Dugout Discussion

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

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

    How do we pronounce Tuchel?

    1. 2001: A Space Origi
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Roh-Tass-shone!!

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

        Haha

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Took-el. As in, Fool of a Tuchel!

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

      touche 🙂

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

    Mount haul this week, bandwagon incoming and then blank GW10.

    Get ready.

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

    Alonso officially a non option now then yeah?

    Chillwell being brought in tonight

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

      G CHO
      A Kovacic

      Lovely pass Kovacic!

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

        ?

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

      Oops sorry. Yeah, maybe.

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

        Haha it’s ok

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

      He was never an option. Said it last week and the week before and will do next week when all the others ask.

  4. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who’s the curly redhead?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Does he have a soul?

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

    CHO Goal

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

      Seems I got my call right. Was saying CHO was a good pick.

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

        Did you pick him?

      2. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Did you transfer him in?

    2. Doug McCasual
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      crickets

  6. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    CHO G
    Mount A

    1. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Kovacic wssist?

    2. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Kova assist sorry

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

      Kovacic assist

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

      Kova assist

  7. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Hudson Odoi goal

  8. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Kovacic assist,

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

    Hahaha thats not Havertz

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

      Wait Man

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

      Yeah we know

  10. Thomas Magnum
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Geez that feels good as a CHO owner

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

      Yeah ok

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

    Cobra involvement in celebration 🙂

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

    So easy. Good finish CHO.

  13. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    c'mon rudiger surprise me

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      With an own goal?

  14. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Why didn’t Hudson Odoi square it to Havertz?

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

      Well it was a goal, so that’s why.

  15. g_jannyg
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Yessss CHO owners stand up!!

    5.3m bargain

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

      Bad week for ESR to haul

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

      No

  16. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Imagine Lukaku (c)

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

    Not suprised if Havertz blanks while Chelsea won 10:0

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

      surprised*

      1. FPL Insanity
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Exactly, I can see 10 players not blanking here, only Havertz(c)!

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

      It’s one goal…….

  18. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Commentators are like franchise trains, the lack of competition lets the quality stagnate.

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

      So true

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

    Kai involved in the celebrations again?

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

    CHOOOOO

    Bring it home, baby!

    1. Thomas Magnum
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Owners unite!

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

        Told ya it's our time 😀

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

      tia...

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

    Kavacic 4th assist

  22. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz trap working well so far.....

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

      Just oh dear

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Haven't got him. Still paying for falling for the Alonso trap, so lesson learned.

  23. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I bet at the end of the game Tuchel says Lukaku is back next GW

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

      Should not be playing as he does not fit.

  24. 272MK
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Hows James?

    1. OLEgend
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Every attack through the left

    2. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Bit of a nervy start. Almost got caught switching off a couple of times but starting to settle now

  25. Amartey Partey
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Knew I should have picked Hudson-Odoi, Juninho, and Kovacic.

    1. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      *Jorginho

  26. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Now Norwich might come out and play a bit.

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Or parked the bus to avoid a disaster

  27. Joey Tribbiani
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lukaku was holding them back

    1. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Duh, they won a Champions League without him

  28. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Since when did Kovacic turn into 2019 KDB

  29. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Right I've already assumed it. Havertz won't get returns today this type of stuff where we hype a player that hasn't done much and then disappoints happens all the time

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

      Nice jinxing

    2. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      You are correct sir.

  30. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Farke - I want to go home now please.