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

    Who to start this week?

    A) Chilly (AST)
    B) Soucek (Sou)
    C) Lamptey (ARS)

    Just thinking whether Chilly might be benched due to quick turnaround after his injury

    1. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think Chilwell will start so A

    2. acidicleo
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  2. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Surely Mahrez owners should stick now?

    1. acidicleo
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Why

    2. Gemma817
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lol hearing it for 3 GWs now. He's gone the instant the game ended

      1. Sid1891
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Confirmed

  3. Third Eye Vision
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    The 3 pundits on BT after the Sheffield Everton game are totally clueless.

  4. Neves say Neves
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bottomed
    KDB to
    A) Son (do DCL to Martial for DGW)
    B) Mane (keep DCL)
    C) Rashford (do DCL to Martial for DGW)
    D) Bowen (do DCL to Vardy for DGW)

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

    Anyone here triple captain gw19 instead of bb?

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I am (Salah

    2. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Me

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

        Salah?

    3. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Maybe even though im getting 11 dgwers. Will see how land lies

    4. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I am. Mo.

  6. Casual Player
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    DCL might have blanked his last fixture for me but still provided an extra 0.1 transfer value this week. What a legend. Goodbye. And hello to Kane.

  7. The Invincibles
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Couldn’t catch the game. Was KDB at least involved heavily in attack?

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Far from that

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Played as deep Kane as usually does

    3. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No. He missed a 1v1 and should have maybe had 1 assist. But wasn't sharp.

  8. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which one?
    A KDB to Mane
    B KDB Wilson to Zaha Kane (-4)

    Have Son and Salah. Going without FH in GW18

    1. vincentwsho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You would want KDB in GW18

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

    Thoughts on this WC team? FH18 BB19

    McCarthy Johnstone
    Coufal Dallas Taylor Balbuena Lowton
    Salah Bruno Son Raphinha Soucek
    Vardy Firmino Bamford

    Son to Rashford for free in DGW19

    1. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good overall. My question would just be whether Firmino+Lowton outscores TAA/Robbo+cheaper forward, given the Burnley DGW fixtures are fairly poor.

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

        Cheers mate! Good point! I think GW16 & GW17 fixtures are good for Burnley defence & DGW19 fixtures are good for West Ham defence. So keeping that in mind, I've gone for double up from both. And I fancy Firmino to continue his amazing form.

  10. Fletch365
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A: TAA & Justin
    or
    B: Robbo & Taylor

    1. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  11. FPL Theorist
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bench one:

    A. Grealish (che)
    B. Adams (WHU)
    C. Soucek (sou)
    D. DCL (MCI)

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

      D

    2. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C

    3. Fletch365
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C

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

      C

    5. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers all!

  12. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What to do with KDB and Grealish? Will FH18BB19

    Martinez
    James • Coufal • KWP
    Salah • KDB • Bruno • Son • Grealish
    DCL • Bamford 1FT
    (Steer / Dallas / Brewster / Douglas)

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

    Did you see that ChelseaFC retweeted the official FPL tweet saying about Chilwell being the most transferred out player. They captioned it ooops and laughing emoji.
    This was before the game, karma you mugs!

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

      Haha who's laughing now you mugs

    2. Groot the Leveller
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Quite happy swapping chilly/James foe stones and Diaz.

      Chelsea defence have gone off the boil

  14. OBAMA
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    best dgw midfielder for 7.4m or under?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Raphinia

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

        This

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

          already have dallas and bamford... thinking might be overkill with raph as well?

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Maddison an alternative option

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

        maddison could be a great pick, prefer him to bowen tbh

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

      If you are looking for the KDB like caliber player - then Milivojevic could be a good shout

  15. Atimis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which one from DCL and Grealish would you out this week and who would you get?

    Both got tough fixtures and no DGW.

    Could do DCL Grealish to Kane Soucek -4 ?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good

  16. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Keep Mahrez for just GW 16 as he Should start v.s Everton

  17. King Conte
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    DCL to Lacazette?
    Worth a punt surely!

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not really no.

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

    Already have Salah, Grealish, Son and Bruno...

    KDB > Martenelli / Raphinha / Saka so I can upgrade DCL > Kane for a -4?

  19. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If City continue playing like this, is it worth a FH in 18 to get KDB or Sterling?

    Currently just have 4 players for 18, and just tempted to get a couple of city defenders till gw 18 and roll with that

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Will probably still get kdb back and hope for a pen and assist from sonewhere

    2. acidicleo
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hmm good point...
      Am.debating it too..

    3. Salarrivederci
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I captained KDB the last 5 GW's since I'm running Salahless. I know.....

      Selling him for Salah after Liverpools game. Will most likely still get KDB in my FH team in GW18.

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah starting to think my FH chip can be of better use in the later BGW

  20. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    FPL Fish been caught out. No more lineups from him. I called it earlier

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/23052253

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      What was the line up?

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I don't really see the point in him leaking it today, when the deadline has passed!
      Not giving anyone any kind of edge.

  21. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hi all these moves, yay or nay?

    DCL + KDB > Kane + Grealish?

  22. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Mahrez owners, we keep him for one more gameweek, right? Right?
    I hate this guy.

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Right just for GW 16

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

    Which defenders to bring on WC ? Only cheaper to afford Kane, Son, Salah and Bruno or sacrifice one of those four and bring Robbo or Chelsea defender ?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Stones.

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

        they have Everton and Chelsea away and no DGW

  24. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    who to replace DCL with Vardy or Kane?

    Gonna FH 18 and possibly BB 19

  25. Salarrivederci
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Looking to take some risks with my TC19 team to make up some lost ground. What do you think of triple West Ham in defense and double Leeds in attack for the DGW?

    Fabianski
    TAA - Robbo - Coufal - Balbuena
    Salah (TC) - Fernandes - Son - Rashford
    Bamford - Rodrigo

    (Farrell, Grealish, Brewster, Mitchell)

  26. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dcl to
    1) kane
    2) vardy

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

      Kane. Then gw19 Vardy.

      1. vincentwsho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Planning on this

    2. acidicleo
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      2

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

    Is Tammy or Giroud a DCL replacement for 19? If so which

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Tammy seems more nailed.

    2. Mweene
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Neither. Wouldn’t touch any Chelsea mids or forwards personally.

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

    Closest I've ever gotten in Fantasy5. That game is really tough.

    Fernandes - 9 (7.5 target)
    El Ghazi - 8 (6.5 target)
    Werner - 1 (6.5 target)
    Torres - 8 (8.5 target)
    Sigurdsson - 8 (7.5 target)

    3/5 is pretty good and I only just missed with Torres.

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

      Deserve not to win if you pick Werner.

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

    Someone here TC'ed KDB!

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ouch.

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

      Still 3x more points than my TC from last year.

  30. HippY
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Wildcard activated, but still with one eye on GW16+17.

    Meslier McCarthy
    KWP Dier Coufal Robbo Taylor
    Son Bruno Saka Soucek Salah
    Bamford Adams Kane

    Looks okay? 11/15 playing the DGW atm but it's likely I'll move out Saka and 1 spurs player for 2 assets who play twice.