Timo Werner must address his finishing after his worrying goal drought continued for Chelsea in their 2-1 loss to Wolves, says former Blues star Joe Cole.
Werner played the full 90 minutes at Molineux but was unable to inspire the team as Nuno Espirito Santo's men clinched a dramatic stoppage time winner through Pedro Neto to bag all three points and deal a set-back to Chelsea's title hopes.
Olivier Giroud, who has struggled to get into the team for much of the season, was on the scoresheet for Chelsea, with Werner shifted out wide to the left flank. The German arrived at the club this summer for a £50million fee and a reputation as one of Europe's most fearsome goalscorers.
But he has suffered an indifferent start to life at Stamford Bridge, with just four league goals and none in his last 10 matches in all competitions.
Cole, who was a fan favourite in west London, knows what it takes to be a hit at the club and believes Werner has some issues he needs to look at, and feels manager Frank Lampard - his former team-mate - should drop him.
He stressed that Werner still has the potential to be 'a top player' for Chelsea but said Lampard had the options to mix things up and improve results.
'I think Werner, when he comes in off that left, he's very, very dangerous,' he said as a pundit on Amazon Prime Video Sport.
'I just think he just needs to brush up on his finishing, but he's a young striker and he will do that. I've got no doubts he'll be a top player for Chelsea but there's options now and he [Lampard] needs to move it around.
'[Hakim] Ziyech and [Callum] Hudson-Odoi to come back in, freshen it up at some point. Take Werner out, bring him back in.
'It's a marathon to win a title usually, and certainly this year. You've got to use your whole squad. So Werner maybe come out, bring the other lads back in.'
Werner netted 34 goals from 45 games for RB Leipzig last season and had top teams from all over Europe clambering for his signature, but Chelsea won the race for the highly-coveted hitman.
German starlet Kai Havertz also joined from Bayer Leverkusen, arriving for around £71m, but he has not had the impact he would have liked either - with a positive COVID-19 test disrupting his progress.
Werner has shown glimpses of what he can offer by netting eight goals in all competitions, while Havertz has also shone in cup competitions, and Cole has urged the club to be patient with both players - saying they could be 'massive' for Chelsea.
'I think he's [Werner's] had a good start to his Chelsea career,' Cole added.
'You can compare him with other big foreign imports, sometimes they come to this league [and] you have to understand it might take time for them to settle.
'I think for him and Havertz it has as well. Werner has probably settled in a little bit quicker. They are two top players, I know because you see the glimpses.
'But I have no doubt Werner and Havertz will be massive players for Chelsea.'
yimouy
0
sack Frank Lampard now or it's will be too late. he doesn't care about how much Abrahimovic is spending on weekly basis
Maybe you should take over as a manager go to sleep man .😩😩
bisbiktu
1
I would play Kai as main striker
[image]
wala kai ..,.can't play on top
Jacepatric
0
The people that swear for Werner this what they use to swear for him lime is life have Sour like this lime
sagarx98
0
only solution would be return of ziyech
Zuzaprsyz
0
Yeah very important JOE,he really needs to brushes up on he's finishing, because he misses lots of chances that's supposed to be
jayford
0
bench giroud and play tammy and werner in tandom
You don’t know giroud is your club’s savior and you want to bench him for Abraham that doesn’t even know how to position
jayford
0
Chelsea signed only 1 world class player Thiago silva
Ziyech and Thiago Silva is Chelsea’s best signings
jayford
0
because we have no winger who is fit to play, they are all injured
That’s not it because you can’t bench giroud for someone like Werner who misses clear chances giroud is better than him
jayford
0
Timo played as a striker for five consecutive matches and we lost one and draw two, when he plays as a wing we won 14consecutive matches, Werner is just wasting our chances. he played the false nine against Man utd and he has no short on target.
That guy isn’t a good finisher that’s the truth not a hater but just saying the truth and you can’t bench giroud for someone like that guy or you’ll just loose 5 matches in a row giroud is so sharp and a better finisher Werner just runs like Daniel James and gets to the goal to play nonsense and harvertz too he’s overated he kill the game against wolves he had no impact podence was just using him as bait😂😂
jayford
0
Mr Joe Cole plz tell your friend Frank Lanpard to play Timo Werner as a No9 striker not as a winger okay thnk u as u do so
Giroud is better than him so why remove giroud and put Werner as a 9 giroud has been your savior for the past few matches now
Neobeiopsz
2
I would play Kai as main striker
japimort
1
Mr Joe Cole plz tell your friend Frank Lanpard to play Timo Werner as a No9 striker not as a winger okay thnk u as u do so
Muyemrsuy
1
Timo Werner needs to be played in his right position
vomdouy
0
stupid fool, who told you you can not score when playing wings?
I was going to answer you but i can't becouse i don't know and you don't even know the person you are insulting...god bless you for your hash words my brother.
yimouy
1
sack Frank Lampard now or it's will be too late. he doesn't care about how much Abrahimovic is spending on weekly basis
Where do you come from a mental hospital you need to go and see a doctor .
