Dugout Discussion

Guardiola benches Gundogan and Stones for Wolves clash

As expected, Pep Guardiola has struck again, hurting more Fantasy Premier League managers with his latest team selection.

Ilkay Gündogan (£6.2m) is the chief victim this time out, earning a first tactical benching since Gameweek 12, having only missed the second Double Gameweek 24 trip to Everton through injury.

In the German international’s place, Bernardo Silva (£7.4m), Rodri (£5.3m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) form the central-midfield trio tonight.

Meanwhile, John Stones (£5.2m) finds himself among the substitutes for the second time in four matches, Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) and Ruben Dias (£6.1m) the preferred centre-back partnership against Wolves.

Oleksandr Zinchenko‘s (£5.5m) return to the bench means João Cancelo (£6.2m) is back in the side, operating at left-back while Kyle Walker (£6.1m) staffs the right-hand side of defence.

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) will share the left flank with Cancelo tonight, selected alongside Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.1m) in the front-three.

Opponents Wolves have gone with the same 3-5-2 formation that helped them to victory at the Etihad Stadium last season with Pedro Neto (£5.7m) and Adama Traoré (£6.0m) leading the line.

Leander Dendoncker (£4.6m) moves forward to reclaim the central-midfield berth he is more familiar with so Ki-Jana Hoever (£4.4m) joins Conor Coady (£4.8m) and Romain Saïss (£4.9m) in the back-three.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Laporte, Dias, Walker; B Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez.

Wolves XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Hoever; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Semedo; Neto, A Traoré.

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1,549 Comments Post a Comment
  1. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Riyadh!

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I like Dubai more

  2. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sub Dias off for Stones pre60 Pep there’s a good lad

    1. Ejaaz11
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      this would make my day

  3. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB just adds another dimension to this City team.

    Best player in the league, hate to say it

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Actually thought they did well without him.

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        yeah definitely. But KDB just adds something different. Can change the pace of the game with one pass

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      All he’s done tonight is lose the ball

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        he's played some really good passes and pulling people out of position

  4. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB will probably get subbed before hour mark.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully Gundo is getting the minutes

      1. Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        May be. All the players will get nearly even minutes in these few weeks.

  5. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I am 95% sure that Pep is opening the fpl transfers page, checks who is most transferred in, and tries to have a little bit of fun, now that the title is won.

    How else would you explain Mahrez playing all the time?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      or, hear me out, Pep chooses who to play on training performances, matchups with opposition, conversations with his team, and literally anything else other than FPL

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I like your theory but unfortunately is wrong

        1. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          fair enough lol

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            lol 😀

  6. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Annoying that Bernardo looks like Gundo from the TV camera view. Keep getting excited...

  7. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Reckon KDB is back on penalties?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Ederson is on them apparently

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

    Pretty much the last action of the match that. Going to be 70 mins of passing the ball now.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Unlikely

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

        Hope so.

  9. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have Wolves been in Man City half with the ball?

    85% Citeh...

  10. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Most one sided game I can remember

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The stats I'm looking at don't have one bar for Wolves doing anything at all with the ball.

  11. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Everyone so obsessed with minutes. I swear some people here would be happier if Stones played 180 mins and 8 points, than playing only 90 and getting 10.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I guess the points drives the obsession.

      So if your players not starting it gives you the empty feeling.

      Better they get the chance to return. Even off the bench.

      1. Says
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sure, but acting like you don't benefit by having city players in a DGW if they don't start both games is stupid.

        Having Stones this week was valuable because he was very likely to play at least one game. City players have such potential for points in just one game that it's worth having them over many that play 2, even if they only play 1.

        And above all else, no one should be surprised Pep rotated almost everyone between a Saturday game and a Tuesday one.

  12. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wolves are woeful, worst team I've watched this season

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Unbeaten in 3.

      Been watching much Southampton recently?

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

      Last season they were nice..

    3. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      They really suck the life out of games. Very negative mindset, dull tactics.

      A more adventurous coach could make them more exciting

    4. Steve Chance
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Did you miss the Super Saints against Manchester United?

  13. Rashers
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    6 minutes to get Stones on the pitch

  14. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Cancelo do something

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Poor Rudiger has to stay on the bench, now when Cancelo was not completely rested

  15. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Replace Barnes with someone who plays in gw29?

