Dugout Discussion

Aguero, De Bruyne start for Man City as Sterling, Cancelo on bench for Double Gameweek 26 opener

Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) both start for Manchester City in their first Double Gameweek 26 fixture at home to West Ham.

Aguero makes his first appearance in a City starting XI since Gameweek 6 – in the reverse fixture against the Hammers – while De Bruyne made his full injury return by starting in the 1-0 win at Arsenal in Gameweek 25.

Ferran Torres (£6.9m) is another longer-term absentee making an injury comeback, which means a host of FPL assets find themselves on Pep Guardiola’s bench.

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m), Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m), Phil Foden (£6.1m) and Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) are all out of the XI, as is Joao Cancelo (£6.1m).

Rodri (£5.3m) is also on benchwarming duty as Fernandinho (£5.4m) earns a second consecutive league start, anchoring a midfield three also featuring De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan (£6.2m).

Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) drops out of the starting line-up after beginning in the Champions League, as FPL managers’ favoured duo of Ruben Dias (£6.1m) and John Stones (£5.2m) are flanked in defence by Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) and Kyle Walker (£6.1m).

On his rotated side, Guardiola told BT Sport ahead of kick off:

Many games, we have two days recovery. We have a fantastic squad. Everyone deserves to play, all doing incredibly well, fresh legs and a very good mentality.

On West Ham, the Man City boss added:

Looks like they will play five at the back, previous seasons they did it as well, we knew it. They can do normal shape but they’ve done five at back at Old Trafford. The ideas are the same, good runners up front, two incredible holding midfielders. We try to impose our game.

Fabianski is absent for the Irons

Lukasz Fabianski (£5.0m) is the big name missing from West Ham’s starting line-up, with the Poland keeper ruled out due to a training-ground injury.

“Unfortunately one of the players just stood on Lukasz’s arm yesterday (in training). It’s swollen up, he’s just not been able to extend his arm. It’s a real blow, he’s been in really good form.” – David Moyes

Ireland international Darren Randolph (£4.3m) is between the sticks for the Hammers, behind a back five of Ben Johnson (£3.9m), Aaron Cresswell (£5.8m), Craig Dawson (£4.5m), Issa Diop (£4.3m) and Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m).

Declan Rice (£4.7m) and Tomas Soucek (£5.3m) will hope to add to the spoiling effect of Moyes’ five-man defence, behind a front three of Jesse Lingard (£5.9m), Pablo Fornals (£5.9m) and Michail Antonio (£6.5m).

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Zinchenko, Dias, Stones, Walker; Gundogan, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Torres, Aguero, Mahrez.

West Ham United XI (5-2-2-1): Randolph; Johnson, Cresswell, Dawson, Diop, Coufal; Rice, Soucek; Fornals, Lingard; Antonio.

1,312 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Is Kane injured? I’ve been hearing rumours...

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Only the Sith deal in rumours

      1. Hooky
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        And Fleetwood Mac

    2. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      The only rumour was a joke about it on twitter that was clearly a joke.

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Ban 🙂

  2. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Any other McCarthy owners just thinking about benching him next week.

    I prefer Martinez's single game against a shot shy Wolves than McC's double including Man City - he might even get minus points for that particular game if Sou play their usual suicidal high line

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Don't think I could forgive myself if that backfired. McCarthy still the sensible choice imo. Martinez' PPM is high at 5.7, and not likely to increase over the course of the season. While McCarthy's 3.4. Let's say he get's 3+2. That's a fairly safe 5 points with potential for more, while Martinez is likely to get around 6, but more likely less than more. Idk if that makes any sense.

      1. thegaffer82
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Yeah, fair points

  3. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Kevin has looked awful so far. Oh dear

    1. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Oh no ... KDB fail then 🙁

      Have captained him on WC 🙁

    2. MoSalad
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Definitely rusty

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      a bit rusty but very advanced

  4. Peter Russo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I knew Cancelo wouldn't play both games but kept him for his attacking potential and involvement not just for this week but for the whole season if he stays fit of course. Its about who has more points till end of season not only one week.

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Same ... wanted him for the rest of the season knowing he’ll have a couple of benching days ...

      1. Peter Russo
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        He's too involved to ignore its like having AM, LW, RW in one with CS potential.

    2. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Must be frustrating to own though.

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Frustrating that it has happened both dgws - wonder if he will play both matches next week

      2. Peter Russo
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        it is yes especially when you dont see him starting but just trying to be patient and follow the logic rather than emotion.

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    City clear off the line

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      6 yard line?

  6. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Squeeky bum time at the back for City ...

