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. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    City a better team without KDB

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

    2. Jindaljain
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundogan a better player without KDB

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Confirmed

      • Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Shaking out the rust. TC material for next GW.

      • jammie26
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes and yes.

      • FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He's been found out. All he does is cross the ball. Like TAA.

        1. Digital-Real
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          It's not that, City hold the ball better without him, which allows them to keep their shape, making them stronger defensively. With KDB in the side, he wants to play the ball quicker, which leads to City give up possession and being hit on the break.

          1. FPL price manipulators are …
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I was just messing

      • Tommyg
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Said no one ever.

    4. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Targett has transferred IN Grealish, hmmmm

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

        Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

      2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Wow

      3. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Putting him on the bench. Seems like it's under duress or a false flag.

      4. Gandalf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I thought they'd been banned from playing fantasy football

        1. Party time
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Targett is a naughty fella

            1. Gandalf
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Should have triple captained Grealish for banter

        2. F_Ivanovic
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I recall a while back targett made a transfer that made no sense as though he isn't the sharpest tool in the box. Wish i could recall what it was, but I wouldn't read anything into this at all.

      5. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Remember West Hams 3rd keeper from last season

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Jääskeläinen?

          1. FPL price manipulators are …
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            No. Roberts or something. He conceded every second shot

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Roberto!!

      6. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        If your are on FFS during the Newcastle v Wolves game tonight then you need some serious help. This place should be nothing short of the dead zone

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Lol agreed, I’ll be well out of here by then

        2. Z
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          And....like for that post!

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

          Is UK under the quarantine?

          1. FPL price manipulators are …
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Not a valid excuse

      7. Sif
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Been telling everyone for weeks it's February 27th, look who's right now.

      8. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Son HAS transferred Kane OUT of his FPL team.

        He’s only 7 though and doesn’t really understand how a DGW works.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Nice

          • Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Like it. Upvote for that :LOL:

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

            😀

          • Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            😛

        2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Come on gundo, get a goal my son

          1. Jindaljain
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Son or Gundo?

            1. FPL price manipulators are …
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Gundoson. The Iceland midfielder who is a part time milkman

          2. Royal5
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Forgot he was even playing. Looks dead as an fpl asset.

        3. Goodfeathers
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Awful shot by Walker

        4. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          How bloody wonderful to wake up to Dias KDB Antonio returns when I sold Antonio and own Cancelo Stones Gundogan.

          Ffs, man. Great start to the DGW the. 🙁

          1. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Where in the world are you?

            1. Top Lad Dakes.
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Haha 5 hours behind UK time, in a country with zero covid cases since July. 8:45 am for me

        5. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Was Gundo highly capped/triple?

            1. mezza
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Nope - about 2% in top 10k

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Damn. Cheers

            2. El Presidente
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              The strongest City backline is Cancelo on the right + Dias & Stones CB and Laporte on the left. That enables Sterling or Foden on that LW and with Rodri covering on that side they are virtually impossible to score against.

              1. Captain_Shirokov
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                cheers pep

            3. Goodfeathers
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Ageiro barely noticeable today. Looks well off the pace. Understandable though.

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Was that way last season, people have short memories. He did well in bursts yes but the old aguero was already gone

                • Royal5
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Ageiro sounds like a PES player

                  1. Goodfeathers
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Ha! So true

              2. Rolls-Royce
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Comon you Hammers score another one!

              3. Rainer
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                KDB got no help...

                1. JustPark
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Doesnt really need to with current wage

              4. Rolls-Royce
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Phew, almost another KdB assist.

                1. Digital-Real
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Which led to City being hit on the break

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

                De Bruyne wow....

              6. Big boy Bowen
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Vintage Kevin is back

              7. ZimZalabim
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Kdb is amazing

              8. FPL price manipulators are …
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Soon Pep will accept that the PL is won and will focus on the CL

              9. DAZZ
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Jota transfered out Salah!

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

                  Interesting....

                2. MoSalad
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Link?

                3. Vazza
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Sauce?

              10. MoSalad
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                KDB looking better GW27 Essential

              11. Jafooli
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Foden warming up?

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

                  Had been yep.

                  Jesus coming in first thought.

                2. Jafooli
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Even if it’s the full time tea, gives me hope...

                3. FPL price manipulators are …
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Yes. Warming up the half time sandwiches

              12. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Everybody transferred in the same joke

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

                    Let Watkins play 1st ffs.

                    1. @persecuted_by_mods
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Ha

                  2. Rolls-Royce
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Kun time is done. Such a shame for such a lovely player with a career ridden with injuries.

                  3. @persecuted_by_mods
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Aguero coming off for Jesus

                      1. Wild Rover
                        • 13 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Send the email 😉

                    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
                      • 13 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Foden coming on

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

                        Been sent back

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

                          Sorry coming on now

                    • Big boy Bowen
                      • 7 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Clean sheet points taking a while to add

                    • Bobby Digital
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      City passing terrible in the final third...

                    • Gudjohnsen
                      • 7 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Did KDB just score or assist?

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

                        Assist, goal is incoming though

                      2. Salah’s Sonnet
                        • 12 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Neither

                    • Bobby Digital
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 1 month ago

                      Where's Sterling?!?

                      1. Salah’s Sonnet
                        • 12 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Benched

                      2. JBG
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 1 month ago

                        Pep transferred him out.