Scout Notes

Werner stars, James benched and Pulisic on the right: how Chelsea’s FPL assets fared

Chelsea 3-3 Southampton

  • Goals: Timo Werner (£9.3m) x2, Kai Havertz (£8.4m) | Danny Ings (£8.5m), Che Adams (£5.8m), Jannik Vestergaard (£4.5m)
  • Assists: Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), Jorginho (£5.2m), Werner | Adams, Theo Walcott (£5.8m)
  • Bonus: Werner x3, Adams x2, Ings x1

The first of two six-goal thrillers we witnessed over the weekend saw Chelsea and Southampton share the spoils at Stamford Bridge.

While not quite as catastrophic as Tottenham Hotspur’s capitulation, Chelsea’s own surrender saw them relinquish 2-0 and 3-2 leads and, like their rivals from north London, concede a stoppage-time equaliser.

Timo Werner (£9.3m) and Kai Havertz (£8.4m) at least opened their Premier League accounts as Chelsea’s new-look attack showed signs of promise, with the former playing a part in all three of the hosts’ goals and banking a 16-point haul.

Che Adams (£5.8m) also belatedly found form, setting up Danny Ings (£8.5m) for Southampton’s first goal before finding the net himself.

NOT BEFORE TIME-O

Looking more Fernando Torres than Diego Costa in the opening month of the campaign, Werner has suffered over two million sales and seen his Fantasy Premier League ownership halve since Gameweek 1.

There was belated reward for those who persisted with him on Saturday and the first real signs of the confident goal-getter we saw in the Bundesliga last season.

He made a mockery of Jan Bednarek (£4.5m) for Chelsea’s opener, dummying the Pole before cutting inside to fire a deflected effort past Alex McCarthy (£4.5m), and his second goal was superbly taken from a Jorginho (£5.2m) ball over the top of the Saints’ defence.

The omens were there from an early stage of this match, with the German seeing a header chalked off for offside and dragging a shot off-target from wide-left of the visitors’ area before he broke the deadlock.

Frank Lampard said of his striker’s display:

Really good individual goals in terms of how he made them for himself. He looked sharp. Our combination play in the first half was really sharp. For Timo to get those goals, it will be great for him in terms of getting his confidence, those first Premier League goals. So I’m really pleased and we’ll see a lot more of that from him.

In hindsight, this was all very obvious: a period of adaptation was needed as he adjusted to a new league and the inevitable improvement would arrive when he got up to full speed, as well as when Chelsea’s first-choice picks around him returned from injury.

The link-up play with his new teammates in the first half especially was hopefully a sign of things to come, although with strikers outperforming him above and below his price-point, much more is needed before anyone can indulge in the “punishing sellers” nonsense.

PULISIC ALL RIGHT

Christian Pulisic (£8.3m) made his first start of the season in Saturday’s game, blanking in an 86-minute showing against the Saints but “assisting the assister” for Chelsea’s third goal.

Too much more couldn’t have been expected of the American given that he had been out for three months through injury but he may not have been helped by his starting position.

Deployed on the right flank rather than his usual left wing, Pulisic showed some nice touches and a decent understanding with his new teammates but little of the penalty box menace that saw him come to prominence in FPL at the back-end of last season.

The consensus seems to be that Pulisic will be moved back over to the left when Hakim Ziyech (£7.9m) is deemed match-fit enough for a start and that indeed happened when the Moroccan was introduced as a second-half substitute.

Werner’s tendency to drift wide and Ben Chilwell‘s (£5.7m) forays up the wing could theoretically cause congestion on the left flank when Pulisic is stationed there but much of the joy he found last season was when he cut inside into central areas, so that may only serve to help him.

Lampard certainly seems keen on sticking with a 4-2-3-1 to accommodate his wealth of attacking options, saying afterwards:

Change needs work on the training ground, we haven’t had much of that so sometimes the work in progress is in games and today there were loads of great things from the 4-2-3-1, particularly in the first half.

In the second half I wouldn’t blame the shape of the team, more that we didn’t deal with the fact that Southampton were really keen to put us under pressure in their own half. We wanted to miss out their press, we didn’t do enough and that meant we turned the ball over in our own half, which irrespective of shape is always a problem.

