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. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Traore off

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

      boo only 3pts from a fantastic performance

  2. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone wtching WHU vs BUR? How's Antonio looking?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dangerous. But Burnley playing well in defence. Bowen, Antonio and Soucek all involved for West Ham.

  3. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane benched ... 🙁
    Nketiah first on bench
    Taylor second

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

      Mane will come on. I have faith!

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hope not

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

        Hopefully potter sets them up defensively

  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    doyle messes up kdb assist

  5. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Commentator: *says anything*

    Steve McManaman: yeh

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      “Yeah..repeat what you just said.... doesn’t it “

      1. Says
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        *sniff* *sniff*

  6. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Poor KDB

    1. TAT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Should have got so much more, but looking like a massive C fail now.

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

    KDB could've easily had 3 assist today

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      would assist the whole team, if only they'd finish

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

    Oh why did I start Kiko over Boly?

  9. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Really need the Wolves and City cleanies gone

  10. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Love a boly goal

  11. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Do we think KDB starts vs Bournemouth in GW 36?

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Why wouldn’t he

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

        Fa cup is being played close to that game

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      See next GW first.

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

      no one knows

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      See what happens at the weekend. Arsenal in FA Cup is most important game and he will start that.

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

      No I don't. I think he plays the next one. Benched 36. Plays FA cup and then plays the rest.

  12. El-Kloppico
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KdB(c) fail.
    Story of my season.

    1. TAT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Same here. Only a few times has the captaincy worked out.

  13. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ok, now that I've played Foden ahead of Ings, I am 100% sure Ings will get double figures. This is what I do.

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Was 50/50 between bringing one of those two in and brought in Foden. Expecting the same 🙁

    2. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Acceptance is a start. now confess your other sinful benchings!

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

      Did -4 to do Sarr-> Foden. Now I'm 6 points worse off after freak assist for Sarr, who stank my team for 3 weeks. Luck.

  14. james 101
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Doherty/ Saiss looking like getting any attacking returns?

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

      Lol, should be happy with the 2 CS's

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I’m fine if that’s the final result

        Got to hope for more though. Always!

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Flat game. SHU look more likely to score.

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Remember when it seemed like doherty would score / assist any given game?

  15. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KdB C fail
    Pope masterclass again

    Awful GW

    1. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fail?

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

        He has 7 points?

  16. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jimenez third blank in a row? Waste of space?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Get Ings in a week early?

      1. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Can stretch to Vardy

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Home to Everton this week. Pickford looks really really dodgy at mo. Could be 2-2.

  17. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    One more KDB return and i think its max baps

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

      jinxed it

  18. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    TC disaster barring a late goal from KDB

  19. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    When he mentioned fringe players I immediately thought of Foden

  20. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Wasn't Doherty supposed to be a better pick than Boly/Saiss? What a disappointment.

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

      He still is, one strong shot or accurate cross is all it takes. Nobody expected the Wolves attack to be this tepid.

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

        Had never owned Jimenez as never felt convinced by Wolves attack who depend on teams staying open. Of course, once I got him as a shield, he's gone on a run of blanks.

  21. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    C'mon KdB grab a goal ffs

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      more chance of an Ederson mistake late on

  22. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah has scored in two away games all season, scoring 13 points and 14 points against Bournemouth and West Ham
    In both of those games, Mane didn't feature 🙂

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Due a blank so.

    2. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I sold him to Sterling so expect a hat trick

  23. mitro
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Doyle assist kdb goal please XD

  24. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KDB(c) here and reasonably happy with 12 or 14. Don't know what the fuss is about. Any return for a captain is ok.

    1. TAT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not when other options will no doubt do better.

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

      Agreed.

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

      His points are fairly irrelevant too.

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

      Better than a kick in the head.

    5. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah not bad. Only frustrating part will be when Fernandes hauls as those 50/50 calls have not been going my way.

    6. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It's all relative, it will depend on Bruno's and Salah's points

    7. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      As I non capper I fully agree

    8. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah, I'm happy enough - looks like a bap too.

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

      Me to but I took mahrez out for kdb (c) ! Sideways I know
      Had no luck with mahrez last two gw lack of game time etc
      Only 4 pts gain so far fir that move, would if had Bruno cap if hadn’t done that move

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

    Kdb wont score he looks pretty tired/bored

  26. Costa Nostra
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Yedlin 0 banked;)

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

    Doing DCL to Vardy. Better way to fund it:

    A. Rash to Greenwood
    B. Salah to Puli (assuming Salah being benched vs Burnley)

    1. FreddyP3
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      We need to know who’s first on your bench

  28. FreddyP3
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy vs Bournemouth essential?

  29. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    So much for wolves being better in 2nd half’s. Been rubbish today

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Loooooong season taking its toll.

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        This, Europa curse killing them

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

          Don't give them an excuse.

      2. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Jonny worries me

  30. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Get out of my team Jiminez

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Lots of people laughing at me when I said they were knackered

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        They laughed at Louie Armstrong when he said he’d go to the moon...