The Man City Dilemma
We all know we have to own them, but it can be infuriating as heck. Do you want to pay top money for KDB and then watch his less expensive mates outscore him? Do you want Sterling and Sane and then have to deal with them being benched while KDB starts? Jesus is the guy up top, until Kun is, until both are, until Jesus is again, until Kun is again… and so on and so on. Perhaps we should avoid them and not have to worry about all that rotation? Yeah, that’s not going to work, because five of the City boys we are fixing to talk about are in the top 15 in FPL points and the one missing out, Jesus, is only 4 points from also being in that illustrious club. Perhaps if we dive into some of their stats and minutes played we will get a clearer picture or perhaps we will be where we started and with no idea who to really trust. Well, let’s look through a bit and see if we can come to some conclusion, at least until GW12 when Pep strikes again and leaves our FPL teams dazed and confused.
Do minutes matter?
It could be that the current amount of minutes played gives us a guide as to what expect going forward, but we are dealing with Pep, so you can never be truly comfortable. So far (emphasis on ‘so far’) what we have seen is that he regards KDB and Silva as essential to what he wants to do. The other four have been a bit more prone to the whims of their manager.
David and Kevin have received the call to start for all 11 games and average close to the full 90 with Silva leading the way at 87.4 minutes per start. Silva also leads in overall minutes by only 33 over the Belgian, but 290 over Sane, 360 over Kun, 364 over Jesus and 379 over Raheem. This is where a player like Silva has great appeal, not only is he getting the most minutes on the pitch, but he is only 8.5 which is the 2nd least expensive of the six. The Belgian is still the favourite of a fair few though and with good reason, as he oozes class when you get a chance to watch him. At some point one expects KDB to get a bit more separation in terms of FPL points from Silva, but it is hard to see him distancing him enough for a manager to feel at ease with the extra cash that has to be used to have the Belgian over the Spaniard.
In terms of minutes we mustn’t just take into account the total, but the minutes they have been receiving lately. Sane has six straight starts and has featured in all fixtures for City so far. Jesus has started eight and came off the bench in 2 others, the worry with him though is that he has started from the bench in 2 of the last 3. Sterling has been in and out a bit and for now he has the least amount of starts, which also lower his total minutes. He started GWs 5-8, didn’t play in 9, came off the bench in 10 and started in 11. Good luck guessing his starts and minutes. One thing can be said for Sterling though, he did manage to score in 2 of the 3 matches he entered, so he can still get you points in limited minutes and his price tag is very enticing with him being the cheapest of the lot. Aguero has garnered 7 starts and came off the bench once. Even though his minutes are not where you would want them to be if you are a current owner you have to be happy about Kun starting five of the last six games when he was available to the squad.
The stats…
All those minutes that make Silva and KDB appealing do have a kryptonite and it comes via the PP90. Their production while consistent is nowhere near as explosive as their City mates. The Spaniard is fifth in the City FPL points race despite a huge amount of minutes over most of the others. KDB has a close to similar advantage in minutes and he also doesn’t really stand out in terms of points.
This second screenshot is where Sane and Aguero really shine. Kun has the highest PP90, which simply means if given the chance he can deliver, but we have known that for several seasons. Perhaps the stats should serve us as a reminder that when comparing him to Jesus or any of the other big priced strikers we shouldn’t dare overlook the Argentinian. Aguero with 8 goals, 11 bonus points and 3.6 shots per game remains a force even when compared to this collection of attacking talent. As long as we feel somewhat confident that he will start, he is arguably still City’s number one option.
If you think Kun has nice stats, then you should probably feel the same about Sane. Leroy has 5 double digit hauls and has the most points in all of FPL. All the more impressive when you remember that he only had 4 points in total after GW3. The one catch, he has the least amount of shots on average and only Jesus averages less key passes. So perhaps he is scoring more than he should be, having said that, we all saw the terrible pass Sterling made vs Arsenal which denied Sane an easy goal, so maybe Sane should be above 80 points already and not on 73.
Gabriel Jesus has great stats, is just hard to notice when he is compared against this crew. His PP90 is great, but is only good enough for 4th here, his 54 FPL points are solid, but it is last here. When coupled with minutes in the above screenshot and being benched 2 of the last 3 it becomes hard to make a case for Jesus over any of his City teammates.
Sterling is similar to Jesus in the sense that he has great numbers, but just not great compared to others on this list. He like Jesus doesn’t lead in any categories, his minutes are a concern as stated above. However, he is the cheapest of all and despite concerns over his minutes he is right there with the rest on FPL points even slightly ahead of Jesus and Silva.
