3
    Martial 2
    Jesus 1
    Son 1
    Aubameyang 1

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone with a more useful bench than this

    Martin Nketiah Lacelles Simpson(bou)

    1. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Too late to bench boost?

  12. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How good would it be if the Points page showed a green or red light to signifiy if your player is starting or not?

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What would that do? Anyone who checks fpl after teamsheets shd already know who is starting

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Help casuals

  13. ElliotJHP
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Title is a bit harsh on Jesus

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

      Tbf he has less than 5% ownership in top 10k

    2. KINGS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Spot on

  14. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How many minutes we thinking Sterling will get?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      31

    2. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      His only cameo in the league this season has been 1 minute... https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/485/098/245.gif

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

      Fingers crossed for zero.......I've got DCL in the wings

    4. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      4

    5. Party time
        3 years, 8 months ago

        22

    6. Illu
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Any1 know who will take West Ham penalties. Noble, Lanzini are out

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Antonio?

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Actually I reckon Yarmolenko

      2. KINGS
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Rice

    7. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      That City defence looks like accident after accident waiting to happen lol

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hopefully it encourages Newcastle to attack

    8. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Hate that no WHU FPL strikers are available. Want to get one for Norwich but cant part with any of my midfielders.

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        prob only beat Norwich 1-0 or 2-1 anyways.

      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Haller is back in the squad 😆

    9. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Who brought in Sterling for this GW?

      This is the reason why I might just decide to call a miss on KDB...

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        KdB to Sterling next game week - easy

    10. gers23
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      As an Ederson owner that defence concerns me lol

      1. ElliotJHP
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Think of the save point

        1. ElliotJHP
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I'd also take a swift look over to the Newcastle line up

          1. gers23
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Lol true

    11. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez, Foden, KDB 3.87% owned one top10k

      1. circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Do you mean have all 3?

        1. Tired and weary
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Yep

    12. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      So the bib theory didn't stand up?!

    13. Releasebreaks
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      First time ever with lucky on roulette:

      (C)KDB, Mahrez, Foden

      Lets seee

      1. JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Not luck, skill

        1. TheDragon
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Roulette is a well known skill game

          Martingale FTW!

    14. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kane & Son
      To
      Vardy & Mane

      Might be very tempting if Spurs don’t perform against Bournemouth

    15. Fishy
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kdb captain
      Mahrez
      Foden
      50pts thank you very much

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Sounds Fishy

      2. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Lol

      3. Strchld
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Ill take this

      4. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        As long as 48 are from KDB that's fine

      5. circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Same here, I would take 30.

    16. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sterling (C), KDB (vc), Nketiah (-2) 1st on bench.

      I really don't know what to pray for tonight!

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Sterling cameo - 2G 1A

        Thatll sort things out

      2. Firminooooo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        City blank until 60min. Pep had it, Sterling in to turn things around.

      3. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A jesus injury after 4 minutes?

      4. drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Sterling to come on last 30-35 minutes against tired legs

      5. circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Mahrez injury 1st minute. NOT what I want.

      6. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hahaha cheers everyone, let's hope Sterling gets a goal tonight!

    17. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jermaine Jeans just shtting all over Ledley King & Alan Smith

      Not sure he really thought that comment though - you could see him thinking twice as he was saying it but it was too late to stop

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

        What did he say?

      2. circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        What did he say?

      3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        They were talking about Stones losing Peps trust

        Jenasnstarted saying how hard it must be for Stones to watch from the b much as Pep plays a 35yo DM out of position ahead of him in his natural position

        Then quickly said himself & carrick experienced it with England, said they used to sit on the bench watching (then caught himself and quickly added) *with all due respect* Alan Smith & Ledley King playing midfield instead of them

    18. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Jimmy if you grab a goal today i'll babysit for free anytime.

    19. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If Jesus blows up now that I’ve sold him I’m gonna be fuming.

      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A brace incoming, star of the night is my bet

        1. The Tinkerman
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Undoubtedly. Gambling on him and Mahrez C gave me a big old red arrow last week.

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

        Thank you for your sacrifice, brother

      3. Markus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yep, I feel like I bottled it with bringing back on kevin for a hit to captain just before deadline - no doubt my previous Foden (c) + jesus will now score more!

    20. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Krafth, Schar, Rose & Yedlin in Newcastle's defence is worrying

    21. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Worst thing about having KDB Captain is waiting until tomorrow to see how United do, Bruno especially...

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

        Its not too bad, hes just 112% EO