    1) Lingard --- can't play gw28, but plays gw29
    2) Soucek --- plays gw28 and 29
    3) Saka --- just rotated this week? Plays gw29
    4) Jota --- Big IF on whether he's fit, though.

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      4 for me

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

      1 if u have cover for 28..

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Saka rotation prone now
      Jota doesnt play in 29...

    4. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      2

  16. Salan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    For Pep, PL match is only used as the preparation for CL games, e.g. building up fitness of KDB or Kun. He knew the PL title is won.

    Most nailed players, e.g. Ederson or Dias, I believe they may get rest in dgw27. No harm for Man City at all.

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He will most likely rest Dias in at least one match in 27 - he's not going to play him 4 times in 2 weeks ahead of a CL match

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That CL tie is basically won though

        1. Salan
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          You can say so but Pep will not take any risk in CL.

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

          2-0 in the CL is not a safe score

      2. Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Absolutely. Some may think me crazy but I really believe Ederson may have a chance to get a rest. This gives Pep an opportunity to let Steffen be ready in case.

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yep agreed

  17. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mahrez captain in GW 31 against Leeds?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Will he play?

  18. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    FPL official site hasn't updated the game stats since 15 minutes in. Bit odd. BPS mysteries...

  19. SEXY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KdB AA

  20. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    All but Walker and Dias averaging in the attacking half, they're a few yards short.

    And Ederson.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Only Neto just averaging position over half way line for Wolves.

  21. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Every time he’s in position Sterling seems to take agonizingly long to release the ball, ends up losing it or being forced into a backwards pass when they’re trying to build up.

    So crap to watch and I don’t even own

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      8th highest points per game.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        In midfield.

    2. Steve Chance
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Oh well, Guardiola seems to rate him. Maybe he doesn't know a 'crap' footballer when he sees one. What's he ever done in the game? Or Sterling for that matter. Oh yeah...

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I only own him because when I don't, he scores.

    4. dogtanion
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I don't think anyone owns Sterling in fpl for his technique or skill. He's just usually the one to knock in the tap ins.

      1. Steve Chance
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        A skill in itself, no?

        1. dogtanion
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          No as he misses a lot of them too.

          1. Steve Chance
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Okay. I'm sure him being at man city under Guardiola is just an oversight. You could be doing it. About as much skill as making toast.

  22. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ok! So that's 12 points + bonus for City double defense owners.

    1. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The only way Wolves will get a goal is through an OL!

  23. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo fancies accumulating BAPs tonight for some reason 😮

  24. estheblessed
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    With all of the injuries and the return of KDB is now a good time to Wild card?!

    This would be squad (I think)

    Martinez / Areola
    Dias, Stones, Rudiger / Dunk, Konsa
    KDB, Bruno, Son, Lingard / Raphina
    Bamford, Kane, Antonio

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB got outscored by James Ward Prowse in the first half of the season. Without any injuries. People happily forget that.

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

      hmm

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

      Planning to wc also. Own Salah, Foden, Gundo, Robbo to start...

      Might go and pick Ederson, Antonio, Soucek, Cresswell, also need some differentials. Not sure where to find any maybe Chelsea attacker though no one (besides Mount) seem to be nailed...

  25. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo bossing the baps. It hurts. Let's go Diassss

  26. Amans94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else thinking of Dias (c) in gw27? Seriously temped..

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah loads

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Surely due a rest?

    3. Salan
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not for me. GW27 involves CL match in between, it's not making sense for Pep to play Dias twice in PL.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Same as last week though.

        1. Salan
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          One week after makes Pep more believing PL title was won.

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            What rubbish

    4. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm thinking of Ederson (c), only sure starter

      1. Salan
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        90% I would say.

    5. Effe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’ve got Ederson (c) at the moment

  27. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lovely tackle. More baps

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      By whom?

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cancelo

  28. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Looks like city will just sit on this lead, not sure owning double attack is going to be much good moving forward

  29. Rash
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Watching man City with only defenders is rather boring.

    Give gundog a run out!

  30. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I’m beginning to hate DGW’s

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Lol