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. michaelington
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I have only just seen Alex Tellers’ stats. His assist and goal output is insane. If he starts tomorrow, he’s in for me, especially when the fixtures turn for United.

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yes he was superb in Portuguese league. Let’s see what he does on EPL

    2. Ain't No Holebas Girl
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I think a lot of penalties are padding the goal stats out but still looks an exciting pick

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

      Won't have nearly as many set piece duties in this team.

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

      It was all from penalties and corners. He has like 1 goal from open play.

      1. Tinkermania
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Basically, another Bruno.

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

      He had all the corners free kicks and penalties on Porto though...

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

      Telles competes with Shaw for LB, he's not a guaranteed starter unless United play a back 5. Don't say u weren't warned.

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Competes with Shaw? He’s a class above mate no chance

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

          Shaw is Oles man. Telles was always seen as back up cover.

          1. Pukki Blinders
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Not a chance Telles was signed as backup

  2. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    For anyone else who has gambled on PVA -

    Keep him and wait
    Transfer to a different defender from a different team
    Give Clyne a gamble at 4.5 who has attacking interest with the same fixtures?

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

      I'd be giving your head a wobble and asking why you transferred in someone that hasn't even played a minute in months.

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

      If you brought him in you needed Mitchell as well. Cameo also a danger

    3. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I got him on a WC and kept Mitchel ... started PVA last week and this week 🙁
      Probably selling for Coufal - that would also allow me to upgrade Mitchel to a 4.5 (Dallas / Ayling or possibly Clyne)

  3. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Need 22 BPS to get bonus this match, Sterling on 1 BPS

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

    Ok the first of two players I was afraid of hauling blanked. The other one is Salah...

  5. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Telles to take pens from Bruno?

    1. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hoping Cavani doesn’t to be honest

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

        No chance

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

          Unless he misses another few I suppose. You’d imagine Rashford would be next in line anyway.

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Zero chance

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

      No chance. He’s on corners though. Took all of them vs PSG before he was subbed

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

      Bruno’s pen record is incredible

      1. Tinkermania
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        2 failed attempts in last 3 though. Great before that.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          1 missed, the other one was encroachment so retaken

          1. Tinkermania
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            2 failed attempts from last 2. Counted retakes and saves.

            1. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              But the encroachment is unfair, gives the keeper a much better chance of saving

              1. Tinkermania
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 5 months ago

                All I am saying, his penalty was saved. You are right too.

                1. Big boy Bowen
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 5 months ago

                  Fair

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

          Aye. But that won’t stop him from taking them. Was bound to miss eventually

          1. Tinkermania
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            QUIZ! Talking of penalties, name one player to have a 100% PL penalty conversation still intact. They need to have taken over 10 penalties in total.

            1. Tinkermania
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              10 or more, I should say.

            2. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Yaya Toure?

    5. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Not a chance

    6. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bruno will surely get tired of them eventually.

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

    Surely Foden starts the next one

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Meet Pep

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

      Its Pep nothing is certain. But done plenty of good for cause and if you get minutes from him at 6.5 its a result imo

    3. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You haven’t been paying attention to Pep.

    4. Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Foden is nailed now. He is their second best player after Kdb

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeak of course, that's why he was on the bench again today.

        Nailed from/to the bench.

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

      He's not going anywhere from my team. Two more weeks minimum. But there's actually a decent chance I keep him longer term if he can start regularly.

  7. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Coufal must've had a good game - he was booked and still got 3 bonus

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

      I was impressed by him.

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

    Oh dear...

    Aguero injured again. Pep just said he's injured in the post match interview...

    1. Long ago I drew a walrus
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hopefully he sits out the hard games, drops to 10.2 then comes back in time for GW10

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Time to hang up the boots

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

      Aguero is finished in the EPL, he'll move next year.

  9. NULL-X-VOID
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Lads, what are you thoughts on that potential pen on Antonio.

    I think that was a pen.

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      thoughts*

    2. WHUFCSmith23
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I thought so too

  10. Red Red Robins
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    So, City im not impressed by, thinking of getting Salah or Mane instead of KDB now.
    Salah on pens, but Mane 0.4 cheaper. Surely Salah going to outscore Mane?

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

    Is Aguero now injured? Ffs..

  12. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero is done as an fpl option, won’t see him anywhere near my team

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

    Will City bid for Messi this January?

    He either leaves Barca for free at the end of the season, or they get a bit of dish for him now.

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

    Only Mitrovic owners will prefer to watch FULCRY instead of Classico

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Totally would have done if I hadn’t sold this week

  15. The Gravless Wonder
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Does anyone know if zahas had over one shot on target ? Waiting on bet many thanks in advance

  16. The Reptile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone getting Cancelo? I thought he looked great today

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Is he rotation proof?

      1. The Reptile
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Sadly can't say that about any Man City players

      2. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        No but his spot to lose, not going to be rotated for sake of it. He is first choice as it stands.

  17. NULL-X-VOID
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    How's that not a pen what the hell