INTO THE ATT-HAK

Ziyech made his first competitive appearance in a Chelsea shirt at the weekend, being handed an 18-minute cameo by his manager.

A set-piece specialist at Ajax, the Morocco international immediately made himself known at dead-ball situations and took the Blues’ two corners in the final quarter of an hour.

Ziyech is probably where Pulisic and Havertz were a month ago, with a few weeks needed before we can make an educated reading of his Fantasy potential.

The winger said after the game of his understanding with Messrs Pulisic, Werner and Havertz:

I’ve been out for a couple of weeks. But the last couple of weeks we’ve trained a lot and you can feel there is something, it just takes time to let it work.

REECE RISK

Chelsea haven’t had a settled back four (or five) since Frank Lampard’s appointment and the fact that even the hitherto “nailed” Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.9m) is now deemed a rotation risk speaks volumes over the uncertainty in the Blues’ backline.

Reece James (£5.0m) always looked a precarious pick from the outset and so it has proved over the last two Gameweeks, with the young right-back an unused substitute in the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace a fortnight ago and then reduced to a five-minute cameo against Southampton on Saturday.

His 14-point haul on the opening weekend illustrates the rewards on offer when he does play, with his potential for bonus points as appealing as his attacking threat.

But a dearth of clean sheets under Lampard (just 10 in 43 matches) and the week-to-week unreliability will be too much for some, especially while Azpilicueta remains a viable alternative at right-back.

Edouard Mendy (£5.0m) might end up being the tonic that the ailing Chelsea defence needs but he was sidelined on Saturday, with Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.8m) again fragile between the posts and partly at fault for Saints’ second goal.

Lampard said of Mendy’s recovery:

Mendy is at the minute injured and probably will be fit in the next week or two weeks and then that will be the decision for me to make about who plays.

SAINTS MARCHING

After some early-season wobbles, Southampton are now three games unbeaten in the Premier League.

Both of their clean sheets have arrived against two very limited attacks, however, and in James Rodriguez (£7.9m), Everton – Southampton’s opponents in Gameweek 6 – have a ball-player who can unpick that now infamous high defensive line in the manner than Jorginho did for Chelsea’s second goal.

The Ings/Adams partnership continues to improve at the other end and the aggressive high press again paid dividends in west London, with Havertz and Kepa folding under pressure for the visitors’ first and second goals.

Everton oughtn’t hold any fear for Ings and co, with the Toffees having made more “defensive errors” (six) in Opta’s eyes than any other team this season.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will head to Goodison Park without loanee Theo Walcott (£5.8m), who is ineligible to face his parent club, but the winger had a decent second debut and claimed the assist for Saints’ late leveller, with his manager saying:

Today it was more than okay, really. It wasn’t easy for him to step in immediately, do what we want to do and how we want to do it. He showed some good running with the ball, was calm in possession.


Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Chilwell; Jorginho, Kante; Pulisic (James 87′), Havertz, Mount (Ziyech 72′); Werner (Abraham 90′).

Southampton XI (4-4-2): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Walcott, Romeu (Diallo 87′), Ward-Prowse, Redmond (Tella 77′); Adams (Long 86′), Ings.

PREMIUM MEMBERS ANALYSIS

LESSONS LEARNED FROM FPL GAMEWEEK 5

815 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    This should be OK for another week or two, right?

    Martinez
    Robbo, Chilwell, Regulion
    Salah, Son, Pulisic, Grealish, Bissouma
    Kane, DCL

    Steer, Lamptey, Dallas, Brewster

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

      Looks good, no city the concern. Saving WC the amazing fixture turn?

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

    Who would you lose to bring in Kane with a free transfer. Ings or Jimenez? Looking at fixtures I think Ings has to go

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Classic form over fixtures debate here.

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wait til after tonight’s game. Jimenez brace and it’s an easy decision with the next few fixtures.

    3. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I like Jimenez. He's always going to score but has a low ceiling and no real assist value.

      Ings though, is a boss. Will get more goals over time but not always per game. Sharp and creative too.

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

      Ings looked good again on Saturday, I thought. Complete eye test.

    5. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I'd take Ings, always great on the eye test and fixtures don't really matter to him. Season keeper for me and I think he will score more than Jimi if he stays fit.

