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.

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2,175 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son isnt flagged?

    1. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Refresh

  2. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy
    Trent Mitchell Taylor
    Bruno Salah De Bruyne SouChef
    Ings Dcl Mitrovic

    Justin Stephens Vinagre.
    Good to save and have 2 frees going into the break?

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

      Yep, nothing looks like it needs to change in the immediate term

  3. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Missed the game, wtf happened to Wolves? Lol

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

      The same for city and bayern munich.

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

        lol this

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

    Jokes on you because my pre wildcard team was just as bad!

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

      Can't be a fail if success was never an option.

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

        Precisely. By never setting myself up to succeed I'm always a winner....

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

    Anyone else had an acca with West Ham 4-0 and Leicester 5-2? Put a tenner on it and I'm a millionaire now!

  6. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Mahrez literally saving me so hard..

    What to even do now..

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

    I would like to have Trossard so much in my team but cannot fit him in unless on a wildcard. Can't wait to see him scoring a brace next GW...

  8. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    On a Wc, which Chelsea players would you go for?

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

      Pulisic and Ziyech

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

        Doubt either will start gw4, gw5 they might feature

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

      Probably Havertz

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

      Mount is their best player by miles

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

      Werner

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

    4 nil Hammers!?!?!! What did I miss???

    Wow

    What a mental season so far.

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

    Wolves have now conceded more big chances than any other side so far.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Madness really. Sheffield looking very unlike themselves also. I didn’t expect Doherty leaving to have such a bad effect on them defensively! They could have done with the likes of Diego Jota tonight.

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

        Semedo is not known for his defensive capabilities either

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

    17 from 8 today...

    What to do with Son?

    Which option?

    A) Son/Brewster to 4.5 mid and Ings for -4
    B) Som to Mahrez for free (Also have kdb and Foden)

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

      A out of those two

    2. BobbyV
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      You can keep Son and ride the inevitable price drop. Then have 2 transfers over the break.

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

        Or just go with Zaha and watch Thiago Silva's misery 😀

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

        Thanks, can’t afford it then

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

    At least Jiménez scored...

  13. Hairy Potter
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Having a shocker this week and already done Werner to DCL

    Ryan Steel
    TAA Sais Coady Lamptey Mitchell
    Salah KDB Greenwood Foden Wijnaldum
    DCL Jimi Davis

    Anyone stand out as needing shipping for a hit?

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

      Team looks really solid to be honest. Wijnaldum is totally random though, but not enough for a -4 as your def can cover.

  14. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    So many viable forward options at each price point, mental really

  15. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son replacement guys?

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

      Someone with penalties surely

    2. Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Bruno

  16. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Son >

    A) Barnes
    B) Maddison
    C) Pulisic (if fit)
    D) Pereira
    E) Klich

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

      D

    2. Babelcopter
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C

    3. Jolly Good
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      E

      Madness to waste an atracking slot on non pen taker

    4. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

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

    Son to?
    A) KDB
    B) Sterling
    C) Mane
    D) Bruno

    A is the obvious pick but C and D in particular could pay off as differential picks

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

      A

  18. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Get rid of Podence???

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

      I am selling on a WC

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Fair but if you don’t have would you

    2. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      After today.. if he is fit he just has to start. Plus I'm assuming you may have a 0.1 buffer to wait. So wait and let him drop to 5.5 and decide end of the week

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

      Wait for team news, would hold if Nuno says he is fit for next gw

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks all

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

      Depends how bad his injury is. Not like he'll struggle to get back in the side based on today.

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

      Keep unless injury is bad. But neto didn't do himself any favours today, nice pace and directness, but no end product. Nuno would definitely have brought on podence today, so I'm just hoping its not any serious injury

  19. AnfieldLad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Vinagre
    Salah KDB Podence Soucek
    Werner Martial Mitrovic
    (Steer, Shaw Bissouma Ferguson)

    *Assuming Podence is fit

    A) Martial -> Ings/ Richarlison
    B) Martial Werner -> Ings Vardy (could be Kane/ Richarlison) (-4)
    C) Save FT

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Save looks good

  20. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I'm between Castagne and Semedo. Both of them will keep 1 cs in the next two imo. But after those 2 I believe Wolves will keep 3 more till gw10 for sure but I doubt Leicester's clean sheets. Though Castagne looks more attacking than Semedo. What do you think?
    *I don't get Saiss because Dendocker could replace him next gw

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Semedo looked awful today, castagne bombs forward

  21. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Quite fancy a little son > Willian punt

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Dreadful fixtures

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        An in tatters shef Utd
        City.... well
        Leicester ok but still not convinced defensively

    2. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Good punt

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

      Honestly it makes no sense and thats probably why it will end up working

  22. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ayling lost one bonus point and i have only 51 points instead of 52. Awful GW.

  23. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Nuno update on Daniel Podence's shoulder issue: ""It was from the previous game and he was not able to recover. Let's see if he improves. Hopefully, he will start training during the week

  24. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    30 points.

    With VVD and Salah to play

    ffs.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Subtle brag

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        For real?

        1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I’m on 25(-8) 😆

        2. Kodap
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Bro, most of us are on 15/20 points haha..

    2. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Salah c?

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Nope 🙁

        1. Champions League Varane
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Oh and Martinez

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

      Have 17 with the 2 and Martinez left

  25. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    The only thing I'm certain of next week is captaining Danny Ings

    What a time

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

    How much Spurs be affected by Sons abscence?

    A). Big bits

    B). Middlin Bits

    C). or tiny wee bits

    Enough too transfer out "Arry?

    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      C

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

        Got me thinking of. Kane and Son. to Mahrez and Vardy.

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

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

        This is my thoughts too

  27. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Think I might need to WC this team now?

    Any other suggestions welcome.

    McCarthy Nyland
    TAA Davies Justin Taylor Mitchell
    Salah KDB Son* Podence* Bissouma
    Jimi Werner Davis

    0FT 0.8ITB

  28. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Kane and Wood to Rich and Ings!!??

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

      Can’t understand the hate for Kane. Captained him last 2 weeks and he got me 70 points

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        No hate he is a baller but with no Son I’m really not confident at all..

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

          Still takes pens, still their only goal threat. And he has one goal in 3 games. Due some proper returns

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

        TC last week?

        70?

        1. Champions League Varane
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Would’ve got 58

        2. MSTRKRFTSMN
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Sorry, no 52 points actually. Exaggeration. But you can understand the love

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

            I took a vowel never to keep someone because of their scars

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

        No issues here with Kane but again, like Tony here, I have my doubts over Spurs effectiveness without him.

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

          without Son that should read

  29. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    My WC team currently on 17 points, got 6 off the bench to come on for Podence then Trent, Salah & Martinez to save me tomorrow!

    Am I G2G for the next week, used my FT to do Werner > Ings.

    Martinez (Steer)
    Trent - Saiss - Taylor (Lamptey & Dallas)
    Salah - KDB - Podence - Foden (Burke)
    Ings - Werner - DCL

  30. Red Red Robins
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Reckon Pulisic for Son before price drop?

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

      Hes 8.3 get him in early, take a punt he plays a bit this week in Cup?

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

      Pulisic fit?