Scout Notes

Why Werner blanked at West Brom and whether to hold or sell him for FPL Gameweek 4

West Brom 3-3 Chelsea

  • Goals: Callum Robinson x2 (£5.5m), Kyle Bartley (£4.5m) | Mason Mount (£6.9m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.8m), Tammy Abraham (£7.3m)
  • Assists: Matheus Pereira (£6.0m), Darnell Furlong (£4.5m) | Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m), Kai Havertz (£8.4m), Mount
  • Bonus points: C Robinson x3, Mount x2, Reece James x1 (£5.1m)

Timo Werner (£9.4m) remains goalless in the Premier League after Chelsea’s trip to West Bromwich Albion did not go according to plan.

The German international had been understandably turned to by 800,000+ Fantasy Premier League managers for the Gameweek 3 captaincy only to be rewarded with nothing more than a two-point score.

As some start to lose patience in Werner, it serves to analyse what went wrong for him on Saturday evening as there were, admittedly, some mitigating circumstances behind his first blank of the campaign.

Tammy Abraham’s (£7.3m) impressive EFL Cup performance midweek was enough to convince Frank Lampard to hand the centre-forward role to him at the Hawthorns, which shifted Werner onto the left-hand side of a 4-2-3-1.

That left him with less time in the penalty box than his 35% ownership would have liked, but Chelsea’s abysmal start to the game in defence did not help him either.

The Blues gifted three goals to West Bromwich Albion inside the first 27 minutes which eased any pressure on the hosts considerably. Each time Chelsea conceded, the Baggies sat deeper and deeper inside their five-man defence and bank of four midfielders, making life much harder for any visiting attacker to find some space.

That said, there was one moment in the first half that Werner and his owners will view with regret. In the 14th minute, Mason Mount (£6.9m) finally managed to find some space around the back of left-back Conor Townsend (£4.5m), squaring to Werner, who crashed his short-range shot against Sam Johnstone‘s (£4.5m) crossbar.

Chelsea’s issues in other areas of the team then counted against Werner in the second half as Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m) replaced Marcos Alonso (£6.0m) and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.8m) came on for Mateo Kovačić (£5.5m).

With Hudson-Odoi on the pitch, who prefers to operate on the left-flank of attacking midfield as an inside forward, Lampard catered that with his formation tweak, shifting Werner onto the right-hand side.

“Callum (Hudson-Odoi) gave me everything I asked and wanted from him in terms of his ability to go one-on-one, trying to take people on. He got his goal. That’s what Callum needs to do. That’s the sort of impact he can have for us and it has to be consistent. He gave himself a great platform now to continue in that vain. He’ll be very important for us if he does.” – Frank Lampard

And when Olivier Giroud (£6.9m) took to the field in the place of Thiago Silva (£5.5m), enabling Lampard to pair the Frenchman with Abraham up-front in a 3-5-2, Werner was even further away from the danger areas.

During the final 15 minutes of the game, the only opportunity Chelsea’s number 11 had was when he emerged unmarked at the back post following a corner, only to see his powerful shot blocked by Kyle Bartley (£4.5m).

Would Chelsea have had to make these slew of changes to their side had they not gone 3-0 down in the opening half-an-hour? Almost certainly not. Would Werner have been better suited to this game had West Bromwich Albion not retreated into a deep block after a perfect start to the game? Almost certainly.

Perhaps that is the question his owners should consider ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 4. And even if Werner is deployed on the left-hand side of Chelsea’s attack again for that match, the Eagles’ have struggled to defend that area of the pitch in recent months. As Jan Sienkiewicz reminded us in a recent Captain Sensible article, the following left-sided players registered at least one attacking return facing them during Project Restart:

  • Sadio Mané (£11.9m) – goal
  • Harvey Barnes (£7.0m) – two assists
  • Christian Pulisic (£8.3m) – goal
  • Daniel Podence (£5.6m) – goal
  • Marcus Rashford (£9.5m) – goal and assist

Furthermore, the fitness of Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) remain in the equation for Werner’s Fantasy appeal. The penetrative runs offered by the American, and Ziyech’s exceptionally creative abilities would have been the perfect tools to break down West Bromwich Albion’s deep block on Saturday, and could be important when facing Palace in Gameweek 4 – something to keep an eye on in Lampard’s upcoming press conferences.

