3 hours ago, Argo said:

It has been the opposite way round many times in the last few weeks and almost always there was a core group (including pundits) blaming the "service" to Lukaku.

It hasn't actually as Werner hasn't been playing. The ball played through to him was good, he was onside and for some reason backed out of the challenge. As you've said many times previously each player should be judged on the same metric. That was poor from Werner as was his overall performance on the day, bar the pass to Havertz which seems to be gaining plaudits cos he can pass a ball 10 yds in a straight line.

3 hours ago, RMH said:

Big difference being that Timo hasn't had a decent run of games nor has he talked sh*t about the club and coach or complained while he's been sitting on the bench watching Lukaku contribute nothing and even removing fluidity and pressing from the team. If Timo had been playing continuously and/or given an interview bad mouthing the club and coach, while contributing zilch to the team, I'd be all over him too.

Talking bad about the club is a completely different matter to what happens on the pitch. On Saturday Werner was equally as bad as Lukaku and both deserve to be slated for what was a poor performance by them. Timo hasn't had a run of games recently but perhaps we saw the reason why Tuchel has been omitting him. Both should be contributing more to what is a very impotent attack.

57 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

Yeah Timo was still onside (which in itself is a minor miracle) when the pass came but from my view up in fancy pants Westview I though Lukaku had the chance to slide it through earlier (at a better angle) but wanted to try and beat the defender in front of him instead. Once he realised that wasn’t happening (maybe 2/3 seconds) he then tried to find Timo. 
 

Anyway - they’re both sh*t for different reasons. 

Personally I saw it different, but that is opinion. The matchday commentators both asked why Werner had stopped running. As I said, him just keeping onside suggest the delivery was at the correct time.

 

 

We can all knock Lukaku for what have been poor performances since he returned, I called him sh*te myself on Saturday. The reality is though some of our 'golden' boys don't attract the same criticism even though they are either living off one key goal or run around a lot ,miss an abundance of chances or just display poor technique. Between the three of them they are pocketing 900k per week in wages but yet not one of them would make a top 20 of all time great Chelsea players. Its time all three came to the party with displays performances worthy of their wages. I'm sure we could all add a few more to that list too.

4 hours ago, coco said:

IN out in out in out, give him a run, sick of seeing the lazy big fraud up front.

OK but with that performance he also doesn't deserve to start games, I prefer Kai as a false 9 in the middle over Lukaku and Werner.

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

OK but with that performance he also doesn't deserve to start games, I prefer Kai as a false 9 in the middle over Lukaku and Werner.

I'm happy with that, Kai#1 Lukaku #2, CHO/Pulisic share the left, Ziyech/Werner share the right, until one or both our fullbacks are back at which time we should go to a back four and 2 up top, Tuchels 4-2-2-2.

19 minutes ago, coco said:

I'm happy with that, Kai#1 Lukaku #2, CHO/Pulisic share the left, Ziyech/Werner share the right, until one or both our fullbacks are back at which time we should go to a back four and 2 up top, Tuchels 4-2-2-2.

Werner cannot play on the left or right - he is useless out wide and aside from pace, has nothing to offer out there.

If he is going to play, then it has to be in the centre, either as the middle of a 3 or as a duo, alongside Kai preferably.

Keep him far away from the wide positions. His passing, dribbling, ability to beat a man, and football brain are not good enough for that position. 

1 hour ago, charierre said:

It hasn't actually as Werner hasn't been playing.

I worded that wrong but i meant generally speaking.

1 hour ago, charierre said:

We can all knock Lukaku for what have been poor performances since he returned, I called him sh*te myself on Saturday. The reality is though some of our 'golden' boys don't attract the same criticism.

There's a variety of factors as to why.

The 'golden boys' are held to account when they perform bad, Lukaku is getting rewarded with 90 minutes after 90 minutes no matter what depths he plunges too. They also work harder, haven't openly stated they'd rather be elsewhere, don't cost close to as much (bar Kai), don't have a history of sulking and causing locker room problems when they don't get their way nor have they compared themselves favourably to the best players in their position. Most crucially of all despite their rawness don't deeply comprise the overall system.

No one would give a sh*t about Lukaku having sh*t workrate if he delivered like Hazard, and if he worked even half as hard as Mount he'd get cut some slack for his sh*tshows but to lack both at the same time is unforgivable, especially when he's delivered nothing of substance to this club.

Did well today when he came on - one of his better recent displays.

The bar is low!

4 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Did well today when he came on - one of his better recent displays.

The bar is low!

I agree. He did well and beat the defenders several times.

Mason is down and out, so not is the time for Timo, Pulisic, CHO and Ziyech to stand up and make the attacking spot their own.

11 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Mason is down and out, so not is the time for Timo, Pulisic, CHO and Ziyech to stand up and make the attacking spot their own.

Havertz has been on that left side recently as the starter.

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

Havertz has been on that left side recently as the starter.

Well that would rule out Werner and CP, maybe CHO then. Over to you Ziyech. 

