Dugout Discussion

Alonso benched again as Havertz leads the line in injured Lukaku’s absence

23 October 2021 1872 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Chelsea v Norwich City is the first of six Premier League matches to take place on Saturday, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge at 12:30 BST.

As was inevitable, there are a handful of notable benchings to report from Thomas Tuchel’s latest teamsheet.

Marcos Alonso (£5.9m) is only a substitute for the third Gameweek in a row, while Andreas Christensen (£5.1m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.2m) make way from the side that defeated Brentford 1-0 last week.

The non-inclusion of Alonso in the Chelsea XI means that the in-form Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), the most-bought Fantasy Premier League (FPL) defender of Gameweek 9, is given another start at left wing-back.

Antonio Rudiger (£5.8m) and Thiago Silva (£5.5m) are back in the side after missing out last weekend, while Reece James (£5.5m) gets a run-out at right wing-back for only the second time in six Gameweeks.

Kai Havertz (£8.1m) looks poised to lead the line in the absence of the injured Timo Werner (£8.6m) and Romelu Lukaku (£11.6m), with the ‘out of position’ German joined by Mason Mount (£7.4m) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.3m) in the hosts’ attack.

Alonso, Lukaku and Azpilicueta are three of the five most-owned Chelsea assets in FPL, with Edouard Mendy (£6.1m) and Rudiger the only others with double-digit ownerships.

Chilwell and Havertz are the most-backed within the top 10k, however – and Havertz has been handed the armband by over 11% of these leading managers, with only Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) captained by more:

As for Norwich, who are without the ineligible loanee Billy Gilmour (£4.4m) today, they are unchanged yet again following a recent upturn in performances in Daniel Farke’s new 3-5-2 set-up.

GAMEWEEK 9 LINE-UPS

Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Chilwell, Jorginho, Kovacic,Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Havertz.

Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Christensen, Loftus-Cheek, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Azpilicueta, Sarr.

Norwich City XI: Krul, Aarons, Kabak, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis, Lees-Melou, Normann, McLean, Sargent, Pukki.

Substitutes: Gunn, Rupp, Dowell, Rashica, Tzolis, Sorensen, Williams, Idah, Omobamidele.

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1,872 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hello Havertz, my old friend
    I've come to Captain you again
    Because a vision softly creeping
    Of a hattrick left Norwich weeping
    And the vision that was planted in my brain
    Still remains
    Within the sound, of Havertz

    And in the naked light, I saw
    Ten thousand people, maybe more
    People shunning without thinking
    People avoiding without listening
    People signing guys, whose returns just won’t be there
    And no one dared
    To hear the sound, of Havertz

    "Fools", said I, "You do not know
    Havertz with no Werner grows
    Hear my words that I might teach you
    Take my arms that I might reach you”
    But my words, like silent raindrops fell
    And echoed,
    In the sound, of Havertz

    So with Lukaku, Werner’s blown
    And Havertz steps up front alone
    Beneath the halo of the armband
    Receives the ball and then he turns his man
    When the net was stabbed by the flash of a quick toe poke
    A thunderbolt
    That echoed, with the sound, of Havertz

    And then the people bowed and prayed
    To the Havertz God they made
    And then Kai flashed out his warning
    In the words that he was forming
    And then Kai said, "The words of the prophets are written on the Cobham Walls,
    My Norwich Haul"
    Is whispered, in the sound, of Havertz

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    1. Bennerman
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      GOOD EFFORT!

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    2. BeWater
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Did you skipper him?

      I did.

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    3. 2001: A Space Origi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      That's pretty damn good! I shall call Havertz 'Darkness' from now on...

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    4. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      😆

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    5. MARVELLUS
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Great first post

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    6. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Well done

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    7. FOO FIGHTER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Lol

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/24282886

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    8. DT42
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      “So with Lukaku, Werner’s blown
      And Havertz steps up front alone”
      Genius right there, love your work

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    9. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Very good

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    10. GoonerSteve
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Bravo!