Meanwhile, owners of Kai Havertz (£8.4m) are likely at a crossroads following his contribution to this game. Like Werner, the disastrous start to the game for Chelsea did take its toll, but a chance to operate as a number 10 produced the German’s best performance in a Premier League game so far.

Admittedly, he was making that improvement from a low base, but there were still encouraging signs. The question is: has it come soon enough for his 8.8% ownership to retain their faith for one more week.

In the 10th minute, Havertz picked the ball up on the right-hand edge of the penalty box and unleashed a powerful curling effort. Johnstone could not hold onto it, forced to punch it clear.

Then in the closing stages, the former Bayer Leverkusen man found some space in a central area of the penalty box, but his deflected shot went out for a corner.

And it was his link-up with Hudson-Odoi that got Chelsea closer to their hard-earned point in the 70th minute. That assist was his first attacking return of the season, making four a five-point score. Considering the interest in Blues assets this week, that is certainly less than was probably expected by his owners.

Chelsea’s ongoing defensive issues did not help Reece James‘ (£5.1m) Fantasy appeal, who has now blanked in two of his three Premier League outings this season.

Just as was the case against Brighton in Gameweek 1, the Blues were weakest in the full-back areas, and West Bromwich Albion were ruthless in capitalising on that at the Hawthorns.

In the fourth minute, a poor defensive header from Alonso landed at the feet of Matheus Pereira (£6.0m), who slid his pass across to Callum Robinson (£5.5m), who had escaped from James’ notice. He fired an effort across Willy Caballero (£4.9m) into the bottom corner, securing a third attacking return in as many matches for Pereira.

“I didn’t blame the players, I stated the facts on the clear mistakes that led to the goals. It is always going to be difficult in a game like this. It is not a tactical moment, it is a turnover in possession which we spoke about before.” – Frank Lampard

It may also be a little while until Silva adds much-needed stability to Chelsea’s backline as he slipped and gifted possession to Robinson for the third goal. It was Alonso who lost Bartley for the third goal, although it was poor awareness from James that played the West Bromwich Albion defender onside.

“Thiago Silva is going to be fantastic for us. He has been incredible in his career and absolutely, I will not look at him. I can talk about the mistakes, they are clear and I am open and honest about that. We are a team but we have to react around that and, to be fair, the team did in the second half. But, there is nothing on Thiago, I am sure he will stand up and say it was a mistake. But other than that, I thought he was pretty faultless in the game.” – Frank Lampard

Chelsea were much more secure with Azpilicueta coming on at left-back and they should have Edouard Mendy (£5.0m) in goal by the time they face Crystal Palace. Chelsea traditionally more porous in away games, having conceded 42 goals in 21 road trips since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League side since the start of last season. Although the Eagles might not be the best side to face at home right now, as Roy Hodgson’s men have recently developed a propensity for frustrating top-six sides on their own turf.

Meanwhile, the quality of James’ attacking contributions were not quite up to his usual standard at the Hawthorns.

His best pass arrived at the foot of Abraham in the 11th minute, which the striker skied horribly, but aside from that, James’ delivery was all about quantity and not quality. While he fired in a slew of crosses into the box all night, against a three-man defence, he struggled to find his team-mates too often.

Furthermore, James’ delivery from corners was also rather substandard, Chelsea offering much more in that department once Mount took over responsibility for them. As has been mentioned before, James is likely to lose corners and indirect free-kicks from his locker as soon as Ziyech returns to fitness anyway.

West Bromwich Albion XI (5-4-1): Johnstone; C Townsend, O’Shea, Bartley, Ajayi, Furlong; Diangana (M Phillips 74′), Sawyers, Livermore, M Pereira (Field 90+1′); C Robinson (Robson-Kanu 66′).

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Alonso (Azpilicueta 46′), T Silva (Giroud 73′), Christensen, R James; Kovačić (Hudson-Odoi 46′), Kanté; Werner, Havertz, Mount; Abraham.

