Dugout Discussion

Chilwell, Zouma, James and Havertz on Chelsea’s bench as Rudiger starts again

Ben Chilwell (£6.1m) is the latest high-profile Chelsea player to be rotated onto their substitutes bench, with Thomas Tuchel frustrating many Fantasy managers by handing a start to Marcos Alonso (£5.6m).

Tuchel takes charge of his second match after replacing Frank Lampard, facing a Burnley side high on confidence from beating Aston Villa 3-2 and ending Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten Premier League home run.

The German makes four changes from Wednesday’s 0-0 stalemate with Wolves. Chilwell and the front three have made way for Alonso, Mason Mount (£6.8m), Tammy Abraham (£7.2m) and the struggling Timo Werner (£9.2m).

This means that fellow German Antonio Rudiger (£4.5m) has started in place of Kurt Zouma (£5.6m) for five of the last six matches, putting him firmly on FPL managers’ radars ahead of promising fixtures against Sheffield United (a) and Newcastle United (H).

Rudiger was a regular before this season, notching five goals during three seasons. At such a low price, he is an intriguing way to get coverage of Chelsea’s defence whilst Zouma and Reece James (£5.1m) are in and out of the side.

So far, Tuchel seems to prefer a wing-back system, with Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) taking James’ place on the right. Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m), who played 81 minutes in midweek, doesn’t even make the bench this time.

Kai Havertz (£8.2m) does, alongside Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) and N’Golo Kante (£4.9m), who has recovered from a thigh injury. Pulisic’s largely unproductive seven successive starts has been followed with back-to-hack benchings.

For Burnley, Sean Dyche makes two changes from the comeback win over Villa. Jack Cork (£5.0m) replaces Josh Brownhill (£4.9m) and Matej Vydra (£4.8m) comes in for Jay Rodriguez (£5.8m). Charlie Taylor (£4.5m) is still out with a hamstring problem.

The Clarets have picked up 1-0 away wins at Arsenal and Liverpool this season and will hope to claim another victim today in their quest to drag themselves out of relegation danger.

With Nick Pope (£5.4m) in goal, Burnley have collected four clean sheets from nine matches, although they entered the game week as the league’s second lowest scorers (13), having had the second fewest goal attempts (173).

CHELSEA XI (3-4-3): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Werner, Abraham

BURNLEY XI (4-4-2): Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters; Brady, Westwood, Cork, McNeil; Wood, Vydra

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753 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Tuchel Roulette is just what we all needed this season!

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Too early to say if he will be a serial rotator like Pep.

      I guess he’s just trying out new things and having a look at some players and how they do in his preferred system.

      Hopefully will settle down in the coming weeks and the likes of Rudiger, Ziyech & Werner will become decent options

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This. Chelsea assets could be underpriced (Mendy 5.0, Rudiger 4.5, Werner 9.0, Ziyech 8.5 etc) if Tuchel gets them firing.

      2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I think he will be worse than Pep.

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

      He rotates for fun playing such a bad team. At least try to secure top 4 first before building your own team next season.

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Safest just to pick 3 x Burnley, 3 x West Ham, 3 x Villa, kane and Son

  2. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If you’re WC-ing now, which premiums are you going to recruit? Just Son? I know it’s for long term and class is permanent but serious, none is deadly appealing.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      *seriously

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You sure you wanna WC right now?

      I wouldn’t even know where to start if truth be told.

      I’m pretty sure I’d have Salah/Mané & Son anyway... and I’d possibly stick with Bruno too and just hope he starts firing again

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No it’s a devil advocate as people talking about selling Bruno, Salah etc out of frustration and KDB Kane Vardy out making it impossible to find sound premiums replacement. So I imagine if WC now who are we going to recruit?

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They'll fire eventually and spreading the wealth makes it tricky to get them in when that happens.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Eventually, that’s the million dollar question as to which one to get there first 😉

    4. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I used it this gw and it’s in tatters. Salah was the only premium really

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah it’s really time to save WC and being patient

    5. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez - Johnstone
      Dias - Rudiger - Robbo - Coufal - Justin
      Salah - Fernandes - Son - Grealish - Soucek
      Bamford - DCL - Antonio

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Rudiger Robbo Dias I can see what’s behind those selections 😉

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          First rule of FPL is pick players who play. If you want to pick players who don't always play then make sure you have a strong bench.

