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 He has been replaced by Semi Ajayi (£4.8m), suggesting a switch from 4-1-4-1 to a 5-4-1 formation.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. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Mount to pull one back?

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Lol

      1. Homer21
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Doh!

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Dreams, just dreams .... Mount 1 point ... he has been a total and utter disaster for me since bringing him in.

    3. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Hahaha .... I take it ALL back ... oh me of little faith ... LOL

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

    HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA LMAO

  3. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Ph boy

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

    Get in

  5. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    hahahahahaha

  6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    OMG Diagne.

  7. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Jesus - think I'll just transfer Mendy straight back out

  8. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Who said not to concede 4 goals ?

  9. Skonto Rigga
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    I've been saying all week that the AstraZeneca vaccine is a HUGE trap. All the casuals going for their jabs. Not one of these so-called 'experts' and Pro Pharmacists mentioned Pfizer. I've been saying it but do people listen?

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

      I think this is not place for that

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        For what? Taking the piss out of the pro scouts? Yes it is

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Wait a few weeks and you can get the Johnson&Johnson. One and done

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

      Regretting it already. What was I thinking

  10. sunzip14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    My differential players (EO

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      My differential players EO less than 25 percent this GW on BB are all defenders:

      Forster, Targett, Konsa, Struijk, Lowton Dawson

      Will skip watching/following Burnley vs Southampton and Villa vs Fulham. Have Martinez on goal as well.

  11. mezza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    That is a wonderful counter attack

  12. osceola31909
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    LOL

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Well at least I didn't transfer Azpi in

  14. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    i'm so happy I brought in a CHE defender for the guaranteed CS vs WB

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

    😆 FFS Chelsea...

  16. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    that's a great goal that

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

    Lol Chelsea are awful.

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

    1-10 ft

  19. ANGRY PERSON
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Doesn't seem like a relegation zoned team west brom

  20. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    lol

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

    4 - 1 WBA hahahaha sorry but you just have to laugh now!

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

    Rudiger owners the real winners

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

      Whopee. I'm a winner. 😀

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

      Might have been a different story for Chelsea if Rudiger was playing.

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

    Big Sam going to save WBA?

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

      Yep. As along as the other team have a player sent off in all the remaining matches.

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

      This match will, at least, build confidence, which is no bad thing.

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

    RIP Chelsea defence.

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

    Double defence wagon basically the Springfield monorail

  26. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Hello from my Mendy on the Bb chip..

  27. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Go on, Baggies! Lmao!

  28. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Anyone from the regulars has Pereira?

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

    Ok, Azpi in was not the right time 🙁

  30. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    And to think I am benching Targett because I got Azpi... 🙁

    wow 1x4