Dugout Discussion

Gundogan, Dias, De Bruyne and Mahrez benched as Aguero misses Leeds match

As predicted, Pep Guardiola has rung the changes for Manchester City’s latest Premier League match, making seven alterations for the visit of Leeds.

Ilkay Gundogan (£6.0m), Rúben Dias (£6.2m), Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0m), Riyad Mahrez (£8.2m) and Phil Foden (£6.0m) are all among the substitutes for Gameweek 31.

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) misses out altogether with an injury not hinted at until Friday night, confirmed only as Manchester City released their team news on Saturday morning.

Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m) has also missed the cut, reportedly not “fully fit” according to the club’s official team-sheet bulletin.

His absence, and Dias’ benching means Nathan Aké (£5.4m) comes in for his first Premier League minutes since Gameweek 15, playing at centre-back alongside John Stones (£5.2m).

Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) and João Cancelo (£6.0m) are handed with the full-back positions while it looks as if Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) has been trusted with the central midfield role he often fulfils on international duty with Ukraine.

Bernardo Silva (£7.4m) joins him in the middle while Raheem Sterling (£11.3m), Gabriel Jesus (£9.2m) and Ferran Torres (£6.9m) are the front-three this afternoon.

By contrast, Leeds make just one change for Gameweek 31; Jack Harrison (£5.4m) ineligible to face his parent club.

Hélder Costa (£5.0m) comes in as his replacement on the left-hand side of a midfield quartet alongside Stuart Dallas (£5.1m), Tyler Roberts (£4.6m) and Raphinha (£5.6m).

Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) remains on the bench with Liam Cooper (£4.3m) and Diego Llorente (£4.4m) earning a second successive start as a centre-back pairing.

Gameweek 31 Line-ups

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; B Mendy, Aké, Stones, Cancelo; Zinchenko, Fernandinho, B Silva; Sterling, Jesus, Torres.

Leeds United XI (4-1-4-1): Meslier; Alioski, Llorente, Cooper, Ayling; K Phillips; Costa, Roberts, Dallas, Raphinha; Bamford.

Gameweek 31 so far…

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1,303 Comments Post a Comment
  1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    PLAY UP!

  2. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Did anyone buy Dias this week?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Surely

    2. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yep, WC 🙁

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Really unfortunate! Think Leeds will score though

        1. Balls of Steel
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ya Leeds will get a goal alright!

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sold him after his loyalty since GW10. What a man.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nice

    4. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I almost did, decided to go without City luckily

    5. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Kept him on my WC. Coady six pointer incoming

  3. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sold all and brought in sterling for the armband. Bish bash bosh

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

      See, this is what it’s all about. That’s class that.

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks donkey 😀

    2. Mane Mane Mane
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I did exactly the same

  4. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Not feeling confident with Razz C with no play makers around him?

    1. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd be fairly happy with 1goal from him!

    2. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He can't create anything that's for sure

      1. threeputt
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        set up Jesus last week ?

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

      Same. My relief at seeing him starting was quickly replaced with concern. He needs about 5 chances to score 1 anyway.

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

    Heavy City rotation ahead of Champions league. Gobsmacked. 😆

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Stunned that Pep prioritized a CL Round of 16 tie and FA Cup Semi Final over a close to dead rubber PL game in one of the most congested schedules there has ever been.

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

        I can’t believe it. Plus his team sheets are always so consistent.

        1. pukunui
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative”: Oscar Wilde, who had an anarchic streak too.

    2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Straight from the horse's mouth. I learnt a painful lesson a number of gameweeks ago when I captained KDB and VC Gundogan. Neither got any points.

  6. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pep is one sick puppy I tell ya

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sadist I reckon

  7. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Chances of a Gundo cameo?

    1. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hopefully not, Cancelo first bench

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Would expect a no show but depends if they’re up at 60 mins

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Probably a one pointer coming, no doubt to wipe out whatever massive haul the person first on most Gundogan owners benches ends up getting.

      1. aborg
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        If Gundo plays 30 mins I’ll be happy enough against a weak defensive Leeds.

    4. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If Leeds were to score and are leading or level at ht then we'll see Gundo and KDB, not beyond the realm of possibility!

      1. aborg
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Always a chance of a slight midfield injury or precautionary early sub.

    5. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Pretty good I'd say

      Mendy or Cancelo off and Zinchenko back is an obvious looking sub and it then becomes a question of which mid comes on

  8. Kai
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    We can only get Ederson then

    1. Kai
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thank you Pep

  9. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    So much self congratulating and gloating on here over a line up announcement.