          1. Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            On WC yes

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cancelo should be in there at least for the ceiling

    6. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Terrible time to WC IMO. There's a lot of flux, what do you do if the big hitters regain fitness and form ... would be very difficult to get them back in if you WC. Also DGW picture unclear.

  3. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I'm sure this must have been asked but chances of these starting v Burnley:

    a) Cancelo
    b) Stones

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think both will start.

      1. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Fingers crossed

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mate, I won’t try to predict just stick

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

      Both will start, they've just been rested

      1. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cue Wood to score one of his backside 😉

    4. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Surely quite high if they're both first choice and both just rested

      1. Shatner's Bassoon
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        'Quite high' still no guarantee though

    5. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Both

    6. Don Rogers FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pep knows

    7. I Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Very high. They were just rested.

    8. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A) Pep %
      B) Pep %

    9. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Would be very shocked if both didn't start. Rotation not dropped, both in great form.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        100%. Pep said he respects Blades but put out a Carabao Cup side. The best will be back for Burnley.

  4. andres
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A rash to grealish
    B rash, mcCarthy => grealish, martinez (-4)
    C rash, soucek, mccarthy => grealish, son, martinez (-8)

    McCarthy (Forster)
    Cancelo Stones Digne (Mitchell, Coufal)
    Salah Bruno Rash Gundo (soucek)
    Watkins Antonio DCL
    4.8itb, 1FT

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Can you afford Rash & Soucek > Son & Grealish.

      Don’t think the Martinez part is worth an extra -4

    3. Im New Here
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

    4. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Rash --> Sterling DONE

  5. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lampard misleading us about James and Chilwell was such a blessing in disguise. Been mostly all doom since then.

  6. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just Barnes and Bamford benchings to go for me.

  7. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No point in taking any conclusions From this. He's simply trying all of them.
    Games are like training sessions atm (so close)

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Interesting chelsea team to say the least

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They could easily lose this one lol.

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      By interesting you mean ‘a bit sh**e’ right?

  9. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cup opponent has Werner(c) + Mount. This is the way I'm going out I guess

    1. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He figured out the roulette, fair play to him.

      1. umerlfc
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He's a Chelsea fan and already had Mount. He actually brought in Werner this week for Kane and captained him

        1. ivantys
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Capping Werner is bold as he could easily be a 1 pointer sub.

    2. Im New Here
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Incredibly rogue of them. Good luck.

  10. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Man City triple of Ederson, Dias and KDB (when back) is pretty tempting for the upcoming doubles. Until they also get rotated anyway.

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

      Aguero might be back before KDB!

      1. Shatner's Bassoon
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I hadn't thought of that!

  11. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wish Chelshite would lose today.

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cool put down bro

  12. ZAMUNDA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bench boosting in GW19 wasn't a bad thing after all. A good bench shall save the day somehow

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

      Yeah I’m coming around to that way of thinking now that I have such a strong bench.

      1. ZAMUNDA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Still have 9.5 itb with Soucek, Coufal, Dallas and Fabianski on bench. And don't know how to feel about it

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

          You’re confused because it’s something new. You’ve just gotta think points points points. They’re the most important thing and pay no attention to your surplus balance.

          1. ZAMUNDA
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Absolutely right. Cheers mate

  13. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Touchel just came in mid season to a team that isn't clicking. He wants to change the whole structure, philosophy and tactics of the team. Of course he'll test all the players to find the perfect fit, just like in any pre season. I say, stay away from Chelsea for at least 2 more games.

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

      Yep

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Exactly. He has a good squad. Needs to get the most out of them. Only way he can do that is to see all the players in action. He has two players for every position.

      GK: Mendy, Kepa
      LB: Chilwell, Alonso
      RB: Azpilicueta, James
      LCB: Silva, Zouma
      RCB: Rudiger, Christensen
      DM: Kante, Gilmour
      CM: Kovacic, Jorginho
      RW: Ziyech, Mount
      AM: Werner, Havertz
      LW: Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi
      FW: Abraham, Giroud

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

        Mendy
        Azpi Zouma Silva
        Pulisic Kante Mount Hudson-Odoi
        Ziyech Havertz
        Giroud

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Looks like a team that would leak goals tbh.

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

          That's the sort of lineup I would play in FIFA, not one any professional manager should consider.

