Blue Armour

You might be right. Honestly it depends on what Lampard really says in the dressing room, rather than in public. I remember that Werner in his early season interviews was talking about title challenges and winning the CL with Chelsea. Silva also made comments about coming here to win trophies. Players like that NEED challenges like that to stay motivated. If behind closed doors, Lampard was maintaining the same pessimistic attitude that he showed outside, then it's little surprise that we are where we are now. Lampard has not been showing much positive body language on the pitch these days, so it wouldn't surprise me if that is indeed the case. All too symptomatic. I also made a comment earlier in Dec about how recent Chelsea teams tend to go into a slump midway though the season if the title challenge becomes unrealistic. We seem to be right on cue.

I miss Drogba On a serious note, our current lot are too naive. Lampard should instruct players like Pulisic to play for the foul at every opportunity. Just like Morurinho did with Hazard. Teach them the dark arts.

Zola names best position for misfiring Werner at Chelsea https://www.goal.com/en-us/amp/news/zola-best-position-werner-chelsea/66d8ukp3qsck13ahv6hypq5n1 @Jason

He is one of the players who I worry will just up and leave if we continue to play shit football. He didnt come here to be part of the slump we are in. His lack of interest during the City game only reinforces the fact. I remember earlier on in the season during one of his MOTM interviews where he hinted that his passing helped cover for deficiencies in the rest of the teams play.

Knowing Frank, you know that's not going to happen. And full agree with your sentiment. The football has become awful, and has shades of Contes second season and the worst of Sarriball. I think what makes it more painful is when you also have a stubborn manager refusing to try anything different and trying the same tactics (apart from swapping a few players for like for like roles). For someone who was constantly chopping and changing, and switching formations over the majority of this year, Lampard has become strangely reticent to departing from his favored 433 over the past 4 weeks.

That's the big question I have about Lampard right now. Is it in his nature to do that? To take charge, rally the troops and get this clearly demotivated set of players to perform again. The City game showed that a lot of players couldn't be bothered to track back and help defend. IMO, more than any of his strange tactics, this is his biggest challenge at the moment and one that could ultimately cost him his position. Last season he got chastized for throwing a fit against the Liverpool staff in our defeat at Anfield. But I actually liked what he did, simply because it was the first time I saw some real fight from him on the touchline. Why cant he direct some of that energy at his own players during a game? Also not sure what goes on in training before each game. How can players turn up so uninterested in games against Arsenal or City

Not sure really. If we're being objective about it, he will have time till Fulham/Leicester to turn it around, but will still be walking a tight rope even if he does. I know this administration can be ruthless with managers, but Lampards standing within the club is a little more...unique.

True, but doesn't mean they won't be keeping an eye out. At least as contingency.

Well...at the very least, he will be managing at least until the Fulham game. Wonder if he will use the interim period to go back to the drawing board and try something new., at least in an attempt to save himself. He hasn't departed from his 4-3-3 formation and wing play tactics for even one match this December, let alone for a few minutes.

This sucks really., and honestly can't wrap my mind around this...its been hours since the match and its a been long streak of poor results, but its STILL difficult to accept that things have come to a boiling point and just move on. Its a heart versus head matter.. All the signs are pointing to an inevitable conclusion, and what is likely better for the club, but its a tragedy that its come to this stage. A club legend, OUR club legend ending up in this situation. A lot of rival fans mocked us when he was first appointed, saying that it would end in tears, and it looks like they are getting what they wanted. I feel like I need to give myself a break from all Chelsea related news for a few weeks. In the end, no matter what happens to Lampard, his legacy as a player here will remain untouched.

The media didn't predict what happened to Conte, Ancelotti etc. I don't think Roman cares about what the press think. Looking at our results and the amount we've spent I'm extremely surprised that we haven't seen Lamps sacked. It's worrying if he doesn't get sacked after this result. Don't think the media can ever truly predict when something's going to give, but there's usually a lot of noise coming out of the Chelsea camp prior to that, via the press. Its taken 4 defeats including one at Stamford Bridge for something to come out. I'm not disagreeing with you about the fact that its only a matter of time, but I doubt that it will be anytime this week.

Even if he wins against Fulham, I think a loss against Leicester will be the end of it.

