Dugout Discussion

Gundogan back in City starting XI as Guardiola names strong side for Villa

After weeks of starting XI rotation around cup competitions home and abroad, Manchester City are back at something approaching full strength this evening.

The champions-elect take on Aston Villa in their delayed Gameweek 32 fixture, with kick-off in the Midlands at 20:15 BST.

Ilkay Gundogan has embodied that week-to-week uncertainty, having been benched in three successive league matches between Gameweeks 28 and 31.

The German is back in a Premier League starting XI this evening, along with Ruben Dias and a number of other high-profile, well-owned City assets.

Pep Guardiola has reacted to Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea by making eight alterations, although the likelihood is that he would have rung most of those changes anyway.

Gundogan, Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden return to the team after benchings at Wembley.

Ruben Dias, Rodri and Gabriel Jesus are the only survivors from the side that started the last match.

Kevin De Bruyne is not involved after limping off with an ankle injury on Saturday, with Sergio Aguero also absent once again.

The Villa team news is more straightforward, with Dean Smith making only one change to his starting XI.

It’s an enforced one, too, with Trezeguet out for the season after knee surgery and replaced by teenage midfielder Jacob Ramsey.

This is the youngster’s first league start at Villa Park.

Jack Grealish is once again absent with a shin injury.


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, Luiz, Traore, McGinn, Ramsey, Watkins.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Silva, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden.

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659 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SuperDan
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Whats the best week left to FH?

    1. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wait until the last 3 weeks of fixtures are announced, lots of potential with 4 games to be rearranged yet plus potential blanks if final games are rearranged to let each team have a home game with fans.

    2. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      DGW 35 or 38. I'd prefer 38. Get Aguero if he's fit and load up on City.

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

        why 38?? when you can field whole 11 with DGW players

        1. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          38 is always chaos. Always plenty of players getting rests and good options available for a one week punt.

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            And many goals too

  2. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    FT and another bullet dodged for the GW31 Wildcarders then.

  3. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Well managed by City but my word Villa are so limited without Grealish.

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

      They were losing with him. Like many other teams they hit the wall.

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

      Grealish’s final 10-12 games weren’t the prettiest

  4. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Seen a few rumours and passing comments about Iheanacho today. Anything solid about his availability? Heard he had a knock in the last match.

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

      He did pick up a knock in the FA Cup semi. However he finished the game.

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks.

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Veltman is ready if needed

    2. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Veltman is such a troll waving 6 points from the bench at me every week

  5. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is it still the best option to WC 34 and BB 35 for those holding?

    1. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Well... if you don't use it then, you'll literally only have 3 more gws after otherwise it just becomes a bit of a pointless "free hit" in 38.. comes a point when holding chips becomes a bit pointless

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

    How good has the Mendy Forster combo been the past couple of weeks...

    Now to find a reliable keeper that’s not enjoying cocktails on the beach

  7. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy
    Shaw Veltman Coady Holding Trent
    Bruno Lingard Jota Salah
    Nacho

    Vydra
    One free.
    Do I need to do anything.
    Mendy ?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      For Rui Pedro dos Santos Patrício?

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

        Was seriously considering for 31 wildcard but went Mendy and Coady instead

      2. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah I had rudi and patrico in but opted for Mendy because of his security of starts. That went well.

  8. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What to do with Azpi (whu) ?

    A to TAA (free)
    B save FT (was rested last match, so should start)

    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  9. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy
    TAA Shaw Rudiger
    Son* Salah Jota Fernandes Lingard
    Kane* Iheanacho

    Forster Holding Vydra Kilman

    0.3 itb, 2FT

    What to do here please, would be a one week punt as would bring Son / Kane back for SHU:

    1. Son >> Greenwood
    2. Son >> Rashford
    3. Kane >> Vardy
    4. Kane >> Cavani

    Thanks

  10. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pope (Johnstone)
    Cancelo AWB Rudiger Coufal Lowton
    Bruno Jota Lingard Son ESR
    Iheanacho Kane* Laca*

    1 FT and 3.3 itb
    Kane and Laca injured and have no Salah. How to solve this mess?

    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cancelo to Trent
      Laca to Vardy, then Ings

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

    KDB to Salah, or wait for news?

