OneMoSalah

I know he had double figures for Vitesse in each but I dont think he had at Derby. Again though, as we have said all season Lampard has overplayed him and neglected others but again the onus to perform falls on the player, I wouldnt say he was flogged as such but more that he was be selected when playing poorly. He can do better as weve seen this season but I get the feeling he will be a streaky player for now few good weeks then some poor for another season or two which is frustrating. Its an age thing as well but I still think as we seen at the beginning of the season he has a lot more than what he has shown before the last month or so. Re Oscar: Perhaps but there were patches where even he showed a bit of consistency at spells and he hadnt had the luxury of playing in Europe or being older when we got him in the team. Then when he was say 21 or 22 we expected more from him. Mount and Oscar do have a lot of similarities too as players, boths 10s, slighter players who like to try play quick 1 and 2 touch combinations, regular set piece takers (although corners from both need/needed improved as well), like to get into the box, try to score goals. Its an inevitable comparison before taking into account the usefulness in big games more for traits youd not necessarily expect or want to see your being recognised for in bigger games.

Think as well, which hasnt been mentioned at all, Frank deployed a back 5 where 4 of the 5 players have regularly played in a back 3 under various managers at other teams and here. It isnt exactly the same obviously Frank has put his touch on it but the basics of it are the same with and without the ball, make the pitch as wide as possible with it to try utilize the free man out wide which eventually ends up creating space in the middle and then make the pitch narrow without it. The players are used to it and have trained it alot (especially with Antonio who was hugely renowned for team shape exercises in training and obviously 343/352 is his preference tactically). Azpi under Conte here, Christensen at Mochengladbach and here under Conte, Rudiger at Roma, here under Conte and for Germany and Alonso at Fiorentina and here under Conte. Theyve also played it together countless times as mentioned with that time under Conte. Thats probably a huge reason as to it looked more natural and how we looked more comfortable in it I think compared to Spurs, who have predominantly deployed a back 4 under Jose (and Pochettino before) more or less every game (Jose only really ever gone 3 at the back by sacrificing a fullback for an attacker when his team needs a goal in stages of games, particularly at Inter, Madrid and here). The players know their roles more clearly in it imo than when he play a back 4 most weeks. Alonso and Azpi aren't too sure in a 4, they know they have to go forward but leave space in behind them. In a 3 they both have different roles but it also masks issues of theirs, Alonso has a CB behind him who is better positioned to cover him and Azpi isnt as far up the pitch where he will struggle to recover/be caught out of position more. I think going with a 4 v Bayern would be a huge mistake as well. Go for the same 3 CBs then James and Emerson although Alonso could deserve to remain in the team as his offensive contribution v Spurs was good.

Perhaps but I think other than that one season at Vitesse his assist rate isnt that great, dont think he got a huge bunch for Derby IIRC was more goals. He has to become better at that side of the game (inconsistent end product is as big a reason as to why he hasnt got that many as a team that is the unfinished article) as well as the goals which he seems to be able to get although this season he is at a higher level. He has been overplayed I will agree as well as being played through a shit spell when FL could of took him out the firing line and playing in a team that can still improve (ironically his position off the front can be improved on and hopefully Ziyech will be a real option there as I think he will be more productive centrally) but I think he needs to show more creativity. In both the big games and the smaller games for us. Its no good just being useful as a player who plays in an advanced position who will put a shift in and willing to press as weve said, yes those things are useful but you expect it from every player regardless. If we become a title challenging team and he hasnt developed that creative side many will get even more frustrated than him and a ruthless manager will bench or get rid of him. He can potentially be a 10+ goal and assist player in time but using Dutch league and Championship performances as a barometer isnt exactly necessarily going to help ease those doubts for many. Although I do see it both ways. Bar the 2 big games, the Burnley (at the Bridge) and Leicester matches, Mason hasnt impressed me for a long while.. probably since the reverse game v Burnley at Turf Moor. He has played virtually every game all season and for arguably 2 to 3 months was a passenger and a huge reason why we struggled in an attacking sense. He hasnt scored since December in the league and only has 3 assists since October (which for someone who also takes set pieces and freekicks isnt exactly good is it?). Yes he deserves an opportuinity to grow and progress as he is still only 21 but the comparisons with Oscar at times is even off because Oscar would consistently score more goals and get more assists at times too.

