Dugout Discussion

Rudiger, Mount and Chilwell benched, as Alonso returns to Chelsea’s starting line-up

The continued rotation of Chelsea’s big squad sees Antonio Rudiger (£4.7m), Mason Mount (£7.1m) and Kai Havertz (£8.2m) amongst the substitutes for their hosting of West Bromwich Albion.

For those managers desperate to invest in the league’s strongest defence, the return of Thiago Silva (£5.6m) only worsens the headache. He and Kurt Zouma (£5.3m) step in for Rudiger and Andreas Christensen (£4.7m), with Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) starting ahead of Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) at left wing-back.

Alonso has been a popular transfer this week amongst the online Fantasy Premier League community, with many seeing the incredibly attacking defender as the ideal one-week punt ahead of a Gameweek 31 Wildcard. He wasn’t on international duty, so owners will be hoping for a repeat of his 14-point haul from beating Burnley 2-0 in Gameweek 21.

Former defender Thomas Tuchel’s arrived as head coach in January and quickly made Chelsea’s back line impenetrable, conceding only twice in 14 matches (all competitions) as they seek their eighth consecutive clean sheet.

However, these successful shut-outs are achieved with rotating personnel, with only Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m) seemingly assured of a starting spot. Rudiger, Zouma, Christensen and Thiago Silva share the remaining two spots, as Edouard Mendy (£5.2m) starts again in goal.

As detailed in Thursday’s feature, Mount (225), Havertz (212) and Chilwell (180) played in the majority of their country’s 270 minutes during the international break. Therefore, Tuchel has given them a breather, showcasing their squad depth by bringing in Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) and Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m).

Timo Werner (£9.2m) starts up front, his barren streak worsened by a terrible miss for Germany against North Macedonia. With one league goal from 1,350 minutes – the equivalent of 15 matches – his confidence seems shattered but the expected goals (xG) number of 6.34 in that spell suggests that he’s still getting in the right positions.

Reece James (£5.0m) starts at right wing-back, with Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) keeping his starting spot.

As for West Brom, they were unchanged for four consecutive matches but Sam Allardyce has been forced into one change as loanee Conor Gallagher (£5.5m) cannot play against his parent club. He has been replaced by Semi Ajayi (£4.8m), suggesting a switch from 4-1-4-1 to a 5-4-1 formation.

Stuck in the relegation zone, the Baggies haven’t scored in their last three matches but have kept three clean sheets in the last five matches, ideal for Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) owners. They picked up 1-1 draws at Liverpool and Man City, so will feel a Stamford Bridge result is achievable.

Branislav Ivanovic (£4.4m) is on the bench against the club he made 377 appearances for.

GAMEWEEK 30 LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI (3-4-3): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Zouma; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Pulisic, Werner

West Bromwich Albion XI (5-4-1): Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, O’Shea, Bartley, Townsend; Phillips, Yokuslu, Maitland-Niles, Pereira; Diagne

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1,090 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Mighty Hippo
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Alonso will come off before 60 mins now to shore up Chelsea's defence.

  2. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Silva banned for 3 games now...

    Silver lining for Rudi owners 🙂

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Rudiger plays LCB. Doesn't affect him.

    2. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      1 game

      1. thegaffer82
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Straight red IS NOT 1 game ban

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            2 years, 12 months ago

            Depends what for doesn't it

          • CloudSky
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 12 months ago

            It wasn't a straight red.

            1. thegaffer82
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 12 months ago

              Aggh okay. I'm half watching while trying to work.

              I saw the challenge and just assumed it was a straight red.

              Apologies for the confusion. My bad!

          • Simon69
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 12 months ago

            He got two yellows

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        3? Not a straight red wasn't it?

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          *was

    3. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Alonso owners would you be happier if there was no assist and no RC?

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Yes

    4. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      FFFS

      Wba gonna score now

      Alonso(c) suddenly gone from great to possibly fail

    5. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      FFS Silva! Idiot.

    6. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Alonso to make way and Chelsea clean sheet incoming

    7. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Sub off Alonso for Rudiger please

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Christensen is coming on.

