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

    Owning Reece is gonna hurt. Definitely not selling after this and that's exactly what's gonna hurt. Same thing goes for Mount owners imo

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

      How many does he start when fit?
      1 in 2?
      1 in 3?

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

        1 in 2 I'd say. Problem is when I play him and he doesn't start, he usually gets subbed in later :/

      2. Top Dog
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I think slightly more, I reckon 3 in 5, maybe slightly more. Reason for that is Azpilicueta’s ability to play in back 3, so not a straight choice

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

    Top Premium through to December

    Kane, Son, KDB, Mane, Vardy?

    (Have Salah ((obvs)) and Ronaldo)

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

    Rudi will concede but in what minute?

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

      All of the minutes

  4. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    KAI HAVERTZ

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

      ... please score a goal, please...

  5. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lmao at fanteam £1m comp. Some dude has the top 10 teams and currently more than £500k of that pot, what a baller. He owned and captained Mount today... next level

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

      Link?

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

    Sub Kai off, save for next game

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

      Nope

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

    As a Kai only owner, this game is a rank killer….

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

      Rank suicidal

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

        Will take an assist, just to keep up with the def owners…

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

    Who was it on here that kept saying 'I don't like Mount as an fpl asset' all week? Take a bow

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

      Wasn’t me, but I’ll take a bow if you’re ha ding them out

  9. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Can I just retire from FPL?

    Got Rudi - injured
    Rudi to James - benched
    James to Azpi and Chilwell on WC - James scores

    Give me the worst decisions award!

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

      The only move there that didn't make sense was selling Rudiger for James.

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

        Yeah that was super stupid

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

        But the irony it would have paid off (as of now).

        That’s why we need to play the game with a pinch of salt, 99% fortune

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

    Imagne how many points Lukaku would have scored!

    Probably 2...

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

      YC…..1pt

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

        For a mistimed tackle in his own box 😀

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

      Yep and people wouldve still find an excuse to bring him in

    3. tokara
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Lukaku not suitable for this team

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

    Norwich are the side your Sunday league coach books yours to play against in pre season to get the players confident after you smack them

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

    For all you who should be looking for a Havertz replacement. If you have a little money in the bank, i like Prime Minister Rashford, despite the fixtures.

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

      Perfect wait and see imo. The fixtures are so bad. GW12 maybe.

  13. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lofuts-Cheek and Ziyech warming up. Just saying...

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

      It’s pretty cold out in fairness

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

      Coming on to keep the starters fresh for the Newcastle match 😉

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

      stop saying

  14. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Grant Hanley's rival must've captained Havertz

  15. 1984 TC
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Time to rest Mount

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

      This.

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

      He has been resting for about 6 weeks now.

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

    Well done Mendy. Sloppy.

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

    Chilwell assist denied.

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

    Does that count as a save?

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

      Obviously.

  19. JPSpurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I need Christensen to come on for 10mins to avoid 3 of my closest ML opponents bringing on ESR - come on Tuchel, you can do it..

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

    Where’s my GOALONSO

  21. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Benjamin! Good show!

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

    Just let chilwell takes the cornoer normally , stop doing weird thing jorginho ffs

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

      Lol

  23. KANTEnders
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mendy world class save

  24. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell needs subbing for that

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

      Alonso wagon!

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

      Get lost

  25. dabber7
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell nearly gifted Norwich a goal

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

    Us Havertz captainer have Absolutely NOWHERE to hide oh no we dont 🙁

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

      lol

    2. King Kun Ta
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Waste of points that fella

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

    Havertz in the wars.

  28. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mendy really on another level this season. Great gk.

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

    Tuchel probably going to bench Chilly now lol

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

      He should

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

    I’d take a CS point from Havertz, it’s been that disappointing!

    1. Sgt. Schultz
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      and No YC is a Godsend at this point

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

      We only need A goal from him, and it’s A success!