He said Liverpool suit his style. Id say like when we went after Chamberlain under Conte and Cavani in January we are probably never going to be his first choice. Even with all the bonuses or money in the world.

Yeah he is young still but it depends though. Normally with these more creative players who play off the front or as a more advanced midfielder, even when they are younger, you can see the ability or the potential and things like if they can see those runs and execute the final pass. I am yet to be fully convinced he will be a top creative player due to this. I still think he is a bit safe. Think this is why people will also make the envitable Oscar comparisons. Oscar was comfortable at many things but he never ever would of made that jump to be a top top player because he never had that final pass as well as the consistency. That could change but again I dont see him in the mould of like Dele Alli either who is more of a rounded midfield player whos major contribution to a team is going to be goals.

Dont think thats exactly the most promising thing to use, he could go and play good again ir go and have an absolute horrorshow. Lewandowski is in great form as well.

Fucking hell Frank starts Giroud and he fucking scores. Hopefully that means no more Batshuayi from the beginning. Plays a natural left sider on the left and we looked 100 times better too. What has Frank been thinking the previous months? Would really like to know. Barkley as well has struggled some games this season but another who could of been used more. Food for thought. Mount, surprisingly in the last 2 games vs top teams, very good.

Have to disagree, I think a more experienced manager could still of managed top 4 with our squad, as they could find other ways to get over the line especially Allegri who is very adaptable tactically and has shown he can get good results even when his teams dont necessarily play good. Maybe not Enrique and the verdicts still out on what Sarri may have done with another season here but I dont think it would be as open and closed as because we lost Hazard we would be lucky to get top 4. I dont think any manager would start Batshuayi here regularly. Nobody is that stupid, surely? Allegri liked Mandzukic and Kean at Juve so I think we would of seen Giroud and Abraham more than Batshuayi if he came here for instance. Also I dont think he would of shunned Reece or Callum for definite. Maybe Mason or Tomori but with Ruben out and uncertaincy who is out best CBs who knows? Lampard also cant have the luxury of a free hit season now like many think because we were 12 points clear for top 4 at one point. Young players or not blowing that gap in spectacular fashion is ridiculous.

Maybe throw Zouma in the deal. Not sure we will still be interested was more when Conte was here. Then Sarri wanted Rugani. Hopefully we will be but not sure think it was more manager driven than the club.

Have to agree. Ash could have been a squad player for another season or two still but again respected his decision and Jose and him didnt really seem to see eye to eye IIRC towards the end of that season either. Used to cry when people said about using Baba or Kenedy at LB, both below average as hell. Baba should never have moved here would of developed into a better player playing every match in Germany. Kenedy at LB was never going to work, was just Mourinho restricting, or remoulding maybe a better term for it, another player similarly to like Mikel when he first arrived. Although I did think Mikel got a lot of shit on here over nothing because he was good enough in periods in his spell here before leaving and played through some tramatic shit like when his dad was kidnapped under Villas-Boas. He had maybe 3 or 4 good games at the start of the season. Even then, were they really outstanding? Had some half decent games with Sarri I will give you that but he has been pretty poor ever since those games at the start of the season (although FLs choice to use a RB over 2 natural LBs is questionable given how it hasnt improved our backline at all really). Even over his spell here, he has hardly been convincing. He has played in 16 games this season for us, poor in most. Using 1/4 of those as a sort of he was good before his injury is like saying Torres was good for like 3 or 4 games in a row under Villas-Boas, Benitez (although think he had most prolific spell of his career with us under Rafa) or Mourinho before he would churn out those shite games for weeks on end after. Going from memory I've thought he played well in his debut vs Hull in a cup game and vs Burnley under Conte, in the Europa League final under Sarri, the United game and Super Cup final under Frank. Thats over the course of nearly 3 seasons. Struggling to think of many other games were hes really looked as if he could be a long term solution. Maybe missed a few but there seemed to be some sort of hope because he had a good season in Italy with Roma (before he injured his ACL which wouldnt have helped him) where he apparently matched Alex Sandros performances (again I very much doubt that as Alez Sandro is a different level alltogether) and stats that we got some sort of bargain.

