Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne and Gundogan benched as Sterling misses Man City’s Fulham trip

Pep Guardiola took his rotation policy to a whole new level for Manchester City’s Gameweek 28 trip to Fulham.

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m), Ilkay Gundogan (£6.2m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.1m) are all on the bench tonight where they are joined by Phil Foden (£6.1m).

After missing Manchester City’s second Double Gameweek 27 match against Southampton, Raheem Sterling (£11.5m) is absent from the matchday squad entirely tonight.

There are fewer rotation casualties in defence as it looks as if Guardiola has switched to a rather unprecedented back-three.

Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) joins Ruben Dias (£6.1m) and John Stones (£5.3m) in the team while Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) and João Cancelo (£6.2m) are set for full-back roles.

Even more intriguing is that Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) and Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) start together for the first time since March 2020.

While that prospect sounds dangerous on paper, it will be interesting to see how the two players gel at Craven Cottage considering they have 15 minutes on the pitch at the same time this season.

Meanwhile, Fulham have seemingly set up to defend tonight, André-Franck Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m) coming in for Josh Maja (£5.5m) to join Mario Lemina (£4.5m) and Harrison Reed (£4.4m) in the central-midfield trio.

Gameweek 28 Line-ups

Fulham XI: Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Tete; Lemina, Reed, Anguissa; Lookman, Cavaleiro, Loftus-Cheek.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Laporte, Dias, Stones; Mendy, Rodrigo, B Silva, Cancelo; Torres; Jesus, Aguero.

Gameweek 28 so far…

Despite Everton suffering yet another home defeat this season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) finally rewarded his patient owners with his 14th goal of the campaign.

It was his first since Gameweek 23 while the in-form Richarlison (£8.0m) blanked for the second successive match after getting four goals in the previous four.

Burnley’s Chris Wood (£6.2m) got his first away goal since Gameweek 2 and has now netted in back-to-back league games for the first time in 2020/21.

That ensured more frustration for owners of Everton defensive assets, of which Lucas Digne (£6.2m) is the most popular (10.1%).

The Toffees have now conceded at least twice in four of their last seven league matches.

Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (£4.8m) was forced off in the first half to be replaced by João Virgínia (£4.3m).

Provisional bonus points

  • 3 – Dwight McNeil
  • 2 – Chris Wood
  • 1 – Tom Davies

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1,094 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stupid Bamford coming on

    1. Kermit Special
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same lol

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Really wish I went with Reggie 1st sub

    3. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'd say that might be quite a popular auto-sub.

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

        I wish you could sell benched players to prevent auto sub

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

    Fed up. 1.8k to 10.8k in 4 GWs.

    This week took out Cancelo after keeping him for what seemed like forever. Put in KDB. Literally this luck has put me in free fall last 4 weeks.

    1. Vlekz
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It's bad, but do you expect sympathy on this site with that rank?

      • The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Still all to play for

      • TheBiffas
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No logic in taking cancelo out this week

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

          Wildcard

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

          Got Stones and Gundo and wanted KDB.

      • Rassi
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Too bad. Obviously you had some luck before to get to 1.8k though?

      • Says
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        were you expecting Fulham to score, or Cancelo to not play (after he was rested last week) ?

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

          Got Stones and Gundo and wanted KDB.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dallasssssssss

      1. Mattymo23
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Same here brother

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Same better than Bamford 🙂

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

      Baps not moving - is the system broken?

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

      Soucek and Coufal coming on for Gundo and Sterling.

    5. NETFLIX & CHILWELL
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB (C)

      BULLET DODGED.

    6. zotter
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kdb and Gundogan owner here with Rudi and Dallas on bench !

    7. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Welcome Dallas 6 points on my team! This game is all about luck

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Or a half decent bench

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

        Yup

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

      Is it FT?

    9. Mile Plankton
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      John Stones, he scores goals.

    10. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Struijk sitting 3rd on bench ffs

    11. Calculated Risks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well thanks for not bringing on my captain Pep...least I get Bruno captain and Antonio off the bench...could be worse

    12. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Please adjust BPS to give Cancelo and Stones 3 each

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        If anything, Cancelo will pull away even further.

