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. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Time to open controls gentleman

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

    Armstrong benched???????????????????????????????????????????

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

      He's done unfortunately. I was hoping hoping last week it was maybe a knock in training we didn't get to hear about. But looks like it's over

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Horrible pick

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

      Barkley immediately more threat.

  3. Traction Engine Foot
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Open controls, my old friend

  4. StevenW
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I have 3 of the 5 chelsea players who don’t have a G/A with one of them being captain

  5. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What's this open controls?

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

    What's this open controls?

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

    #Pemashite back?

  8. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    In FPL terms Havertz as Captan was a very good call as a one one week punt, not sure about -4 … FPL is a cruel mistress though, especially having to now watch Salah without having the C on him

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

      Disagree, he isn't effective in that position

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

    Shite show website back in town….

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Love that Thin Lizzy tune

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

    Is Marcal injured?

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

      Rudiger about to get an assist.

  11. Randaxus
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell is the best attacking defender in premier league history.

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

      Settle down

  12. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    why is this website breaking so much?

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      It happened when you logged in

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

    Blew it up, ref.

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

      Love this comment, every week

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

    The portal is open but all I can hear is a weird squeaky voice

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

    The portal is open but all I can hear is a weird squeaky voice

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

    The portal is open but all I can hear is a weird squeaky voice

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

      Heard you the first time 😉

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

        When the elevator is slow I like to hit the button repeatedly

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

    With the Havertz blank I think the way to go is permalink Salah

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      lol

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

    Havertz cappers crashing the comment feed.

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

      Actually it’s all the annoying “told you so” comments.

  19. Abraham & Cheese
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea fan with Christensen, Havertz (c), Kovacic. Changed cap from Salah to Havertz last minute and I'm really happy with the result and my prediction that Chelsea would do well against Norwich. Of course I knew that most of their goals don't come from the striker position the last few seasons, but in my humble opinion it was worth taking the punt with Havertz as captain.

    I hope Salah does well, but i'm nervous about Vardy. But that's what makes EPL so exciting! Best of luck to you all this week 🙂

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Can't even reply to comments now.

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

    Open floodgates and controls!

  21. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    There is goes again, where are the expert website designers nowadays?

  22. Hooky
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Krul trying to steal the baps

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

    Could be another red card?

  24. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Yuck.. what this control? Cant use button on right top too.

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

    The stewards are fed up of Chilwell's shite 😆

  26. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    looks like pen chelsea

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

    Pen?

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

    RUDIGER WINS PEN

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

    This site has gone to the dogs

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Does it really make a difference lol

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

    Havertz has hacked the site this time round.