The Verdict: We all have our preferences and our budgets are not all the same, but if I had to rank them, this be how I would slot them. Pep disclaimer this ranking is for today only though, as Pep could change my mind by the end of GW12. 😉
Sergio Aguero grabs the top spot. He has scored in 6 of his 7 starts and has 7 goals and 3 assists over the last 5 averaging 11 FPL points over that run. With his minutes looking a bit more stabilised and he seemingly having the upper hand over Jesus right now, it be hard to look past him.
Leroy Sane is a close second and I do mean close. His price is still at a place where it doesn’t hamper your funds terribly, his output has been great, in particular if you captained him a couple of times in the last few games. Got to love those double digit hauls! Only reason I leaned Aguero was pens and that Sane only shoots half as much as Kun. I however would not fault anyone for making this German the priority.
Raheem Sterling is controversially third. Everything I wrote seemed to point to Silva or possibly KDB here, yet I decided to go with the Liverpool legend. For the love of Lovren, settle down! I have my reasons, they might not be very good ones, but I have them, could also be that I own Sterling and I need to justify it to myself to keep from having to make a sideways move to Sane. Yes, Raheem is behind the eight ball in many categories, but his total points is right there with them, despite his minutes. Plus if we throw out GW1 where he only played 12 minutes, Sterling has either scored or assisted in 7 of his last 8 appearances, including the two times he came off the bench over those eight. So while there are reasons to be concerned, as long as he is delivering with the minutes he does get, the extra savings you get in having him compared to the others clinches his case for 3rd spot in my opinion.
David Silva was third in my original notes and after this is published he might be back to third in my head, but for now I have slotted him 4th. Love his minutes, love his assists and love his price. I don’t however love the amount of goals he gets and the others have shown that if given similar minutes they will outscore him. So as long as I am willing to risk the minutes with the 3 guys in front of him on this list, I rather have them.
Kevin De Bruyne please save your hate mail, I don’t care. Listen there was no bigger backer of De Bruyne before the season started. If this wasn’t fantasy he be number one, absolutely love how this fella plays. But for me his 10.1 price tag puts him below Silva in particular when you consider the points between them is only 3. So until he starts bringing in bigger hauls, I can’t be bothered with him. Sane is way cheaper and has been much more explosive, Aguero is Aguero, Sterling is Sterling… sorry, don’t think that works with Raheem. Sterling over KDB for the same reasons that Silva is over him on this list, price and almost equal points.
Gabriel Jesus he might be last for now, but keep your eyes and ears open. One whim from Pep or a tight hammy that forces Kun to the bench and Jesus is born again. There is also the chance that he gets starts in place of Sterling or even Sane, but considering his price tag, owners will want to see him more central and not out wide.
Thanks for reading The Man City Dilemma. This article was written by Mito21
The League Codes for FF247 for the 2017/18 season are as follows:
The Fixture Tracker
Gameweek Tracker GW12-19
WC now or wait till december? I would like to improve my defence, what do you guys think?
Depends what you’d be doing there joga? You’ve already got a similar spread to what Milbs is aspiring to on the previous page so no need for any drastic redistribution of funds. I reckon you could fix that defence up gradually and save it.
What exactly would u change if u did WC joga?
I’d like to bring in DeGea for Fab and a couple of high end Defenders such as Azpi and Vert (can’t rely on Davies anymore), also need to ditch Cedric and probably bring in Daniels or Francis.
Would have to drop Alli down to Grob, and Tammy to a 5.0 fwd (Niasse, Ayew, Calvert)
Not sure. Not like you’re in terrible shape there already.
The curse of the early transfer… Jones off injured 🙁
Just seen that banjo. Looks a bad 1. His hamstring heavily strapped before the game
He’s always injured. And Jose always plays him. I have faith!
That’s my transfer plans up in smoke too! At least they were future ones though I guess 😉 Smalling suddenly looking better value…
Going back to the Man City dilemma….Renfrew Rangers currently own Kun, KdB and Sterling.
Jamie
Whilst it’s quiet then, to say the least, what would anyone do here please?
Was initially going to simply do Yoshida out for Calamity Jones but that one looks like it’s out of the window.
Ideally want Morata in for Vardy at some point but that’s unlikely without a sizeable downgrade somewhere. In theory him and Davies out leaves 4.7 for a defender with Morata in but for a hit.
Any other thoughts appreciated.
How about Davies to Dunk. Leave the cash for Jones in for Yoshida next week and get Morata does that work
Though Jones might not be that bad
Hey Smash – Brighton have a mixed bag. Bournemouth have some nice fixtures on paper if you think the win and cs will give them confidence. Francis there is 4.4 I think.
Hi Dreamers. Yeah they do have a good run. Bournemouth are usually quite attacking dreamers. I think Daniels might even be worth the extra over Francis. While Brighton are generally pretty defensive more set up not to lose. I think Dunk is due a goal as well
Will look at Bournemouth too Dreamers. If you feel that the cheapie is the correct route also.
