Dugout Discussion

James, Mount and Alonso benched as Lukaku leads the Chelsea line again

Relatively few Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers will have escaped some rotation pain on Saturday and the teamsheet bombshells continue at Brentford this evening.

Chelsea make the short journey across west London to meet their neighbours in the 5.30pm BST kick-off.

Taking inspiration from Pep Guardiola’s starting XI selections earlier in the day, Thomas Tuchel has thrown a few curveballs our way.

Malang Sarr‘s debut wouldn’t have been predicted by many and the effect of his inclusion at centre-half means that Cesar Azpilicueta once again lines up at right wing-back, so the fit-again Reece James has to be content with a seat on the bench.

Marcos Alonso and Mason Mount will be alongside the defender, while Callum Hudson-Odoi drops to the bench, Antonio Rudiger misses out with a back problem and Thiago Silva isn’t involved following his late return from World Cup qualifier duty in South America.

Andreas Christensen and N’Golo Kante return to the starting XI.

It’s a relatively serene picture with regards to the Brentford team news, as Thomas Frank has made only one change to the side that started the win at West Ham. It’s an enforced one, too, with Mathias Jensen coming in for the injured Shandon Baptiste.

Kristoffer Ajer is only among the substitutes.

GAMEWEEK 8 LINE-UPS

Brentford XI: Raya, Canos, Jorgensen, Pinnock, Jansson, Henry, Norgaard, Jensen, Onyeka, Toney, Mbeumo

Subs: Fernandez, Thompson, Goode, Forss, Ghoddos, Ajer, Bidstrup, Roerslev, Maghoma

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Sarr, Christensen, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Chilwell, Lukaku, Werner

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Alonso5Jorginho, Níguez, Barkley, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, James, Havertz

1,730 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lots of goals for Lukaku, Toney and Mbuemo please

  2. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What a mad Chelsea defensive line up. I can’t see a clean sheet.

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yep, jizz everywhere….

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I’ll get the mop

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        skeet skeet

  3. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Next Man Utd manager?

    1. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Conte

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Has to be

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Far too sensible. United would be winning things with ease under Conte.

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Big Sam is fat & ready

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Roy Keane

    4. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Bruce!

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        If only!

    5. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      SAF to join Ronaldo for the last dance.

    6. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Rodgers

      I wanted Brendon to take over from Van Gaal so better late than never.

    7. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Roy Hodgson out of retirement.

    8. Walter White (WW)
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Hopefully Ole stays

    9. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Howe

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Like for like.

    10. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Conte. A serial winner. 3 years then re-evaluate.

  4. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lukaku bags 3

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Not with Werner alongside.

      1. Abaddon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Agree. Werner will score them. He is the better striker

  5. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Having an absolute shocker and NEED Livramento points off the bench……..what are the chances both Alonso and James don’t come on?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      1%

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      James will come on for sure

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Chilly injury or early YC and him being extremely poor basically the only possibilities for Alonso to come on.

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Not impossible actually. They could bring on Mount, Havertz, Jorginho depending on how the game goes.

  6. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Whose got the Chelsea double defence?

    That's Chalobah and Sarr, by the way.

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Just went with the obvious choice and got Azpi but I can’t see a clean sheet.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I'm more concerned that I can't see where a Chelsea goal comes from.

  7. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Where is third save and 2baps from Sanchez? They have to fix that

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Duffy stopped one SOT.

  8. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What a supersub Livra's been

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Absolutely. Who's Rudiger anyway?

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Simply the best.

  9. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Duffy on any bonus before that last minute yellow? Would probably be happier not knowing, but might as well.

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      He was on for 2 when I looked after 80 mins.

    2. RogDog_jimmy
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Think he lost the 2 before the yellow. That’s what I saw.

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah -3 YC...

    4. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      duffy with 5 points I think I will keep him

  10. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Days or weeks ago, easy to go deciding which Chelsea defenders to own for this few matches run.

    Rudiger? Alonso? James? All failed. Not easy to avoid any of these 3.

  11. Etihader
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Tuchel says in each interview how important is Mount for the team and benches him when he says he is fully fit.

