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 He has been replaced by Semi Ajayi (£4.8m), suggesting a switch from 4-1-4-1 to a 5-4-1 formation.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

    Chilwell says "hello Mr Tinkerman"

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

    Chelsea meltdown

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

    Wow

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

    Oh my days WBA are gonna win.

  5. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Wow

  6. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA

  7. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Alonso is a defensive liability.

  8. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Oh yes

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

    Jorginho again

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

      It was James really.

  10. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Pereira G

    Chelsea 1-2 WBA

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

    Justice for Rudiger owners. 😀

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

    OMG Pereira!!!

  13. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Com'on Big Sam

  14. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Haha. Concede two against wba.

    Just a freemoasib thing !

  15. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Glad I took the captaincy off of Alonso!

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

    Nowhere to hide for Azpi owners!

    1. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Yeah alright mate. Calm down.

  17. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Very glad I brought in double Chelsea defence

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

      Same 🙂

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

    Oh my god...

  19. Goodfeathers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Chelsea falling apart!

  20. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Imagine taking Sam Johnstone out for Mendy and also bringing in Alonso?!! Imagine?!!

  21. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    lmao

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

    How is this happening.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Jorginho and Alonso in the team. Need to get them out and put Kante and Chilwell back in.

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

        Jorginho is having a fantastic season, stop your nonsense. Bad game for him to be fair.

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

      Thiago RC

  23. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Alonso very poor defensively.

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

    Hahahaha! (I'm a Azpi owner btw.. Just find this hilarious).

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

    West Brom are out bogey team!

  26. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Such a useless troll Thiago Silva

  27. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    WTF is going on here..? O.o

  28. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Get in WBA hahaha

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Humorous as lol

  29. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    This is what happens when you dont start Rudiger you prat.

  30. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    This is beautiful