Chelsea fans’ preferred lineup against Wolverhampton Wanderers: Werner starts ahead of Abraham!

It’s been a very turbulent week for Chelsea. A new manager brings new ideas, formations and such things. Yet, one aspect certainly hasn’t changed, our need to start winning again, and fast. Thomas Tuchel will be in the dugout for the first time against Wolves and it’s anyone’s guess how he will set up the team. Just get the three points, pretty please.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

The WAGNH community voted to keep the 4-2-3-1 (47%) that worked reasonably well in the FA Cup, after the 4-3-3’s (25%) recent failures. The 4-4-2 (19%) saw a slight rise in popularity — possibly a sign for the future? — while the 3-4-3 (8%) just missed out on double digits.

Édouard Mendy starts in goal of course, with Kepa Arrizabalaga (4%) getting nowhere close. This situation is unlikely to change anytime soon, especially after Kepa served up another gift against Luton Town.

The back four is very clear cut as far as the community’s concerned. Antonio Rüdiger (14%) has done very little to convince voters, while Emerson (3%), Marcos Alonso (3%), and Andreas Christensen (7%) have also been unable to cement their spots. César Azpilicueta got 21%, but still nowhere near the starters.

The pivot stays unchanged from the weekend, with Mason Mount and Billy Gilmour getting hte nod. Why change something that isn’t broken? I actually doubt we’ll see either of them actually start for Tuchel, but for the community, Mateo Kovačić (42%) and especially Jorginho (18%) came nowhere close. N’Golo Kanté (17%) remains out with his hamstring injury.

There is no Kai Havertz (54%) in the starting lineup, as he and hat-trick hero Tammy Abraham (54%) narrowly miss out in favor of Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Timo Werner. Less than seven percentage points separate those five however, so it could’ve gone either way. Only Hakim Ziyech (78%) managed to emerge as a clear-cut choice. Olivier Giroud (16%) brings up the rear.

4-2-3-1 (47%)
Mendy (94%) | Chilwell (94%), Silva (97%), Zouma (84%), James (83%) | Mount (84%), Gilmour (59%) | Hudson-Odoi (59%), Pulisic (56%), Ziyech (78%) | Werner (57%)

MY PREFERRED CHOICE

It’s a new era at Stamford Bridge, whether we like it or not. The actual lineup and formation is anyone’s guess right now so I went completely wild here. Don’t take me seriously. I’m totally serious.

(Ed.note: this exercise is supposed to be about YOUR preferences, Jimmy & community, not what you think the manager would do. I mean it says so right in the title...)

It would be highly intriguing to see something along the lines of a 4-1-2-1-2, even if it’s rather unrealistic after Tuchel being in a job for only one day.

I also stand by my view that Pulisic hasn’t done enough to warrant a starting spot right now. However, given that he’s one of the two players in the squad to have actually played the new brand of football on the block, it might make sense to have him start, though he doesn’t do so in my lineup.

Who needs wingers anyway?

4-1-2-1-2
Mendy | Chilwell, Silva, Zouma, James | Jorginho | Gilmour, Mount | Ziyech | Werner, Havertz