    1. Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      not better than Pep

    2. Walter White (WW)
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Tuchel sucks tbh. Can’t trust a word from his mouth

  12. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    5 returns from 6 played so far with Ronaldo the only one blanking

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Just Sarr for me. Delighted with my 5 clean sheets.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Oh, I thought he scored.

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Likewise apart from my blank was from Mahrez(c) 🙁

    4. Gunneryank
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Keeping Ron or moving him on ahead of these terrible fixtures?

  13. R.C
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lol RLC starting, Brentford will win here

  14. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    No Mount again in the Chelsea team and again a negative line up with no players in that Chelsea midfield with any creativity. Who is going to supply Lukaku? Eff sake!

  15. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    After all his xG, xA, xLively... Traore gets his attacking return by winning a free that's going into the keepers hands before Targett deflection puts it in...

    FPL is so weird!

    1. RogDog_jimmy
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Haha. That’s is pretty funny.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Its luck. Shocker!

  16. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lukaku brace & Azpi CS + assist needed desperately

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No chance. Werner nullifies Lukaku.

  17. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Steffan must of had 50 passes to get a BAP with 2 saves

  18. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Six points from Matty Cash is like the dirtiest points ever.

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ever heard Guy Demel?

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I have not.

  19. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    How’s 51 with 5 to play?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      shocking

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

      Tasty.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I imagine most are around that with 26 from Salah.

    3. Walter White (WW)
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Delicious

    4. Superflymonk
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Wildcard team? It's a healthy green for now.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yes it is. Although I don’t feel like I changed much.

    5. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ffs

    6. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Good I think

  20. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Jeez Someone told Azpi hes Alonso. Way up

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Not in the 3 at the back today

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Playing a back 3 so I would hope he’s far up.

  21. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Reece James in starting XI
    Mbeumo first sub, hope not to join the game than 1 point

  22. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Does Alonso cameo often from the bench??

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      prolly only if the match is won or lost

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Mount Havertz Jorginho
      my guess

  23. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Probably should have used FH this gw with only 9 of my players playing.

  24. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez makes 2 saves for the 4th match in a row.

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      If he keeps it clean not much he can really do about the volume he gets at him

  25. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bench 1:

    Ronaldo, TAA, Tierney

    Currently benching Tierney but Ronaldo looked so bad. Genuinely think he could be the best bench option.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ronaldo for sure

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      You don’t bench 12.5m, just sell, he’s useless

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah fair. Could buy anyone really. Will probably go Vardy.

        1. Walter White (WW)
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Don’t know why you refused to get me earlier 🙁

        2. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          I’m selling him tonight, doing absolutely nothing

          Vardy or Antonio for me

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Ronaldo, easy. He is so cheap...

  26. TKC07
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ben Foster captained Salah

    https://twitter.com/FPLFocal/status/1449407868675964938

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Guilty!

    2. Walter White (WW)
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      One could tell tbh. He didn’t even bother to dive for the Salah goal lol

    3. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Got a cheeky one point for his good self!

  27. Etihader
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    This Chelsea midfield is only good for Championship.

  28. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sanchez has City and Liverpool next, best 2 week keeper punt?

    1. ManofKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Raya?

  29. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sweet. 2nd sub Livramento in for Grealish and Raphinha.
    That brings me to 57 pts

  30. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Dodged many bullets by not WCing this week.

    Dias, James, Raph, Jack, Jimmy, Hwang, Armstrong were all considered.. plus the fact that Son Laporte and Rudi were not to be picked.

    Hindsight I know but last season's COVID fiasco taught me to hold the WC a bit longer

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Depends on your squad.

      My team had a defense of Rudiger, Shaw, Coufal, Ayling Livramento. I'd have been destroyed if I didn't WC this week. I've picked up 4 clean sheets so far.

      1. NABIL - FPL otai
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah team dependent really. You made the right choices, some may not be that lucky.

        My team atill has Kasper ward combo, tsimi, sarr, benny perica.. I'm sure it looked WC worrhy, but unlike you I managed to hold my WC