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. gonzalocampos
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Frankie has to pack his bags, 1 shot at home playing vs. Crystal Palace.

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

      To be fair, Crystal Palace have started the season well. Ask Manchester United.

      1. gonzalocampos
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Still, is Crystal Palace (not Liverpool, City, etc.)

      2. Lukakus Unit
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Crystal Palace are good at two things: defending, and not scoring.

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

    Live from the Chelsea dressing room;

    https://images.app.goo.gl/uJp2n8uHU4uedLB2A

  3. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Priority transfer for the next gw:
    A - Pool defense
    B - Spurs attack

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

      Neither

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

      Relax and enjoy this bad game mate.

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

      C Palace defence

    4. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Both? I'm getting Son and Robbo

    5. Sandy Ravage
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Emphatically B, based on today's results

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Perfect for lots of goals? Lots of defensive errors?

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hope Mahrez brings his gloves

    3. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Starting to regret not starting Bamford.

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

      That's pretty unremarkable for Manchester.

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

      My GF, after too many taco's...

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

      What’s the weather like where the game is being played?

    7. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      My feet can confirm this.

  4. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    If Werner doesn't score in the next 45 minutes, he's out of my team permanently. Been stinking up my team for far too long

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

      You fell for the hype mate

    2. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sods law for me, James not playing, great, cleanse goes begging, Mitchell on bench also!

    3. Pavsboot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Obviously very early still but Chelsea definetly aren't playing the style of football Werner wants + he's stuck on the wing where he looks lost. Defo hoping he puts one in in the second half though because I'd love to keep him for the Southampton game with Pulisic at least back after the IB.

    4. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If he scores after 46 minutes?

  5. noquarternt
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    All that Havertz and Werner preseason hype. Just incredible.

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Rule nr1: never pick a player new to the league.

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

        You mean like Salah 17/18?

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

          Mo wasn't new in 17/18...only new to Liverpool

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

            New to starting games. Warming the bench doesn't count

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

              Just make the rules up as you go along, eh...

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

                When they make sense, yeah. Use your brain and tell me how Salah warming the bench makes him "used to the league".

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

                  "New" to the league...not "used" to the league. It's a binary argument - either he was new (i.e. never been in it) or he wasn't. Don't get stroppy.

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

                    Now you're just being pretentious. What does new to the league suggest other than the fact that they may not be used to the league and need time to fit in?

        2. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Didn't pick him 13/14, no.

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

            I assume you didn't join the Pukki party early last season either

        3. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          played in 14/15

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

        Auba started well also

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

      Payet says hi

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        More players who doesn't say hi. Suarez, Payet, Auba, Costa etc. have done well straight away though.

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

          Look at your username, hypocrite

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

    Think James needs to come on here

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

      Too late for us owners

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

        Need to ruin those bench points

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Owner and hoping for an assist?

      Or non-owner and wanting the 1pt bench-block cameo?

    3. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yep. Even a 1pt probably helpful to help the price drop over IB

  7. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I'm selling Werner so he'll finally start scoring after TIB

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He'll score during the IB and then go back to blanking in the PL

  8. Kabayan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Feck Intl break..
    Looking for Werner & Kai out for -8

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

    Everybody waiting for Pulisic to come on and make the difference, meanwhile Lampard looks over at Mount with a twinkle in his eye...

  10. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Richarlison in the squad

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

      Yesss cheers

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

      source?

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Damn Mitchell cs and max bonus on bench

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

        Hmmm

  11. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Puli needed, get that useless fraud Abraham off

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

    Scenes when Werner scores

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

      Miracle when Werner scores!

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It wont get away from the fact he is being misused

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

        Oh definitely

        CHO Havertz Mount
        ——Werner

        The way to go until Puli & Ziyech show up

    3. cutch
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Remember those t-shirts? "I was there when Peter Crouch scored for Liverpool"

  13. Leonard hatred
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz actually looks OK considering how badly the team are playing. Not an FPL asset, but decent.

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

    Ole > Frank

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

      Scotty Parker > Lampard

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

        Based on number of promotions with championship teams, yes

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

      Sure

      Watches Brighton vs Manu again

      Nah

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

    is reddit down for you guys?

    1. 9I6
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah

    2. moz_1983
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Aye

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

      It's being very weird yeah

    4. yalala
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Reddit is a drain on society

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

      yes

  16. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    It's funny that Pulisic & Werner almost play similar roles. How Frank is going to handle that is to see.

    I'm staying away from them untill we see how do Chelsea line up when everyone is IN.

    1. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Very good point.

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

      Puli on the left, Timo upfront imo.

      Then we'll get some puli love

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

        Timo goes too wide for a lone striker

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

      He will handle it like he always does...by playing Mount and Abraham instead 😀

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

        Ha

    4. Pavsboot
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hopefully Werner gets to play in his actual position up front with creative outlets on both wings and in the number 10 role behind him.

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

        Werner lacks positional discipline to play lone striker IMO

    5. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Isn't it more Havertz vs Werner?

      Mendy
      Azpi Silva Zouma Chilwell
      Kovacic Kante
      Ziyech Werner Pulisic
      Giroud

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

        Would be amazed if they lined up like this.

      2. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Don't think so tbh

  17. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Not enough armbands to hand out to the Captain Hindsights on here

  18. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    How has Werner looked?

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

      Fast

    2. Viprin
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A total waste of a 9.4 forward

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

      The usual. All fart, no poo.

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Harsh on farts

  19. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Do something Havertz ffs

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

    Palace are solid tactically

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

      Woy innit

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

    Chelsea last season when they didn't score in the first half, they never scored in the second half...

    1. Viprin
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      They scored all goals last vs west brom in the second half

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

        Palace aint WBA

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 5 months ago

          But who can remember that

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The definion of looking for the positive side of FPL: I found that Mitchell is my second sub rather than last on my bench. Get in!

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

        First on mine. Will be okay with a saiss benching now

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

      Guaita haul confirmed yet?

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

      Havertz not used to this pace.
      Took forever to get that shot off.

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

      Drogbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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

        Would be a better choice than Werner

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

        Unpopular opinion: He wasn’t prolific

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

      Selfish Havertz, could've passed to Werner

    7. tiger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki missed penalty!

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Noooo

    8. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Guys. Best 4.5 defender....Not Mitchell, Lampty or KWP......
      Looking at
      Ayling.
      Dallas.
      Konsa
      C Taylor.
      ??

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

      As a non Chelsea holder no mount, no James, no goals - perfect

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

        Be prepared for those jammy bench points

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

          Had to go and actually say it didn’t I