Dugout Discussion

Timo Werner starts on the flank as Reece James benched for Chelsea

The first match of Gameweek 4 brings a big casualty for FPL bosses as Reece James (£5.1m) finds himself on the Chelsea bench.

He is joined there by Mason Mount (£6.9m), who is also dropped from Frank Lampard’s XI, and injury returnee Christian Pulisic (£8.3m).

Timo Werner (£9.4m) is again stationed on the left flank of the Blues’ attacking midfield three, with Tammy Abraham (£7.3m) leading the line.

New goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (£5.0m) takes over between the sticks after making his debut in midweek, while ex-Leicester defender Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) makes his first league appearance at left-back.

Captain Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m) slots in at right-back, putting the 16.4%-owned James out of the side.

Crystal Palace remain unchanged from their 2-1 defeat to Everton in Gameweek 3. Michy Batshuayi (£5.8m) is ineligible to face his parent club.

As Lampard revealed in his pre-match press conference yesterday, Pulisic is part of Chelsea’s matchday 18 but Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) remains sidelined.

Pulisic is in the squad for tomorrow. He won’t start, it’s great to have him back. Ziyech is getting closer but not close enough to be on the bench. I think they will all bring the best out of each other.

It’s a shame we haven’t had them. Hakim will bring something completely different for us. I am very excited to have them fit. I have a clear idea of where I want them to play.

The Blues boss was also honest in his assessment of Chelsea’s centre-back situation and has duly replaced Andreas Christensen (£4.9m) with Kurt Zouma (£5.0m) for this afternoon’s clash at Stamford Bridge – one of six changes in the Chelsea line-up.

That leaves Thiago Silva (£5.5m) as the only retained member of the backline which shipped three goals to West Brom last weekend.

“Most coaches will tell you that you can find a pretty settled back two, you strive for it but it’s hard. Last year we had to change a lot, this year will likely be the same.” – Frank Lampard

Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, is hoping a host of senior players will soon be available for selection:

This week we’ve seen the re-emergence of Gary Cahill (£4.5m), James Tomkins (£4.5m) and Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m). They’re gradually coming back but obviously they’ve been out for a long time so they’re not really ready to go straight back into the team.

We’re limiting the contact work as far as he [Van Aanholt] is concerned as it’s a shoulder injury but it’s good to see those guys back in training.

And we’re hoping we might get [Jeffrey Schlupp (£5.5m)] back in the next few weeks with the international break.

Wilfried Zaha (£7.2m) is again part of a two-man forward line for the Eagles, while Tyrick Mitchell (£4.1m) continues to provide value in the budget defender bracket.

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): E Mendy; Chilwell, Zouma, T Silva, Azpilicueta; Jorginho, Kanté; Werner, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi; Abraham.

Crystal Palace XI (4-4-2): Guaita; Mitchell, Sakho, Kouyaté, J Ward; Eze, McArthur, McCarthy, Townsend; Zaha, Ayew.

1,789 Comments Post a Comment
  1. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner touch in the penalty area!

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      This is how bad its become.

  2. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    WERNER NEEDS TO SCORE 🙂

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Well, yeah

  3. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    More painful Werner watching.

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wish I axed him

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Should've kept Martial and sold Werner last week instead.

        1. Fudgy
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I did the same

  4. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea have no incision through this Palace block. Gonna be a long game...

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Palace are a well drilled unit.

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Usually ends after 95mins on the clock.

      100+ if Man Utd and not Winn though...

  5. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What’s the mods league?

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      581

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

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

      it’s a league for the Mods 😉

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Awful

  6. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    See why Klopp was so hesitant to sign Werner even for 60M

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

    Werner to punish the sellers ?

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Punish the owners

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

        🙂

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Punish the casuals
      While the professionals relax with their double digit hauls from Jimenez and Ings still to come

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The only people he's punishing are the silly sots who still own him.

  8. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Ings would have had a brace by now, just saying.

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      cap

  9. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    0-0 written all over it!

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      0-1
      Tyrick Mitchell goal!

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Probably, put Mitchell B2.

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

      Come on Mitchell!

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Townsend is in the town

  10. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner -> Abraham on the cards

  11. Cajunfit
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner floating in central quite a bit

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

    James owners - keeping or selling ?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      From one benching? Lop, keeping

  13. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    come on then. Who started Mitchell?

  14. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chillwell getting into good positions...

  15. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    The penny has finally dropped. Werner is a complete flop. Hes my next transfer out.

    1. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      keep the faith Fudgy until the end of this game at least - if he blanks I'm with you

      1. Fudgy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        It's difficult though when all my rivals in my mini league are enjoying a bounty of goals from their strikers each week

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          yes, I can understand that - not in any mini leagues so not quite as painful for me

  16. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Jimi would have a brace against Fulham by now.

  17. FFFoxy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Lampard is a pony manager. Reece James was maybe the best chelsea player vs WBA. And against a low block side he’s be an asset in this game

    1. Yome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Azpilicueta is a leader and must play. Perhaps James should be tried as center back. But Azpilicueta can play LB so perhaps Chilwell was not needed after all.

      1. FFFoxy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah stop watching football if you think Reece James can play CB

  18. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner should of scored. Straight at the keeper!

  19. 420king
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Useless.

  20. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner wasting Havertz assist

  21. Yome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner is good enough to tear Bundesliga defences apart where we all know the teams there are leaking goals. Every weekends there are high scoring games in Germany.

    1. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Did you see the scores in the Prem last week?

      1. Yome
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        That is not common in the premier league for such high scoring weekends. Definitely more goals on average in Bundesliga

  22. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Great run from werner. Poor shot straight at keeper

  23. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner misses an absolute sitter

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Shot on target at least.

      Small mercies etc...

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Maybe look up the word sitter

    3. FFFoxy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That’s not a sitter at all

  24. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Timo shot

  25. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Mitrovic would have been sent off by now. Just sa

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      ...ying.

  26. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chriiiiiist Timo

  27. H-SF
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell on set pieces and corners...

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ziyech when he’s back

  28. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Well, hardly anyone has captained KDB in my mini league, another confirmed blank for him as my captain it seems. Absolute joke, always goes against me.

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

      lol - the game hasn’t started yet

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I know but ya can just see it coming

        1. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          it's not likely Dance - it may happen, but it's not likely

  29. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell on set pieces

  30. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    200 mins without a goal for Werner in the PL. World class player

    1. FFFoxy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      300 in 8 mins time

      1. kamdaraji
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        sorry that's correct. Last 3 league games he didn't score