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. Drumandbaines123
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rudiger has a strange running style that's for sure.

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

      Prefer sterling’s.

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

    The top 13 midfielders sorted by form all cost less than 8m. Only Grealish and Pogba cost more than 7m.

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

    Somehow I have Bruno, Rashford and Cavani in my team

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

      United fan?

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

      Same, will be removing at least one before the next deadline though.

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      When I say over you say kill

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

        Ok, ready

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Over

          1. Black Knights
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Kilman?

  4. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Welcome to my team CHO...

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

      Casual pick.....

  5. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Great fixtures coming up for Chelsea def but if you have double city + holding or slab head etc hard to fit them in

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Assuming most have 4/5 good mids they want to play as well

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

      City fixtures turn soon. Looking to dump Stones for a Chelsea defender. Probably Rudiger.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Good shout.

      2. Lord.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        City also likely to have a double in GW24. I’m holding.

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Might take a punt on the goalkeeper

    4. MrZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't touch them for now until i know who tuchel prefer in defence.

  6. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Baffling why Lampard didn’t play CHO more often.

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

      Agreed. When Bayern are sniffing around you know there is more to the player.

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This.

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Tuchel is very good with communication, young players like cho could only nerd a couple of words, guidance Key and suddenly things click.

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

    Played Mendy over Martinez so please keep the cs

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

    With no news regarding Kane's injury and with no great options to replace him with I'm quite torn regarding my next move.

    A) Replace Kane with someone like Ings or Watkins
    B) Rashford -> Grealish
    C) Rashford and Bissouma -> Grealish and Gundo (-4)

    Could do both option A and B for a hit. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

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

      I know I have money to burn and no one worth replacing Kane with not one big hitter up front

  9. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I own Ziyech, Chilwell, Cancelo, Stones and Mitchell. Lollllllll

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

      Chillwell, Cancelo, Mitchell and Sterling here.

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

        Zouma and Stones here. Coufal coming in for a likely 1 pointer not a disaster

    2. schwing
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I've got Stones, Chilwell, Saiss, Sterling and Saka

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

      No way for a green arrow for me with Stones Cancelo Chilwell the starting defenders 🙂

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

      Elite management.

  10. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A Burnley goal and Chilwell/James cameo would be delightful

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

      Yes please

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

    That sprint by Azpi to get in position for that goal was everything. What an effort.

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

      That's why Lampard got sacked. No way to drop Azpi out.

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A great legend but newbie manager

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

    Which defender for next 2-3 weeks before WC? Have Robbo Stones Dias Coufal but Zouma is leaving my team.
    Digne maybe?

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

      I would not recommend any Everton's defenders until Pickford dropped.

    2. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A Villa or Leicester defender maybe?

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

      West Ham have some OK fixtures after Liverpool

    4. CBonci
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I had brought Digne in for NEW lee but wouldn’t recommend it. They looked poor and they can concede at any time.

  13. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    what a terrible gameweek 😀

    only solace is that this one must have been absolutely abysmal for everyone.

    Anyone know what the worst ever gameweek was for Scout Picks?

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

      Scout Picks will still do well this GW. Got Targett (CS), Rudiger (on course for a CS) and Antonio to come off the bench.

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

        thats the spirit and Barnes Hatrick too may be he is the captain for scout pick team 😉

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

        The starting XI though

      3. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        lol they don't need defending, its not a criticism

        Blank
        Blank DNS DNS
        DNS TBC DNS TBC TBC
        Blank Blank

        Blank 6 6(if held) TBC

        4 blanks and 4 non starters...for a team selected for this GW alone, you have a funny definition of 'doing well'

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

    Have just scrolled up to the Scout Picks this week, yeah that's marvellous! I can calm down myself with my team ...

  15. mezza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bamford starts

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

      Ahh at least I've got somebody starting, thx

  16. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    LEI: Schmeichel, Justin, Castagne, Fofana, Evans, Maddison, Mendy, Barnes, Tielemans, Albrighton, Pérez
    Subs: Ward, Amartey, Thomas, Fuchs, Söyüncü, Pereira, Ünder, Choudhury, Iheanacho

    LEE: Meslier, Struijk, Ayling, Alioski, Cooper, Phillips, Harrison, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Dallas, Bamford
    Subs: Casilla, Davis, Cresswell, Klich, Shackleton, Hernández, Roberts, Costa, Poveda-Ocampo

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

      Looking forward to this game. Leeds attacking style vs Leicester on the counter-attack.

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Me too.
        I put the armband on Barnes for those exact reasons...

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

        Hoping for 0-0 her 😀

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

          *here

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

          Me too, as I’m stuck with Ayling on for Stones!

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

          Me too

  17. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A) Lookman>Grealish (bench bamf)
    B) Start Bamford

    Martinez
    Dias Stones AWB
    Salah Son Bruno Gundo
    DCL Bamford Antonio

    areola lookman coufal saiss

  18. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Yessssss BamBam

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

    Abraham off
    Pulisic on

  20. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Dallas CAM again 😉

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

    Werner at it again.

  22. Goodricke
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Werner up top. Please save my week!

  23. Hooky
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Abraham was rubbish in the 1st half but thought he'd bring Giroud on to give Mee and Tarkowski a bit more of a physical battle

  24. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Need Dallas to do bits.

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

    What's the score with this Struijk fella? 3.9m and playing regularly recently

    1. Reeker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Better Leeds defenders and money isn't an issue

      1. Reeker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You want attacking returns from your Leeds defenders as well as they don't keep many clean sheets

  26. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like if ever there was a good chance for the FFS champion to beat the scouts then this week is it. The Scout picks are having a mare!

  27. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Might just sell McCarthy for Eduard Mendy.

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

      Probably get dropped for Kepa if you did that

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        With the way this season is going you’re probably right. Chelsea got good fixtures coming up though

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

    I remember when Jorginho was wanted by Man City. Would have been interesting to see how it turned out for him there as he has been below average for Chelsea.

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

    Has Alonso been doing anything great in the game guys?

  30. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Feck off Tuchel for benching Chilwell

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

      😆 same here mate, same here