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 He has been replaced by Semi Ajayi (£4.8m), suggesting a switch from 4-1-4-1 to a 5-4-1 formation.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. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jammy Rudiger owners!

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nah. Rudiger and Azpi are their two best defenders. One goes missing then they will find it more difficult. Silva is good, but old and you can't rely on him to play 2 games a week.

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        More as in he's the most owned Chelsea defender and owners are now avoiding a 1 pointer and probably getting a nice autosub instead!

  2. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    West Brom goal.

  3. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    OFFSIDE

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nope. He was well onside.

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No? Wrong player you're looking at.

    3. Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Relax

  4. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hahah lol, typical that Chelsea concedes now.

  5. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    As a Rudiger owner, that is a sweet goal.

  6. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Johnston assist sitting on my bench 🙁

    1. Ejaaz11
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same here

  7. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    A Mendy was the wrong one week punt then.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sold Pope for Mendy this week. Burnley CS guaranteed. Totally in keeping with everything that has happened this season.

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I’ve got Pope on the bench so yeah, probably.

  8. JJO
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jonhstone assist

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      😮

  9. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lovely, wipe that Chelsea clean sheet!

  10. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    T.Silva is a genius, totally changes the game.

  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    phillips hits the bar

  12. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    WILL IT COUNT?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes. Obviously.

  13. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Johnstone triple captainers in dreamland

  14. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I'm still more than chuffed as an Alonso owner and with 45 mins to go, I still expect double figures

    Keep laughing away

    1. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      We'll see 😉

  15. sambyy
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Of course they concede when I get two Chelsea defenders against WBA at home...

  16. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lol nearly another

  17. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Alonso useless

  18. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Let's goooo

  19. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    FFS

  20. Goodfeathers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Alonso getting rinsed for pace!

  21. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thiago Silva shouldn't be first choice anymore.

  22. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Martinez waving at Mendy from the bench

  23. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Charity FC back at it!

  24. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy is a fraud.

  25. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Absolutely lovely. Alonso's CS gone and soon the assist wiped too.

    1. Tired and weary
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why is the assist going?

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Very generous and public spirited of you.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Haha it's a competition. I want my rivals to do badly

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Plus 1x GC point

  26. SINGH
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    NO RUDIGER NO CLEAN SHEET - SERVES YOU RIGHT CHELSEA

    COMEONE WEST BROM HIT MORE GOALS

  27. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    relax Alonso owners, he will score or assist to end with a 10+ pts score this GW

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    OMG Periera.

  29. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Double Chelsea defence wagon implodes

  30. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pereira G