Dugout Discussion

Mount and Christensen benched as Tuchel rings the changes for Villa clash

After a relatively quiet August, the Thomas Tuchel rotation has begun in earnest this evening.

Chelsea take on Aston Villa in the eighth and final Premier League fixture of the day, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge at 17:30 BST.

International break minutes and forthcoming UEFA Champions League involvement looks to have influenced Tuchel’s team selection, with the Blues boss making six changes from his side’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

Thiago Silva starts after avoiding a FIFA ban, while deadline-day signing Saul Niguez makes his first appearance for the west London side.

Mateo Kovacic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevor Chalobah and Hakim Ziyech are also recalled.

Andreas Christensen, Jorginho, Mason Mount and Cesar Azpilicueta all drop to the bench, while Reece James is suspended and N’Golo Kante is injured.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has almost matched his Chelsea counterpart, making five changes from Gameweek 3 and seemingly sending his troops out in a wing-back system.

Two of the alterations are enforced, with Emi Martinez and Emi Buendia ruled out because of quarantine rules.

Jed Steer lines up in goal, with Ollie Watkins starting for the first time this season and lining up alongside Danny Ings in a two-man attack.

Tyrone Mings, Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn also return to the starting XI.


GAMEWEEK 4 LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Steer, Cash, Targett, Konsa, Mings, Luiz, McGinn, Watkins, Tuanzebe, Ings, Ramsey

Subs: Sinisalo, Sanson, Traore, Young, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Hause, Bailey, Archer.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Rudiger, Alonso, Silva, Kovacic, Lukaku, Chalobah, Niguez, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Havertz

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Christensen, Jorginho, Werner, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Mount, Chilwell, Azpilicueta.

1,713 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    70 with TAA, Salah and Jota to go. First time so happy with my wildcard in years

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      nice did you have Ronaldo and Lukaku?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        obviously

      2. TheDragon
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I reckon he had Antonio Ings and Toney up top

      3. Messiah Hazard
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Yup.

    2. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      What? Who do you have? Lukaku, CR7, and ?

      1. Messiah Hazard
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Lukaku CR7 Marcal Shaw

        1. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          are you playing 433?

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      That’s huge! 69(-4) but only cheapies left

    4. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      68 with Salah, Jota, TAA and Raph to go. I might only match you with Raph's 2 pointer.

    5. james 101
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      52 with Salah, TAA, Jota and DCL to play

      10k OR so just trying to keep things steady

    6. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      nice im on 66 on WC with Salah and still waiting on extra baps from the likes of Lukaku/Ronaldo/Zaha

  2. No_Mo_Salah?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Tempted with Antonio and Ben to Bamford + Sarr/ Traore with those fixtures. To early to dump West Ham?

    1. Taff1952
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      That's what I'm planning with bamford and sarr but am planning to wildcard in game week 7

  3. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    What would you do here?

    Sanchez Steele
    TAA Shaw Ayling Tsimikas Livramento
    Salah Bruno Benrahma Gray Odegaard
    Ronaldo Antonio* Scarlett

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      1 FT
      0 ITB

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Bruno + Scarlett -> Lukaku + Callagher/4.5

    3. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      wildcard?
      If not Antonio to bamford/Jimmy

  4. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Thought I'd destroyed my OR by taking an 8-point hit. It was to bring in Ron and Rom. Actually risen in rank to about 300. Not too shabby.

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Well played!

    2. R.C
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Dont worry Salah and Jota will destroy you tomorrow

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

        I've got Jota, but yeh, I'm bracing myself for Salah.

  5. balint84
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Lukaku+ Cr7 are essentials now?
    Should I wildcard now before the price rise? 🙁

    1. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Salah brace tomorrow

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      yes, asap

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      It's not GW4 every GW.

  6. Basil1977
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Avoided the dreaded 1 pointer,
    Mount safely sat on the bench for 90 mins,
    While Livramento comes off my fantasy bench for a welcome 6 pointer,
    Little wins, make the difference in this game

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Good to hear. Have Dunk on my bench with 8 and ESGottaGo coming on for a cameo has cost me 7 points.

      Also playing Raya over Sanchez the absolute cherry on that cake.

      1. Basil1977
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        ESR coming is a kick in the teeth

        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Deserve everything I get for picking him. Thought he would either start or not feature as he's been ill.

          Real kick in the teeth is the entire game having Sanchez in goal.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Top jam.

  7. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Need a 4th forward slot this season.

  8. jay01
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    60 with Salah Jota Raphina Digne and Gray to go

    Not high ranked so its good to have a good week for once!

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      52 with Salah, TAA, Jota and DCL to play

      10k OR so just trying to keep things steady…

  9. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    3 premiums + TAA won’t work long term.

    There I said it.

    1. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Agree

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      No need of cr7 till gw14 if u don't have him now. Salah, lukaku and taa enough from gw7 to gw14

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      No need for TAA, City DF’s are better value

  10. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Might as well keep the captain armband on Bolingoli for Spurs. It could be a massacre against what's left of their defence ... 🙂

  11. jackruet
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Live avg point? Overall and top 10 k anyone

    1. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      36 and 40

    2. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      overall 36 points top 10K 41 points after hits

      1. jackruet
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        With bonus and bench?

  12. The Mighty One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Aaaaand that is precisely why Mark Sutherns is the GOAT.

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Why?

      Literally everyone had one of Lukaku or Ronaldo.

      He chose to stick with Lukaku which he had to given his moves last week.

      He isn’t a knee jerker but hardly exceptional skill

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I didn’t hehe

        1. Arvin-ation
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          And it was a bit daft to be fair 😉

          1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            It depends doesn’t it, Kane hauls and Bruno could have easily had more returns.

