Date: 12th October 2020 at 1:03pm
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Describing Timo Werner’s start to life at Stamford Bridge is a complicated task. The 24-year-old is regarded as one of Europe’s best strikers but with just one goal to his name, questions are beginning to be asked.

To be fair, those asking questions are complete morons, such as former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol (an ex Liverpool player working in the media? Crazy huh?).

Those who’ve watched Chelsea and Werner closely so far this season will know that it’s a case of when not if, the goals will come for the German international.

In our 3-1 win against Brighton on the opening day of the season, Werner was used as the central striker.

He looked so much sharper than anyone else on the pitch and his pace was something that really stood out.

Turbo Timo’ seemed a very apt nickname when he latched onto Jorginho’s through ball and drew a foul from the Brighton goalkeeper earning a penalty.

Injuries and a lack of available wingers forced Frank Lampard’s hand and Werner has been used an auxiliary winger in the rest of our Premier League fixtures against Liverpool, West Brom, Crystal Palace and the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Increasingly he’s looked more and more isolated, perhaps because he isn’t playing the same direct, run of the central striker role that he used to do with devastating effect for RB Leipzig.

Coming in off the wing did however, allow Ben Chilwell to get forward and provide a goal and assist in the 4-0 win against Crystal Palace in the final game before the international break.

Taking the Liverpool fixture out (45 minutes played with 10 men), Werner has increasingly found himself involved less and less.

47 touches 1 shot vs Liverpool
58 touches 3 shots vs West Brom
59 touches 2 shots (1 goal) vs Tottenham
51 touches 1 shot vs Crystal Palace Palace

However the one thing that I’ve noticed above all else in all these fixtures is Werner’s willingness to do the dirty work, and keep running and running and running.

His work rate and effort is second to none and having players like Werner, Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante who literally don’t stop running will be crucial if we’re going to achieve the Lampard press.

And us Chelsea supporters love a trier. Putting a shift in and working your nuts off for the team is something that goes down incredibly well with those who would normally be sat inside Stamford Bridge.

Fernando Torres may not have reproduced his Liverpool form while at Chelsea but he’s universally liked because he didn’t moan or sulk, he just worked hard and in the end was rewarded with a Champions League and Europa League winners medal.

Alvaro Morata on the other hand, sulked and moaned when things didn’t go his way and despite his fantastic start to life at Chelsea things quickly turned sour and supporters were glad to see the back of him.

That Chelsea DNA that connects supporters to players is obviously something that Werner possesses and if we were allowed inside Stamford Bridge, supporters would be quick to let him know that they appreciate the effort he’s put in so far.

Let’s not forget that Werner pulled out of Leipzig’s Champions League squad because he wanted to join Chelsea as soon as possible.

The goals will come, of that I am absolutely certain, and with Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech returning to fitness we’ll start to see Werner back in through the middle.

Being the striker of the media’s most hated team will mean more criticism and “pressure”, that’s par the course, but what I’ve seen so far of Werner I couldn’t be more convinced that he’s going to be a very big player for us.

Keep calm….

Timo’s time is coming.

 

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