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. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What do you reckon to this wc if I don't BB19? Terrible bench
    Mccarthy
    Robbo dias coufal balbuena mitchell
    Salah mane Bruno son grealish
    Adams bamford
    (Button balbuena Davis mitchell)

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

      Oops....

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

    Is this defence good enough for BB? I can try to squeeze Justin/James for Balbuena or something like that, even though West Ham have a great double home games

    Robbo, Coufal, Dallas, Taylor, Balbuena

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

      Solid

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

      Looks solid. I have Robbo, Coufal, Balbuena, Chilwell, James

  3. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    4 garbage teams. Bring on tomorrow

    1. Esalman
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      ... and Monday.

  4. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Feel pressured into kdb to son :/

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

      Keep Kdb.

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

        Lolz

    2. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Will be my move end of tomorrow unless something remarkable happens

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

    Think it’s time to shift out DCL... more because of lack of service.

    1. Jack Burton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Think I'm going Martial getting ready for double game week

    2. ilikewud
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      15 returns in 15 gws

      1. Jack Burton
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I know he has been brilliant had him from gw1 but think its time

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

    Sitting on 2 FTs and want to setup team for DGW19.

    Considering:
    A) Grealish+Zouma to Rashford+James
    B) Zouma+Watkins to TAA+Adams

    Leaning towards A myself.. opinions?

    Watkins gonna be Adams or Antonio before DGW no matter what

  7. Thunderbahçe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Apologies if off topic but how on earth can Watkins have zero baps after 3 assists?

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

      Was very wasteful.

    2. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Racism

      1. Esalman
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        It's a rather serious word to throw around so lightly, just saying.

    3. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Because he was so wasteful he should have 3 goals along with them

    4. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      His assists were generally wasted big chances

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

      3 assists = 27
      He got -2 for the rest of the game.

    6. Thunderbahçe
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks all

  8. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kdb / city playing kak

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Wind in that Afrikaans 😛

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

      Moerse kak.

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    if dcl can't score v sheff utd it's over

  10. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Hi....any views on best move here please? building for bench boost in gw19 .....thanks

    A....kdb to son (keep watkins and grealish for villa tough games)

    B....kdb and watkins to kane and raphinha  - 4

    Martinez
    Robbo james dallas coufal balbuena
    Salah kdb bruno grealish soucek
    Dcl watkins bamford

  11. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Maddison in, Grealish out.

    Yes or no?

    1. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No. Keep grealish

      1. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Get rid of Grealish, I'm moving on... El ghazi the much better mf option for villa or watkins up top..

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

      Horrendous.

    3. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No

  12. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    https://twitter.com/FPL_Fish/status/1342934023744741381

    TAA, Mane and Firmino not starting

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

      Oh Sh*ttttt

      1. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        ...with taa and salah coming on for salah and robbo and on 59 mins.

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Please let this be true!

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

      Hope it’s true

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Indeed

    4. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Robbo needs a rest imo. Should get it against Newcastle.

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

        They’ve got no other LB

        1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Milner can probably play there tbf

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

      Matip!!!!!

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

      That is a terrible 11 😆

    7. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      This guy has been right so far, can vouch

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Hes got 2 or 3 wrong tbf.

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          It's the team that trains the day before.

          That could change for various reasons on matchday.

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

      Get in Robbo and Salah.

    9. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      That team will be different tomorrow. Why would Minamino be benched?

    10. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If remotely true do we expect Milner to keep penalties over Salah?

  13. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Working on my KDB escape plan. Who scores more in next say 5 weeks?

    Kane & Raphina or Mane and Antonio?

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

      The first

    2. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      The first pair

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

      KR

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

      1

  14. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kind of like this Man City...much easier to predict

  15. djoker_nole
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Joao Cancelo Que Jugadorr

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

    Kdb you muppet

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Playing awful. But I still don’t wanna remove him.

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I'm just fed up of his price and poor returns . I am at pains to remove him but with Kanes fixtures I dont think I can justify keeping him anymore .... city just aren't good enough. Kane in KDB out.

  17. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Didn't even realise sheff utd v everton was happening.

    2 games at the same time is beyond me these days.

    1. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I'm watching it...it's not really happening so far.

  18. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Jesus to Firmino for -4 before WC next GW went fantastic.

  19. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    TAA benched heheh

  20. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    FPL Fish is back:

    https://twitter.com/FPL_Fish/status/1342934023744741381?s=20

    Alisson
    Neco
    Matip
    Philips
    Robbo
    Milner
    Henderson
    Naby
    Salah
    Origi
    Shaqiri

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

      TAA benched, haha

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Was going to post about wish I’d sold DCL to get Trent but maybe not now!

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

        People laughed when Salah was benched last week. He who laughs last.

    2. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hulk this admins

    3. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      milner on pennos ,bloody nuisance ,(s)alah

  21. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    If rather have Rashford right now than kdb. Enables DCL to martial too

  22. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    This week is starting to go very badly.... KDB DCL Grealish Wilson

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

      ..James, Chillwell.....

  23. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    ON WC

    Chiwell kdb dcl -> robertson grealish vardy ??

    1. Neo-Viper
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      El Ghazi i/o Grealish

  24. Neo-Viper
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Dallas worth . 3 more than Ayling and Alioski?

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Worth .3 more than KDB currently

      1. Z
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        THIS!

      2. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Lol. Ey

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

      100%

  25. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    With KWP 8 pointer rooted to the bench and a TAA owner, i’d love a Neco 90 min appearance

    1. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      you benched KWP vs Fulham??

  26. Twisted Melon
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Dias and Cancelo best 2 Man City defenders?

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Y

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

      Dias and stones

    3. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not defenders, assets.

  27. Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    I am gonna BB GW19.

    Is it good to have 12 players with doule fixtures + Son, Dias and Dier??

    1. Esalman
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

  28. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Reece james to be rested next game I presume?

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

      Azpi should play on either side.

    2. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      As a Grealish owner I really want James to play but I think it'll be Azpi

  29. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    So i did Watkins to Adams over KdB to Salah this week.

    1. Esalman
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Still time for KDB, I hope he doesn't get replaced at 60 minutes.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Rarely gets subbed early

    2. Z
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Good job

  30. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Would you do.
    KDB and Brewster to Kane Soucek

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

      Yes