  3. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    That city fixture swing from gw10 has aguero written all over it.

    Taking Kane out will be brave though.

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Can kun compete in all comps anymore?

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        He’s not been able to for a while.

        But he’s a great short burst option.

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          My concern is he gets benched in the easy PL fixtures in favour of CL

          That would really suck when taking out Kane for him but I agree he could be great

          1. No Professionals
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I’m looking at an option to have both (see below)

          2. St Pauli Walnuts
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I think you're right. Even with Jesus out Pep won't flog him as too risky.

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

      Tempted to go Aguero over Kane right now, but the form and fixtures don’t lie

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kane Aguero DCL?

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I’m looking if I can work to this

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Something like this if the death of clean sheets continues.

          Martinez
          Saiss Targett 4.4
          Salah Son Rodriguez Grealish
          Kane Aguero DCL

          Bit late to the DCL party so having to pay top dollar there

          1. No Professionals
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            I could get there like this

            Martinez
            Robertson Saiss Ayling
            Salah Son Foden Barkley
            Kane Aguero DCL

            Steer Mitchell Taylor Alzate

            With 0.4 itb

  4. Trovsmash
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    A. TAA to a 4.5-5m defender, Jimi to Kane for a -4.
    B. Bamford to brewster, Jimi to Werner for a -4, keep TAA

    Rest of team for reference;
    Martinez, Nyland
    Cresswell, Lamptey, TAA, Mitchell, Ayling
    James, Salah, Sterling, Son, Alzate
    Bamford, Jimi, DCL

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

    Guys, I didn't watch the Villa game last night............Was Grealish any better than Barkley ?? if you had a choice for your WC who would you pick between those two ??

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

      Grealish creating a lot, Barkley taking more shots.

      Both good options, Barkley the differential

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Grealish looked better to me but if you need the 1.2 nothing wrong with going for Barkley.

      Ross could have penalties

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Grealish ran the show

    4. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Everything goes through grealish, was almost too easy for him yesterday so was annoying as an owner watching him beat player after player and not shoot always opting to dribble past one more

      • Party time
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Grealish owner, Barkley/ McGinn ahead of Grealish.

          I mean those two got balls, they both take set pieces & played better last night imo

        • Carlos
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          This thread highly relevant to me right now! I have Pulisic already, but right now with what I have ITB, considering a double move. Pulisic & Maupay > Barkely & Aguero. Thoughts?

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

            to soon for Aguero...........I know they have two decent fixtures

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

              I currently have no other City cover as couldn't decided between KDB and Sterling. Been getting away with it so far, but that won't last..... So Aguero gives me City cover. He's also on pens. If I knew Barkley was on pens too, it could sway me

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

        guys, who to get ....

        A, Pulisic
        B, Havetz

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          B

        2. Letsgo!
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          puli

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

          Once Ziyech nails down that spot on the right (and he will), I'd prefer Pulisic. Close call though, as Havertz has improved a lot since his first game.

      • korbendallas82
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        What sacrifices do you take, to fund Kane?
        Since i have Maupay and DCL plus a cheap Davis, i am thinking i need a premium striker. Then atleast i can more easely swich between one who is in form.
        I want to keep Robertson, since he has delivered points.
        De Bruyne seems like by best option.
        Should i get Havertz/Pulisic or Grealish.
        Then upgrade Maupay to Kane.

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

          Keep Maupay for Westbrom. 3-4-3 an option? Then just do kdb to grealish and davis to Kane...

          1. korbendallas82
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            thanks. Good option.

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

        McCarthy Steer
        TAA Justin Taylor Mitchell Vinagre*
        Salah Son JRod Soucek Bissouma
        Kane Werner DCL

        1FT 0.6ITB

        A) Hold
        B) Vinagre -> ?
        C) Other

        Thanks all!

      • Joey Tribbiani
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Lamptey best defender under 5 mil?

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

          Him and Targett

        2. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Or konsa

      • fplconte
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Would you do Sterling to Salah this week?

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

          Sterling away form is best in league...Maybe after Westham

        2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I wouldn't.
          No other way to get Salah?

        3. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Depends if you’re set on captaining salah

      • ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        McCarthy to Martinez shouldn't really be a priority transfer right? Would have made the switch on WC but not really sure if it's a priority move with an FT right now..