            Swings in roundabouts

      2. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        OP is simping

      3. The Mighty One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Everyone watches Mark closely and he has the nerve to play his own disciplined game.

    2. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      He sucks!

    3. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Has he got Ronny and Luk?

    4. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      What does GOAT mean?

      1. Firminooooo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Don’t know. Something my kids says.

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          🙂

      2. Taff1952
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Greatest of all time

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Thought it was a better, wittier acronym. It's a bit weak 🙁

  13. mojoindojo
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    On WC. Keep Antonio or get Bam?

    1. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Play the week in front of you, Get Bamford

    2. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I’m not on WC, but might keep. Will probably want him back after suspension / until injured or goes off boil.

  14. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Start?:

    A) Tierney (bur)
    B) Rudiger (tot)

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Rudi. Ideally both

  15. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    5 premiums and I pick the 2 who will have the lowest points (bottom 2). Don’t know if I’m bad or just unlucky:

    Salah
    Ronaldo
    Lukaku
    Bruno
    Kane

    1. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      The Kane one with Son out and Nuno’s defensive style not the best choice, but Bruno one fine

    2. ralfb
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Try picking 3, reduced chance of misses

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Kane over Lukaku is super maverick, even I wouldn’t do that

  16. Joey Tribbiani
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    FPL needs to add De Geas 3rd save...

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Only made 2.

      1. Joey Tribbiani
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Watched tye game, made 3, 1 first half outside of the box, Joelington and Murphy second half

  17. Union_Jacks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone else seriously starting to consider Gallagher as an option now?

    He seems like the classic casual pick but when you look at the stats there’s a lot going for him.

    From today alone he had an xG of 1.38 with no goals and an xGI of 1.57. He takes a lions share of set pieces including corners and direct FKs.

    All that for 5.5m? Looks an option to me.

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

      He's totally a viable option. I was intending my next transfer to be Benrahma to Traore, but Gallacher is knocking on the door.

    2. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Passes the eye trst

    3. mgilbert86
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yes

    4. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Very close to getting him over Gray to raise an extra 0.1m - downgraded Livramento to Williams instead. Classic FPL

    5. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      On my watchlist. If Sarr doesn’t start doing anything, Gallaghers in.

  18. Killitzer
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Chose not to go for the WC but think I’m going for it tonight-

    Sanchez Steel
    Duffy Livramento TTA Laporte Marcal
    Greenwood Salah Raphinha McArthur Gray
    Ronaldo Lukaku Hwang

    Debating Jota vs Greenwood as Man U fixtures are awful in a few weeks time.

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Would get bamford for greenwood on wc.

  19. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Chelsea is slowly but surely beginning to resemble 2004-2006 machine. What a team!

  20. Sᴄʜᴜ̈RRʟᴇ ⓝ
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Antonio + Salah > Ronaldo + Jota for -4?

    1. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      No, just deal with Antonio, Salah great (C) option next week.

  21. ralfb
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Lukaku or salah ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Wait a day.

  22. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    68 with Salah, Jota, TAA and Raph to come. WC team doing ok (for now).

    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Wauw

  23. Call Me Old Fashioned
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Sanchez Steele
    Trent Shaw Ayling Duffy Tsimikas
    Salah Torres Raphinha Greenwood Gilmour
    CR7 Antonio Toney

    1FT and 1.4 in bank. Would you wildcard?

  24. SKENG
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Bachmann
    TAA Shaw Ayling Duffy Amartey
    Salah Mahrez* Greenwood Benrahma* Sarr
    Ronaldo Antonio* Obafemi

    * are potential problems. 1 FT, 0.3 itb.
    Should I WC this, or just do Antonio - Bamford? Initial plan was to use in GW7/8 to switch United to Chelsea and get more info,

  25. ralfb
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Salah dcl to Popa lukaku?

  26. Fpl_Ludwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Yeeeee thank you Lukaku, up to 479 in the world
    Deeeeeeeceeeeeennnnnnttttttttt

    1. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Congrats mate!

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Very nice work.

      My highest ever was 300.

      The advice I wish I’d had back then:

      Avoid Californian girls.

  27. Deer-in-headlights
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Curious to get your thoughts on the following:
    Have exact funds to do:

    Pogba + Antonio > Gallager and Lukaku -4

    Already have CR7, Salah, and TAA

  28. james 101
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    1 FT. No cash!

    What would you focus on first?

    Sanchez

    TAA Tierney Coady

    Salah Jota Benrahma Greenwood

    Ronaldo Antonio DCL

    (Steele Allan Williams Livra)

    A. Antonio
    B. Ben
    C. Other

    1. james 101
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      (I’ll wait till after tomorrow’s games)

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Need to wait until midweek games at least tbh.

        1. james 101
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Fair point. Thanks TS.

    2. Original Sin
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Only Antonio maybe, but for short term. I took a 2 week punk on Edouard.

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Interesting. Will check him

    3. northernmuppet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B .. I think you hold Antonio

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers. Who would you bring in, Gray?

        1. northernmuppet
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Or Traore.. or Torres or Gallagher (left field).. I like the city coverage from Torres if you can afford it

  29. northernmuppet
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Kane to Lukaku an obvious but acceptable knee jerk??

    1. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      No brainer imo, Spurs aren't exactly firing on all cylinders.

  30. Original Sin
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Just did Antonio ---->Edouard. But will Edouward play 90 minutes from next GW or come off as a sub still?

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

      They've a few strikers at the club, so it's hard to say. But if they've paid 15 million for him you'd think they'd want to get him playing ASAP.