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. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    OMG Chilwell

  2. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I only have 3 players today how about everyone else?

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

      I should have three, but with James on the bench that makes two

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

    Chilwell punt paid off!

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

    chillwell goal lol

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

      werner involved in celebrations

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

    Assist?

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

    Chilwell nailed on at LB and will be massive bandwagon

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    tammy assist

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

      Don't think so

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

      That's no Tammy assist. Kouyate headed it out.

  8. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    There it is. Lampard legend. Everyone stop disrespecting

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

    Chillwell goal

  10. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell

  11. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Better than crying over Mitchell's 9 pointer on the bench

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

      😆

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

      I'd have taken another price rise and a further guarantee that he might keep PVA's spot.

      1. MSTRKRFTSMN
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Would’ve been nice

  12. SH1M1
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner leaving the ball lmao

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

      I noticed that too.

      Salah would have gone for that.

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

        And ruined the chance. It was never werner’s ball

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

    Game will open up now 3-0 Chelsea

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

    Asisit ?

    1. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sakho

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Hahahahahahahah

    A left back scoring all the goals

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

    Chilwell the one then.

    Sod off Werner

  17. NULL-X-VOID
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wow just wow

  18. FootieFan77
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chilwell Band wagon coming. He takes corners too.

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

      For now.

      Ziyech says hello

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

    Guaita gtfo of my team... Useless plonker, move your arms next time..

    1. JJO
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Haha what an idiot you arr

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

        My gran would have saved that...

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

          With her fat arse maybe

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            😆

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Bit harsh.

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

      Lol, no keeper on this planet could have a chance with this shot

  20. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Let’s go Zaha!

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 5 months ago

        He's got the ball like 5 times in this game and the last combined

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

      Perfect FPL goal
      16% own James but only 2% own Chilwell!

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

        What does James ownership have to do with it?

      2. NABIL - FPL otai
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Should've been CHO 0.4%

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

        And now chilwell will soar in price. Casual train incoming

      4. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Now for a McCarthy goal with no assist and 1-1 draw please

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

          U mean oriol romeu goal

    3. Pedram
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      There goes my Mitchell cleansheet

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

        Still time to assist

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

        He could still get an assist

    4. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Taa -> Chillwell or wait until he comes back from England duty injury free?

    5. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mitchell clean sheet in the bin.

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

      Come on Werner

    7. ratchet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Chilwell price check = £5.5

    8. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Chilwell vs Ward.

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

      Werner absolute pish still then?

      1. soup natsi
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        worst player ever played in the prem

        1. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          The standard of some of the comments on here is atrocious.

      2. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Same as your posts..

    10. FootieFan77
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Werner will never be worth 9.4 mill even he scores today. Sometimes we see good fixtures and keep a player. They need to be the focal point of the team to be worth that kind of money. No Chelsea attacker will be that as they have a big squad and when Puli and Ziyech back they will rotate even more.

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

        He wouldn't even be worth it at 6.0m

      2. soup natsi
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        never ever?

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

      No changes at HT is weird