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    11. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Top stuff BPM

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    12. Fergymac
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Phenomenal

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    13. mojoindojo
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Top class

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    14. tbos83
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Genuinely one of the best things I've read on the internet

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    15. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Keep dropping them lyrics, mate! Hahaha!

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    16. demob
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'm crying

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    17. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Friendship ended with Havertz

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      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Now Darkness is my best friend

        Hello Darkness...

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  2. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I'm starting a kickstarter to crowdfund therapy for Max BPs

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  3. Hooky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Let's go Kaptain Kai

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think he will blank today though

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      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Of course he will

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  4. BeWater
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    If Havertz blanks I'm not going to overreact. Will probably just delete my team, delete Twitter, delete Reddit, cancel Sky and BT sport, smash my phone with a sledgehammer and then catch a flight to Tibet and become a monk.

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    1. JONALDINHO
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      This

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    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Just landed in Tibet after the Christensen benching 😉

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      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        😛

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    3. jack88
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Just play your own game. Use Twitter, ffs community for updates,not for suggestions. Your own decision will be 100 percent better

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      1. BeWater
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I was doing this regardless. Not going to be blaming anyone else. I like to play my own game. Just here for the banter 🙂

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      2. Philosopher's Stones
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        True. I play my own game most times, but benched ESR yesterday after being influenced by social media. Never again.

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        1. BeWater
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Will the Christensen benching get ESR on for you?

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          1. Philosopher's Stones
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            White comes on, as I played a 343 this week. ESR depends on Armstrong.

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    4. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He won't blank

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    5. DT42
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      That’s gonna be one crowded monastery

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    6. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Don't worry, it's basically impossible for him to blank here. It's Norwich! Only question is whether he scores 3, 4 or 5 goals today...

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    7. El Presidente
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Pretty chilled I would say

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  5. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tuchel is so annoying. Doesn't play Mount, James and Chilwell together when Lukaku plays

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  6. FOO FIGHTER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Feels good owning Chilwel.

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    1. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Would of had him if Lukaku hadn't got injured

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  7. Philosopher's Stones
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    This game has a feel of a 2-1 with a Jorginho pen and an OG imo

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    1. Hooky
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hanley loves an OG

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  8. jack88
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    2-0 to chelsea. Hudson odoi and thiago silva goal

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    1. jack88
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No. Should be 2-1 to fkuc cleansheet

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  9. JONALDINHO
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Own Havertz with no Chelsea defence. You know what that means. 1-0 Rudiger G Chilwell A

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    1. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same and agreed

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  10. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Havertz was decent in the Euros right? Remember he gotta a couple goals?

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    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No biggie

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    2. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah the regret I have is not doing lukaku to toney but to vardy instead. Priced me out of havertz for a hit.

      Should have been done with a defence of Trent Cancelo Dias and Azpi.

      Still it was a late thursday call. I have my sword ready to fall upon lol

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  11. Emp
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Chance of laporte or cancelo not playing to allow esr off my bench ? 🙁

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    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Brighton tough opposition.
      .
      Pep going to play his strongest team.

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      1. Emp
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ye I agree I'm so mad at myself I played Arnold ahead of esr

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        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          You do not bench Trent if you own him.

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          1. Brehmeren
            • 15 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Do you bench him if you don't own him?

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    2. swanseag55
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Possible Cancello as played midweek but I think he massively in favour with Pep. I have ESR 1st sub and Christensen and Alonso so hoping one doesn’t come on

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      1. Emp
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        You will get esr on unlike me. The chances of Alonso coming on are low and Christensen next to 0 barring injury

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    3. Amartey Partey
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It’s Pep. Always a chance.

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  12. FOO FIGHTER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    If this ends 0-0 there will be SCENES!

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    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Havertz red for maximum carnage

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  13. Tic Tacs
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Getting in Alonso for a hit in GW7 was my worst FPL decision so far

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    1. swanseag55
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same here. If only I waited until the Champions League game and not taken the drop on shaw. Oh well….

