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. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Havertz owners finally got something from him

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

      He got an assist last game. I'll take 6 points here happily.

      1. Hazard_18
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Same here

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

    Goodbye werner.

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

      +1

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

      #metoo

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

    4-0 and no Timo goal or assist???

  4. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    remember when everyone said Jorginho was an awful pick

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

      nobody who take pens for a decent side is going to be a bad pick this season

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

    Werner 4.5m by the end of the IB

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

    Why would Chelsea give penalties to Werner (a guy who isn't that good at penalties) when they have a penalty specialist in Jorginho?

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

      Penalty specialist? More like a hopping specialist

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

      He's a frog, not a specialist.

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

      Get his confidence up with some goals?

      Also is he that bad at pens?

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

      Because Werner owners want him to take them. They don’t understand that a football club might want to have their best penalty taker take the penalties, rather than the guy a load of FPL players want.

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

    4 goals without any involvement from Werner. Lovely stuff

  8. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    this is bulls***

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

    Jorginho haul, what a time to be alive

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

      Yep I played him over Bamford with all the ridiculous pens

  10. Dont give a fuchs
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    What's wrong with this. My ml leader has picked jorginho and he is getting these jammy penalty points

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

    fudge chelsea and fudge jorg and fudge werner

  12. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Jorginho - what a pr*ck - could have let Timo off the mark or even Abraham

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Nah didn't trust any of those clowns with my Havertz assist. Cheers Jorgy

  13. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Jorginho stupid casual win again

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

    Bye Timo you fraud. Blind stupid faith unrewarded

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

      Kept him for WB and Crystal Palace. 7 goals are scored and he returns nada despite supposable being their main attacking threat. Fml, least I can watch the rest of the weekend in search of a replacement.

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

    Blatant foul by Chilwell.

  16. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I never thought I'd say this but is Jorginho worthy since he's on pens?

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

      not from an actuarial standpoint, if you're banking on pens then having the pen taker is good

  17. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    FFS game week ruined in 10mins went neto over jorginho

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

      lol

  18. FPL_BUCCANEER
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    (Appreciate it is early to ask..)

    On a WC

    A) 4.5def, Bruno, Pulisic, Trossard
    B) VVD, Son, Zaha, Foden

    Already have TAA and Robbo.

  19. david31058
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Had Jorginho on bench in week 1 and missed his goal. Put him in for week 2 and got his missed pen. Back on the bench today. Need one person, just one, to not play. Fingers crossed!

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

      I hope he stays on the bench for you ya casual

  20. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    James wont be coming on today 😀

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

      Good!

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

      Bloody hope not. Don't want a 1 pointer.

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

    Score please palace

  22. FPL_Devil
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Castagne or Chilwell? WC active after timo blank.

  23. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Werner -> Jimenez now?

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

      pull the trigger asap

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

      Quick do it

    3. Harry the Hack
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      You can actually upgrade Werner to Bamford and pocket change.

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

    Jorginho actually becoming a valid pick lol

  25. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Poor Werner. Even the time he won the pen Jorg missed it baaaaaaaaahahahahahahahaha.
    Aw mercy

  26. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Someone should make an FPL team with only penalty takers and see where it will finish. Top 100k the way this season is going

  27. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Timo you useless idiot, wanted to sell but this Son injury..

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

    Zaha should get a pen now to balance things out

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

    Someone one here was contemplating a Jorginho to Hudson Pdoi this morning.

  30. Sid1891
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Chill well