Dugout Discussion

Tuchel explains decision to bench Mendy as Chelsea rotation continues

Chelsea face Newcastle United in the second of two Premier League matches to take place on Monday evening.

Kick-off in west London is at 20:00 GMT.

Having rotated frequently since his appointment, Thomas Tuchel has sprung another surprise with his teamsheet tonight.

Edouard Mendy (£5.1m) is the latest high-profile name to face bench duty, with Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.7m) given another chance to impress his new manager.

Speaking ahead of kick-off, Tuchel explained his decision:

Four of the five most-owned Chelsea players in Fantasy Premier League are among the substitutes this evening, with Timo Werner (£9.2m) the only one to start.

In related news, none of the back five – including goalkeeper Mendy – that Frank Lampard favoured for much of 2020/21 makes Tuchel’s starting XI this evening.

Thiago Silva (£5.6m) is still missing because of injury, with Ben Chilwell (£5.9m), Reece James (£5.0m) and Kurt Zouma (£5.4m) among the replacements.

Tammy Abraham (£7.2m) starts ahead of Olivier Giroud (£6.7m) up front, meanwhile.

Steve Bruce makes four changes to the Newcastle side that beat Southampton in Gameweek 23.

All four are enforced, with Javier Manquillo (£4.2m), Callum Wilson (£6.6m) and Fabian Schar (£4.9m) injured and Jeff Hendrick (£4.5m) suspended.

In come Ciaran Clark (£4.5m), Jamaal Lascelles (£4.2m), Dwight Gayle (£5.9m) and Emil Krafth (£4.2m)into Bruce’s starting XI.


Chelsea XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount, Alonso, Abraham, Werner.

Newcastle United XI: Darlow, Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Hayden, Shelvey, Willock, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Gayle.

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1,321 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How’s she looking? 1FT 2.4m ITB

    Martinez (Areola)
    Cancelo Dallas Mee (Digne Stones)
    Salah Bruno Son Gundogan Raphinha
    Ings Bamford(c) (Watkins)

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

      Decent. Are you looking to keep that front 3 in 26 or make any upgrades?

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Currently unsure. Have been eyeing a WC that would see:
        Areola to 3.9
        Digne to AWB (or someone cheaper and go pricier below)
        Mee to 4.8 (dunno who)
        Raphinha to ESR
        Bamford to Kane

  2. JohnnyRev7
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    That's me in the spotlight.

    1. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Or crawling back under his rock.

      Nothing to see here boys and girls. Move along now.

    2. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Losing my religion

  3. Gazwaz80
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play up...

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

      Pompey?

  4. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    85 with Areola Cancelo Digne Stones and hopefully Gundo(c) with a second go at it.

    Sadly not Mee...

    1. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who's team is it then?

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        😉 clever

        1. JohnnyRev7
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          But grammatically incorrect. 😉

    2. Fero1905
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is mee out?

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sadly has to miss due to protocol even though he’s fine. Sucks

    3. Silicon Vialli
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nice..

      WC on 95 with Rudiger, Ederson, Stones, Gundog (c), and Lowton still to go..

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

    Tuchel will know today who's the real manager in Chelsea team 😎

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

    Alonso of old... 🙂

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

    For DGW 26 would you rather have:

    A) Barnes + Cavani
    B) Grealish + Cavani
    C) Kane + Bamford (No DGW)

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

      Captain in each scenario?

      If the fixtures fall as expected and you want Kane captain, go for it!

      Bamford can score against anyone.

    2. marcos11
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

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

    Rubbish!! I don't accept that explanation at all... just destroying Frank's legacy... clown.

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

      He left a managerial legacy?

      Biggest moment was his big’un at Klopp.

  9. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    63 points on Saturday from 4 players. 19 points from 7 players yesterday and today. Mad!

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Similar here yea, 65 after Saturday but only 83 now (85 after autosub)

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

        Classic FPL!

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

    Have you gone over the 100 point mark for any GW this season so far?
    A) Yes
    B) No

    1. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No, but looking likely I will this gw

    2. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Got 100 and 101

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

      A) hopefully but about to do it twice this week

    4. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, DGW19.

      Currently on 85 with hopefully 5 including captain left so hoping I can do it again

    5. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A. Fell a few points short in 19, but Coufal autosub has put me at 102 as it stands this week

    6. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes.

      GW19 103pts.

      Currently on 95 with 1 player live and potentially 5 to play.