    Don't think City owners are surprised to see rotation, just dissapointed their players have fallen victim to it.

    Maybe wait til the games are played before celebrating your own genius.

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’m very surprised he’s benched all 4 of his big boys

  10. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    My entire bench likely to come on. Let’s go Bamford, Raphinha and Konsa!

  11. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone else keep getting pop up ads at the bottom of their page on this website? Most off putting!

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Get an adblocker extension

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Need that advertising revenue bro!

    3. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Edit in privacy blue tab

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks - don't mind one or two but two every time I refresh or change page is excessive

  12. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Odds on Gundo being the most player in the game by 2 o'clock?

    Just 7000 transfers out so far. Just needs another 4000 to overtake Antonio.

    KdB lagging at 2000 out so far

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      *sold

  13. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    With Aguero out do you think Jesus plays a full 90 or will Pep try and rotate him early if they have no fit strikers for CL ??

    1. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      what do you think?

      1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I hope he rotates, but I am keen on other views....that's what I think

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      With false 9 options that not sure it matters

    3. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jesus will get the 90

    4. beric
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      jesus 90, sterling off before 60

  14. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    benched bam bam and played gundog. LOL.

  15. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Transferred Luke Shaw in (my fault should've waited)
    Didn't transfer Antonio out yesterday (my fault - missed deadline)

    KDB (C)
    Transferred Cancelo out
    Own Ruben Dias

    It is only lunchtime on Saturday... this is why I don't care about this game any more - life is so much better 🙂

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Amen

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        God bless

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who’s your VC?

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Bruno 😆

        1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Think you’ll be fine. Can see a pen or two in that game.

          1. Bruce Lee
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Let's see... need KDB to stay benched first 🙂

          2. Flair
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Conceded 2+ xG to Newcastle, Ole just doesn't need to be the negative Nancy he usually is and Bruno will be fine.

            1. Bennerman
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Second-most goals in the league, after 30 games - just how do you score those 60 goals being negative?

              1. Flair
                • 3 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Take a look at his big game PL results this season then come back to me.

                1. Bennerman
                  • 5 Years
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  Seems to be good enough to be higher placed, and scored more goals than, everyone but Man City. So why not you come back to me, with a proper answer?

                  1. Flair
                    • 3 Years
                    2 years, 11 months ago

                    Well you see, Spurs is a big game for United and they've had 5 0-0s so far in such games which shows Ole's negativity when it comes to preparing for these sort of games. Would you like for me to spell it out even more now, with a lollipop and pacifier attached as it suits you?

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

      Ha. Yeah I stopped playing about a month ago and now I’ve taken to being holier than now and pretending to be more intelligent than I actually am.

      1. Bruce Lee
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        God bless brother

  16. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anybody else who got Gundo on WC only for this GW?

  17. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    How is Gundogan not playing?!? He’s been rested so much recently

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Because Pep

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Precisely my point

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Resting him again is more damaging than good imo, but he knows best I guess

        1. TomSaints
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yep I didn’t (c) him due to this risk but was pretty confident of 60 mins at least.

          Obviously sold Cancelo..,

    3. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      he will be subbed 2 half.

    4. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Champions League is the big one

    5. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He's too important to risk.

  18. Balls of Steel
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pep wrapping him and KDB in cotton wool for CL...

    1. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Reply to TOMSAINTS!

    2. Bennerman
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Do they still sell cotton wool? Not seen the stuff in years

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Because Pep has bought it all

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

          😆

        2. Keep Calm and Play On
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ah! Is that why Moyes can’t seem to find any for his squad?!

    3. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It’s not a surprise but dissapointing =[

  19. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sterling just needs to bring himself, unfortunately that’s tap in boy and there is no one to provide them - oh dear!

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cancelo and Torres aren't capable of playing a decent cross to the back stick? Behave yourself.

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Season hinging on sterling performing?!

        1. Forza Papac
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          My season was over a long time ago. Nice deflection though.

          1. Eat my goal!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            In all seriousness Sterling hasn’t been the same without Kun

  20. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best keeper for the run in up to 5.0m

    A. Leno
    B. Fabianski
    C. Meslier
    D. Someone else

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I went Leno, not super confident about it but didn’t want Chelsea triple up and if I was going anyone else i would have kept Martinez for save pts. Arsenal do seem to have a good run in

  21. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A mount and DCL to nacho and son
    B Dias and gundo to castagne and Maddison

    For free

    Thanks and gl

  22. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    People seem to have forgotten that City won a league title while De Bruyne was injured for the entire season.