You’re ROI right? Good luck this evening if so.
hey Init – ya ROI
Rugby now
Football after
Reckon we will need luck this evening in the football. The Irish team is bang average, and then when you add in the negative play (long ball etc). Keeping Eriksen quiet will be key.
With your top 3 (when you get Morata), you have no choice but a cheap defence then I’d say
I get confused with who is from which ‘version’ of Ireland sometimes and I know it’s a biggie if you get it wrong so thought I’d best check first!
Yep, keep Erik quiet here and go away with a draw or so is probably you’re best bet. Rooting for you anyway. Will have it on.
On the cheapie thing I’m really not sure and feels like a crossroads moment. Not sure if you caught it but Milbs WC team illustrated the difference perfectly in terms of sacrificing that 3rd spot. Basically he either had Tammy or a premium. With Tammy he had 3 top defenders and a keeper. With the premium he had all 4 as budget.
Hadnt spotted but 3 premium defenders and Tammy is better imo than 3 cheapies and a top striker. Personally I’ve gone 4 :3:3 this year.
After 11 games, I think the top striker score is the same as the top defender
It is indeed. And for a fair bit less £!
Need to crack a new team tracker out here then as it’s clearly got to be a cheapie if I go that route. Depends who rotates best with what I have already. Davies has a nailed CS next week though. If he plays!
Yeah would not be surprised to see Rose in the easier fixtures while he’s being eased back
CL in between 12 & 13 so we may well know who gets that spot.
Yeah true and then a tough mid week away game at Leicester. Poch is a bit easier to predict than Pep though with his rotation
Yeah, he does tend to literally rotate as opposed to Pep’s hand in a bag lottery method.
You already know the answer mate #hit
Noted. Expect any future answers to be so detailed and thoughtful 😉
Lol Davies along with tripper are not playing so you need to sort that out ASAP! (I have trippier) vardy isn’t getting the goals and if you look at Morata’s fixtures up to GW27 they only have two GWs where they might be troubled when the play Liverpool in GW12 and arsenal in GW22 in regard to the 4.7 defender you could either double
on Burnley or go with someone like Duffy….
Thank you. So you would endorse the hit then yeah… it’s ok, I know
I’ll be doing one mate so you might as well….
Have you read the above on the crossroads thing?
Which bit?
Comprehension wasn’t your strong point at school then I take it! 😉 The convo with Dreamers about the Milbs WC and the Tammy vs Big 3 up top vs better defence thing.
Oh that…. big 3 every time…..
Yeah big 3! I preferred Milbs team with Morata in it. But yeah you need to be a bit clever with the defence
Good evening Init,
Wait for news on Jonesy – if he’s ok then I’d proceed as planned.
Otherwise, Lejeune to Francis prob works.
Vardy vs an Otamendi-less City may still work next week.
I thought init had grown quite attached to Lejeune
Rather than Yoshida who has Liverpool, Everton, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester and Spurs in 7 of the next 9?
Yeah If its for Francis. Same price defender with better fixtures (Francis vs Lejeune I mean.)
Yoshida to Jones still a priority though, if not this week then next. Subject to Jonesy’s fitness of course.
Why not just do Yoshi for Francis then and bank the difference? And keep Lejeune with better fixtures than Yoshi.
Cos you’ll want Jonesy instead
Evening….
How are we? Anyone done any moves yet, if so what?
Evening not sure who the players are to get. I am fearful of Lukaku this week
Really want Morata
P.S evening smash 😉
Ah I see let’s see the team?
Current team
What have you itb Mitro? Anything done yet?
So it’s a case of how do we turn Hernandez into Morata. That’s difficult
This is the only way I think
Dreamers just 0.7 mate
Yeah I like those moves. A -8 though is rough. I think I’d prefer Silva over Sterling but that’s so tough
if Silva became Fernandinho? 14 points between them “only”
Mitro, I comment on enough of yours so knock yourself out on the above one please 😉
Yep usually to talk me out of a hit….. 😉 i have just posted my opinion, I hope that helps mate xx
Thanks for the kisses xx :shiftyeyes:
First one down. 31:3.
RSA very poor. Scoreline flatters in one sense as couple tries in last 10
Just got another try
And Bingo!
Did you watch it Init? Was terrible game. Just glad I’m drinking.
Have a ‘communion mass’ tomorrow morning at 9 in Irish. Bloody hell
When was the last entertaining Irish game?!
Can’t say I lasted beyond the first 20 in all honesty! It was looking attritional at best.
Maybe 3-4 years ago (by accident)?
I even made some lego in the hope of some Danish excitement but alas……