    7. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    8. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      DGW19
      This week on 90 with 6 to go

    9. Ian J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No, hoping this week
      (109 in GW19, but had a -16 hit)

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

    This entire gameweek hinges on Raheem Sterling v Gundogan now. Main ML rival has Sterling (c) and Gundogan. I have Gundogan (c) and no Sterling.

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

      Hope Sterling is benched so and he only adds one extra point, Gundo probably done for this double.

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

      Is that you, Malc lol

    3. dando89
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yep I need Gundog to do nothing next game and Sterling to get a brace. I have both

  12. Nanoelektronicar
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bottomed

    Antonio, Soucek, Coufal > Ings, Raphina, Burn (-8)

    BB: Martinez (LEI), Grealsih(LEI), DCL(liv), Burn(CRY)

    It might be waste of a chip, but: Martinez is in great form. Grealish is not a player you want to bench, but I prefer to play two City defs, Dallas with double and Lowton with WBA. DCL versus Liverpool without centrebacks, and Burn against Zahaless Palace, also downgrading the bench.

  13. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pardon the long post here. As a WCer I need to get this right or my season could be in tatters. 🙂 Here my WC 25 BB 26 team then -

    Lloris - McCarthy
    Dias - Stones - Shaw - Holgate - Targett
    Bruno - Son - Grealish - Gundogan - Barnes
    Kane - Ings - Watkins

    Will have Bamford and Raphinha for DGW 25 and switch to Barnes and Watkins for -4 in DGW 26.

    DGW 25 - Bamford + Raphinha + Ings + McCarthy
    DGW 26 - BB with 15 dgwers
    BGW 29 - have 6 players already. Will get 4 more with 1 hit.

    Have Ings, McCarthy, Holgate, triple villa, triple city and triple spurs for their extra dgws.

    Lloris and McCarthy cover each other nicely for their DGWs. Will get lots of games out of them due to the DGWs.

    Salah plan - Get him back in GW 30. Thus won’t have him for 4 gws only which won’t be too much of an issue given my my elaborate plan.

    Phew....thoughts please? Good use of the WC? All bases covered? 🙂

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think you've posted this many times. BTW no Salah

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I haven’t really.

        Not as elaborately as in this post.

        Had to brainstorm a lot to get here. Just want to check if I’ve missed out on something

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

      Salah will probably have Eagnless Shefield and Kepa in Chelsea goal in double.

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        This is my big worry

        Salah doesn’t let me have a good BB team 🙁

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      have no idea what the 26DGWers are, but seems like a decent team - Holgate? no idea if that's a thing

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Just trusting Ben Crellin with his predictions

        Holgate has a number of DGWs and can’t find anyone else for that price with so many DGWs

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          ah cool, Digne could be a thing - obv too expensive for that setup

    4. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinez is a glaring omission.

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The thing is I need 6 players from villa and spurs to cover for BGW 29

        Need a spurs defender for that to work out. Thus have Lloris instead which rules out Martinez. Targett should suffice.

        Lloris and McCarthy work out very nicely for getting me a lot of games

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

      Not fond of the team. Wouldn't plan for hits. Keepers not in form. I'd get Cresswell. Don't fancy Grealish. I'd get a cheaper 5th mid to avoid benching headaches.

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ummm...

        I’m BBing in 26

        No DGW for cresswell

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

          Cress is a season keeper for me, this year's Trent. Maybe hold the BB til later, can be tricky in dgws.

    6. EWH2020
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's great but we don't know what the DGW 26 fixtures are. Rendering this a waste of time. You'll just change it in a few days once the fixtures are decided

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Just trusting Ben crellin on this

        He gets it right most of the times

    7. skodaole2
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      When the DGW 26 and next GW are announced you ll probably change all of it. Plus doesnt seem right taking a WC having already planned a hit for the following GW without even knowing the fixtures. Stay away from Spurs defence until Reguilon and Aurier are 100% back I would suggest, Martinez will outscore Lloris even if Spurs played 5 games in GW 26

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

      Nice plan. I like it apart from holgate (there’s so many good defenders around 4.5 and is holgate even going to play). I don’t like the keepers either

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

      Digne is a waste

    10. Ian J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think you have focused too much on fixtures and not on form - Leeds, Southampton, Spurs, Everton and even Villa have looked awful..
      Plus no double games confirmed yet and then there's Europe games for Spurs, Leicester, Manu U and Man C.
      I'd just plan for what you know and be flexible..ie leave transfers until last moment when you have maximum knowledge

  14. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    3 goals and nothing for Soucek 🙁

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

      Get Cresswell 😉

      1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Got

    2. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Infuriating player. Just want to see the back of him now. The ultimate troll.

