Dugout Discussion

Kai Havertz starts and Werner benched in Tuchel’s first Chelsea line-up

Timo Werner (£9.2m) has been benched in Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of Chelsea, with Oliver Giroud (£6.7m) starting up-front.

Kai Havertz (£8.2m) starts behind Giroud, with Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) and Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) on the wings.

Jorginho (£4.7m) is also recalled to the side in central midfield, alongside Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m).

Ben Chilwell (£6.1m) lines-up at full-back with Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.6m) recalled opposite. Thiago Silva (£5.6m) and Antonio Rudiger (£4.5m) start at centre-back.

Edouard Mendy (£5.1m) continues to keep Kepa (£4.7m) out of the team.

Wolves’ boss Nuno Espirito Santo has reverted back to his tried and tested back three for tonight’s game, with midfielders Adama Traore (£6.0m) and Pedro Neto (£5.9m) lining up as a front two.

Playing in behind them is a returning Daniel Podence (£5.3m). Wolves’ midfield two consists of Ruben Neves (£5.2m) and Leander Dendoncker (£4.7m).

Nelson Semedo (£5.3m) and Rayan Ait-Nouri (£5.0m) start at wing-back, with Willy Boly (£5.4m), Conor Coady (£4.8m), and Max Kilman (£4.0m) at centre-half.

Rui Patricio (£5.4m) lines up in goal.

Burnley will be hoping to build on their win at Anfield with Chris Wood (£6.2m) and Jay Rodriguez (£5.8m) starting up front.

Robbie Brady (£5.0m) and Dwight McNeil (£5.7m) start on the wings for Burnley, with Ashley Westwood (£5.3m) and Josh Brownhill (£4.9m) in the middle.

James Tarkowski (£5.3m) and Ben Mee (£4.9m) continue their impressive partnership at centre-back, with Matt Lowton (£4.4m) and Erik Pieters (£4.3m) at full-back.

Nick Pope (£5.4m) starts in goal, and has delivered five double-digit point hauls already this season.

Ollie Watkins (£6.1m) will be hoping for more of the same after breaking his goal drought against Newcastle.

Lining up behind Watkins in Villa’s customary 4-2-3-1 is Ross Barkley (£5.9m), Jack Grealish (£7.7m) and Bertrand Traore (£5.9m).

John McGinn (£5.5m) and Douglas Luiz (£4.9m) are Villa’s midfield two, with new signing Morgan Sanson not included.

Dean Smith keeps the same backline that featured in Villa’s win over Newcastle with Tyrone Mings (£5.4m) and Ezri Konsa (£4.7m) at centre-back, and Matt Targett (£4.7m) and Matty Cash (£5.0m) at full-back.

Emiliano Martinez (£5.1m) remains in goal.

Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Chilwell; Kovacic, Jorginho, Ziyech, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi; Giroud

Wolves XI: Patricio; Boly, Coady, Kilman; Semedo, Dendoncker, Neves, Ait Nouri; Podence; Traore, Neto

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn; Grealish, Barkley, Traore; Watkins

Burnley XI: Pope; Lowton, Mee, Tarkowski, Pieters; Brownhill, Westwood, McNeil, Brady; Rodriguez, Wood

1,106 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any chance Werner stays on the bench?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yes but you'd reckon Tuchel fancies seeing how he does. Always a chance Tammy comes on in place of Giroud instead.

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

      Doubt it. Tuchel needs to get his confidence up.

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I am sure Lateriser hopes he plays.

  2. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Burnley missing Barnes a lot, need him to come on and boot Grealish up in the air and bundle an equaliser in

  3. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Burnley look about as dangerous as a tortoise that's been smoking weed all day.

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

      Sure doesn’t seem like scoring

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Ha

    3. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Watkins misses sitter

      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Water is wet...

      2. Gobigorgohome
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Water is wet

        1. Chucky
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          😛

          1. Gobigorgohome
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            😆

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

          Jinx, you both owe me a coke.

      3. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Wet is water

        • DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Water is moist.

      4. CheesyZoot
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Watching Chelsea... Does Grealish look like doing anything tonight?

