Dugout Discussion

Chilwell benched again and Zouma missing entirely as James makes line-up return

The final fixture of Gameweek 22 sees Jose Mourinho face another rematch against his former employers, as Tottenham Hotspur entertain Chelsea.

Kick-off in north London is at 20:00 GMT.

This is the third game of the Thomas Tuchel era for the Blues and the early volatility of his team selections has given way to something more settled, with the German making only one alteration from Gameweek 21.

Reece James makes his first start under his new manager, replacing Olivier Giroud.

That will prompt a tactical reshuffle to accommodate the returning wing-back, with Callum Hudson-Odoi presumably moving into a front three alongside Timo Werner and Mason Mount.

Ben Chilwell is again only among the substitutes, with Marcos Alonso starting down the left flank.

Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham are also on the bench but there is no place in the squad for Kai Havertz or Kurt Zouma, both of whom had been injury doubts.

Mourinho, who is once again without injured striker Harry Kane, makes three changes from the Spurs team that began the 1-0 loss to Brighton on Sunday.

Serge Aurier, Eric Dier and Carlos Vinicius are recalled to the starting XI, with Joe Rodon, Davinson Sanchez and Gareth Bale making way.

Only Kane was sold by more Fantasy Premier League managers than Son Heung-min in the run-up to Gameweek 22, with the Korean blanking for the fifth time in seven matches in that dismal defeat at the Amex.

The reverse fixture of this game finished goalless, with Hugo Lloris collecting maximum bonus en route to a double-digit haul.


Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Davies, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Sissoko, Son, Bergwijn, Vinicius.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, James, Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Werner.

1,112 Comments Post a Comment
  1. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thiago crocked. Rudiger looks a decent buy now.

    1. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Actually, without Silva in the lineup, I think his cs potential just reduced quite a bit

    2. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Always was even before. Thinking it could be worse for his prospects.

  2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Christensen coming on

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

    No CS for Christensen flashbacks...

    1. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Still hurts...

  4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Spurs still going to win the League?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Them or Everton

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Don’t forget United’s two week stint.

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

      I can't remember the last Premiership game I watched where it wasn't pi$$ing down!!!

      1. threeputt
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I can't remeber the last time it wasnt pi$$ing down, our dog is used to her daily shower since October 1

    3. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Spurs trophy cabinet dusty af

        1. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Mou is a specialist in failure?

      • fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Damn Christensen. Now Spurs will get back in this.

      • tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Son without Kane is like...Chas without Dave
        (add your own below)

        1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Ant without Dec

        2. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Pub without beer

        3. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Pickford without the error

          1. tiger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            not sure that one exists 😀

        4. Atimis
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Engels without Marx

          1. Camino Aleatorio
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Engles would have had more pocket money without keeping a demented moocher as a pet

        5. DickFranDyke
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Dempsey without Makepeace?

          1. tiger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            nice...old school!

        6. badgerboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Fudgy without the weekly FPL disasters.

        7. threeputt
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Tiger without majors

        8. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Vasectomy without anaesthetic?

          1. tiger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            sheesh! 😮

        9. Lazaretti
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          David Seaman without ponytail

          1. Big_Andy_GAWA
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            The DJ...?? 😆

        10. Heisenberg W. W.
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Bench points without Soucek

        11. Fpl stress
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Bruno without penalties

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

          FFS without ‘captain fail’ two minutes into any match.

        13. Gunners in Haaland
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Barbie without Kane

        14. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Lingard without Ballon Dor?

      • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Alonso and Christensen

        The band is coming back together

      • Karan14
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Would you use BB for Martinez (bha), Son (che), Bamford (ars) & Cresswell (SHU) next week?

        1. Karan14
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Son (mci)

        2. threeputt
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          save it for a dgw surely ?

      • Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I think I'll keep Sam Johnston for next GW and not bother spurning my FT. Spurs look terrible.

      • KGFC
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Think I've persisted with Son for too long... but with WBA next, not sure if I should sell or not.

      • how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Azpilicueta still a tit.

        1. BeWater
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          He really is.

      • michaelington
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        People selling Son before WBA?

        1. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Son to Jlinhz done

            1. MoSalad
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Haul incoming

          • Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            yes, without kane he's worthless

          • Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Yes.

