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. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2.0

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Alonso

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

    what a goal that was

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pulisic assist

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

    Alonso wow

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

    Alonso is officially Chelsea's best striker

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      All aboard!!

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

    There's the Alonso of old!!!

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

    RIP Chilwell

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

    Alonsooooooooo!!!

  8. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    All aboard!

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Choo
      Choo

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

    Wow Goalonso!

  10. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Alonsooooo

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

    The man is a legend!

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

    alonso is essential

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He was!

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

    Goodbye Chilwell.

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

    That's it Chilwell in the transfer out list

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

    Might just get Alonso and play him every week with holding/coufal on the bench

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

      Actually this is a horrible idea with stones ask Cancelo as well

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

    The GOAT is well and truly back

  17. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Only owned Dallas for 4 matches this season...he got 30 points

    Very lucky. Sold him the first chance i got

    Fool's gold pick. SELL ASAP

  18. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    He’s back.

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

    I'm getting Alonso.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It will all end in tears

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

    My God. That Chelsea full back time machine I mentioned I bought earlier is seriously working.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You saved your transfer

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

        Yes I know that. Thanks anyway.

  21. Areyouthereyet
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Playing 3-4-3

    Started Mitchel and Stones.
    Bench Soucek Dallas Coufal

    Will Dallas and Coufal get auto subbed for Stones and Mitchel?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

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

      Brilliant. Thanks mate!

  22. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pulisic assist, a la Hazard for Alonso in the Conte years.

  23. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ok so Chilwell to TAA confirmed!

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

      Nah. Alonso

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

    Goal of the season right there

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

      Yes - really nice worked, and taken, goal.

  25. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bargain 5.6

  26. fiveyears
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Memories

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

    Chilwell in starting line-up in doubts now

  28. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Do I dare?

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

    Too early to jump on but if Alonso seals his place ..........

  30. deathcabofdevil
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gunners fan here but really happy for Alonso - he deserves the recognition.