2 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Havertz has been on that left side recently as the starter.

 

16 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Well that would rule out Werner and CP, maybe CHO then. Over to you Ziyech. 

Depends on the system lads if we play 442 Havertz could in theory play left striker or left/right wing. CP and CHO can still play on the left if he's in the left striker position but Werner not so much he'd need one of the front two slots. 

Doesn't seem like TT trusts him much these days he's barely getting any minutes this season 

1 hour ago, LongtimerLurker said:

 

Depends on the system lads if we play 442 Havertz could in theory play left striker or left/right wing. CP and CHO can still play on the left if he's in the left striker position but Werner not so much he'd need one of the front two slots. 

Doesn't seem like TT trusts him much these days he's barely getting any minutes this season 

Seems like we're stuck with the 3-4-2-1 system, despite playing well in a back 4 formation of several types. 

On 12/02/2022 at 20:39, nonotnowjim said:

Did well today when he came on - one of his better recent displays.

The bar is low!

You thought Kante was piss poor but Werner was good!!

We sure do see the games differently Jim.

3 hours ago, just said:

You thought Kante was piss poor but Werner was good!!

We sure do see the games differently Jim.

Yeah - although I guess all about context.

Kante gave the ball away a few times, held on to the ball ball too long, failed to spot good runs and was generally well below his world class best that we expect.

Werner came on, had a go, took people on, was direct and generally a breath of fresh air after however long we had seen if CHO running up to the defender and then passing it back.

The club will probably move him on come the summer. He'll at best be a sub option considering we're going to play Lukaku upfront until god knows when

1 hour ago, Deino said:

The club will probably move him on come the summer. He'll at best be a sub option considering we're going to play Lukaku upfront until god knows when

I wonder whether Werner is the victim of a little 3D chess here. Chelsea trying to signal to him that he should consider a summer transfer, because there is no place in the team anymore. If there only was a struggling team that would need a new proven top Bundesliga striker, when they lose Haaland. I wonder which team could make such a transfer "swap" happen. God knows Dortmund is not paying Lukakwho´s stupid wages.

16 hours ago, ElTerrible said:

I wonder whether Werner is the victim of a little 3D chess here. Chelsea trying to signal to him that he should consider a summer transfer, because there is no place in the team anymore. If there only was a struggling team that would need a new proven top Bundesliga striker, when they lose Haaland. I wonder which team could make such a transfer "swap" happen. God knows Dortmund is not paying Lukakwho´s stupid wages.

I'd like TT to just give him some starts so we can see what we look like under TT in a back 4 with a striker that actually runs in behind.

8 hours ago, LongtimerLurker said:

I'd like TT to just give him some starts so we can see what we look like under TT in a back 4 with a striker that actually runs in behind.

Not another excuse for Werner.

He needs time to settle

He needs a better manager to get the best out of him

He needs to play CF

He needs a partner upfront with him

We need to play a back 4 to see Werner at his best.

All of this doesnt change the fact he is god awful with the ball at his feet, always offside too.

5 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

Not another excuse for Werner.

He needs time to settle

He needs a better manager to get the best out of him

He needs to play CF

He needs a partner upfront with him

We need to play a back 4 to see Werner at his best.

All of this doesnt change the fact he is god awful with the ball at his feet, always offside too.

On paper Werner + Lukaku should be a great partnership, something similar to what Conte did with L.Martinez + Lukaku. Because Werner has been the best in that scenario in Bundesliga.

But sadly nobody is able to play with Lukaku at the moment, he's hiding behind his defender, his love for Milano probably made him tripping into thinking that he's the Belgian Inzaghi now just waiting for a dodgy bounce of the ball or something while napping in offside, what a f**ked up story...

20 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

Not another excuse for Werner.

He needs time to settle

He needs a better manager to get the best out of him

He needs to play CF

He needs a partner upfront with him

We need to play a back 4 to see Werner at his best.

All of this doesnt change the fact he is god awful with the ball at his feet, always offside too.

With werner it is very sinple. Huge space behind, werner is our best attacker. No space behind, he is the worse.

We’ve barely seen Werner recently. 

44 minutes ago, JM7 said:

We’ve barely seen Werner recently. 

Kept out of the side by Lukaku's dazzling form

I wouldn't say he deserves to play because his numbers aren't better, but in current situation I'd prefer him over Lukaku.

His work rate on the pitch could be useful for our space in the final third to create more chances.

As I see this Lukaku will start against Lille, but I hope Werner will get a chance to play in the starting lineup.

Deserves a start imo time for Tuchel to shake things up a little. Let's utilise our squad rather than sticking to the same plan that isn't working. Timo up top with either Rom or Havertz, he could opt to play all 3.

3421 with Timo and Havertz behind Lukaku and Alonso and Ziyech wbs or 4222 with Havertz and Ziyech on the wings and Timo up top with Lukaku. I'd like to say 3421 without Rom but TT seems to wanr to stick with him.

Edited February 22, 20224 yr by LongtimerLurker