PREMIUM MEMBERS ANALYSIS

PREMIUM MEMBERS HOME PAGE

Lessons Learned from FPL Gameweek 3

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

2,175 Comments Post a Comment
  1. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    In what is a very confusing season, best stick to the basics:

    1) City will still end up scoring more goals than anyone else and they face a leaky Leeds side next. Their lineup is also now atypically predictable due to injuries.

    2) Wolves have established themselves as a good team over multiple seasons and have excellent fixtures.

    3) Everton are in very good form and also have very good fixtures.

    If those teams are the foundation of your side then it will come good over the medium term.

    Any other fundamental FPL "facts" we can cling to right now?

    1. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Your 1st and 2nd points could be invalidated in just the next GW though.

    2. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      New fact. There are more penalties than ever

      1. sully29
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yep, so increased importance to that as a factor when picking players.

    3. nolard
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Liverpool.

    4. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Leicester also look quite good - Excellent fixtures too.

    5. FPL_trail_runner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      People need to realise sooner or later that Leeds are not leaky

      They have strong underlying defence stats for a long while now - better than SHU from last year.

      City will beat them but the 3 pens in the first 2 gws is making people think they are bad defence

  2. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Amidst all this madness, Im hoping Liverpool at least keep up their consistency. Otherwise this game is literally a lottery

    1. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It really does feel like a lottery at the moment...

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hopefully

    3. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I really don’t want a big Liverpool win rewarding Salah (c) again.

      More likely an Aubameyang hatrick as we all sold him haha

    4. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It’s hardly predictable either

  3. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Doing this. Wish me luck

    Davies and Saiss to Castagne and Lamptey -4.

  4. Budweiser
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son injury means I gotta keep Werner

    1. Captain Hindsight
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      The way this season has gone, Werner will probably get five goals next game

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Blessings in disguise

  5. Obi Wan Elokobi
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Jimenez still makes sense over Ings right?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Both good pick 50/50

    2. AA
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Equally good.

    3. Budweiser
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm going Ings because he always seems to score. Then getting Jiminez week after

      1. Obi Wan Elokobi
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I would but it’s a waste of a transfer

        1. Budweiser
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Oh I mean I'm getting Jimenez for a different player

    4. Bank$y
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He can’t score every game.

    5. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Why not Vardy ?

    6. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      With fixtures, yea, Wolves generally perform better than Southampton

  6. AA
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Vardy!

  7. onceuponatyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Jimmy Dunne - what's the story, is that place his now?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nope. Tarkowski's place once he's fit.

      1. onceuponatyne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Ahh, of course - stoopid of me.

    2. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Tarkowsk might still be sold. Leicester are in for him.

    3. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Burnley ridded with injuries

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Go Johnson

  8. Sid123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone have ideas if bamford is secure or will rodrigo come in to replace him in the near future?

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Rodrigo can play on the wing as he has done plus Bielsa isn't immune to two up front. He'll get lots of minutes.

    2. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Secure

    3. Holding Matip
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Secure, he's the managers favourite

    4. Dark_Knight_braces
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I do not think he will be replaced

  9. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can I just say. It’s looking like I won a head to head where they had 3 wolves players and I was 1 point ahead.

    Jiminez. Saiss and Podence later. I win by 2 hahaha

    1. diabydoesgallas
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Amazing

  10. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Another stat: Leicester scored 12 goals this season, despite having an xG of 6.84 and non penalty xG of 3.03.

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

    With so much uncertainty around results, i still feel its better keeping the WC, and taking a couple -4’s or even -8’s to get the team you want

    1. Bank$y
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah the hits don’t really matter much right now as weekly scores are all over the place.

    2. PlayPercentage
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes. Best to wait until teams get fully match fit and the penalty blitz calms down a bit.

  12. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son unlikely to play next game?

    1. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      If it’s hamstring. He’ll miss at least next 3-4 games

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Next game seems like a doubt for sure but the break might help his case... I'd suggest no for next weekend, but possible the gw after... Who knows for sure at this point

  13. The Hunt
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Because he runs around like a headless chicken, can't control a ball and misses on sight?

  14. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Sold already Jimmy in

  15. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Bissouma price protected or....?

  16. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Keep it simple, right? No hit.
    Just Son >> Fernandes and hope Podence is fit.