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just so long as he doesn’t give Kepa a go

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I stupidly stupidly jumped the gun and played my wildcard before the Wolves game. Now I've got Chilwell and James clogging up my squad 🙁

    4. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm sorry but it's not what other top managers do at all. You always keep a core structure from previous selections and start from there. That's what Mourinho, Ancelotti, Benitez, etc do.

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

    Oof. Anyone still got Zouma? Chilwell and James is disappointing.

  15. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    my defence is Chillwell, Stones, Cancelo so far so good

    1. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I have the latter two, but sold Chilwell for Rudiger this week.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What a shout

      2. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Let’s gooo rudiger!

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

      Damn son.

  16. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    The GOAT is back

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

      The Chelsea full back time machine I bought yesterday really works.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Love it

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Werner?

    3. AIRMILES
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Alonso?

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

        Of course.

    4. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sean Goater is out of retirement?

      Wow!

    5. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Denis Odoi?

  17. evilfish
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    OMG all 3 of my starting defenders do not play!

  18. threeputt
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Fancying a Sterling flutter this gw as sure to start imo, who to replace though ? Smith Rowe, Gundogan, Soucek, Fernandes or Salah, money no object

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Smith

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundogan.

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

    ziyech a little bit fatigued,absolute bollocks,if a rang in my boss and said that and im not working today ,id be down the job centre monday ,just lol...

  20. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    One week punt on Pereira ?

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

      Yeah. West Brom on fire.

    2. Aster
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sound yes. Will do the same

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        only SHU have tightened up at the back

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Quite possibly, any idea on likelihood of them having another double?

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        GW26

    4. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I got him this week for a 2 week punt

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        well played

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Feels good to have the Wildcard available, but absolutely no idea how I’ll use it and for whom

    1. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It has been available for quite some time now

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes, think a few used it just before the double

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

          Yeah like me.

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            If you BBed after and scored well consider it a success

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

              The BB was not a success but the wild card took me from 2.5m to 750k. Major success really. Could barely have gone better.

              1. Big boy Bowen
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Great stuff

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

        Yeah but loads have used it already...

    2. ZAMUNDA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I guess we gotta wait at least till blank and double Gameweeks become clear

  22. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    So basically this guy is a German Guardiola without the title winning CV...

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He’s won titles

      1. Dannyb
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        In France, doesn't count.

      2. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Tony Pulis can win the French title with PSG..

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

      What nonsense.

      1. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Oh yeah? I will keep this comment for future reference.

  23. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thinking it might be a good time to jump back on TAA...

  24. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso record Vs Spurs is lovely, then two more great fixtures follow. I will double up with him and Chilwell as I have no money issues till my gw25 WC and I don't need my 5th defender.
    All of those will happen if he gets an attacking return today

    1. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      *I already own chil

  25. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone move early on Chilwell?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yup. And James. Doh!

  26. Wicked Weapon
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I suppose now is as good a time as any to compare bench options.

    I have Coufal, Justin, Bamford coming in for Cancelo, Stones, Saka. Almost decent bench maybe even a strong bench by some standards.

    What about you guys ?

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bellerin and Holding plus Salah moved from vice to captain.

      1. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cup opponent getting Targett and Bellerin off the bench for Saka and Stones, Martial his 3rd sub.....typical!

      2. Wicked Weapon
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Seems like you're the real winner this week. How many points did you manage ?

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      De Gea, Bamford, Holding and Mitchell.

      Holding coming on for Stones. No one coming on for Cancelo. Bamford on for Mane if he is out. Playing with 10.

    3. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      McCarthy Antonio Justin Shaw

      Justin and Shaw coming in for Stones and Cancelo

    4. Aster
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wilson, Coufal and Dallas in for Saka, Cancelo and Sterling.

  27. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best punt in each category for the next 3 gws.?
    A. Defender
    B. Midfielder
    C. Striker

  28. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Not firing Conte was the answer....if you have to play 3-4-3, hire the master not some German douche

    1. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You're gonna be surprised by that German douche

      1. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        In a good way or a bad way?

      2. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Conte won the title in his first year...Tuchels not winning anything

  29. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Tuchel, from the Klopp school of coaching but the Pep school of rotation.

  30. Bobby
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I have about four people playing this weekend. Excellent