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. Hooky
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Werner is the new Bosko Balaban

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      More like Bob Balaban.

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

      Werner making Minamino look prolific

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        he really is terrible

  2. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Not great I'm sure but any word on Kane injury?

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Read that even if it's better than expected it is still bad enough. They haven't even been able to scan it since it's swollen.

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

        OK thanks

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

            The ‘could’ is always going to be bad and worst case scenario.

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

    Chelsea on 20 shots off target after 30 mins!

  4. Rash
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can see a pope haul here unfortunately

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I transferred out Popey last night for Martinez. Probably not smart, I just couldn't take the pain of Emi's easy 10 pointers any longer! Pope was brilliant last gw, yet only got 3 points after 8 saves.

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

    No surprise, but Perez, Maddison, Barnes, Justin all start for Leicester.

    Source as usual is Sean from Enderby. Won't link as he's a bit being a bit of a twerp (as usual) with how he's posting it so won't bother linking.

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

      I googled to see what you meant..
      Wow.. yeah that is kinda weird.

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

    Burnley can do this all day.

  7. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mount is aiming high!

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      must be on his tiptoes...

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

    Coming into gw, had zouma cresswell awb, needed to start one for final df spot.

    Reckon cresswell/awb both likely to get 2pointers, and zouma a no show.

    Good chance to upgrade zouma to chillwell, -4, but should come out even with a chelsea cs, and maybe a chillwell return.

    How wrong was I...

    Please stay on bench ben, and give me awb 8 points.

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

    Pope 3 saves

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      My cup tie hopes hinge on Pope and Salah mega hauls.

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

        🙁

      2. Dash444
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Mine relies on Mandy conceding and Mane blanking so I don’t think I’ve got much hope!

        1. Dash444
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          *Mendy

  10. @persecuted_by_mods
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Werner scared to hurt the ball

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

      easy day between the goal posts for Pope.

    • JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Liverpool closing in on signing Issa Diop

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

        Aren’t you going to sign world class Mustafi from us?

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

      AZPIIIIIII

      CHO assist.

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

      jesus wept has there ever been a more sustained run of boring games

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

        Just after restart last season - is this the new normal after winter break?

    • Saxe-Gotha
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is Burnley likely to have a DGW in 26?

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

      Cant we stop the where is Reece comments now?

    • jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Some finish from cezar.

    • Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Azpi essential!!! Bandwagon started!

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      James owners feeling robbed

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

        James doesn't play RCB for us really.

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

      Azpi the one to get if we keep this formation. BAP merchant.

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

        current price?

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

          You can check on https://fantasy.premierleague.com

          1. SackWenger
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            -1

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

      CHO wagon leaving the station

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

        Playing WB, not for me.

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

        Saka, Gundog, Soucek, CHO, Raphinha

        Here we go.

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

          This year you can literally make a great team for 65-70mil.

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

          Traore, Pereira

      3. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Another cheap mid to throw into the mix

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

        Headed towards a siding somewhere near Banbury - remember to wave if you see it

    • Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cho is the one

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Odoi would be an interesting option if my midfield wasn't completely bloated

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

      How exactly have new signings contributed to Chelsea?

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

        Mendy was a good one

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

          Silva too

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

          Both were pretty cheap

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

      Pope cleanie wipe.

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

      No Pope cleanie 😎

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

      Any Chilwell involvement?

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

        Cheerleader duties

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

          😉

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

            Chilwell likely to come on late though.

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

              Here’s hoping

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

                I'm lying actually.

      2. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pls don’t mention his name, I want Holding’s 8 pointer off the bench 😉

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

          I own Mitchell and Cancelo also so a 1 point cameo would be great!

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

        Was looking good when Alonso got a kick. But ....

    • Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Azpi tend to score well in second half of seasons for some reason. I wonder did Frank fiddle his IQ results, team doing better already.

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

      seriously considering removing Bruno and use funds to tidy up squad

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Now the penalties have dried up that's s decent shout

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

          UTD are fizzling out too

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

        He's knackered

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

        What funds to use up? I have 4m in the bank (others have more I imagine) and no where to spend it already. Getting rid of Bruno would free up more cash for no reason. If he was 7m you'd have him so no reason to get rid just because he's expensive.

    • Goodricke
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Have Burnley been told they can't touch the ball?

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

        About 5 years ago, yeh. Worked very well for them.