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    2. Tic Tacs
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Indeed, needed to show more patience. Going to stick with him for a couple more games though, would be even worse if I get rid and he bangs against Newcastle!

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      1. Do I Not Like Orange
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Please don't do that to yourself. I had similar thoughts about getting rid before Norwich, but here we are.

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        1. Tic Tacs
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          True, I'm currently happy getting bench points for now though as the rest of my defence is strong!

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    3. Salarrivederci
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Well.
      I sold ESR before this GW.
      I brought in Ronaldo and Lukaku on WC after their double goal galore GW just to watch them go MIA (brought in Schmeichel as my keeper on WC too - don't think he has even given me a save point so far :D)

      And just because I'm a horrible manager I've had and started Pukki in GW5-8 (finally got rid, but atleast he matched Ronaldo and Lukaku in points over that period of time :D)

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      1. Tic Tacs
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Wow that is definitely one for 'rough with the smooth'! But thanks for making me feel better about myself, I'm sure things will improve for you!

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  14. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Let’s go Chilwell!

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  15. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    All pro pundits on Twitter YouTube suggested Saka over ESR in gw5.

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    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Saka has often looked more threatening.

      They're giving advice. They're not time travellers.

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        But did they copy each other, all of them went with saka

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    2. JONALDINHO
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      To be fair Saka was very unlucky not to have hauled yesterday

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Est more direct, saka spend so much time on the wing

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    3. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Tbf, Saka still the better long term pick

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  16. jack88
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hits are like faping. Very attractive before doing, bad feeling after the deadline

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    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Less sticky though.

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  17. FOO FIGHTER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    How much damage will the Norwich bus avoid today?

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    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      The only man capable of finding a way through the bus is one Antonio Rudiger. I don't make the rules. That's just how it is.

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  18. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Rudiger goal imminent

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    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      ... in Chelsea's net?

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    2. Salarrivederci
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Could really use some points somewhere between now and GW38 - would love a goal.

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    3. GoonerSteve
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Certainly hope so

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  19. FOO FIGHTER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Mount is the one who should be C'd for this match.

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  20. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    With zero Chelsea, I am really hoping the curse of the Lunch time kick off strikes again, and it's Norwich 1-0

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Norwich score 2 goals in 8 games

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  21. Hy liverpool
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    James Owners.. You well deserve what is going to happen this game for your patience 😉

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    1. jack88
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Red card?

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    2. Podge
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I chickened out of Alonso to James, not worth the hit, hopefully I get away with it.

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    3. Firminooooo
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks.

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  22. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Yikes no Christensen again rip.....no Azpi too wow

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  23. El Presidente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Its gonna be fun when Pukki slots in that pen...

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    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Then rips apart his shirt in celebration with a Christensen pictured tshirt underneath.

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    2. Salarrivederci
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Sold him and ESR before this GW.
      I cried yesterday, but if Pukki scores I might just Sh!7 myself

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  24. jack88
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hopefully azpi will be subbed in for 10 minutes. ML leader captained him.

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  25. BigBillyBass
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone taking a punt on Alonso?

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  26. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is this the part where we admit that Havertz is much better when playing second fiddle than having the pressure of leading the line?

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    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Only applies to harder fixtures, he'll happily lead the line Vs weaker teams

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    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Chilwell, Edouard, Gray, Raphinha and Cancelo for me today.

      Monster hauls please!

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    3. DycheDycheBaby
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Let's go Cobra Kai

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    4. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Sorry to be that guy but come on Norwich wee 1-0 will do

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      1. Philosopher's Stones
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Think 80% of us on here want this to happen

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        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            4 years, 1 month ago

            80% of 20%

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      2. Ruinenlust
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Rudiger shot on target

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        1. JBG
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          It's actually hilarious how Chelsea defence is a bigger goal threat than the attack lately. Considering how much money they've spent on attack.

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