Dugout Discussion

Grealish benched as United stick with five-man defence for Manchester derby

The Manchester derby is the first of five matches taking place on a slightly quieter-than-usual Saturday afternoon of Premier League football.

The omission of Jack Grealish from the City starting XI is perhaps the headline team news from the lunchtime clash at Old Trafford, with the benchings of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez rather more predictable given their relative lack of involvement on the domestic front over the last couple of months.

Ilkay Gundogan replaces the former Villa man in one of two changes that Pep Guardiola has made from Gameweek 10, with John Stones in for the suspended Aymeric Laporte his other alteration.

Kyle Walker is fit to start after taking a knock to his foot in midweek.

Raphael Varane‘s hamstring injury rules him out of the visit of United’s cross-city rivals, with Eric Bailly taking his place.

Victor Lindelof was a minor concern for this clash with a knock but is fit to take his place alongside Bailly and Harry Maguire in a three-man central defence, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemingly opting for the same 3-4-1-2 – or, given the likelihood of them sitting back, 5-3-2 – set-up he has favoured in his side’s last two competitive matches.

The Norwegian had hinted at a few other injury doubts without naming names in his pre-match press conference and the Red Devils are indeed without another one of their starters from the 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Edinson Cavani is the man to miss out, with Mason Greenwood starting in his stead.

Aside from those two enforced alterations, United are otherwise unchanged from last week.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most selected player in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for this encounter but his 31% ownership figure has to be taken with a pinch of salt, given the number of ‘ghost teams’ in FPL that tend to be drifting along three months into a campaign.

Among the top 10k, Ronaldo is the only United player with an ‘effective ownership’ (EO) above 1% for this fixture.

It’s Phil Foden and Joao Cancelo who are the most popular picks among the leading 10,000 managers, each boasting an EO of just over 62%.

GAMEWEEK 11 LINE-UPS

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Bailly, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Fernandes, McTominay, Fred, Greenwood, Ronaldo.

Subs: Henderson, Martial, Rashford, Lingard, Dalot, Sancho, Telles, Matic, Van de Beek.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo, Silva, Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne, Jesus, Foden.

Subs: Steffen, Carson, Ake, Sterling, Grealish, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Palmer.

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1,531 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    One of the rarest mammals ever to be seen.

    Donny off the bench.

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Haha quality

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

        Why have a plan when you can just do desperation?

    2. Fodderx4
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Haha you need to upload a clip to youtube with a David Attenborough voice over.

  2. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Is Sky Go down at the moment for anyone else?

    1. HTL
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Nope just tuned in

  3. moment
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Few minutes away from finding out if my team will actually have triple Chelsea defense. At least Tino's first on the bench.

  4. dark91
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    OGS doesn't deserve VDB

  5. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Cr7 still 31% owned ,I'm absolutely baffled

    1. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'm one of them. Have intended to sell him each of the last 5 weeks but something else always needed to be done.

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Perhaps the missing link to Salah only 70% ownership 🙂

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I still have him, had no idea who to sell him for. Plan was always to move him to Lukaku but I held on when he got injured. Selling for Kane next week is tempting now.

  6. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone else noticed the weird improvement in Lindelof's passing ability this season? He's had a couple of unreal assists and played some really good passes, whereas previously his on the ball ability was comparable to Fred.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Always been good on the ball, bad at everything else

      • Nabs Kebabs
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Both Lindelof and Fred are known for only being good on the ball and nothing else...

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Lol @ UTD.

      May Ole continue as long as possible.

    3. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Bilva yc

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        #notmysilva

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Can't afford cancelo without a hit until gw14, think I can "survive one more week?"

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        It is UTD, yes you will sirvive without Cancelo.

        1. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Everton next...there is no survival

      2. HTL
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Wait til end of IB but think he’s worth the hit

      3. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        City have 2 home games coming up, if you really really want him I would just take the hit to get him in.

      4. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks all

      5. Fodderx4
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Get him for the hit and keep for the season and your laughing.
        When your tempted to sell, don't!

    5. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Bilva YC

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

      YC B Silva

    7. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      That's the United highlight reel sorted for the international break!

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

      Bernardo YC massive for Cancelo

    9. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Get Zinchenko warming up!

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

        No we want a goal and a complete haul of achievements

    10. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Cancelo on a 14 pointer

      Get him off Pep, get him off now

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        100% this.

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

        Call me greedy but I want a goal or 2 from him. Chasing

      3. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Him and Bilva both

        1. Farteta
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          United won't score - dears in headlights when they finally get possession

    11. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      10 mins till broken hearts

      1. HTL
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Need some more goals of some description, bet on City to win and over 3.5 goals

    12. Bob_the_builder
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      VDB might as well go and score an hattrick of own goals to oust Ole and get his revenge.

    13. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      This will be the week when all your Chelsea assets start but unfortunately Chris Wood scores.

      1. Philosopher's Stones
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Can just feel it happening, and I'm an owner as well.

      2. Red Red Robins
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        This

    14. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Will be disappointed to get nothing from Foden here

      1. Good Times
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Word...

      2. Good Times
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        If he doesn't blank would you consider switching him to Son?

        1. Good Times
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Does blank*

        2. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          No Foden will be in my team long term I imagine. Will be getting Son in alongside him

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

          No way. Try get Son another way

    15. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Is it just me or is the ref constantly blocking a passing lane to Cancelo whenever he's loitering outside the box in a potential shooting position?

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Wow that is another level of fpl panic

      2. Philosopher's Stones
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Ref's ML rival brought in and capped Cancelo this week.

      3. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Michael Olivers rival has Cancelo C.

      4. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Its comments like this that remind me why I love this game. Thank you

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          This game + love should never collide

    16. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Tuchel, Please start Mount

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Probs won’t

    17. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      City finding it tougher to create chances without Bailly on the field.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah.

        It's not a spectacle.

        City just playing it out and around.

        Needs an edge.

    18. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Trashford coming on

    19. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Sancho 😆

    20. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Foden playing so wide. All he looks like doing at the moment is assisting the assister.

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Timed that as he was in the 6 yard box waiting for a tap in 😀

    21. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Greenwood off

    22. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Oh great here comes Rashford to ruin my Cancelo cleanie the idiot

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

      GW off
      School meals ON

    24. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Funny thing. I was happy starting Armstrong and livra over Cancelo and Duffy, but it’s increasingly looking like a mistake…

    25. Pariße
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Look at City go. Quite brilliant to watch how they control the game.