Yes in our run of form another loss would be great. Who is this crackpot?

Agree regarding Giroud for definite and to an extent the top 4 at the start of the season for an inexperienced manager seemed a stretch compared to the other teams but he had us there and comfortably in a position to get it for sure but through poor results and more importantly regressing performances weve fucked that lead beyond belief. Which he should be held accountable for 100% because he has made huge judgement calls on the squad, as well as selection and tactical things that havent helped at all. He can't hide or be sheltered from critcism or scrutiny because nobody thought we would get top 4 before a ball eas kicked because one as questionable as it was a more experienced proven coach could definitely do it in my opinion, secondly that was always going to be something the club expects regardless of manager in this day and age and he knows that from his playing days here and lastly because we were there, like 12 points clear of most teams we are now locked in this tight battle with. Disagree regarding Kepa. As Ive mentioned in his thread I still have a lot of faith in the guy and he will come through this spell.

Dont blame him. Seeing your manager pick a RB at LB week in week out must be agonizingly frustrating. Be like the same reason as why Cole probably decided to leave us under Jose, guy might of not been at his past level and Azpi was playing extremely well but as a player it must be frustrating as fuck seeing someone an unnatrual position they wouldnt normally play every week ahead of you.

Pep won 6 different trophies in one calender year. Even if that Barca team was outstanding it was basically his 3rd season as a manager. Winning 6 trophies in one calender year, even with that team can be seen as overachieveing in my eyes, I mean I doubt any team will ever win 6 in the one calender year ever again.... lots and lots of games. Di Matteo did very well to win two trophies for us that half season he was interin manager but lets not pretend that he was an amazing manager compared with these guys.

Still surprised Jody Morris didnt go for a manager's job himself after his experience with the youth teams here. Thought we would of seen him go and become a manager or headcoach before Frank a few years ago if Im honest.

Kepa and Giroud have to start. If Frank cant see that then he is truly blind.

Regardless of how good Liverpool are the amount of disrespect for how good a team Atletico can be, how they manage games and how good a manager Simeone is, is frightening. In a knock out competition he and Atletico are probably one of the teams you want to avoid because they never seem to give up and love big games.

