Our Chelsea writers discuss and debate what they would do if they were in Xabi Alonso’s shoes for this weekend’s clash between the Blues and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
The wait is almost over. Chelsea have been playing football for just over 24 hours.
What felt like the longest international break – stretching to three weeks rather than the usual two weeks – is now over and the Premier League returns this weekend. For Chelsea, a tough test awaits against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, with Xabi Alonso determined to end his recent top-flight woes with all three points against the Cherries.
Alonso is set to give an update on his injured stars this afternoon and whether they will be fit enough to feature on Saturday. Before that, there is a lot of speculation about who will and won’t play against Bournemouth.
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However, Bobby Vincent and Jake Stokes Discuss and debate the squad they would pick if they were in Alonso’s shoes, and the two agreed on what they would do with Cole Palmer.
Bobby Vincent
This is a very tough team for Alonso to call with all the uncertainty surrounding the availability of a handful of key players in Alonso’s squad.
Fortunately, there are no injury concerns when it comes to goalkeeping and defense – as far as we know. Emiliano Martinez is set to return to Cobham today and will only have time to train once before tomorrow’s game, but the Argentine goalkeeper is still expected to start against the Cherries.
Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill should start as two of the back three, but the third defender is the more interesting option. Wesley Fofana or Josh Acheampong? Personally, I would prefer the latter to replace the former, who was far from his best against Brentford last time out.
Hopefully seeing Marco Palestra in the side will be a big boost. The Italian full-back has not played a competitive game for Chelsea since signing in the summer transfer window, but could start on the right-back. Whether he earns 90 minutes is a different question, though you wouldn’t doubt it.
Pep Chavarria performed well against Brentford, so the Spaniard deserves to keep his place on the left wing. In the center of midfield, let’s hope Moises Caicedo is ready. If so, then I would give him an hour with Romeo Lavia.
In the attacking three, if Palmer is not 100% ready, I would prefer to use him from the bench, as Chelsea have a more capable deputy in Estevao Willian, who shone for Brazil during the international break. He deserves to go with Morgan Rogers on the left wing.
Given Joao Pedro’s knee injury, Alonso may be reluctant to throw him straight back. It may not be his choice (we’ll know after the press conference), but either way Danny Welbeck should retain his No.9 spot as he searches for his first Premier League goal for the Blues.
Bobby’s XI (3-4-3): Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Gym, Caicedo, Lavia, Chavarria; Estevao, Rogers, Welbeck
Jake Stokes
I’d like Alonso to make three changes to Chelsea’s starting line-up against Brentford before the national break, starting with a minor adjustment at the back. The Blues could do with someone capable of taking the pressure off the ball by effectively taking the ball out of defense and dragging the side up the pitch if the build-up becomes stale or stagnant.
So Acheampong should replace Fofana on the right of the back three. If I want to see Palestra back in the starting line-up, Chavarria and Pedro Neto should stay at full-back, while Lavia and Jordan Henderson should stay in the middle of the park.
Although I would have preferred Reece James to start alongside Lavia, he hasn’t been seen in action at Cobham this week, which doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence. Palmer has also not been pictured on the turf at his training base in Surrey, but he still makes my predicted starting line-up…Anyway, up top, I’d like Estevao to join the front three of Rogers and Palmer. I could totally understand why Welbeck was chosen instead, but Estevao deserves a start.Welbeck hardly set the world on fire in the defeat to Brentford, and with Joao Pedro knocking on the door, there could be no better time to experiment with a free-flowing, striker-less attack. Alonso can always make a change at halftime or on the hour mark if needed!
Jake’s XI (3-4-3): Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Henderson, Lavia, Chavarria; Estevao, Palmer, Rogers