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

      Kev has got a blank GW & Salah was rested for the majority of last match.

      Reckon it's a pretty safe move.

  12. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy
    Trent - Holding - Rudiger
    Salah - Bruno - Jota - Bowen
    Kane** - DCL*- Iheanacho

    (Forster) - (Son** - Stones** - Amartey) - 0.0 ITB - 1FT - (**= out | * = doubt)

    WC31 team is a bit of a mess at the moment. Not sure what to do here, should the priority be shipping Son and Stones -> Coady for -4 to have a chance at a playing 11?

    Cheers!

  13. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kane Vardy hokey cokey?

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

      Put your right leg in, your right leg out, in, out, in, out, shake it all... ankles gone

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Lol

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

      im scouting him tomorrow

    3. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nacho is the rich man's Vardy ya know.

  14. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who are non Salah owners captaining this week ?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nacho or Bruno

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

      Nacho

      Better form better fixture

  15. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    City play Everton in GW 38 at home. I am expecting 5 to 7 goals scored by them. It will be a carnage and title celebration in front of fans.

    Foden might be a must

  16. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Cancelo owners what are we doing?

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

      I've already lost 0.2 on him but think I might just keep. Other fires to put out in my team lol. And I can field 4 defenders for GW33 so not worth taking out for a -4.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Will you have full 11?

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

          Yes if DCL plays (waiting on news). Using my FT on KDB to Salah.

  17. nothingbutgreen
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    don’t think i’ve ever seen worse luck in the history of fpl

    triple capped kane - injured. rival tc son. 12 points to 36 in the 90th min

    defenders after subs this week -

    stones cash dawson -8

    wow

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

      woe is you - a 36 point TC

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

        before tonight my ML was almost sewn up.

        3 red cards in a single gameweek.. 5 players down next week. lead cut to about 4 points!

        you’re right.. but 36 points is just the average you’d hope for from a dgw from kane

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

      Team link please

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

      Oh wow. At first I thought the TC isn't a fail. But jesus your defence, honestly never seen that happen, 3 red cards and the 3rd coming on because azpi was benched! Plus 9pts sanchez on your bench feel your pain mate

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

        i wasn’t too fussed about stones as everyone has him.

        since i’ve owned dawson.. brought him in and i benched him for his goal (can’t remember why). then he’s had 2 own goals and the red yesterday

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

          **saturday or whenever it was!

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

      Wow my condolences with that defense, incredible odds to have all them 3 and playing

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

    What a crazy season, after an awful week my -12 might actually pay off if Pereira and Iheanacho turn up tomorrow!

    Cancelo (0) - TAA (8)
    KdB (0) - Salah (1)
    DCL (0) - Iheanacho (TBC)
    Gundogan (1) - Pereira (TBC)

    Just 5 points needed in total between them for it to have been a positive move!

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nothing would pay off your moaning the whole week.

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

        Mate I’m trying to be positive now :p

  19. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Up to 15k, 5k left.

  20. tommygun
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    By some miracle I find myself still in the fpl cup, and I believe I may have crawled over the line this week too. We're tied for points and goals scored. Am I understanding goals conceded correctly that it's all players on your first team not just GK and defenders?

  21. Vjm6891
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Free hit for GW33

    Sanchez
    Veltman Saiss TAA
    Greenwood Salah Mane Bruno Martinelli
    Nacho & Vardy

    Burn from Brighton as backup

    Am I missing anyone obvious?

    Wolves and Brighton don't score many otherwise i'd have some of their forward players.

    Too many from the same teams?

  22. AleksaMaster
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Will Leno play next game?

  23. Kane and Ablett
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Just the 27 points on the bench this week , thankfully 9 coming on which beats the 31 that stayed on there from last week. Is there a website to see how poor your playing XI choices and Captain picks are?

  24. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bored of fpl to be honest

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Don't be a sad panda.

  25. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    So Dean Smith thinks Stones's card should have been a yellow as well. Don't tell that to the "experts" on here.