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. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    another double-digit haul for target incoming

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

    Podence broken again?

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

    should i get Gundo in for my fodder?? and bench Bamford for the next couple games?

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If by fodder you mean nonplaying, what’s the point? If you own he needs to be started every week atm.

      Benching Bamford, yea sure

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

        no i meant get Gundo in and get rid of my fodder

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Gotcha, do it yeah.

    2. 272MK
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thinking of doing the same.

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

    Grealish keeps getting fouled and assisting the assister... such a frustrating pick to own!

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

      Great for BAPs don’t worry

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Want him to get booked so I can buy Son without the fear of it biting me in the ass immediately

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

        Same except I need Gundogan

  5. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ollie brace needed

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

      Along with what he's got already.

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes 😉

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

    Mixed feelings about selling Targett in GW17, he’s done well since but it did allow me to get Cancelo and Stones

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

      There are way too many players performing this season. Cannot have them all.

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

        Yes exactly, my 3rd defender is Cresswell who ain’t done bad either!

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

          Great OR. Hopefully you finish strong ly too. Good luck.

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

            Cheers mate, you too

  7. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which?

    A) Raphinha ➡ Gundo
    B) Bamford ➡ DCL
    C) both for -4
    ..?

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B certainly, would be tempted by C

  8. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need a Dingle goal. Hate to say it, but I do

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

      You're a Rovers fan. You should never want a Dingle goal!

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’m ranked 2.4k and have no Villa. I do

  9. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    why does Watkins have to bang in the goals all of a sudden. so annoying!!

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

      One you need patience with.

  10. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Matt Target killing me last 2 GWs. Feel like almost everyone in my ML has him

  11. Hulk Smash
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    For Fuchs sake.

    Watkins first on my bench. Soucek second.

    Meanwhile Dallas and Bamford stinking up my XI with a grand total of 3 points.

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

      Don't get angry.

      1. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Too late. Hulk smash. City destroyed.

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

      Same here

  12. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Burnley goal so much needed.

  13. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Chelsea wants Haaland.

    That guy will go straight into my team if he plays in epl

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

      Everybody wants Haaland

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

      We'd find a way to ruin him.

    3. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Lad's an absolute tank.

      Be interesting to see if Chelsea could ruin another pedigree striker though.

  14. Rash
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Benched targett and soucek 😎

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I benched Watkins and Soucek. Lol

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

        Ouch! Downside to having a strong bench

      2. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sorry

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

      Nevermind, better to own them at least even if you don’t start 🙁

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

        🙂 even

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

      I benched Mitchel and Vardy. Disaster.

    4. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      My cousin benched those 2 and Raphinha. If the Villa CS holds, that’s brutal!

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

    Come on Chilwell you muppet. Score a goal this gameweek and repay my faith in you during all those rubbish scores.

  16. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    BRIGHTON : Sanchez, Webster, Dunk, White, Veltman, Bissouma, Gross, March, Mac Allister, Maupay, Trossard.
    Subs: Walton, Burn, Zeqiri, Propper, Alzate, Lallana, Propper, Tau, Connolly.

    FULHAM : Areola, Tete, Andersen, Aina, Adarabioyo, Reed, Anguissa, Lookman, Loftus-Cheek, Cavaleiro, De Cordova-Reid.
    Subs: Rodak, Hector, Ream, Bryan, Onomah, Lemina, Kebano, Kamara, Mitrovic.

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

      The crowd goes mild.

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

      Yuck

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

      Fulham with 5 players starting with A.
      Surely this is a record.

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

        Alexander mitro too

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

    Goalkeepers never get sent off these days, do they?

    Would like to see a surprise red tonight somewhere.

  18. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez ¦ Forster
    Cancelo Maguire Lascelles
    Bruno Rashford Barnes Saka
    Jesus Ings Wilson
    ¦ Soucek Holding Coufal

    1 FT, 7.2 ITB

    Willing to take a hit. What would you do?

  19. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    That little Splinter look alike fekker keeps on delivering points out of nowhere. Even gets CS points when team concedes.

  20. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Grealish assist wasted

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

      As usual.

    2. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Water is wet

  21. FantasyHero
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Targett & Watkins essential ?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Players I got rid of on my WC this week: Watkins, Targett, Soucek, Antonio. All essential!

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

        You didn’t.

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          🙁

          Tbf, got Cancelo and Gundo.

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

            Suppose that softens the blow. Kind of get most of them but Antonio was odd.

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              I wanted Kane and DCL. Kept Bamford 🙁 I reasoned Antonio wasn't fit for this 2 game per week schedule.

      2. Hulk Smash
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You're making me feel better about only benching a couple of them. Thanks.

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

      Targett is ok, Watkins naah.
      Sold him this week for Antonio.

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

      Id get Targett if he didnt look like a mole

  22. Call Me Old Fashioned
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    McCarthy Johnstone
    Stones Dias Mee Mitchell Coufal
    Soucek Son Salah Bruno Maddison
    Bamford Kane Antonio

    1FT and 0.5 in bank

    1 - Bamford to Watkins
    2 - wait to raise cash for DCL

  23. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    With El Ghazi on bench, would Grealish be on pens?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Barkley?

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

      Smith said that Grealish is on pens when El Ghazi isn’t on the pitch

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

        Shame he's too scared to take them

  24. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Chilwell is piss poor for BAPs nowadays.

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sold him last week...

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

    Barkley is just terrible.

  26. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need Targett goal to save my GW...

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

    Martinez 6 pointer nailed on

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      As usual. Want him back soon, but still have DDG after dgw

  28. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What was I thinking getting Grealish in. Useless he is.

    1. Dennis System
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Alright yoda chill out

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

      I'm looking at selling for Zaha

  29. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Not impressed by Watkins, despite the tap in

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

      Same here. In fact I'm surprised that he has managed to score in two gameweeks in a row. Extremely jammy pick which comes good once in a while.

  30. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance son,Bruno or Salah gets rested ? Have Rafinha abd Soucek waiting on bench ...

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Could well happen that one of them is rested from start, but very likely to com off the bench

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

        🙁