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That was with a fit and firing striker in Aguero though

  23. Sean
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Predictions on where Kane goes and price?

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Man City - £100m

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Although I think he’d be perfect for Utd

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Double it and you might have a chance

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Will Salah move on as well?

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Think that one is more likely but again tricky to see who'll be paying top top dollar for someone with their best years behind them in a climate where all the clubs will have lost untold millions thanks to COVID.

      2. ANGRY PERSON
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Probably not. I don't think most of the big clubs would be interested in him right now

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nowhere

      He'll be priced out of the market.

    4. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea - 120m 🙂

      1. Keep Calm and Play On
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nah we’re trying for Haaland

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yep, any of those 2 will do nicely

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Think Haaland to City & Chelsea will get Kane for 150m

      Thus ending Kane’s career as a striker & carrying on the Stamford bridge striker curse

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        You mean £50m? It's covid m8, no one will buy any striker for £150m, not even Haaland worth that price

        1. Bennerman
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Agreed, transfer market totally changed. Clubs have taken a massive hit. Big two in La Liga especially, they'll be needing to cut their cloth accordingly

        2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          **Roman Ambramovich’s Oil Barrells have entered the chat**

          1. Bennerman
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Those, and Qatar's

          2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            FFP probably rules it out tbf though

            1. Bennerman
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Well it's meant to, if they really meant it

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Chelsea in particular had a bad set of FFP accounts that needed the Hazard money to balance them... then they spaffed mega bucks this summer on Werner, Havertz, Ziyech, Chilwell etc

                Interestingly there are rumblings that FFP is going to be scrapped soon though

    6. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Idris Barbershop, wash cut & beard £34.

  24. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    hypothetically speaking pep storing gundog and KDB for CL and later they get injured during training or 20 min in the game.

  25. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I had completely forgotten that Zinchenko was originally a mid before he got put back in defence by Pep. Has he made many appearances in midfield for City?

    1. Keep Calm and Play On
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not that I can remember, always on the wings when I’ve seen him but I could be wrong

    2. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      he plays as a fullback so he's expected to load the front line by making overlapping runs.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That's not always the case. In the attacking phase, Pep's fullbacks often come inside and play in the midfield, with the wingers staying wide, and the no.8s pushing up. It's all about getting the 235 attacking shape. There's a good video explaining it here if you have the time: https://youtu.be/k3sAWHFZXoc

        Zinchenko often plays this inverted fullback role for City, as Delph did before him.

        1. MrZ
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Nice insight Giggs, saw that video too... Btw Zinch play in mid for Slovakia, cmiiw

        2. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Great link that - thanks

  26. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    0 out of 3 - oopsie

  27. Mile Plankton
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I actually made my team worse than it was with the WC.
    KDB (c) Jota (vc), Saiss last on the bench.

  28. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Raphinia would be some signing for Man Utd

    Himself & Danny Ings sort out the striker/right winger conundrums - both super players too

    Your Jason Sanchos and your Alfie Haaland’s and your Kieran Mbappe’s are just big money big agent pie in the sky talks

    1. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      who said they were meant for everyone?

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        ?

    2. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Hands off Ings.

      On a more serious point you can’t rely on him playing every week but as a third striker for a top team, he’d be excellent.

      Personally feel he’ll go to city if they don’t get Haaland

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Leicester city?

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Raph to City feels very Pep to me.

      Curious what United will do Lingz 🙂

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He’s being used as 30m of Rice’s 90m transfer fee apparently (the other 60m in cash)

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          It makes sense but those sort of deals never happen in practice do they? May be missing some obvious ones but I'm struggling to think of swap deals that really did happen.

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Those deals are as rare as hen’s teeth - very very rarely happen

            And that’s chiefly due to it being very very difficult to get the 4-way combination of buyer, seller, loanee and transfer target all aligned as perfectly as they are on this particular situation

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        * insert correct preposition

        to
        with

    4. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      cancelo assist and a goal coming right up.

  29. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I’ve owned Sterling about 15 weeks this season. 11 blanks.

    Finally sold him but this game screams sterling hatrick

  30. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That City team is so bad I fully expected to see Goater up front

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      With Dickov next to him.