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. g_jannyg
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ahhh CHO off but I'm delighted with thst double digit haul

    Got the fixtures to add more too

  2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    F**k off havertzz

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

    Classic FPL for Havertz owners

  4. Toby Lerone
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Alonso probably my worst ever transfer. Especially seeing chilwell turn into messi

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

      Mine too. And I basically knew, but some stange FOMO made me do it.

  5. King Carlos
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    ESR!! WHOOP WHOOP!

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

      Unless there is a concussion…

      1. King Carlos
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Come again? Azpi not playing means ESR's points coming in...

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

    Havertz could still outscore Salah

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

    HahahahahabahahahahahaVertz

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

    KAI SUK

    That's Thai for cooked egg.

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Kai Suk a duck

  9. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Alonso/Azpi cameo would be glorious

    1. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No thanks want my Brownhill 2 points off the bench

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

    Did any serious manager actually go for Havertz?

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

      Loads. It was crazy here for a few days

    2. Spg76
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No

    3. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No but I bought Havertz and Rudiger for a hit before Rudiger got injured and Alonso dropped 😆

    4. Spg76
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Well the overall 2nd and 3rd place did (c)

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

      Do u have Patreon?

  11. All Hail K
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Supposed to be a confidence builder for Havertz?

  12. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz shocking performance

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

      Hanley was just too good as expected

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

      made sure he didnt get in the way of his teammates' brilliancy

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

    Hopefully keeping CHO fresh for next week and not Carabao cup

  14. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I’m so angry aarghhhh

  15. Toonmad
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz almost 40% owned in the top 10k wonder how many captained

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

    Miguel at the game crying into his pie

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

      Oh dear. Forgot about that.

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

    Ok, Havertz disappointed. Now, Rudiger, score a goal, please....

  18. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    This is a tough watch as an Alonso owner.

    Take some comfort in not bringing in Havertz for hit. Had I done so I'd have probably capt him too.

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

      Keep us updated

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

        Ok, will do i guess?

        Thought that's what the comments section is for, or is it solely for contant rmt posts?

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

      Not when Smith-Rowe is your first sub it isn’t.

      Although I did take a hit for Havertz so…

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

        Nice bit of jam.

        I have Luiz coming in for a 1 pointer.

        Happy days

  19. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz clean sheet banked. Nobody can take that point away now Owners must be relieved.

    1. King Carlos
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      He'll have a meltdown, hit the 4th referee and receive a red card

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

    Well done Havertz owners.

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

      You life = Lol

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

        You captained him, when your username and DP is Salah, ouch.

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

    Yesss..havertz cs point confirmed

  22. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

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

      Horrendous comment

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

      Unnecessary homophobic chants

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

      Flagged.

    4. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      you nob

    5. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Such a guy?

    6. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Reported. You're an idiot.

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

      Wtf

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

      Feel like I'm back in 1990's school play ground again.

      Why is this still an acceptable insult in 2021?

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

        It's not acceptable

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

    I should never read this forum. Havertz is on you lot.

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

      Never do most people on here don't have a clue

      1. Colonel Wasabi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        ...and don't rely on adequate punctuation either !

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

          Never do

          1. Colonel Wasabi
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            😀

  24. SINGH
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea 5th goal an OG by Aaron's so no Chilwell assist

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

      The fact he didnt pass to CHO also a factor

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

        Ah thought he did

  25. Neevesy
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Just switched on and only jav3 Christensen in this match, how I am doing all?

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

    Alonso, Azpi, Christensen unused sub. Bench points coming in

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

    Chill Chilly...

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

    How many managers in the top 10K captained Havertz?

  29. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    well

    that didnt go as planned