Dugout Discussion

Mahrez and Wilson benched as Guardiola opts for Torres over Aguero up front

The Premier League action on Boxing Day concludes with two matches that kick off simultaneously at 20:00 GMT.

Manchester City take on Newcastle United at the Etihad, while Everton are the visitors to Bramall Lane for a clash against Sheffield United.

After all the talk and worry over whether Pep Guardiola would roll out some seasonal rotation for tonight’s fixture, the City boss has made only one alteration from the starting XI that defeated Southampton in their last Premier League outing.

It’s an enforced one at that as Nathan Ake comes in to replace Kyle Walker, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Gabriel Jesus also returned a positive COVID-19 test result ahead of this match and, like Walker, is currently self-isolating.

Sergio Aguero is again only among the substitutes, with Ferran Torres given the nod to lead the line for the hosts.

There are four changes for Newcastle from their 1-1 draw with Fulham, the most notable of which sees Callum Wilson benched.

Sean Longstaff, Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett also make way from Steve Bruce’s line-up, with the latter two not in the matchday squad.

Matty Longstaff, Fabian Schar, Isaac Hayden and Jacob Murphy are the players handed recalls.

Bruce said of Wilson’s benching ahead of kick-off:

He has got a knock as well, so he’s not quite 100%. He’s played four games in 12 days, so it’s important to look after him a bit.

Over in South Yorkshire, there are two changes made by Chris Wilder from Gameweek 14.

John Lundstram is banned and John Fleck drops to the bench, with Oliver Burke and Ben Osborn handed starts.

That means that Rhian Brewster gets another run-out in attack for the visitors.

Carlo Ancelotti, who has promised rotation in the Gameweek 16 match against Manchester City, goes full strength at Bramall Lane – or at least, as full strength as he can amid the glut of injuries at the club.

His only change to the starting XI from last weekend is enforced, with Richarlison missing out with a concussion and replaced by Anthony Gordon out wide.

James Rodriguez remains out.


Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Baldock, Osborn, Ampadu, Stevens, McGoldrick, Brewster, Burke.

Everton XI: Pickford, Holgate, Keane, Mina, Godfrey, Doucoure, Davies, Sigurdsson, Gordon, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gundogan, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Torres, Sterling.

Newcastle United XI: Darlow, Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Clark, Ritchie, Hayden, M Longstaff, Murphy, Almiron, Joelinton.

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2,017 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    KDB would easily pass 250 this season if he could finish properly.

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He is awful mann

    2. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      251 last season. The man has it in his locker.

  2. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Since when has KDb turned into Sterling?

  3. noone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    That's my Captain haha

  4. KEN YA DIG IT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Lol Kdb, even my top village team's striker would finish that off

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Stop being silly.

  5. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    On WC..
    A) Maddison and Werner
    B) Bowen and Vardy

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Avoid Werner at all cost maybe

  6. Orion
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    City in need of a striker... Get Kun on Pep

  7. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    This is last chance saloon for KDB. I’ve kept the faith, but by not getting fernandes I’m about 30 points down.

    City of the last few seasons are gone and while he’s a great player. He’s not the same level as fernandes / Salah for ff

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      How many times have you posted this lol

      1. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        ?

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      l've pulled the trigger on KdB to Bruno...can't ignore Bruno any longer or hold Kev for 18

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

    KDB will never score from open play this season will he ?

    Such an overpriced player, and a waste of a captain spot.

    And yet I fell in the trap once again.

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Same mate, but glad am switching to rash in gw 17

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

    Raheem Sterling gone all festive with the Turkey Twizzler hair style today I see.

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

    Cancelo making more attacking passes than KDB.

  11. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    KDB is laying the trap. He will play so badly, see his ownership drop and then in 2 GWs time ... BOOM Hattie

    1. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I fear you're right

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      and the cycle will start all over again

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

      This. Burned me so many times. This season I didn’t even kick him out when he was injured. This is how he pay me back.

    4. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Agree but if you make a wise move in that time then you can gain and still get him back once he hits form again. At least that’s my plan!

  12. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Kdb-> Rashford could be worth a try

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Am doing it in gw 17

  13. UshFPL
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Was between dropping Sterling and Bruno for Salah. Went for Bruno. Turns out I should have kept both and sold KDB

  14. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    11.8m ozil

  15. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    KDB > Son soooo easy 🙂

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Real G's already have Son.

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Selling Spurs assets pushed me into the top 100K 🙂

  16. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I did Bruno to Salah (C) this GW as 1 GW punt before WC and i kept KdB. Casual.

  17. Esalman
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I like to keep KDB but Son is up against Fulham and Leeds, he's gonna have to go.

  18. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    There will be comments again - unlucky, should have scored, assisted, could have should have this that he is a proper moron nothing more

  19. Party time
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kdb to Saka done

    • dshv
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Team;

      Mccarthy
      Chiwell taylor coufal dias douglas
      Son soucek kdb salah bruno
      Dcl bamford davis

      ON WC

      Chiwell kdb dcl -> robertson grealish vardy ??

      More ideas please have 1 day to decide..

    • Marvin of all he surveys
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Come on guys, I know it's frustrating but claiming that KDB is a bad player is going a bit overboard.

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Can't wait for him to "explode" any longer. Straight out until he gets out of whatever baffling rut he's in

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

        Yes at this price he shouldn’t even come near our teams

      2. BeWater
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        This was always his last chance for me. My wildcard is active and he's not making it difficult at all to transfer out.

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

        Bit homoerotic pal

    • Party time
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Kdb has to go now. Gtfo my team Kev

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          He’s going this week for Raphinha to fund Wilson > Kane. Excited!

      • Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thinking KDB, Wilson > Raphinha, Kane (-4) for this week as the next step towards my BB GW19 team. Look good? Would leave me:

        2.0itb
        Martinez
        Robbo, Dias, Coufal
        Salah, Bruno, Son, Raphinha
        Kane, Bamford, Adams
        ( Forster) (KWP, Stephens, Branthwaite)

        Remaining moves between 17-19 would be:
        Stephens, Branthwaite, Forster > Soucek, Taylor (/ Lowton if priced out), McCarthy

        Cheers

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Outstanding moves!

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Recipe for disaster then mate 😆

      • Booked4Dissent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Guys, I get that you are disappointed and he definitely should have scored, but chill out it’s just one bit chance! Class is permanent

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

          FPL wise and at that price he is not worth it unless city hits form

      • Nanoelektronicar
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Brewster bap hahahaha what time to be alive

      • RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        KDB+DCL >> Son+Vardy (-4)?????

        1. Muller Reus Corner
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Yep, would you do KDB and Brewster to Raphinha/Bowen and Vardy?

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Yep

            1. Muller Reus Corner
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Thanks. Which one of Bowen and Raphinha do you prefer?

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

        Kdb has been brilliant, some people never happy

      • FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Miss all you want KDB,you stay over Bruno

      • Kodap
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        How are people saying KDB is a bad player? Whaat? Yeah he missed a 1 on 1.... but he's easily one of the best players, if not the best player in the league.

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Bang Out of form!

          1. Kodap
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            He's not out of form, the team are.. He's been their best player pretty much every single game this season.

        2. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Looooooool