Dugout Discussion

Chelsea trip to Watford largely unaffected by festive rotation

The final game of a bumper Boxing Day Fantasy Premier League schedule is largely unaffected by Christmas rotation.

There had been fears that Marcos Alonso (£6.9m) might lose his place as Chelsea travel to Watford but he has been named in the starting line-up.

In fact, Blues manager Maurizio Sarri has made no changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Leicester just days previously, keeping faith with his key men.

It means another stint on the bench for Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) with Eden Hazard (£11.0m) leading the line as false-nine once again, flanked by Willian (£7.3m) and Pedro (£6.3m).

Even the midfield trio of Jorginho (£4.8m), N’Golo Kanté (£4.9m) and Matteo Kovacic (£5.8m) was left undisturbed by Sarri, despite a few options for rotation.

Meanwhile, Javi Gracia has kept faith in the front two who punished West Ham in Gameweek 18, Troy Deeney (£5.8m) and Gerard Deulofeu (£5.4m) leading a Watford side lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Watford XI (4-4-2): Foster; Holebas, Kabasele, Cathcart, Kiko Femenia; Pereyra, Capoue, Doucouré, Sema; Deeney, Deulofeu.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Alonso, Luiz, Rudiger, Azpilicueta; Kovacic, Kanté, Jorginho; Pedro, Willian; Hazard.

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2,303 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dosh
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    A. Robertson --> TAA
    or
    B. Ings --> Success to enable Lingard --> Pogba ?

    Pogba more nailed, and I may not play Ings for the next 3 games.

  2. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Is Lingard to Poggy too sideways?

    1. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    2. BIGREDDOG
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      That's a substantial upgrade imo

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No.

    4. HD7
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Martial to Pogba sideways
      Lindgard to Pogba is not

  3. The 5% Team
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    So are we still expecting for TAA to drop in price, or will it be adjusted before the deadline tonight...he is at -102.7 still

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Will be interesting to see how many WCs are in play, as this is the "use it or lose it" week.

      1. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        ah good point

    2. Dosh
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Probably won't fall in price now, there will be buyers.

  4. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Which would you prefer?

    1. Tripper, Luiz, Sterling

    Or

    2. Salah, TAA, Digne

    ?

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      2 Easy

    2. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      2

    3. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      2 easy

      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks chaps.

    4. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      2 this week

    5. Dosh
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      2

    6. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      This week - 2 easy 🙂

  5. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Stop playing Hazard out of position ffs

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      This

  6. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Does anyone else sing "Hollaback girl" by Gwen Stefani everytime Holebas is mentioned?

    1. M♤rvin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No. But I wont be able to stop now. You vicious bas*ard.

    2. gauzah
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Just you pal

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Nice

    4. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Every. Damned. Time.

      I think someone had that username on here or a team name with that moniker too.

    5. M♤rvin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      It's already in my head.

  7. Patch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Why isn't everyone on here talking exclusively about Eden? Barely seen his name for pages gone...

    1. Eze Really?
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      There has to be something to talk about!

  8. BIGREDDOG
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Son saving my bacon...Sane and Sterling both blank on me... Is it Pool's year?

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I can only hope............like every year

  9. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    4.5m only to replace Ryan... Foster or Hart?

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Lossl
      Hart
      Foster
      Button

    2. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Foster for saves and good fixtures
      Hart for saves

  10. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hazard resting for the weekend match?

  11. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    20 MINUTES NO HAZARD INVOLVEMENT 🙂

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Get back behind your sofa son

  12. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    About BOU
    v LIV 0-4
    v TOT 0-5

    Next up UTD.
    😀 Tasty..

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      1-1 incoming.....

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Bournemouth conceding less than 2 goals against an attacking team 😆

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Bournemouth do play better against teams on their level, tasty game is right!

  13. Eze Really?
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    My transfers this week
    Alonso to Trippier (did not play)
    Fraser to Martial (did not play)
    Bad news? NO
    I had Digne my second sub (smile)

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Wow, shame on you as a toffee supporter

      1. Eze Really?
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yep. Not trusting them for a cleanie. Wan B and Doherty were up the pecking order.

    2. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      But you’ll miss Alonso’s haul?

      1. Eze Really?
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Maybe. Had him from GW1. But it is the first bit of luck this year.

  14. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    22 mins no Haz involvement 😮

  15. james 101
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    A.
    Pat 3.9
    Digne Doherty Kola wanB Zanka
    Salah Son Fanderson Pogba. MASUAKU
    Kane AUBA Jiminez

    Or

    B.
    Pat 3.9
    Digne Doherty Kola wanB Zanka
    Salah Son Fanderson Pogba. SANE
    Kane CHICHARITO Jiminez

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Or any other combo to £15.9m!

  16. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    It's as if that Alonso photo in this article is saying, "Sarri may be benching me today? Whatevers!"

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Why would Sarri rotate a defence that is working? His issue is the attack and scoring goals.

      1. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I never understood the benching rumor, or Salahs.

  17. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    id have ot get rid of haz to get son.... 😕

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      did it 4 gw ago, got all Son hauls

  18. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling and Alonso or Salah and Pereira??

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I've lost faith in Zo

    2. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Former

  19. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Will son play next game?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Hopefully.

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      If Spurs want to score goals, yes 🙂

  20. Sid07
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Is sane + Sterling to Salah + son too late now ??

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not for free

      1. Sid07
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Would be for a hit

    2. Tired and weary
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I’m pretty keen

  21. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sell Alonso?

  22. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling to Son worth -4?

    Also have Sane

  23. Clintymints
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Haz dropping pretty deep to get the ball with Watford happy to push Chelsea wide to cross. A target man might help unless Haz can get a run going or a quick 1-2

    Hopefully they can up the tempo and press before the half is over

  24. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    25 MINUTES NO HAZARD INVOLVEMENT

  25. Bring the Cavalry
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sane to?

    A) Pogba
    B) Son

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. bialk
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      A - long term move.

    3. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B

  26. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Why did siggy do this to me!

    1. Eze Really?
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He is our best player.

  27. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Martial and Pogba double up too much?

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not if they keep scoring.

    3. Eze Really?
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Not really but Anderson, Richa, Siggy, Son, may suffer?

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Got Rich so wouldn't want double Everton with soggy either. 0.1 short of Son. Got 3 WHU already. Feel like I'm out of options without taking a -4

        1. Eze Really?
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Hard to judge Richa or Siggy who is the best.
          Eye candy Siggy every time.
          Digne is fantasy gold

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      No. They are both great value picks.

    5. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Short-term, might do it. Riding a wave of good vibes.

      Sterling has looked poor. Hazard vs Palace doesn't excite me and Salah is optimal, but a big jump (in one go).

      Drop whoever is performing less, later.

    6. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      no why would it...in form it seems and good fixtures

  28. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Anything good from Alonso or Haz yet

    1. Clintymints
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Watford dealing with it so far

    2. Patch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Every big name has been in the points except sods law your truly

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      They've blocked autosubs, that's about it.

  29. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Surprised people want to get rid of Siggy. Everton have good fixtures and he is getting a lot of points.

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Owned him for run of 11, 2, 2, 0 (missed pen game), 2.

      Sold. Straight after that 7, 11...

  30. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Alot of buildup for hazard here. I'm not really seeing what everyone else is seeing last two games