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

    Have to be taking the p!ss transferred in Kun...

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hard luck

    2. Seanigula
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Because he’s been so good this season up until now?

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kun always needs a couple of games to get his match sharpness back

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

      I was going to... it was dependent on this game.

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

    Sterling number 9

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

    Foden on for Aguero. Here we go Foden owners.

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

    Still fancy Aguero Lateriser?

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

      I'm not one for all the brown nosing of pro pundits but he literally said he couldn't see a reason for Kun with Kane in current form

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

    Well my FanTeam squad that captained Aguero is off to a flyer xD

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

      ha ha ha!

  6. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Barring any late changes to lineup.

    Alisson
    TAA Fabinho Gomez Robbo
    Gini Hendo
    Mane Bobby Jota
    Salah

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

    Sterling using his captain role to bring a mob of city players to the ref ahead of the second half. Just absolute lol

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

    Aguero injured??

    1. Seanigula
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Just his pride

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

      Just seriously unfit

  9. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero's days are over someone would say...

  10. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    It'sssssss COUFAL!

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

    That linesman is having a laugh surely? Two handed shove in the back right in front of him ffs.

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

    How the heck Gundogan wasn't subbed by KDB yet.

  13. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Hope kdb comes on soon

  14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero doesn’t care

    He’s been on twitch playing video games for the last 4-5 months

    Looks completely off the pace

    1. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Getting to his golden years

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

      Aguero is a City legend

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

    Sterling messing up a 2yard pass

    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Do you want reminding of your posts on Bamford before he scored his hatrick?

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

        Haha. Served.

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        😆

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

        Hahahaha get over it Gran

  16. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Kun not yet fit? Why has he been taken out?

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

      Tactical

    2. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Looks like a waste of space.

  17. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    FFS forum commentary round up so far

    1) city are so slick today
    2) west ham are going to get pasted
    3) city are back!
    4) Antonio!! What a goal
    5) west ham are the real deal
    6) it's amazing to see the regression of city in just 2 years
    7) city are just a group of individual players

    Let's see what the second half has in store for us

    1. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Surely City will notch at least one anyways

      Lack of CF is quite an issue

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

      No one watching the game would have said 1 - 3.

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

      The usual then!

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

      Foden a rotation risk....

      Foden essential.

      #kneejerkers

  18. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Nice one FFS “Spot the Differential”

    Sergio Aguero is certainly proving a differential this week.

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Different way to go down the rankings.

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

        They tipped up Pascal Struijk this week too and that went well.

        Such quality differential picks.

  19. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    antonio bullying city

  20. GAMBIT
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I don't understand this season at all

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No one does I speak 🙂

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Think

  21. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Well I'm glad the Foden cameo is at 45 mins as opposed to 15 mins.

  22. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner and foden out for son and Antonio for free ?

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

    remember 5 mins into the game people were saying this was another game where city smash their opponent?

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

    Antonio signalling to the bench. Injured?

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

      this he was just telling them football is too easy for him

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

    Mad

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

    I think Antonio might be coming off injured

  27. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Antonio injured?

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

      Cheesestring hamstrings again, or?

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Antonio made of glass i swear

  28. FPL_Hazards
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Even when i get a goal the gods hurt me

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

    Need Havertz to run riot on United....

    But not Werner 😆