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 He has been replaced by Semi Ajayi (£4.8m), suggesting a switch from 4-1-4-1 to a 5-4-1 formation.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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FPLMarc Newcastle fan that spends far too much time thinking about FPL.

1,090 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Chelsea fans needed this humbling

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

    I don't mind the unpredictability of the game. I do resent the lost half an hour I spent thinking about who to bench for Azpi.

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

      So much this

  3. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    “Chelsea fans must be wondering if this is a one off event or a sign of deeper problems.”

    I know why this happened!

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

      Do tell

      1. artvandelay316
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        It involves a piece of laminated plastic that the ref carries around in his pocket.

        1. Abraham & Cheese
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Is it a kind of burgundy colour?

          1. artvandelay316
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 12 months ago

            You know, I think it might be!

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

    Well done Pereira cappers.

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

      Only sold him yesterday!

    2. Warblers
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      I'm sure he's grateful.

      1. Abraham & Cheese
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        haha

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      The 2 of them.

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

    Cant wait to see this awful team go down

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Agreed, nobody likes Chelsea

      • HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Chelsea?

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

      Such a stupid red from Thiago Silva. Chelsea had the game wrapped up with 11 men and a goal ahead.

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

        This

      2. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Im sorry but even with 10 men to concede 5 goals is unthinkable

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

          Having Alonso in 10 men team is suicidal

    3. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Diagne 3rd on bench is typical FPL lol

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

        Exactly where he should have been

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

          Yup

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Sold Digne on WC, captained Alonso. Can only get better, right?

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Diagne

    5. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Tuchel exposed

    6. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      “Most obvious clean sheet of the season”
      Lol

      Sheffield Utd to beat Leeds 0-1 incoming

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

        8nil Leeds

    7. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Unfortunate for Alonso today. Could easily have had a massive haul without that silly red. Still, 3 points bagged. Onwards and upwards

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

        After conceding 5 to the worst team in the league, I don’t think we’ll see much of him anymore

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

        He did well going forward, but it was another stark reminder how poor he is at defending.

        So a mixed bag really.

        Chilly next week?

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

          100%

      3. grumpyman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Non owner here and feel like I’ve got away with it big time. Could easily have had two goals.

    8. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Thankfully opted for Rüdiger over Azpi or any other Chelsea defender.

      Tierney coming in. Come on Arsenal.

      1. artvandelay316
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        I had Rudiger too. Cresswell to replace him as first on bench. Then Mount second on bench who could replace Gundo if necessary.

      2. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Cancelo in for me

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

      What to do with Bale? No WC or FH left. He has double but Jota/Lingard are tempting

    10. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Quite pleased with 0 points from Azpi. Could have been a minus 1.

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

      Precisely 1 player in the top 10k has pereira in their starting team

      Absolute dreamland for them!

    12. Naby K8a
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      West Brom have scored 32% of their Premier League goals for this season against Chelsea.

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

        Madness

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

        Suspect another 4% or so came against City

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

      The xG Philosophy

      @xGPhilosophy

      ·

      20s

      Chelsea (2.60) 2-5 (1.47) West Brom

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

        Xg looks terrible predictor

    14. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Didn’t realise Kepa got a rare start. Martinez in for Mendy 😎

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

        What?

        1. Paqueta Rice
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Mendy 0 points, didn’t play 😉

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

        You can do better.

        1. Paqueta Rice
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          I’m sorry I’ll get my coat

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

            😀

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

      Now checking the SHU side for the two who are going to brace in that one 🙂

    16. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      How’s everyone getting on? 0 from 1 for me with a Rudig no show , what an entertaining start to the FPL week

    17. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      I’m sure many people doubled up on Chelsea defence too. Oh dear.

    18. Alex_thekid
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Martinez to Mendy 1ft went well not and
      Martinez 75%+ EO 10 points incoming

    19. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      That was my chance to win it, oh well had plenty of good luck this season, was always going to be bitten at some point

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

        Eh? You still have 11 players to go.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          All high ownership though, Pereira would have been a huge differential

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

      Pereira with 69 Baps. Lucky boy...

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

      Lol, ouch!