    8. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Ziyech to come off

    9. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      There's no cs points for any defender coming on is there? 30 mins on the clock?

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        No. Just missed out. Chri59ensen.

      2. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Chelsea may not keep a CS now anyway.

    10. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      I bought Mane this week 🙂

    11. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Silva please play golf,your time is gone my boy

      1. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        He was easily one of the best defenders in the league before his injury.

        1. GROBARI
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          He was beast 5-6 years ago.

    12. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Christensen coming on, interesting.

    13. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Don Hutchinson has to be the worst commentator in the game. He's going on about Silva not having to make that challenge but the exact same thing happens to Werner at the other end and he says "the player was going for the ball I don't see any foul there". He makes these types of comments every game regardless of context or sense.

      1. Differentiator
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        ez red card

        1. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          I think it's soft, particularly in that he got a yellow for the first foul of the game but Bartley didn't get one for the foul on Pulisic...

          Not the point though I'm not questioning the red card, it's his stupid comments.

      2. Says
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Hoddle just said Ziyech will be meeting Thiago in the *bathroom*

      3. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Also, did you hear him say: "They scored on 27 minutes – just before half-time, great time to score."

        Er, what Donald? It's halfway through the half you clown! Just garbling football cliches

        1. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Genuinely spewing crap for 90 minutes.

    14. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Christensen just misses out on CS points as per usual...

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Needs 5 mins extra time 😉

    15. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Happy to see Christensen coming on and not Rudi

      We are past the 30 mins mark

    16. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Come on West Brom! Perfect chance to ruin some Alonso jam.

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        I know you are trolling as Alonso could have had a FK goal.

        Bitterness.

      2. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        How is that jam

        Very unlucky not to have a goal if anything

        1. Shteve
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Unlucky not to score but still a jam assist

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 12 months ago

            I don't think so, assists off rebounded shots on target should be normalized. Same as assists from winning penalties and direct free kicks. Much more impactful that a random sideways pass 40 yards from goal.

            1. Shteve
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 12 months ago

              He was wasnt trying to pass or make an assist - that's why it was a lucky assist. No arguing with that!

    17. michael_mac11
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Thiago Silva basically got sent of because of two bad jorginho passes !!

    18. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Does this make it more or less likely Mount will come on?

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Yes.

    19. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Alonso limping?

    20. Kante Touch This
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Assuming Chelsea don’t concede, will Christensen get clean sheet points if he plays 60 mins as a sub?

      1. tbos83
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Yes

        1. The Polymath
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          No

      2. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Added time?

        1. Kante Touch This
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          With all these first half subs and yellow cards, I’d like to think so!

        2. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Added time doesn't count towards the FPL minutes calculated.

      3. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        He can't play 60 mins, injury time doesn't count.

        1. Kante Touch This
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Oh damn fair enough

      4. Ruinenlust
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        No

    21. JJO
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Andreas 58mins Christensen

    22. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Ivanovic LOL

    23. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Ivanovic fail

    24. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Ivanovich on...Invanovic off

      A quick visit to his old home

    25. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Need some Allardyce ball to send Chelsea Def owners to the mud. Come on!

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Allardyce ball is ten men at the back. That would help Chelsea CS chances very nicely, thank you.

        1. Shark Team
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          I'm joking, this is what I expect too

    26. fusen
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Was planning all week to do Targett to a Chelsea def, with it being Alonso this morning. Decided to swap Bale to Son instead...I reckon Bale will probably be selected now 😛

    27. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Ivanovic veni vidi vici

    28. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Christensen Azpi Rudiger triple up?

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Quadruple up with Zouma looks tasty

    29. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Player has 2 weeks off and then gets injured after 10 minutes.

      1. GROBARI
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        He is old

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Yes I know

      2. michael_mac11
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        That could very well be the reason mate lol

      3. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        That's what happens when a 37 year old chases one of the fastest players in the league. He hasn't played much recently anyways.

    30. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      So much for my 3 Chelsea defenders! GRRRR

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        All three sent off?

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          I suppose I should not jump the gun. My bad!

      2. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Bold after a IB

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          If ever one could expect a Chelski clean sheet it was today.