  7. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    West Ham goal

    Close

  8. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Should be west ham 1-0 really.

  9. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Stones playing false 10, Aguero real 10 playing real 9

    1. Says
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Zincenko playing false KDB

  10. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Give Gundogan CF position then there will loads of goals

  11. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Kane not owned by 33% of the top 10k

    Kane TC'd by 33% of the top 10k

    Wild.

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      How many own but didn’t captain?

      1. Says
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        less than 10%

      2. Jindaljain
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Out of this world

    2. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      333 + 333 = 666

  12. MoSalad
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    West Ham causing problems so far, City cleanie on the ropes!

    1. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Hope so, just got City midfield today.

  13. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Lingard or Saka for GW29?

  14. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Croydon De Bruyne > De Bruyne

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Yep 🙂

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Haha

      2. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Remind me who’s Croydon de bruyne?

        1. Differentiator
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          harry winks

        2. HashAttack
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          Thought it was ESR(Smith Rowe)

          1. Vazza
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 29 days ago

            So the player I brought in is the English version of KDB... I love it

  15. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Kdb ruining city attacks all season

    Great player if u only watch highlights. Exposed when u watch all 90 mins

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      He’s only back from injury ffs. Has been the best player in the Prem for the last 3 yrs and your going on about him being ‘exposed’

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        City seem to do better whenever he is out in those 3 years

        His best season on screen was last year which also happened to be citys worst in a long while

        1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          He was also the best player in 2017-2018 when they had their best season

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Honestly - I’m inclined to agree

      Not literally of course, but they did seem to be a little more fluent almost instantly as soon as he got injured - then lost a bit of that fluency as soon as he came back

      Could still get 5 returns today alone of course

      But he’s been generally frustrating in FPL so far this year

    3. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Bit of an overreaction.
      One thing to call him to be not at his best / being short of match fitness / in a funk.
      But to call him exposed is wrong.

      Also, he is actually one of the players who you should appreciate even more when watching 90 minutes (when he is on song).

  16. Tambling5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    City awful so far. Still it's not likely any of us would have three of their players... oh! Time to bring Cancelo on, Pep!!

  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    City missing cancelo?

    1. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      More likely Bilva

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Yes they need him on immediately in false 9

  18. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    This game is just missing a marauding right back with a wicked right foot who moves into mid-field regularly and joins in the attacks...

    1. Says
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Would be best if Pep brought such a player on in the next 5 minutes

    2. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Steve Finnan?

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

      Alan Hutton is retired

  19. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Willing to do risque things for a Man City CS buster from any Wham player

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Yup. Preferably Lingard.

  20. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Gundo come on. Just 1 goal then off you go and rest

    Or just freakin haul this game and you can go get your rest. Why oh why did i miss the deadline

  21. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    KdB is stinking up the City attack at the moment. Has the obvious quality to grow into the game but looking rusty so far.

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Don’t get these comments I think he’s looking great

      1. JJO
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        He has like 40% of innacurate passes

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 29 days ago

          KdB assist as expected 😎

      2. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Just the final pass lacking, he has given away the ball 3 or 4 times so far. But trying killer passes that can happen I guess.

      3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Seriously?

  22. JJO
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Not sure if Kdbs positioning is that bad or i just see it as bad as fantasy owner

  23. Fer Fuch's Ake
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Bilva has been the driving force behind MCI latest win streak

  24. Das Boot
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    "We have already won the league, Kev and Sergio are back, we can chill a bit the day lads"

  25. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Kevin certainly looks a bit off it so far ...

  26. Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    It is too early, but in 25mins- 0 shoots on target.

    KDB + Kun look aful

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Hauls due then

  27. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Kdb off at ht? Looks terrible

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Would be nice ... Cancelo on in midfield and Gundo moved into false 9 please ...

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 29 days ago

        Yh. Could be sterling though.

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    Gundogan attacking numbers slowly going back to the norm

    1. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Brilliant, after 28 minutes of play today you have arrived at this deduction?

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      time to look for plan B

    3. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Kdb effect

    4. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      I think teams will be keeping a much closer eye on him from now on too. Teams have had time to prepare for and anticipate the threat from his runs into the box.

    5. Says
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      let the chicken counting commence

  29. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    You can see why Bayern are interested in Soucek - proper ‘baller

    1. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Immense isn't he

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 29 days ago

      Understandable. Not sure he leaves West Ham so soon though.

      West Ham with momentum, gets to play with Coufal, but of a fan favourite and the club seems to treat him well. Nailed-on key player.

      Eventually though, and due to money, who knows.

  30. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 29 days ago

    I think people here are forgetting that WHM are actually pretty good these days.