Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne, Foden on Man City bench as Aguero starts

Kevin de Bruyne (£11.5m) is back in the Manchester City fold after missing out through injury in Gameweek 5.

The Belgium star was also sidelined for City’s 3-1 win against Porto on Wednesday night but returned to training the following day.

Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) was also pictured back on the training pitches, though is not part of Pep Guardiola’s matchday 18. Nathan Aké (£5.5m) also misses out for the Citizens.

Joining KDB on the bench is Phil Foden (£6.6m), who fails to earn a place in the starting XI despite only being used as a substitute in the Champions League. Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) captains the side.

Sergio Aguero (£10.4m), who netted a penalty in that Porto clash, starts for the third consecutive game in all competitions.

On the striker, Guardiola explained in his pre-Champions League press conference:

Having Sergio on the pitch, we are better, we are safer. We missed him a lot in important moments in the later part of the season. Now it is good news for us that he is back.

The important thing is that Sergio comes back in good physical condition, starts to get his rhythm, doesn’t get more injuries and and plays good.

At his pre-West Ham news conference, Guardiola said of his other senior striker Gabriel Jesus (£9.3m):

He’s getting better but a tough injury. Hopefully still he couldn’t train with us.

He will be ready when he does train because he gets the form quickly but maybe one week, two weeks before that [happens].

On new centre-back Ruben Dias (£5.5m), the City boss added:

He settled good. He came from Benfica fully fit. He still needs time to get some situations, some ideas, some rhythm and process we need. He’s open minded.

In Laporte’s absence, Dias is partnered by Eric Garcia (£4.8m) at centre-back while Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m) keeps his place from the XI that beat Arsenal 1-0 in Gameweek 5.

Joao Cancelo (£5.4m) looks set to operate at left-back in a 4-3-3 system, though Guardiola’s set-up against the Gunners saw the full-back tuck into midfield for large portions of the game.

While the City manager has named an unchanged XI from the Porto tie – his first time doing so since October 2017 – there are two changes from that win over the Gunners with Garcia and Ilkay Gundogan (£5.4m) replacing Aké and Foden.

On his line-up, Guardiola told BT Sport:

It is what it is. For the teams who play in Europe and international competitions, the schedule is tight with a lot of games. It happened last season, so with the covid situation we have to adapt.

We didn’t have much preparation and we have to get it during the game. That’s why today is another opportunity to improve what we’ve improved the last games and get up to the table.

We decide to continue with the same guys to get the rhythm as quick as possible for some players.

Yeah, he’s important [De Bruyne]. Aymeric is close too and Nathan as well so it’s important players come back.

David Moyes names an unchanged West Ham XI for the third straight gameweek, with the Hammers fresh off a thrilling 3-3 comeback draw against Spurs in GW5.

Michail Antonio (£6.3m) Tomas Soucek (£4.9m) Aaron Cresswell (£5.0m) and Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m) are among the names that FPL bosses will be eyeing up ahead of fixture turn for the Hammers in Gameweek 8.

On new signing Saïd Benrahma (£6.0m), who does not make the matchday squad, Moyes explained on Friday:

He needs to get up to speed with what we want and where we are at so it has given me the opportunity to take a bit more time with him.

But I have said the same before with the boys from the Championship, I am not in any rush to put them in. I like to give them the opportunities at the right time.

I will take my time with him, bring him on when he is ready and get him in a good condition to start to then play well when he does.

West Ham United XI (3-4-3): Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Balbuena; Masuaku, Rice, Soucek, Coufal; Fornals, Antonio, Bowen.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Garcia, Dias, Walker; Bernardo, Rodri, Gundogan; Sterling, Aguero, Mahrez.

1,445 Comments Post a Comment
  1. GAMBIT
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Antonio with a beat!

  2. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Coufal A

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

    ederson mate save that

  4. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    My Oh My

  5. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    The problem with this City team is that they have no creators, just selfish players. Kun, Sterling, Mahrez all play for themselves. Even Gundogan is more likely to take a dumb shot than pass to a better placed player. Sorely lacking Silva and KDB

    Watch them score some worldie team goals now that I've written this

    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I really think Mahrez Is a problem. They have never been the best team in the league with him in the first 11

      1. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah mahrez is too slow. No idea what he has done in the past 4 games to warrant a start.

    2. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      will end 4-1 to city

  6. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Can I resist until next GW to do Maupay > Antonio???

    1. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He’s fixture proof. I’m bringing him in this week.

    2. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I should've just got Antonio on WC last week. Might just make the transfer this week too. Antonio much better player and fixture seemingly irrelevant.

    3. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thinking same to do Wilson to Antonio
      After pool game w ham have decent fixtures, but have done well in tricky fixtures to !

  7. Supersonic Marv'
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    By Jove!

  8. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    That Garcia lad is absolutely terrible.

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

      That was Dias

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

        I thought?

        1. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          It was

      2. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I just mean in general. He's so slow. Everything is coming down his side.

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

          Ah, I see. Yeah when WHM go forward they do seem to be targeting that side.

        2. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah, some talent but definitely a work in progress. Might be a hard day at school for him today

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

    I can’t tell if that is poor defending or amazing strength

  10. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Should of gone Antonio and just ignored the fixtures

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      One of my better decisions

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        You did advice it to be fair! Well done mate! I went Biss >> Grealish!

  11. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Antonio essential

  12. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    City won’t be winning the league this season. Peps time is coming to an end.

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nor will Liverpool. Everton or West Ham? 😉

    2. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Is it Evertons time?

  13. The_Fish
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    No handball in the buildup?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Nah, defenders hand if anything

    2. FPL_trail_runner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      My first sub

      Could do with a Kilman / Hamez rest

      Always knew the risk mind.

    3. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Maupay --> Watkins--->Bamford ---> Antonio

    4. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Gw8 Antonio

      • JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Maupay to Antonio if he fails to deliver

      • Differentiator
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Anyone relying on a KDB remaining on the bench to save Bamford points is now doomed

      • Joey Tribbiani
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        predicted Antonio goal against City, not that type tho 😀

      • Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Antonio could score a hatrick and I still wouldn’t select him

        1. Supersonic Marv'
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Stout fellow.

        2. Right In The Stanchion
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Cool story jerk

      • FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Leeds are a crazy team. They have conceded the most goal attempts in the league (92) but have also had the second most goal attempts on goal (85, just behind Liverpool). Yes they have played an extra game but this is kamikaze football!

        1. El Presidente
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Yep makes sense with all the Bielsaball they play... they will score big or concede big. Or both at the same time

        2. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          It is, but they don't concede loads of shots in the box and they don't create a disproportionate number of big chances to reflect all those shots they take.

          Leeds are the type of team who will get thrashed one day and thrash someone else next week.

      • Traction Engine Foot
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Coufal looks very interesting

      • BenDavies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        This is great for Foden owners btw. Can see him coming on at 45

      • El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Ruben Dias masterclass...

      • Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Can’t seem to fit DCL Kane Bamford and Antonio all in, help!

        1. BlzE_94
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          first 3 is what im going with

      • The Mandalorian
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Kane to Antonio in a few weeks

      • diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        City's issue with LBs is crazy. Hope they switch to playing Walker - Dias - Laporte - Ake in future.

        1. Jarnathan
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I was surprised at just how slow Ake looks

      • Garlana
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Where's my sterling hatrick?

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          2nd half

      • Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Coufal and Creswell...