    Martinez
    Coleman,Saiss,Lewis
    Salah,KDB,Son?,Rodriguez,Podence ?
    Richarlison,Jimenez

    Steer,Ayling,Brewster,Ferguson 1FT 2.1m itb.

  17. onceuponatyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Who are the template defenders in the 4-4.5m bracket? Thanks.

    1. nolard
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C. Taylor, Mitchell, Justin

    2. nolard
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      And Lamptey, but he has also risen.

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Ayling, KWP, Lamptey, Cooper (playing 4.4m).

      Keep an eye on Ben Johnson if Fredericks is out. Mitchell is starting for now. Might lose his place though.

    4. onceuponatyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Thanks gang.

  18. Mr Bird
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    So this season is a lottery huh... good luck everyone!

    1. FPL_trail_runner
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Its not, its just what most of our pre season perceptions are not correct

      It happens each year, just need to adjust

      Same last year when Mane and KDB was doing it over Sterling and Salah

      and pukki abraham mount etc.

      Adjust

  19. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Will wait to see how Mitrovic performs tomorrow but thinking Son and Mitro ----> Soucek and Vardy.

    Need to shift Son

  20. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Soucek is such a great option. 5 shots today and xG of 0.96. Waiting until the fixtures turn for better for WHU but have a feeling he will score well anyways in those tough fixtures.

  21. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Calvert-Lewin/ Bamford / ?

    A) Ings
    B) Vardy
    C) Maupay
    D) Jimenez

    1. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      D

  22. Holding Matip
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Interestingly, livefpl suggests the overall average is higher than the top 10k average! This game really is for the casuals

    1. Das Boot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A lot of the Top 10 will be casuals at this stage. Those who use their Triple Captain right away etc.

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      At this stage of the season the top 10k will be packed full of casuals too.

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Top 10k is literally all casuals at this point of the season...

    4. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      This makes no sense. You think everyone in the top 10k after three weeks are the 'professional' players?!

    5. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      The performances do not match the results whatsoever. I've based a lot of my moves on watching games and making decisions, but it doesn't seem to matter with Var and all these penalties

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        +100

    6. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Top 10k is mainly people who have already used thei chips

    7. Holding Matip
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice to see this sarcasm has passed everyone by!

      1. Greasy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah you’re not getting away with that one man. Worst shout ever and blame sarcasm when you’re caught out

  23. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Votes

    Son Out for

    Barnes. Maddison. Zaha. Pereira Trossard

    ??

    1. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm between Zaha and Mahrez currently

      1. MagicMessi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Don't like Mahrez

      2. Taff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Zaha was dreadful against Everton. Stuck out left and carried very little threat. Townsend was much more threatening

    2. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes

    3. Khalico
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes

    4. rnrd
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes looks good

    5. Runaway
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes

    6. MagicMessi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'm between Barnes and Zaha
      Also maddison looked fine will he start next I don't know

  24. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    U have no control in what happens in the game but do have control of ur team value. And the only thing separating u from casuals atm

    Get those early transfers in

    U will have vardy bruno ings salah kdb all in one team 2nd half of the season

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      U could do that now quite easily.

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah i guess if u go wothout pool defence which probably isnt a bad idea atm

  25. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any info on Podence injury? Any chance to play next week or long term?

  26. Taff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What’s the LMS survival score then? I fear that 15 may not cut it.......

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hey we're on the same points. I might be out too. Have salah and robbo left

  27. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    16 pts with 3 to go and captain that has already played - who has worse ?

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      11 from 7 (inc captain) on my crappy WC.

  28. Dark_Knight_braces
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Since Son is injured, who should be a good transfer option for Son. Already have Salah, KBD and Rodriguez

    1. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Barnes and Zaha looks like the real contenders

  29. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Feel like my fpl season over already.

    19 on the wildcard with 3 to play

    Rank of 4.5m.......

    1. Strchld
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Im on the same boat. Just going to leave a team and hope the best. I have seen enough this lottery.

    2. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      15 from 9 on WC here. Only worry if your 4.5m still halfway through the season, its still early days, one good game week can change you by several million still, not over!

  30. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    If this continues and I dont see why it won't we will have 250 penalties this season or so.

    I am already putting asterisk to this season