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

    God, this is going to be the week from absolute hell without chillwell, Mount, james, esr etc!

    1. Elfozzie 42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Indeed. I'm delighted to FINALLY have something from Rudiger and James after injury hell. Just annoyed about Lukaku.

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

    God, this is going to be the week from absolute hell without chillwell, Mount, james, esr etc!

  3. Elfozzie 42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Time to Mount the bandwagon?
    SOOOO glad I spent my transfer on bringing in Lukaku in early...

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

    Mount hat trick

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

    God, this is going to be the week from absolute hell without chillwell, Mount, james, esr etc

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

    Mount hatty

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

      Whatever your fetish Bemba…

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

    Just think.

    Someone took a 4 point hit for Havertz.
    For the 4-pointers, just think, someone took an 8 point hit for Havertz.

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

    Mount hatty
    Magic Bean assist

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

    Hatty FFS

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

    Rudiger should really now stop playing football

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

    Mount hattie.

    MEGA HAUL

  12. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Is Havertz even going to start next game?

    I mean, they may as well just played one of the ball boys or the kit man, and they’d have had as much of an impact

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

      Ziyech will start next match, havertz benched. Worst transfer ever

    2. Athletico Underachieving
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Slightly worried he won’t but he was only ever a 3 game punt before Son

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

    Anyone own/captain Mason?

    1. King Drogba11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yep me.

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

      Ml rival has Mount & Rudiger, Mount on 21 + 3 bonus!

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

      My rival too. His one player out scoring 5 of mine. :mrgreen:

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

    Magic Mason

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

    I think he's offside

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

    God, this is going to be the week from absolute hell without chillwell, Mount, james, esr etc

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

    Wooooooow Mount

  18. JariL
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Well done to Mount owners.

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

    Terrible week so far! None of the haulers! Aghh wish I saved my WC for this week..

  20. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone got Mount?

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

      Juhu

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

      Not many

    3. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yarp

    4. Elfozzie 42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      TedTalks does!

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

    God damn it.

    All week on Townsend to Mount with exact finds and didn’t take the hit

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

    Huge score for Mount, he has got half his points for this season in one game!

  23. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Finally owning Mount paid off! About time.

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      congrats!

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        thanks!

        Wish I took a hit for James as well, but Rudiger did the job.

  24. Im New Here
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry to crash the Mount party but Rudiger assist

    1. Im New Here
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Love it

  25. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Only went Mount as couldn't afford Havertz. Feeling very good.

  26. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    This result with no Havertz involvement is one of the funnier results of the season

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

      Will be well remembered I think

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Raphinha(c) next week

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

    Just stop it now, my rival has mount haha.

  28. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    God, this is going to be the week from absolute HEAVEN with chillwell, Mount, Mendy

  29. Crunchie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    I feel for Havertz owners.

    But i was encouraging the 6.0 mid to Mount move or think about it if a hit when people asked opinions. (if they could not afford Havertz)

    I then thought about it and with Saka on the bench anyway didn't

    Was also worried about Azpi minutes.

    Hindsight is a wonderful thing 🙂

  30. Fish up a tree
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    HaveHurts owners feeling really smug right now