        1. Steve The Spud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Yes, but he’s deeper than you’d like

        2. Dreams
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah. He'll get 2 points.

          1. Old Man
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Prefer 3

        3. Gobigorgohome
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          may be an assist

        4. Bring the Cavalry
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Assisted traore twice who had 2 poor attempts, on the ball a lot but nothing clear cut

        5. CheesyZoot
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers guys

      5. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Villa could run riot here

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

        How could Watkins miss that one...

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

        Grealish racking up the chances created at least. 😆

        1. KGFC
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          That's all he is worth for... feel so stupid that I've persisted with him 😡

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

            He's like a less exciting version of Cancelo.

            1. KGFC
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 3 months ago

              Atleast Cancelo gets 4 points for a CS.

              Grealish hates shooting in the box, always preferring to pass. Don't know if he is under confident or what... feels like a sissy!

      8. KGFC
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        These missed chances to come back and bite Villa...

      9. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        People not putting away Grealish assists here!

        1. Gross Blank Point
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Could say same every game, must be brutal playing with Watkins ahead of you

      10. ClassiX
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Pope really is good.

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Nah let's start Pickford at the Euros.

          1. ClassiX
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            😆

      11. REDMOND IN SANDALS
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Traore you clown

      12. djman102
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Pope is still going to haul, isn't he?

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          DDG vibes

      13. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Aston Villa’s improvement has been incredible this season. Fair play Dean Smith

        1. JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Top Quality Team

        2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Terry has to take credit for the defending

      14. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Villa on for 6 clean sheets in their last 9. The 3 games were against City, Utd and Chelsea.

      15. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        C'mon Watkins! You need to bury those!

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Saving that for GW21

          1. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            and GW22

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 3 months ago

              and GW23

              1. Hazz
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 3 months ago

                and GW24

      16. SEXY SALAH
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish running the show

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

          3 points guaranteed

          1. SEXY SALAH
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            Minimum 😉

          2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            2 with the booking

        2. WVA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Finally! My reverse phycology worked

      17. BeWater
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Villa are making Burnley look like a pub team. Which begs the question, just how bad are Liverpool.

      18. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Why is Traore on set pieces over Grealish?? Ridiculous stuff

        1. Ode
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          He is too afraid to take one, zero confidence

        2. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Grealish needs to step up or else he'll never be a must have.

        3. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          It suited a left footer

        4. RoryzonderR
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Grealish too modest....

      19. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        What is a pub team?

        1. Jordan.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          low class league team in one of uks many amatuer divisions

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

          Bunch a mates from the pub who play once a week on a Sunday.

        3. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Slang for not a particularly good team

      20. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish....!!!! grow some nuts and take the fecking FK and pens you loon !!!

      21. Jindaljain
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Fantasy football is no more like before

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          It evolves as must managers

      22. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        In a season littered with appalling mistakes on my part, transferring out Martinez for that early villa blank is well up the list.

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

          You and me both mate

      23. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Goodbye, Grealish.

        1. BeWater
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I watch that as a non owner and think, I need to get him asap.

          1. Ha.
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 3 months ago

            He’s all fart and no poo

            Give me poo

        2. WVA
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          This, if only I had a spare transfer

        3. Jordan.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          10 blanks out of 20

      24. WVA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish a big differential for me in my mini leagues, probably why he never does anything anymore!

      25. jonnybhoy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Hi guys which one?

        McCarthy Forster
        Taylor Justin Stones Alioski Coufal
        Salah KDB Son Fernandes Soucek
        Bamford DCL Brewster

        A) KDB to Sterling free
        B) Brewster + KDB to Kane and Gundo -4pts
        C) B plus Taylor to Cancelo for -8pts

      26. Ode
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish posting a ig video of him training freekicks and doesn’t even take them lol

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

          Tbf it looked like Barkley had to tell him off there

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          He needs to train more!

      27. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Traore is talented, but if you start thinking you're Messi then its frustrating to watch sometimes.

      28. Gobigorgohome
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish has not scored a goal 9 games in a row now

        Gudogan, Soucek and even Saka are better options

        time to sellll

        1. JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Still chips in well for 7 mill

        2. Dthinger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          an argument could be made for an entirely sub-7 midfield at this point, with big spending in Defense and Forward

      29. CheesyZoot
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Chelsea look uninspiring to say the least.....