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. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz so far has been sh*t.

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

      How?

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

        Doesn't make movements, weak, can't control well and pass under pressure etc

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

          Cough* 25 mins in

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

            So far*

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

              I own him btw

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Surprise of the century

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

    CHOoooooooo

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

      Owner? 😛

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

        cheering for an owner 😉

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

          Aaawwww you shouldn't have 🙂

  3. Jon Snow
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Is this one if those games where the defenders won't even need to bomb forward and get involved in the goal?.

    Although i should probably just be happy that my Chelsea defender escaped the roulette

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

    How’s lolvertz doing so far?

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

      dodging points pretty well, long may it continue....

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

      Oi….

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

        😛

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

          😉

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

      turns out that he was the imposter

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

      My C will score. Floodgate open

  5. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz :DDD

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

    Not Kai's day is it

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

      He says 20 mins in

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

      Lol.

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

    Captain hindsight but if I had taken a hit I’d have got Hudson-odio or mount.

    Decided to play it safe! =[

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

    Havertz should drop down a little. Heavily marked

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

    Norwich must be worst EPL team in history

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

      They are utter dog chocolate

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

      They are

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

    Wierd, isn't it, how Norwich can be so dominant in the Championship and the be utter dog chocolate in the Premier League?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      What happens when you sell your best player before coming up

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

        They were turd with Buendia last time too.

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

      Dog chocolate 😆

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

        Funnily enough, shite seems to be one of the few that makes it past the filter 😀

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

          Yeah, true enough….

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

      West Brom, Fulham and Norwich all exist at the space between EPL and EFL

    4. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      What happened to Cantwell too? I remember loads of people had him in FPL a few seasons ago

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

        Moved to Palace and changed his name to Gallagher.

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          😀

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

    Havertz + xGAvoiding Points

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

      Lolvertz + shite

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

        *xShite

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

          😀

  12. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Nothing better than having a low owned player score. Another one for CHO would be the icing on the cake!

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

    Have feeling Rudigers gonna score

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

      Yes please 💡

    2. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Playing well

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

      As long as Chilwell assist, I'm in

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

    Rudiger is on one today, wants a goal even more than usual.

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

      Playing in the free role.

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

    Lukaku won't be missed.

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

      Sold to West Brom by Xmas

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

        Good for GW38

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

          Hatty bags…

    2. jackruet
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Against norwich he wont be

  16. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    So every single midfield player has returned... except for Havertz.

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

    Havertz doing most of his work out wide.

    CHO looking likely most times and Rudiger adventurous.

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

      At this rate CHO might extend his stay in my team

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

      I was a little confused by the Havertz hype compared to cheaper and more direct Hudson Odoi

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

    Why didn’t Mount square it to Havertz?

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

      He’s an idiot

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

      You never warned me

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

      Bookmark the brag at 32mins

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

        I take it back.

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

      Still 60 mins left, he'll get some chances.

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

        He's literally walking around the pitch, hiding between defenders. He's getting nothing, as usual.

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

          Oh dear

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

      Yet you were considering him?

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

        Didn't get him, though. Thats all that really matters.

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

    Rudiger is hilarious to watch

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

      at some point this season one of those is going to come off

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

    Super-Havertz-playing-out-wide, Rudiger-precocious.

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

    Rudiger carrying more of a threat than Havertz

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

      Sad

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

        Not if you only own Rud and not Hav…

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

          And yet not really

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

    Norwich are a bunch of ball watchers.

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

      They should all be given the sack...

  23. jackruet
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz at centre dragging centre backs so that cho gets space

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

    Rudiger is a man possessed

  25. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Loving this Rudiger

  26. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Some people on here are going to look very silly if Havertz ends up scoring 😆

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

      That’s where the fun is 😀

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

      No he won't, he's been awful

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

        Lol at you

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

      This Bubz, this.

    4. JJO
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      After those 13 points from ESR i need him to score twice

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Easy sell

  27. JJO
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Dking Chilwell is playing in front of Havertz

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

    Even funnier is that I replaced Kov with Havertz