Bezbimnosz
0
we have classic player how possible for timo Werner playing at winger while his real position is striker and I think Kovacic have to play alongside kante with mount laiting Havertz to gain confidence in attack if ziyech and pulic are available no need to start Abraham or Giroud to give Werner his real position
the question is is our wingers available?
Bezbimnosz
0
Joe Cole! I would’ve take your words much serious and sense if only you’ve said the same thing about Abraham. But I guess is your English way of supporting English player. Why not advise Lampard to move the lad to his naturally position and stop moving players out of position. He want to act like his master Mourinho who is good in converting striker to midfielder and defenders to midfield 🤣🤣
I never understand why some of Chelsea funs are so stupid, can't you see our wingers are all injured? who told you you can not score playing wings?
Bezbimnosz
0
The problem is his coach but not the player...lampard is a donkey.werner is not a winger,he's a center forward striker but he's playing him out of position and you are expecting him to score goals
can't u see that all of our wingers are injured?
Bezbimnosz
0
The problem is his coach but not the player...lampard is a donkey.werner is not a winger,he's a center forward striker but he's playing him out of position and you are expecting him to score goals
stupid fool, who told you you can not score when playing wings?
Bezbimnosz
0
WTF he is not a wringer he is a c.f. n how can he perform his best
[image]
does is mean you should be missing some clear chances?
Bezbimnosz
1
sack Frank Lampard now or it's will be too late. he doesn't care about how much Abrahimovic is spending on weekly basis
is it your money?
Bezbimnosz
0
Lampard should stop playing politics with Timo Werner's talent and play him at the middle as a top 9
and who should be playing the wings?
Bezbimnosz
0
what he needs it's only his position . that s the solution
he was playing the same wings at German yet he still score
Bezbimnosz
0
Why is he playing out of position?
because we have no winger who is fit to play, they are all injured
Bezbimnosz
0
Timo Werner was bought as a top striker and not a winger. Let him play as that.
playing wings doesn't mean you should be missing out some clear chances
Bezbimnosz
0
Timo wernar it's not playing his position at Chelsea right now his normal position is strike not a winger havartz supporting strike or number 10
playing wings doesn't mean you should be missing some clear chances
mexicodegreat
0
Timo Werner misses a lot of chances am beginning to fade up on him
Kayadmpuyz
0
Timo Werner was bought as a top striker and not a winger. Let him play as that.
Timo played as a striker for five consecutive matches and we lost one and draw two, when he plays as a wing we won 14consecutive matches, Werner is just wasting our chances. he played the false nine against Man utd and he has no short on target.
Paainou
3
Timo Werner was bought as a top striker and not a winger. Let him play as that.
kabclprstu
0
Timo wernar it's not playing his position at Chelsea right now his normal position is strike not a winger havartz supporting strike or number 10
Muheimopsu
0
Why is he playing out of position?
Wellll, we are having fitness issues with Hudson Odoi, Pulisic and Ziyech, hence why Frank is forcing him on the wing, but he has played as a winger a number of times back in the Bundesliga
yimouy
0
Striker
Why is he playing out of position?
Muheimopsu
0
Please can someone tell me what is his right position?
Striker
CHELSEAR
6
I think this would be our best starting eleven
rumilrtz
2
nob
yimouy
0
guy's pleace. we loss just start season 3game only. our player's need rest. we play champion league without loss. same time our player's newly in EPL also there are need back chelsea full fitness. so please don't simply say sack manager all.
Agree with you 100per cent as I say Rome was not build in a day Up D Blues .
yimouy
0
Please can someone tell me what is his right position?
Cehbelnrtu
1
👎🏽
Lohackmpz
0
sack Frank Lampard now or it's will be too late. he doesn't care about how much Abrahimovic is spending on weekly basis
just listen to yourself
kaviking
2
guy's pleace. we loss just start season 3game only. our player's need rest. we play champion league without loss. same time our player's newly in EPL also there are need back chelsea full fitness. so please don't simply say sack manager all.
jipbkost
6
please lampard play werner on front not use him as wing no in January just buy 2 wingers who can help pulisic and ziyech coz of injuries
RasakiBabatundeEni
1
Yes is true
victoremy
0
Yes oooo he have to, he mis a lot of chances in all the matches he played
biteimou
0
what he needs it's only his position . that s the solution
MightyB
0
Warner need to be exact on the ball. some time he made a mistake
nadbcep
3
I'm totally agree with Joe cole, Werner has to brush up cuz yesterday's much he misses alot of chances
napacmptyz
3
Lampard should stop playing politics with Timo Werner's talent and play him at the middle as a top 9
napacmptyz
1
sack Frank Lampard now or it's will be too late. he doesn't care about how much Abrahimovic is spending on weekly basis
Zuwabdepu
0
he misses simple chances frank play him as a st
I know his favourite position is ST but how does him playing in the wing affects his ability to score easy chances. He’s been missing easy chances since he arrived. He is lethal scorer but those small chances he’s been missing is affecting his psyche. Hopefully he can get a penalty to give him a little confidence
napacmptyz
1
frank Lampard should be sacks because he is playing politics and he doesn't know how to manage players