Turbo Timo - What Happened?

Our expert Dan McCarthy takes a deeper look into Timo Werner's recent struggles. When and how will he bounce back?

On July 1st, 2020, Timo Werner officially signed for Chelsea Football Club.

A £58.3 million release clause in his RB Leipzig contract was triggered by the West London club, Chelsea found their new number #11. Notice how I used his squad number, not his “strongest position?” We’ll get to that later…

A goal against Brighton in a shortened pre-season certainly had Chelsea fans licking their lips. Not to mention an assist in his first Premier League appearance against Brighton and a Carabao Cup goal against fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a penalty shootout loss.

However, if you’re a keen believer in the “eye test,” you would have seen just how sharp Timo looked in the month of September, somewhat unlucky to not have more goals and assists to his name.

Moving into October, more goal contributions came in the shape of three goals and an assist against Premier League foes Southampton and Burnley, and a goal and assist in the UEFA Champions League against FC Krasnodar. You couldn’t blame Chelsea fans for the excitement/love shown to their latest German warrior.

However, as we near the end of December, we have seen just four goals and three assists from Timo in thirteen games across the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Werner when questioned on his recent struggles admitted:

"The Premier League is a little bit different to my old league. It’s tougher than I thought. "The contact here is harder than in Germany, it’s what I expected but not like this. The beginning was very good, but now after a lot of games, I’m struggling a little. I think it’s hard when you play every three days… and on Saturday against teams that can rest the whole week. It makes it tough to be the best in every game but the Premier League is very fun to play in."

So here we are. Why the sudden dip in form? Is it more than that? I take a look at the “potential” reasons for Werner’s recent struggles under a comprehensive scope.

Frank Lampard has often deployed Timo Werner as a left-winger, especially in the past month or two.

But before we get into where Timo is most effective and comfortable on the pitch, it’s worth noting a major reason why Lampard was able to convince the German to join Chelsea in the summer - the promise of extended playing time and the ability to play numerous positions.

Werner revealed in September in an interview that Lampard had said to him on a phone call prior to his move “Timo, you will be free to make the right moves on the pitch, I trust you.” It was a very good conversation.”

In November, Lampard echoed this notion when answering questions from journalists on why we have found Werner on the left so often, “The way we want to play in a 4-3-3, you get plenty of opportunities as a left-side winger or inside winger to get into the box,” Lampard added. “It really suits him. We saw loads of fluidity in the front three as a whole.”

Whilst the two parties clearly mutually agree that Werner has the capability to play as a left-sided winger in Chelsea’s current 4-3-3 system, it is certainly a new role for Timo, seeing as he was often deployed as a central figure with RB Leipzig, also often a left forward or shadow striker as part of a two up top.

However, this is a new league, system, and tactical approach for Timo, with many now questioning if he can play this role.

Personally, I believe Timo feels most comfortable as a centre forward in a front three, or as a shadow striker in a front two of which he can drop in and float around a more central focal point.

When Werner has played centrally for Chelsea, he has looked dangerous. However, Tammy’s form has been decent, not to mention Olivier Giroud’s resurgence in form.

Frank Lampard was right to play each of the aforementioned, whilst trying to fit Werner in the system somehow.

As I have tweeted numerous times, signings of Werner and Havertz’s nature mean whenever fit and healthy to play, they will, not always in the desire position for fans alike.

Werner isn’t profoundly known as a meticulous dribbler, like Christian Pulisic is, which could be another potential reason why he has struggled more on the left side of things where he is encouraged to cut inside on his stronger right foot to finish.

A couple of times this season, notably his assist against Leeds, we have seen him drift over to the right side, which allows him to drive forward explosively into his space with his pace; where cutting and weaving isn’t as necessary.

Something else I and many have noticed is seemingly the fewer touches Timo has, the more effective he is.

In build-up play, he has often struggled with intricate passing, predominantly down to his more-often than not poor first touch.

Each of these components would point to Werner being more effective down the middle, where link-up play isn’t as prominent, and further focus on pure finishing ability is more relied on.

With his creative movement and ability to create numerous chances per game, which can often frustrate his fans (personally I feel it’s a ‘good problem’ to have) he may be more effective eventually in the central role.

In conclusion, I do believe we will see more of Timo Werner as a central figure eventually.

Frank Lampard is fully aware of Timo’s effect in those areas, having scouted him extensively in his Leipzig days, supported by the fact he sees the German in training daily. However, between the form of those mentioned above, plus the recent injuries to key winger Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, I understand why Timo has been deployed on the left in a system Lampard has settled on and wants to keep consistent, as he and his coaching staff search for further signs of their footballing philosophy growing within this newly-assembled squad.

One thing that cannot be questioned with the German attacker is his mentality.

A reminder, Werner’s move to Chelsea came off the back of his devastating form at Red Bull, where he scored 95 goals alongside 40 assists in just 159 games with RB Leipzig.

To have contributed that many times, Werner clearly must possess a determined, relenting mentality, supported by the fact he cited the opportunity to win titles in England and play in a faster-paced league, which would suit his astonishing levels of speed as key reasons to leave his beloved Germany to search for a new challenge.

Despite Timo’s obvious decline in form recently, he has still managed to clock a serious amount of minutes for Chelsea, and despite glaring misses against Newcastle United, Leeds, and most recently West Ham, he managed to notch second-half assists in each of these games, which only supports the fact he is a very determined individual and possesses the exact mentality all top players need, specifically for a forward, a short memory.

With a mentality like this, we can already nullify the whispers of comparison to former Chelsea forward Alvaro Morata, who would often be found screaming at anyone else he could blame bar himself.

Putting position and mentality aside now, there’s a reason sayings such as “get back to basics” or “back to the drawing board” are still used so often even at the highest levels of sport this planet has to offer.

Whilst no doubt Timo Werner isn’t at his full powers in terms of confidence and execution, you do not become a bad player overnight, nor do you lose the sheer levels of ability Timo has so suddenly.

For me, we need to see Werner get back to basics. A specific focus on improving his first touch I believe will solve a lot of issues, with it being such a key part of the game.

Secondly, lose the recent tendency to over think/analyse every touch, pass, and shot.

We can all see it, the mind constraining process occurring within the German’s head every time he is on the ball. Basic right? I know, but often it’s the little things that make the biggest differences.

Quite simply, he may just need a lucky assist (like the one against West Ham today for Abraham’s first goal) or a fluke goal himself to get the ball rolling.

Confidence is a funny creature, especially in sports, yet incredibly fundamental. As Lampard said after the 3-0 win over West Ham specifically on Werner:

“'It's not quite going in for him at the moment but the moment that changes then we'll see goals from Timo Werner for sure.”

“That's the period Timo is in. It's unfortunate but he's getting in the positions - when one goes in it will be a run for him.”

If anyone knows how to succeed at the top, through good and bad, it’s Frank Lampard.

I’m certainly backing Timo Werner to settle in England, rediscover his positive form shown in his first outings in Chelsea blue, and be a lethal contributor in West London for years to come.

Like all good things, patience is needed. Whilst this is not often afforded anymore, especially in Premier League football, this situation feels different and I have an overriding feeling it will certainly be worth the wait.

Dan McCarthy - @MaccaSport