It just depends. Even if we rediscover some form but miss out on the top 4 people will scrutinise Franks management and how we blew that 12 point lead for whatever reason and again, quite rightly so, if we were first and blew a 12 point lead and ended up not winning the league it would be the exact same if not worse and right now getting a top 4 space has to be treated like a trophy for us because Liverpool and City are well ahead of us. Even more so if it is more of the same next season. Its a slippery slope once you miss out on the CL, as weve seen with United, Arsenal and even Liverpool years ago. This whole might as well let manager X continue what he has started is pointless because its never really happened here and realistically I doubt it will anytime soon. Carlo, Villas-Boas, Di Matteo, Jose, Conte etc all got booted and people were calling for Sarri's head (I think you were quite vocal about this so whats the difference this time?) although people suggested he needed time and players so why should that be the case for Frank if it isnt for others? Because hes a club legend as a player here? Big emphasis on player. Because he plays academy players? Because he doesnt have Hazard? I think as many would of predicted the job perhaps came too soon for him but he looked as if he was learning and growing into the experience but the last 3 months or so we look considerably considerably worse at times than we did under Sarri and Conte for me. Okay players have changed but again, they had the experience that you thought okay theyll manage to get us over the line in some capacity. We just look as if we are in free fall and its not done yet by the looks of it, the squad doesnt have thay experience in certain areas to grind out results when playing piss poor and the experienced players we do have, he has marginalised for whatever stupid reason. We cannot even do the basics right in some matches and not just against the top teams either which is alarming. Before a ball was kicked top 4 under FL who has no experience yes it would of been taken there and then. Being 12 points clear with others faulting around us and now a huge possibility of falling away and missing out to whoever from United, Spurs, Arsenal, Sheffield United and Wolves? Any other manager and the disconent would of started sooner. The thing is as well, even if we do scrape it still performing like this to the end of the season (would be a miracle) I am worried about Spurs and even Arsenal with Arteta, who looks like he is finally getting his identity and ideas across for next season because if they get full pre seasons and build on what they are doing and we regress again, its going to be even harder. If the guy isnt going to be up to the job, which we will find out in the coming weeks as we reach a huge defining period of the season, then the club has a decision to make. Before we end up like Man United, falling away because we staked all our chips on young players and a club legend with little managerial experience and feel too sentimental to do the right thing. The next month will tell us what sort of spell Franks gonna have here because the pressure is on.

The point would be if he isnt the right guy to bring on us and get us back competing whats the point in keeping him? His legacy as a player? Hes not Klopp or Guardiola either which people keep seeming to rather stupidly compare our predicament now to their first seasons. They were both top managers prior to coming to the PL and would still be even if they didnt achieve anything. The club will want to get top 4 and as argued before a more experienced and proven manager could likely have achieved this with our squad before a ball was kicked. Even more so being 12 points clear of the top 4 at the time we were. It even looked difficult for us and Frank to somehow mess that up. If we dont do well in the Spurs game and CL double header he could be gone. Allegri and Pochettino are sitting unemployed....

And rightly so. Top 4 was still achieveable and despite it being still esrly in the season even more so after the first 10 or 12 games when others around us faltered and we had a huge points gap. People will say young players coming through is a saving grace but if we finish 6th or 7th which is all but possible if we continue to freefall, is it really? An experienced manager as weve mentioned before wont have been so quick to dismiss Giroud, Pedro and even Barkley when others underperformed earlier on and his lack of faith in these guys, regardless how good or bad they are, has undoubtedly had a part in whats happening now as they are out of form and match fitness when we need them due to injuries. Football is a squad game, the injuries weve had this season has been telling. The boards failure to bring somebody experienced or a few players in the January window, which Frank stressed about adding to the group, also hasnt helped him. We have seen all season from a coaching point of view, the teams defensive shape and ability to defend set pieced has also cost us dearly in games in Europe and in the league. Only Villa have conceded more goals from set plays & corners IIRC but have faced a lot more than we have. I think Frank will be gone if he doesnt get top 4. Theres no excuse to have 12 points clear at one point and then to lose that spot. He can claim we are underdogs for the top 4 now as everyone else strengthened around us but again Mourinho, Arteta, Wilder etc have also managed to change their clubs fortunes/continue good form due to coaching more than recruitment. Arsenal may have only won a few under Arteta but somehow find themselves closer to us than under Emery and there is a clear, visible improvement which will undoubtedbly continue next season when Arteta gets a full pre season. Same with Mourinho, who okay he is more a result orientated manager as opposed to putting a clear identity on his side but again, they are picking up points. Its not just this season we risk falling behind, Spurs were always a couple of additions short of being title challengers under Pochettino I think and Arsenal lacked under Emery but they are on upward trajectories as opposed to downward ones now in my eyes. We are slipping and struggling. The summer window is vital for us regardless of manager as well, we will lose experienced players and how we go about replacing that while adding quality in the same window will be intriguing to not avoid what we had when we let Ballack, Joe Cole, Belletti, Carvalho and Deco go because you cannot underestimate experience and winners, especially when its guys like Pedro who has won every trophy more or less at club and international level, Willian who has won a few PLs and cups here and Giroud a WC winner qnd has won countless FA cups. Okay those other guys before were maybe more reliable and better players but again, Cech, Cole, Brana, Drogba, Terry, Cahill etc have all left in the last however long too and we do lack top experienced pros who know what it takes in this current squad. So adding quality and that sort of experience/winning mentality is vital because it can be difficult to develop. Even Courtois, Costa and Cesc had that from spells at other clubs and brought it here. Another win vs Spurs would just paper over the cracks I feel. As the previous one did.