        2. Lazaretti
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Imagine people selling Johnstone before Spurs game.

          1. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            The game to pay back the -2 when sold for Martinez...

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Omg you crack me up lol

        3. DAZZ
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Dont sell Son, but dont (C) either. Simple really

          1. BeWater
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Might captain Antonio now. At least it might be fun even if he blanks.

          2. DickFranDyke
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            First rule of FFS club

        4. BeWater
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Here's a good tactic. Let's camp out in our box for the entire game. Nothing will go wrong when you have the likes of Aurier and Dier in your team...

        5. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Spurs look utter garbage.

          They have no gameplan here at all. No link between defense and attack.

          1. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Awful. Reguilon is a really big miss for us. Nothing wide.

            1. Kiwivillan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Losing your Reguilon

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 2 months ago

                  Ha

            2. No Professionals
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Appalling, there was a chance to break, son made his usual run and Vinicius was no where near good enough to play him in. Without Kane you realise how bad the rest of them are (except son).

            3. The Ejiptian King
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              The problem is that they're just trying to use the same tactics as when Kane is fit and it's not working.

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

              Hate Mourinho so much

              A team in his own cowardly image

          2. R.C
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Andy probably ended up doing James to Thiago Silva lol

          3. No Professionals
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Mourinho’s recruitment has been disastrous. Bale, vinicius, gedson, Doherty, bergwijn, all bog standard.

            1. ivantys
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Vinicius class in UEL

            2. DickFranDyke
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Or is it just Mourinho who is just bog standard?

              1. No Professionals
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Well he can’t sign decent players so maybe.

                1. Lazaretti
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 2 months ago

                  Maybe the problem is somewhere else

          4. OverTinker
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Pope or Martinez untill the end of the season?

            1. ivantys
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Martinez with a rotating keeper.

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

              Did you see Martinez last night vs West Ham...

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

                No. Was v busy

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

                  Very dodgy for all 3 goals & was chipped for a fourth but was bailed out by a Mings

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

                    But still it was just one game. Anyways whats your suggestion between Pope and Martinez?

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

                      Probably towards Pope - certainly in the immediate 2-3 gameweek horizon with those 4 nice fixtures in next 3 GW’s... also earns a lot more save points than Martinez (who himself earns a lot of save points)

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

                        Ok it’s pope then

          5. Gross Blank Point
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            My Cup opponent needed 2 pts from Silva to beat me 71-70

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              My cup opponent needed 15 from Alonso, Lloris and Son. 0-0 would've been perfect for him.

              1. Gross Blank Point
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Mine captained Bruno, I had Salah, so thought I was well out. Guess it'll go to goals. Had a horrible red arrow in league, cup progress would be a pleasant surprise

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

              Mine needs 22 points from Silva (c) , chilwell, pulisic and son!!

              1. Gross Blank Point
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                That's not gonna happen!

          6. Athletico Underachieving
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Armband working its way from Son to Antonio more by the minute...

          7. Party time
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Bring back Martin Jol

            • MoSalad
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              (J)ohnstone GW23

            • fedolefan
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              So GW25 WC is just an easy decision for everyone now?

              1. SINGH
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Correct

            • Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              3rd mistake from Alonso this half with that free kick conceded... not sure how long he’s going to last tbh - Chilwell could be back sooner rather than later

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

                I am giving Chilwell last chance this GW. AWB first on bench

              2. seanie3
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Alonso is a liability, wanders around like a training session.. chilwell should be playing, crazy....

            • LewanGOALski
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Now DGW games are announced what should I focus on here with transfers?
              I also have WC and BB in hand.

              Martinez
              Dias - Cancelo - Dallas
              Salah - Son - Bruno - Gundo
              DCL - Antonio - Bamford

              Soucek - Coufal - Kilman

              2 FTs
              Bank: 5.1

              1. DickFranDyke
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 2 months ago

                Another keeper?

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

                Very well set up with that team - Pope in is your number pirority. DCL to Ings/Adams after Everton double

            • DannyDrinkVodka
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              I guess I will just hold both Salah and Sterling after all.....

            • DannyDrinkVodka
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Is Pope enough for GW24 or should I get Mee as well?