        1. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Depends what other issues you have

      • Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        How many points swing is needed for a sucessful free hit?

        30 points?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          That would be a great return but without knowing the landscape of blanks and doubles it is hard to know how valuable the FH chip will be until then

      • Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Hey all,

        Had a good chat on page five about this and have revisited, thoughts on the revamped wildcard team please;

        Martinez, 4.0 (any in particular?)
        Cresswell, Konsa, KWP, Dallas, Kilman
        Salah, Rashford, Son, Rodriguez, Barkley*
        Kane, DCL, Bamford

        EXACT funds.

        *Any particular reason people are hyping Barkley over McGinn? McGinn already has four assists and a goal this season and he's cheaper by 0.4M

        That 0.4M can be put into defence? Also I can downgrade Bamford to someone like Brewster for an extra 1.2M so I can have 1.2M or 1.6M to upgrade the defence if I want too.

        Also contemplating Foden over Rodriguez, just so I have City cover and I don't have to worry about an Everton blank (again gives me 1.3M to spend elsewhere).

      • Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        A weekly not so informed 2 line comment on the 8 matches to date.
        Noteable overall information:
        Penalties are getting rarer; the refs seem to have gone the other way when making decisions. However, with the high scoring matches still in abundance it maybe time to move away from clean sheet potential and reinvest in attacking returns.

        Everton 2 Pool 2: Atticking qualities and defensive frailties seem to be order of the Day with Pool. Maybe time to move TAA on and keep Robbo especially with VVD out. No Richarlison could dampen the appeal of DCL in future Everton games.

        Chelski 3 Soton 3: Similar to Spurs, there is no doubt attack appeal remains with Chelski. Time for defensive assets, Especially James to be moved on. Soton Mr reliable Danny Ings remains an interest. Both sides were woeful defending.

        Citeh 1 Arsenal 0: gone are the times of bucket loads of goals for Citeh, but worth a mention a slightly overweight Kun was back and Foden got an assist. Pool, Chelski, Spurs and ManU attacking assets maybe to consider over Citeh. Arsenal were woeful IMO but could have still scored a couple. Saka is the only Gunners player I would consider ATM. (Young Class)

        Newcastle 1 ManU 4: ManU spent the first hour banging at locked doors. Not so sure they are over their slump. The Dutchman picked them up when he came on. Pogba added very little. Wilson still remains promising having being robbed of a goal by de Gea's great save.
        Bruno can still be a good option too.

        Shef Utd 1 Fulham 1: The most boring game of the weekend. Stay away from both IMO; neither offer much apart from Brewster at 4.5 being an enabler. Hard to call anything else as against decent sides, even less will be worthwhile.

        Palace 1 Brighton 1: The shine of early good play is disappearing with Palace. I think 18 shots to 1 in Brightons favour and the one from palace was the penalty. Maupay still looks a good choice but Palace defenders seem the only way into their side, no matter their fixtures.
        Lamptey is the little right footed Messi who would not surprise me if he has positional changes further up the field as he gets older. Clean sheets maybe scarce though.

        Spurs 3 Hammers 3: Total class from Son and Kane who you should have probably both. They ripped hammers apart in 1st half, only to sit back ten yards in the second. Anonion had a quiet day but Soucek seems to be great for his price. Reguillon looked promising and Masuaku could do well when fixtures turn. Even in these time we won't see a comeback like Hammers for a long while.

        Leicester 0 Villa 1: Neither side were close to their best. No vardy running channels seem to limit the foxes. Their full backs cannot operate so far forward with a lack of mobility in the central defensive setup. Grealish, Barkley and Martinez remain the picks at Villa offering good value.

        Conclusion to date: Whatever side you have, outside of Kane/Son, resist chasing the ace each time a player gets a haul. I can't help but think Werner can really do well after half the world have sild him. Keep safe picks and live minimal amounts in defense.

        1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Not time to move any pool defender out before Sheff UTD at home . Heard Fabinio and Matip could be the new pairing potentially. Fabinio is a very good solid player and Matip can handle his own. Allison back soon too. I don't see the rush just yet. I would ignore and Twitter or FFS scare mongering for the next couple and make up your mind then

      • _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Jimmmmy