Dugout Discussion

Hazard returns to false-nine role ahead of Newcastle meeting

Eden Hazard (£11.1m) returns to his false-nine role for Chelsea as Newcastle come to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.

That’s because both Pedro (£6.3m) and Willian (£7.3m) come back into the team to operate as the wide-men in Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 system.

The Blues are as usual both in defence and midfield, with eyes on Marcos Alonso (£6.7m), who lost another 100,000+ owners ahead of the Gameweek 22 deadline.

Hazard and company will be targetting a weak Newcastle central midfield with Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m) and Mohamed Diame (£4.8m) out, and Ki Sung-yeung (£4.7m) away on international duty.

Lining up in that position are the inexperienced Sean Longstaff (£4.5m) and Isaac Hayden (£4.3m).

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Alonso, D Luiz, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta; Kovacic, Jorginho, Kanté; Willian, Hazard, Pedro.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Yedlin, Lejeune, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie; Pérez, Longstaff, Hayden, Atsu; Rondón.

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2,022 Comments Post a Comment
  1. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    How is this WC team looking?

    4-4-2 0.2 IDB

    Etheridge, Button
    Robbo, TAA, Digne, Doherty, AWB
    Salah, Sterling, Pogba, Richarlison, Puncheon
    Kane, Rashford, Kamara

    I would prefer Siggy over Richa, but I'm short 0.2.
    Button to Speroni is one move, but how to find another 0.1?
    Or just keep Richarlison.

    1. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good to me, I'd just keep Rich

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

      Some rumours flying around about Kamara (dropped/released/told to go home) at the moment.

      If one of them is true, you won't be wanting him in your team.

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Ok, who to get as bench fodder att under 4.5 ?

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

          No forwards worth having under 4.5m.

          Having a fodder forward AND Puncheon (who is basically fodder) is a bit disingenuous, IMO. But if you literally cannot afford anyhing else then have at it...

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

        Source: https://twitter.com/FPLCottage/status/1084094711231627265?s=19

        Obviously questionable credibility and an update required, but thought I'd at least flag.

        1. AzzaroMax99
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Success then?

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

            Not under 4.5m?

            1. AzzaroMax99
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Sorry. If I keep Richa, then can stretch up to 4.7 for attacker.

    3. Tatty Bojangles
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Drop Digne for Bednarek or Femenía. Just rotate 3 defenders into that 3rd spot or you’ll give yourself a benching headache every week.

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I will play 4-4-2, Digne/Doh/AWB will rotate for that 2 spots in defence.
        Digne is on set pieces, I wouldn't sell him for few weeks. At least until Pereira's fixtures become easier.

  2. antis0cial
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Want to get Salah in...

    Hazard/Son to

    A) Salah & B.Silva
    B) Salah & F.Anderson

    or

    C) Son/Rich/Alonso to Salah & Cama & TAA (-4)
    D) Other!

    1. Old Gregg
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Probably b

  3. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Not a Newcastle fan but I think it's pathetic the way the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Denis Wise come out and defend Mike Ashley when they both have a vested interest. Ashley doesn't care about Newcastle at all.

    1. onceuponatyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thank you.

      I am a Newcastle fan.
      Rio said "I don't even know him [Mike Ashley] very well! When they went down, he spent £50m of his own money to get them up. Thank you, that should be. By the way, please say thank you for getting Rafa Benítez in! They're lucky to have him!"

      Here's that garbage smashed with a few facts:

      1. We were relegated because Mike Ashley has underfunded the club since he took over 11 years ago. Our record signing is still Michael Owen at £17m, before he took over. Relegation was entirely Mike Ashley's fault.
      2. He didn't get promotion as a favour to us. He got promotion as a necessity for his investment.
      3. While money was spent that summer, we sold a lot of players too. We actually made a net profit. The club didn't make any loss.
      4. We're a huge club. We generate a lot of money through TV, marketing, gates .etc If we did spend it would be money the club generated. So, we don't spend enough, we actually make a profit - but even if we did, it wouldn't be a case of thanking Ashley. The club would be spending it's own money.
      5. We're the most underfunded club in the Prem.
      6. Yes, thanks for getting a manager in (to protect his investment, the club). What's the point if you won't back him though? He'll be off in the summer.

      Rio can go shaft himself.

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Out of interest, what is Rio's vested interest?

        1. onceuponatyne
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          He's flogging his new fashion crap via Sports Direct.

          1. St Pauli Walnuts
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Ah, what a twonk.

  4. Alli 3',17',64�…
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    hmmm who to captain next week?
    Salah, Sterling, Kane, Auba or Hazard

    Salah right?

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Salah until GW38

    2. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      U have all of them? Nice!
      Go with Salah.

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

      Salah

    4. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      How do you have all of them?

    5. onceuponatyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Great players.
      Your defence must be absolute cack though.

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

    Alonso continues to troll.

  6. NejiHyuuga01
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I am afraid to log in fpl. Declan Rice on the bench is too painful to watch

  7. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Wan Bis 3 baps!. In a losing team. Happy with that

  8. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Well that was a very uneventful day apart from the mighty Bees getting back on track.

    So what do you good people think of these two moves? If Arnie is fit/in this country etc etc.

    Hazard/Kamara - Pogba/Arnie -4?

    1. Old Gregg
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      1. Old Gregg
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Thumbs up from me

        1. Danno - Emre Canada
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks, got exact funds.

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

      Arnie ? Definitely no he might be on his way out

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah only if hes still playing but I guess we may not find out, but that will give me 6.9 to spend on another forward...….

  9. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Haz + Son > Salah + Pedro (-4)

    Can only get salah with a (-4)

  10. james 101
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Gtg / set up right?

    Busy week ahead...

    Fab
    Digne TAA Doherty
    Salah Fanderson Pogba. Richarlison
    Kane Rashford Aubameyang

    (Eth Westwood AWB Zanka )

  11. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Auba and Anderson to Kane and Nasri for free ? Thanks .

  12. onceuponatyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    55 points with 5 to play. Gotta be content with that. Whoop. 🙂

    1. Sir Edo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Could be 100!

  13. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Alonso felipe auba to salah taa rashford (-4)?yay or nay

  14. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    2 penalties in a row the goalkeeper has got a hand on Salah's penalties.