Well Sarri didn't stay. That's why we were left with a problem. Sarri staying would have been a far safer bet than anyone else coming in at that point. At least he would know where to pick up, and possibly even got us closer to playing the kind of football he envisioned. If Sarri had stayed, then the club wouldn't have approached Lampard. Lampard instead would have been coaching Derby for another year in the championship., with Tomori and possibly Mount. What I'm saying is Lampard didn't push for the job. He was given a high risk, high reward offer from the club, and he made the most of what he could. He should take credit for whatever he achieved last season. Anyway, all that is irrelevant now. Just like that quote from the blade runner movie, 'tears in the rain' at this point. He's in a position that even experienced managers would struggle to worm their way out of. A slump. The end is almost here

Also, would be interesting to see if the club engages in any transfer activity during this window. That will be a really telling sign.

Well, based on what we've seen during the past several years at Chelsea its unlikely you will see that. Only this week have we even seen press stating that his position is under threat. Regardless, I still think they are close to that point. Loss to Leicester will be the tipping point IMO, unless there is an upset against Fulham before that.

Wishful thinking...even the most negative article is only stating that his position is under threat. We've been here before. It takes a lot more negative press before we finally see the trigger pulled.

Clinging onto hope more like...looks like he already has his eyes on the FA cup and Fulham fixtures to try and get a rebound in form before facing off against Leicester. Defeat to Leicester will seal it IMO,..unless he suffers another upset before that game (very possible).

Well tbf...despite how horrible his team is now and everything gone to shit, he still deserves credit for securing CL for another year in a season when lot of people wrote us off, after Hazard's departure, especially with no transfer window. Don't think we should complain too much about him coming in when he did., even if he ultimately wasn't the right choice.

Doesn't seem that way based on City's goal blitz. Did you not see how easily they scored their first and second with barely any opposition from the Chelsea players? First 10 mins, Chelsea were pressing intensely, and after the first DeBruyne shot, they just caved in. The attitude of the team isn't right and Frank doesn't look like he can fix it. I mean, who is he going to drop, and who he is he going to bring on in the coming games to fight for him? I think he has rubbed quite a few players the wrong way with his selections. Werner based on his performance from last 2 weeks is undeserving of a start. Granted, he tried him out at CF which is what a lot of people were clamoring for, but where City the best team for him to play against? Also would you trust a low confidence player against the best defense in the league? Its a shame., because this isn't want anyone wanted. Everyone knew with an inexperienced manager and team, that we would have bad runs of form on occasion. But this a big slump we are in right now., and close to the midway point of the season. He is walking on thin ice.

That's the way it looks unfortunately. Its like a point of no return. If the Chelsea board were like Arsenal and gave Frank more time like Arteta got, there could be a turning point eventually, but we could be swimming in the relegation zone by then. No way they will allow team to drop that low after these investments. Feel bad for Frank. He is the least experienced manager in the league. Arteta at least had years serving as assistant under Pep, and Ole has experience relegating teams. In hindsight, it looks like he should have taken his time like JT or even Gerrard, and taken up reigns at a place with less scrutiny. The latter leading Rangers to a title is something similar to what we would have liked to see Frank do as well. Can't complain that he came in when he did, though. He made us finish top 4 last season when we were practically written off following Hazard's departure

That's what I think as well. I think our top 4 quest is all but snapped at this point. Defeat in the Leicester game will mean we are well short off our mid season objective.

Good backup keeper. Maybe enough for a top 4 team Not good enough to start every match for a title winning side.

It is the manager's fault. That was my point.

Its not just a case of being badly coached. Look at the first 25 mins. We were pressing them intensely for the first 10 mins, dominating possession. And then, flick of a switch. City just swarm their way into our half. No one gets close enough to a City player. We just let them walk through to goal. Whatever the reason, whether its lack of confidence or faith in the manager, the squad just gave up. Its not just a case of him changing tactics, his squad has lost motivation. And I'm not sure he's the type to rectify that. Unlike his playing days, he can no longer lead by example

He's lost the dressing room. The way the team gave up pressing to let City waltz their way through for the first 2 goals shows his time is up. Can't see anyway he can turn this around any time soon. We are currently heading on the same trajectory that Arterta's Arsenal was. Is the Chelsea board really going to give him that much leeway? Can't see them being willing to sacrifice a top 4 spot just to let Lampard learn. Not after investing in the squad like this.