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

      Looking forward to selling him for Raphinha this week

  15. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso playing centre forward

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Srs? Like in the good old days.

  16. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wasn't able to watch the West Ham game. What did Coufal do?

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

      Missed one v one.

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

      Missed a 1 on 1

    3. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bummer.

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

      Got stage fright.

  17. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Alonso giving me a 4th fwd slot 🙂

  18. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cresswell giving me a good reminder why he is the top scoring defender and not to get rid.

    Have enough itb to do Holding and Antonio to Dallas and Kane.

    Leeds worth the triple up (already have Bamford and Raphinha) or stick with Kane transfer and roll 2nd FT?

    2FT 5.7itb
    Pope
    Cancelo Stones Digne
    Salah Bruno Gundo Raphinha
    Bamford Antonio DCL
    (Martinez Soucek Cresswell Holding)

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Im still tempted to get rid...

      City, Spurs, United, Arsenal in next 5 games. No DGW, clogging up a lot of funds too.

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

        Just keep Cresswell.

        Too many people fartass around with DGW tat and ignore SGW players in great form and with good fixtures.

      2. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It's Digne taking up clogging up the funds! Would you bring in Dallas?

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

          In that case, get rid.

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

    Remember the 2 week Zieych bandwagon in November?

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

      Yep.

      Another one I jumped on. Predictably enough, he got injured once under my ownership,

    2. Haa-lala-land
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. That was not one of the FPL community's finest moments

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

      And the Werner & Auba bandwagons pre season, and the Willian bandwagon after GW1, and the J-Rod bandwagon after GW4, and El Ghazi, and Tierney & and Lacazette after GW17...

  20. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is Gundo meant to not be flagged?

    And should I just go him for Foden and cut my losses? Didn't want to do this week unfortunately, thought Foden would start both and was worth keeping 🙁

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

      No, a flag would be to do with next GW. Likely gets flag Wednesday night.

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

    Talking about FPL players with great value: GK Martinez 5.2 128pts, DEF Creswell 5.8 118pts, MID Gundogan 6.1 123 pts, FWD Bamford 6.8 132 pts. Have you got all?

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

      Just Gundogan and Bamford.

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

      Only 2 of them :-/

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      All but Gundogan. Guess which one I started out of the 4 😉

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

        Bamford?

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Ofc!

    4. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      4/4

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

        Marvellous, same here!

    5. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      All

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

    Great tackle.

    1. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That's what she said

  23. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Got to feel a bit for Chilwell....seems 2nd fiddle to alonso who has come in from the cold.....

    Not great for his euro 2020 credentials

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

      Yeah, completely fallen out of favour.

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

      I remember Luke Shaw few years back, slated by Mou consistently

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Southgate will still pick him.

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

    Just sold Soucek.

    Will also sell Antonio. Tired of them both. Raphinha and Ings-welcome

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

      Did the same for -4

  25. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    22 points is a good score from my bench on BB?

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

      Yep.

    2. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Indeed

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

      Very nice. I got 32 and a bit annoyed coz coufal messed up

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Great score mate,I had Coufal too,I expected more,but I would bench Martinez points again if I didn't played it

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

          Yes me too and I did do exactly that last gameweek. Just imagine if coufal scored 😛

          1. CRO KLOPP
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            That would be beautiful,I did have in my team also Maguire who almost scored yesterday,9 points goal

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

        I wish my players would mess up by getting CS.

        1. CRO KLOPP
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          🙂

    4. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      absolutely

  26. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Would you WC this team? Still have Bench Boost.

    Martinez
    Dias Cancelo Dallas
    Grealish Fernandes Sterling Salah Son
    Bamford Watkins

    Subs: Button, Dawson, Mee, Brewster

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just needs one or two tweaks. Save WC for dgw

  27. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Are there likely to be more fixtures added in gw29?

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

      Villa vs Spurs expected.

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Villa Spurs only

    3. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers fellas

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

    Giroud DGW wagon!

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      sexual

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

    35k with All chips still intact

    Time for one final push for top 10k

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      good luck as long as you stay behind me 😉

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Top 10k ! You can easily still get top 1k

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

      Wow nice, I'm 60k but only have my 2nd WC. You are doing amazing

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

        Top stuff

    4. TOLV TUMS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nice!!

    5. Mweene
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nice. I’m 948th with FH played.

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

        Wow would gladly trade positions

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

      Thanksa ll mayb e there is somehwere to hide for me

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

    Is it just me, or does Giroud look like the dude on Zig-Zag rolling papers?

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

      Yes man !!!

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

      Haha I had to look that one up but I'm gonna say close enough