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

        🙂

    13. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      this bench and VC system is rubbish

      I always seem to get the cameos and my rivals the bench jam
      literally had one bench jam all season, meanwhile they get 58 points from Dallas off the bench

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

        That’s why you have a bench

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

      Cancelo 3 Baps
      Soucek and Dallas in for Gundo and KDB

      I’ll take it

    15. jimbe4mXL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones, Cancelo, Gundo(C) with Dallas sub, Kane(VC), uffff, lucky 🙂

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

        Nice

      2. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Jam

    16. Mile Plankton
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      So, I get Dallas of the bench, but end up with 10 players.
      Still meh

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

      Switched vc from Kane to Son as soon as Kane was flagged. Let's see if it was costly.

    18. Isca Extremadura
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      FT - 4 in last 10 PL games for stoned

    19. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cresswell in for Gundo, hoping for some assist. Dallas 3rd on bench.

    20. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cancelo storms to 3 Baps!

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

        Literally did nothing but cross a ball.

        1. Bennerman
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Literally?

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

            Literally

    21. Isca Extremadura
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      # Stones

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

      12 pointer for ‘all fart’ cancelo

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

        Very lucky.

    23. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dan Burn. Save me please

    24. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Auto subs overdrive

      1. JammySprat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        All 3 off the bench here o.0

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

      Bonus system needs a total revamp.

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Agree cancelo should have 6 baps

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

          For? Crossing the ball. Well done son.

    26. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep, rivals absolutely lucking out with the VC's yet again, whatever i do gets punished. Can't moan though, Bruno may still well fail and Dallas off the bench for my Gundo.

      1. JammySprat
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Some might say you lucked out

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

          How exactly?

    27. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A nice parting gift from Cancelo. Now back into the void of Pep Roulette with you.

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Your binning Cancelo?

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

          Bin all city players.... Peps rotation getting boring now

    28. HangTime
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Good example of why they should still have the old captain priority order - I had Sterling(c) Gundog(v) but neither played any minutes, so it's a wasted captain for the second time this season. They should let you choose form/value to dictate who gets the armband if your (c) and (v) don't play.

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

        Or you should make the most of the two chances they give everyone ...

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        May as well get the highest score as captain.

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

          No, because then the manager doesn't play any part in it. The choice of captain is basically the manager projecting who they think will score highest. Why bother with transferring the armband at all if we can't have a system like of old where it would always transfer if you had at least 1 player playing? If we have a vice-captain, then we've already made a compromise that should be extended.

          In an ideal world, it would be an ordering of 1-15 but that would be a bit cumbersome to maintain. The old captain system was flawed in the sense that sometimes value/form did not give you the preferred vice-captain but at least you knew it would go to somebody.

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Vice captain a safe pick in future? 2 captains from the same team with Europe midweek and Pep rotation always was a risk.

            1. Long ago I drew a walrus
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              I thought that it was common consensus to not have 2 captains from the same MATCH since Covid started.

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

              Well, the way I see it two 'midfielders' from the same team is arguably LESS of a rotation risk because if one player is dropped there's more chance the other player might be playing ("rotation coverage" if you like). The annoying this is I deliberately DIDN'T pick Stones as VC, because I viewed that as providing less cover, I could easily see both Sterling and Stones getting benched as they wouldn't interfere with each other, but less likely Sterling and Gundog i.e. Sterling getting dropped would increase the chances of Gundog playing but not Stones. Although perhaps more of a risk now Gundog is in a slightly more withdrawn role compared to a few weeks ago, City have a lot of midfielders.

              When covid was more rife and games started getting in jeapordary I did avoid double picks from the same match.

              Maybe I should go with 'safe' VCs in future, but it feels suboptimal, I know as soon as I do that the 2nd best captain pick would do well 🙂

          2. The Suspended One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Never C VC the same team, especially in Covid times

        2. JohnnyRev7
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Like in the old days.

    29. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane C and KDC vice.

      Should i be worried?

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

        No

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

        No chance he doesn't play