Blue Armour

https://www.si.com/soccer/chelsea/.amp/news/thiago-silva-reveals-what-frank-lampard-said-at-half-time-during-man-city-defeat Thiago Silva reveals Frank Lampard's half-time message against Manchester City

Probably Reece James. In the future. Touch wood.

Very good read again. (Seriously considering subscribing to that website ) It basically sums up a few of the things I've been bleating in different topics over the past few weeks: 1. Mendy is not good enough for a side with title aspirations. 2. We wont find a better option than Mendy any time soon (at least not this season), which means our back 4 and CDM have to do a better job at limiting his exposure to shots. 3. Our back 4 obviously performs better (as evidenced by this season and last) when they receive more support from players upfield, with their coordinated press. Which brings us to that big question. Why is our press so shite in games? It works well in spurts during games, and sometimes for a few games in a row. Against City it worked for the first 10 mins. After that the players (esp. Mount who normally is relentless) just gave up. Roy Keane also brought it up in the post match interview. You would think that after 1.5 seasons, this is something that Lampard would've drilled into his side by now. Not sure what is going on in training.

Depends. But you have to remember that you are still talking about a 21 year old player who is nowhere near the finished article. The players ranked above him are far more experienced, including Grealish. Is it good enough for Chelsea, which already has a lightweight attacking midfield? Probably not. But for Mason Mount, I think its good enough at this stage of his career. Its not Mount's fault that we pinned all our hopes on Havertz getting up to speed quickly, and loaned out our only 2 experienced attacking midfielders in Barkley and RLC.

Well, for a start. He seems to have given them a couple of days off following the City defeat. Hope it wasnt to whip them into shape after they return

Lampard SHOULD use the upcoming matches against Morcambe and Fulham to test new tactics and formations, instead of trying to fix his broken 433 formation and wing play tactic. It might be the only time he gets to do it as Chelsea manager.

Well if you want to be really specific, Lampard is nothing like any of the other coaches in the PL right now Ole at least had experience relegating a team, and Arteta was an assistant manager. He has the least experience. Which is why I say his achievements last season were remarkable given the circumstances.

Not really the same teams by any stretch, but looking back, this match kind of reminded me of how Arteta's Arsenal faced off against Spurs. Instead of playing cautiously he tried to attack an inform Spurs side with his out of form players, and got duly punished. Fast forward to us, with a squad short on confidence, and Lampard chooses to attack an in form City side with the best defensive record in the league. We are sliced through like butter Should he have changed his approach and played a more compact setup with a lower block for this game? Should he at least try to do this for the upcoming games, till his team regains confidence? We saw how playing conservatively and getting a clean sheet against United help us set a foundation for our 17 game unbeaten run. Should he try the same again?

Yeah, but a lot of those CF's have a great first touch and can operate in tight areas, and play with their backs against the defense. Other than dropping deep to receive the ball, I don't see how he can be successful as the lone CF. He could thrived in a setup similar to what Liverpool used to have for Torres, but we don't. As someone already mentioned previously, we rarely play on the counter, thus leaving little room for our forwards to operate in.

Start of a Klopp meltdown? He might be right, but he seems rattled by the way United have been getting penalties in their favor this season.

"You got beaten by a bunch of shrimps" Nope...definitely does not sound nice.

Lot of the top managers can be absolute nutjobs at times. Basically living in the moment, analyzing every second of their teams performance, ready to make changes.

That gif is so appropriate given our current situation.

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.