I am not so sure. Some will argue a more experienced manager will have not blown that points gap we had earlier in the season and built on it rather than thrown it away through stubborn tactical and selections snd poor squad management. There were other factors too obviously, poor conversion rate, defending from set plays etc. too but the defending in games and from those scenarios is probably more down to coaching and the set up (zonal marking). Doubt many would flinch to get Pochettino in over FL. Even if his only criticism as a manager for me is a lack of silverwear and constantly dismissing the domestic cups in his early seasons at Spurs, he has visibly improved 75% of the players he has worked with at Southampton and Spurs, I mean they gave England debuts out left right and centre to like probably at least 10 + players he had worked with within like 3 seasons since he arrived in the PL, says it all. Back onto Frank. He is underachieving regardless of if we lost Hazard or not, I dont get this whole we were a one man band with Eden every season idea still either, there were definitely times others questioned his performances in bigger matches and there was a slight divide (when the whole he needs a new LB on his level, he needs an attacking manager, he needs this or needs that shit would be brought up but top players are top players regardless of whats around them in most circumstances). The stats may show he has done it big games, which he has undoubtedly but we werent a.one man team. Maybe other attackers didnt have the same goal and assists but if they evened out and the likes of Willian and Pedro contributed 20 goals between them a season, this wouldnt be a viable excuse. Which is why Tammy scoring regularly has been.a bonus and Ziyech will.also add to that general collective of goals from elsewhere too. We also had defenders who contributed say 5 goals a season ie Brana, Terry, Cahill, Alonso etc too chipping in to boost our goals.

Fuck. Would take him over Sancho although different positions. But think a CF is more needed than a winger at present. In terms of being a kid still, he is well filled out and has very good and varied finishing, tight angles, placing it, smashing it, strong in the air too.

Pay the 50m release fee or whatever it is in the summer. Some finish. What an absolute brute of a kid for 19 as well.

Maybe but I think Mbappe also had consistent great performances against big teams in that period too at club level for Monaco and also PSG. As well as international level in a huge tournament as mentioned. Sancho is a talent I wont deny that and maybe he can go that extra level again eventually like Mbappe but until he does that regularly, I will be reserved in my judgement of him until then. That's why I dont think he is at the same level as Mbappe right now as well. If he does the Euros and club performances at a high level yes he has every chance I wont disagree but I think that Mbappe will be difficult for many players to catch and compete with not just Sancho. Really be intriguing to see how Rodrygo and Vinicuis Jnr do they in the next 2 or 3 seasons as well as Sancho. They can be top players but again not sure if theyll be as good as Mbappe will when he reaches his best years.

There is more to Wolves than Traore, that is just an arrogant view on them. If you watch some of their games, youll see that Ruben Neves and Moutinho are the heartbeat of that side and both are very good MF players who could play at a higher level, more so Neves now Moutinho is older and his time has probably passed to play at a bigger club. Raul Jimenez has scored 20 goals this season in all competitions. Diego Jota is also a very capable player who has scored regularly since being there. Rui Patricio is a hugely experienced GK who has lots of international experience and also a Euro winner. Jonny Otto is a player who is making a name for himself and been kn the Spain NT squad too. Then you have their manager who is getting more and more plaudits every year after difficult spells in Porto and Valencia.