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. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Fast start crucial?

    2.5 million week 1.
    7 consecutive green arrows
    Comfortably in top 100k
    Team beautifully set up for fixtures

    Shame it's my zombie team

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

      700k GW1, 700k now and dropping like a stone with Ron Rom

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

    James on to hopefully block some Liva bench points.

    Azpi off

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

      Yeh good point. Safe pick Azpil on my WC so chuffed I went with him

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

    The ultimate urine take James on

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

    What a surprise, miracle clean sheet for Chelsea while Rudi is out for me and all my rivals have Azpi!

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I just find it hilariously entertaining now mate.
      In a way actually enjoying the game more than now I’m too far behind, no stress of trying to get in or stay in top 10k etc

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

        How has Lukaku done nothing again, 0 returns in 6 Chelsea games since I brought him in despite Chelsea scoring 8 goals!

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          It’s unforeseeable isn’t it, maybe we’re just cursed!

          Like as if Brentford haven’t scored, you know for certain had my Alonso or your Rudiger starter they’d have 3!

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

            I know it's actually crazy, I genuinely believe the whole game is just luck.

            1. Big boy Bowen
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 5 months ago

              100%

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

    Azpi banked... CMON BRENTFORD!

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

    Azpi coming off to secure a CS for James to ruin people’s bench points is the best thing to happen to me this game week so far.

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

    Now score Mbeumo. Now score boy. Let's gooooooo

  8. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Gotta love a bit of benchwankery - Livramento and Williams on for Raphinha and Alonso

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Williams?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yes Brandon, now don’t you dare hurt me and say he didn’t play…

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

      Called having a strong bench

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

      Williams didn't play mate

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Oh as if, FFS

  9. Sanchit
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ronaldo to Lukaku doesn't make a lot of sense now, does it?
    Ronaldo to Vardy?

    1. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yup

    2. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yes to Vardy better

    3. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Think I'm doing Ron to Vardy. Kaku has next 2 to convince me to keep.

  10. Brehmeren
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    This is amazing from Brentford!

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

      Brilliant team, very unlucky here.

      1. Brehmeren
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        They should be winning this if not for Mendy.

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

      Agree

    3. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      They're a good team, will be doubling up on them for the next run of fixtures

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

    Come on Toney! Score that goal ...

  12. Sanchit
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    So wish Brentford to score now that Azpi is taken off

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

    Reece James could be the worst FPL pick of all time. I've not seen one this bad for many years.

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      He'll get points at some stage but honestly looking at his minutes so far this season put me right off on WC. Only played more than an hour once in the league so far I believe.

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

        I don't think he'll play more than 45 mins combined over rest of the season. And he will get another 25+ appearances.

    2. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I dunno. Traore's been doing me proud.

  14. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Hoooold Christensen

  15. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who to get from Brentford for next fixtures ?

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

    Come on James get that YC my boy

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      That would be a thing of beauty 😛

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

    ref clearly decided this game, never an offside in the pen situation and now only 4 more minutes
    daylight robbery

  18. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Could have easily been a Jota hat trick and Alonso goal and clean sheet today, but instead their replacements got it

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      That makes zero sense except in an alternative universe.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        They would have played in the same respective positions

  19. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I hate Chelsea.

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

      Oil in the road

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

    What a save mendy

  21. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What a save

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

    No way...

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

    Holy crap Mendy.

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

    What a keeper, wow!

  25. SteJ
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Phew, James is on. Should stop a few people bemoaning that transfer

  26. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    If Chelsea survive this, Chilwell will get max BAPS. But Mendy deserves them.

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

    Brentford moaning at time wasters is funny though.

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

      Amen to this! Peak shithousery team.

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

    Brentford should have won this game

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

    Premium keepers don't get save and bonus points, right?????

  30. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mendy - the best saver since JC!