Dugout Discussion

Chilwell returns to Chelsea XI as Tuchel explains Alonso and Hudson-Odoi benchings

Chelsea will be aiming to make it four clean sheets in as many matches under their new manager when they face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this evening.

Kick-off in the last of four Premier League fixtures to take place on a busy Sunday is at 19:15 GMT.

The Blues are unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel but the German hasn’t kept an unchanged starting XI in any of his four matches in charge and tinkers with his line-up again this evening.

Callum Hudson-Odoi is one casualty, dropping to the bench and losing his ever-present starter status under Tuchel.

Olivier Giroud is recalled and will be supported by Mason Mount and Timo Werner in the three-man Chelsea attack.

Marcos Alonso also makes way, with Ben Chilwell recalled.

Tuchel explained those two changes ahead of kick-off:

For Marcos, it was no need to take the risk to let him play three in a row in 10 days after a long pause in competition for him. So, there was the choice of Chilly. It was the same reason for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The German’s final alteration was an enforced one, with Andreas Christensen stepping in to replace the injured Thiago Silva.

Chris Wilder has gone one better than the man in the opposition dugout, making four changes to his line-up.

Kean Bryan and Max Lowe replace the ineligible Ethan Ampadu and the injured George Baldock in Wilder’s two enforced tweaks.

And the regular rotation continues up top, with Oliver Burke and Ollie McBurnie ousting David McGoldrick and Billy Sharp from the front two.

Sheffield United XI: Ramsdale, Basham, Egan, Bryan, Lowe, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Bogle, Burke, McBurnie.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell, Mount, Giroud, Werner.


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1,645 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What’s the consensus on who to ditch to accommodate DCL?

    Antonio vs Sheffield
    Watkins vs Brighton

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

      Reluctantly Watkins

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

      Antonio if no WC, Watkins if using WC soon. I would just sell Antonio though, Watkins might just go up in price when you get him back.

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio is dropping Watkins is rising

    4. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Watkins has better fixtures long term.

    5. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Antonio looking at fixtures

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

      Antonio. SheffU look decent, Antonio might be crocked, future fixtures favor Watkins.

  2. Sepp Blattered
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone else who is planning on BB in GW26 and still have their Triple Captain chip... thinking about Gundogan (CCC) in GW24 like me?

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

      Bamford in 25 looks a better choice to me for now.

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      There will be other dgw’s so I’m saving tc for later in season

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I still have BB & TC. Thinking of using it in 24 too.

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

        I'm thinking Pope for the TC. Hmmmm...

  3. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    2 FT, 4.8 ITB

    How do I fit in Tark or Mee and roll the other FT?

    Pope
    Dias Stones Coufal
    Gundogan Bruno Salah Son
    Bamford Antonio DCL

    Martinez Dallas Bissouma Bednarek

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

      Coufal

    2. Nay08
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bednarek.

      1. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This

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

    29 pts on the bench this week and my next week bench line up is like this:
    Martinez (bha) Son (mci) Coufal (SHU) Raphinha (ars), God help me! How's your bench look like?

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

      I have 28 on my bench and still have one more bench player to go

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

      Atm it is Martinez, Bamford, Soucek and Coufal

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

      Benching Coufal... really?!

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

        Stones Mee Cresswell Cancelo

    4. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Son, Justin and Barnes for the next week

    5. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      De Gea Son Coufal Smith-Rowe

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

      Meslier Son Coufal(!) Alioski

  5. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    when is Jota expected back Liverpool fans?...

    1. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      End of Feb

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        cheers

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

      That Twitter account said training again sometime next week.

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

      If Jose was in charge it would have been 4 weeks ago

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        ha ha

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

      Before the end og this month. Hopefully as SOON as Leicester most probably the week or two after

  6. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gtg?

    POPE
    TARKOVSKI STONES Coufal
    STERLING(c) GUNDOGAN Bruno(vc) Salah
    Bamford Watkins DCL

    Sanchez Konsa Dallas Soucek

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

      Fairly similar to mine. I'm gonna do Button to Pope and might TC him? , not sure... 😮

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nice.

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

    Soucek to Grealish or Rashford?

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

      Rashford

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is he defo suspended?

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

        No. WHU have appealed the red card today I believe.

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I see. Ty

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

        3 matches unless FA overturns it

    3. John Nerdelbaum
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Has to be Rashford this week

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

      I'm thinking Hames and then switching him to Raphina/Harrison the following week

    5. 2OLEgend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all. Will wait on the appeal - any idea when it's decided?

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

        Has to be tomorrow.

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

          Cheers mate

  8. cruzex
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    lookman or cavaleiro?

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

      Lookman probably. He’s so consistent and I was worried that Cava got put on the bench last week

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

      Lookman

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

    Anyone else get the benched DCL, Rudi own goal and Soucek red card trupple whammy this week? 58 points so far feels like I got away with it.

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

      Just rudi OG and soucek here but also did Kane to antonio

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

    Best defender up to 5.8m with the doubles in mind? I have City, Burnley and Everton defence already

  11. Riggs
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez Sanchez
    Cancelo TAA Coufal Stones Dallas
    Salah Bruno Gundogan Son Soucek
    Bamford Watkins DCL
    I am thinking about TAA > Lowton / Mee & Soucek > Barkley -4. Thus I will free up money for future Kane move. What do you think?

    1. Nay08
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      if you want to save money don't need to do Soucek Barkley, is it?

