Fans’ preferred lineup against Port Vale: The class B daydream team

COBHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 3: Romeo Lavia of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on April 3, 2026 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) | Chelsea FC via Getty Images There’s an entire weekend dedicated to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, so there’s no real need to rotate the squad for any sort of scheduling concerns. But Port Vale are just from the third division and most of our key players are coming off of a busy international break, so this game does afford a chance to give minutes to players who might otherwise not see much action the rest of the way.

That certainly appears to be the intention of the WAGNH Community, who have made some brave decisions in a few positions, including at striker, where Liam Delap gets a chance to show that there is some promise in those legs. Supporting Delap are Estêvão and Alejandro Garnacho, plus Cole Palmer sneaking in for the last spot on the team with 45% of the vote — ahead of Pedro Neto (33%) and Jesse Derry (25%). In midfield, it’s the duo of Andrey Santos and Roméo Lavia, ahead of Dário Essugo (45%), while in defense, Josh Acheampong and Mamadour Sarr form a youthful partnership, even by Chelsea standards, flanked by more youth in Jorrel Hato and Malo Gusto.

4-2-3-1 (78%) Sánchez (74%) | Hato (76%), Sarr (77%), Acheampong (87%), Gusto (64%) | Santos (74%), Lavia (71%) | Garnacho (61%), Palmer (45%), Estêvão (91%) | Delap (52%) Those getting a rest include João Pedro (35%), Moisés Caicedo (32%), Marc Cucurella (30%), Wesley Fofana (37%), and Enzo Fernández (8%). Meanwhile, Captain Tosin checks in with 25%.