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

        I will do that move anyways in the near future because of incoming Villa double GW and Soucek's price is going to plummet after the red car. So I want to forestall the events 😀

  12. Toby Lerone
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Who would you play here?

    Shaw (wba)
    Bamford (ars)
    Raphina (ars)

    Cheers

    1. dylano21
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think Shaw

    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Shaw

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

      Bam

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

        Probs Shaw.

    4. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Shaw

  13. dylano21
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I can only play 1

    A) AWB
    B) R. James
    C) Bamford
    D) Son

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A

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

    I am using BB on Martinez Salah Coufal and Bamford. Crazy?

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not crazy

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

        Would you use BB for 26(No FH chip) or BB the above players.

    2. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No, good move in fact.

  15. Lukakuna
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just came home from a weekend at a cabin to Martinez and DCL on my bench. A strong bench isn't worth this level of annoyance!

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

      Try adding Targett and another bench player to go tomorrow, and you got off easy

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

      I have DCL, Martinez, Stones and Lowton. Could actually have been worse. When Stones scored my heart sank. Relief when the the flag went up!

  16. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What City big guns do we think get 2 starts next week?

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

      Gundy and Sterling. And probs Cancello and Diaz. Stones slightly lesser chance, perhaps.

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

      Ederson, Gundo, Dias. After that I have no idea.

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

      Ederson gundo, dias, sterling. Cancelo

  17. Stockport Hatter
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got 2 FTs and no idea what to do other than maybe move Soucek on although I’m expecting the red to be overturned.

    Pope
    Stones Cancelo Digne Coufal
    Bruno Gundo Salah
    DCL Bamford Antonio

    Martinez Son Justin Soucek

    Any help greatly appreciated but I can’t think of anything besides the above which would improve things!

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

    WC in 25 most likely.
    Forster and Targett to Pope and Tarkowski -4???

    Pope
    Tarkowski AWB Stones Cancelo
    Rashford Bruno Sterling C
    Bamford Antonio DCL

    Martinez,Son,Soucek,Mitchell

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

      Just Pope I think. Targett is a good player to have sitting there long term.

    2. Ange Ball
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I don't see Burnley keeping clean sheet. It's a no from me

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

    Use FT to:

    A. Play Pope over Martinez in dgw 24.
    B. Play Mee over Coufal in dgw 24.
    C. Save FT and have 2 FTs in dgw 25 to bring in Raphina and Bamford. Otherwise it will cost - 4.

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

      save for Leeds

  20. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chilwell to...
    A) Lowton
    B) Shaw
    C) Targett/Konsa
    D) Rudiger
    E) Someone else?

    Im not too keen on Burnley, not even confident they'll get a CS at all this DGW. And then their DGW 26 would be vs Spurs and Leicester which Im not sure if Id even want to play the defender

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

    I have exact money for:
    Antonio & Soucek > DCL & Sterling

    If I don’t do it tonight then will bring in Foden instead of Sterling. I have Gündogan already.

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

      Looks good, IMO.

  22. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which move I was going to bring in Pope I see Martinez getting clean sheet matching Pope for the double.

    A)
    Firmino > Rich

    B)
    Son to Rodriguez

    C)
    Salah to Rodriguez

    1. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      None. A would be worth it for DCL but Im assuming you already have him?

      1. Ange Ball
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yep he sitting pretty with his hair in ponytail on my bench smiling at me

  23. Doctor Evil
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    88 -8 all out

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gr8 score m8

      1. Doctor Evil
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

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

          Nice one, mate! I'm pretty happy with my 67 plus Dallas. Lol

          1. Doctor Evil
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Well done pal

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just need to avoid a Bamford hattrick tomorrow

      1. Doctor Evil
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I know and I’m a Leeds fan

  24. michaelington
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    DCL and Martinez on the bench. Rudiger OG. End this horror show already.

  25. Kay317
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Shaw, Lowton, Cancelo, Cresswell,
    Bruno, Salah, Sterling, Gundo,
    DCL, Antonio
    (Forster, Grealish, Bamford, Dallas)

    Have I got this line up right for next week? Or would you play Grealish or Bamford over any of the 11? Advice appreciated.

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

    Need 21 points from Bamford to go through in the Cup!

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

      As a Bamford owner I really want you to go through in the cup 🙂

  27. Doctor Evil
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I’ve taken a -8 3 times in the last 4 game weeks and just done it again. So far it has gone well everytime. Still in the cup and up to 20k

    1. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I took a -8, -4, -4 3 weeks in a row, first 2 weeks were brilliant (net gain of 54 points in total) then the 3rd week failed me, so Im being a bit more patient now. Hits are fun though

      1. Doctor Evil
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah they are fun, I won’t do it again but now hopefully I have the ultimate team.

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

    81pts with 2 to play and DCL on the bench. Can't complain... but I will!

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

      How?!

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

        Gundogan, Foden, Kane, Werner, creswell, Justin, Fernandes, Morrison and annoyingly Soucek! Dallas and meslier to play

  29. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I wish the Superbowl kicked off just a bit earlier 🙁

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

    Please stop posting these excellent scores and saying ‘I’ll take it’

    I’m on 48 with just bamford (c) to play

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

      38 with Dallas, Raph and Bamford. Rudiger Og, DCL benched and I brought in Pope and benched Martinez this week.

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

        Horrible week! Hopefully we can both score 60

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

      Stop this 48 point with captain bam bam posts

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

      Only kidding and used a smiley but some how it got lost in the mail..
      On 45 with bam bam and ayling, ha ha. And with a hit. A hit that got me 1 point better.. 4 vs 3. Story of my season