Jase

Fair point this...

Souness on Ziyech yesterday... https://metro.co.uk/2021/01/03/chelsea-news-graeme-souness-blasts-hakim-ziyech-man-city-defeat-premier-league-13841261/

WELCOME TO LAMPARD BALL!

Not sure how much the wages really played a part based on how the transfer was reported - e.g. Cech, Lampard called to convince him, Cech went to Germany - and how Werner spoke about Lampard after joining us. The supposed interest from Guardiola was only reported after the transfer move happened and it was from the same person that broke the news in the first place. Aguero is already 32 years old and as you alluded to, he is also injury prone. Plus, his contract expires at the end of this season, IIRC. Not surprising to see City looking for his successor, if you like, and it's not as if Jesus has done a convincing job in Aguero's absence. Just because Werner played on the left wing for Germany, it doesn't mean his role is the same with whatever Lampard is asking him to do. It is clear as hell by now that Werner is NOT a winger. So, I do not know what is Lampard expecting and what are people expecting from Werner in that role. You can say "oh, he's got to adapt and can do more" but if someone is just not suited to a particular, especially after so many games, then he is just not suited to that role. God knows how many times I've mentioned this but Werner did his best work as a second striker at Leipzig but people now want him to be a winger? This is rather similar to Sarri trying to turn Kante into an attacking midfielder when he is never going to be one and his up-and-down performances in that role have proven that. You are surprised by what he's putting out there in terms of effort? Were you saying this a month or more so ago? I don't think he is one to not put in the effort and for much, if not all, of this season, I haven't seen anyone complained about it despite him having to play an unfamiliar role. If you're gonna question Werner for the lack of the effort in some of the recent games, then you gotta question the others too because there are a lot of underwhelming individuals out there recently. Might well have something to do with Lampard overtraining the players during a free week and come matchday, they just look dead on their feet and aren't doing the basics right. Also, it's worth pointing out (again) that Werner has played the most minutes this season (1,833) and considering this is his first season in English football with the congested schedule etc, him suffering a burnt out of late isn't entirely out of the question either. If you're gonna point the finger at two newcomers to the league, to English football for being underwhelming no less, then you should do the same with the others because not everyone has been pulling the same weight. Those "others" don't even have some of the mitigating factors like Werner and Havertz. True but it's not the same situation with this, is it? Mourinho just burnt everyone out by then with his incessant need to create controversies and drama while Lampard just looks out of his depth right now. Abraham and Giroud offer more to the team? Okay, Werner may not be offering much right now but at the same time, Abraham is a mixed bag in his contribution to our attacking play while Giroud is almost non-existent with it and is bloody slow and immobile. But hey ho, they are scoring goals... Also, wouldn't dropping Werner just be dancing around the issue as opposed to actually addressing it? Again, isn't this just ultimately dancing around the issue rather than addressing it? I can't for the life of me understand why Lampard even bought players like Werner, Havertz, Ziyech but then make us play like Burnley. Better off signing players like Andy Carroll, Chris Wood so that we can spam crosses onto their head!

ZERO win against the 'Big 6' this season: L 0-2 Liverpool D 0-0 Man United D 0-0 Spurs L 1-3 Arsenal L 1-3 Man City Both goals came after being 3-0 down...

I really don't get why Lampard should be given 1 more league match to see if he can turn things around. The doubts, the issues aren't going to just go away even if we win at Fulham. They are far bigger than the results right now. If Roman really wants to sack him, then he should just do so now.

OR Roman could just look at his track record and see that things can get better after sacking the manager midway through the season.

Don't see how Werner wouldn't start at City if Guardiola wanted him. You don't buy a high profile German international only to start him on the bench. And have you forgotten Werner had a release clause in his Leipzig contract? Why the hell would the links even be about trying to drive up the price? Sure, can blame Werner for the individual things but playing him a winger? Let's not be stupid here. He played on the left side at Leipzig but it was a second striker role and not a winger. I don't get how you can blame Lampard for poor coaching of the team but at the same time, criticize Werner and Havertz when they are basically being set up to fail. Sure, you can criticize them for not doing the little things properly but whatever role they are playing now in the team is not best suited to them, is it? "We knew he would have to adapt to fit into the team"? Werner and Havertz were both wanted by Lampard and he got them. You would think that Lampard has a system in place to fit them both in, where they can shine and not the other way around. Werner and Havertz mentioned what Lampard spoke to them before joining us but are we seeing any of those plans working out now? As I said earlier, you need to start questioning Lampard then if he doesn't know how to use them. I don't recall wanting us to play 4-3-3 but I was happy when Lampard seemingly found the sweet spot with the 4-3-3 when we shifted to it in Krasnodar. However, it's obvious that it hasn't quite worked out recently but Lampard has stubbornly persisted with it. Also, I'm not stupid enough to suggest we should change formation for one player but it's not like the back 3 system, for example, doesn't suit the players we have right now, does it? And questions would be still asked if he sits out for too long. He's not going to get out of this rut by sitting on the bench. Isn't that on Lampard? He bought someone like Werner but have been making us play hoofball and spam high crosses into the box.

Arsenal could be level on points with us by the time we kick off at Fulham on January 15.

I don't know if it's the lack of pre-season or there's big pressure on him this season but although he changed too much last season, at least he was flexible with the formation. This season, he just seems stuck with 4-3-3, even when it's not working. Werner did his best work as a second striker at Leipzig and yet, Lampard has not tried once this season to play 2 strikers upfront - be it 4-4-2, 4-diamond-2 or 3-5-2. Even 3-4-3 might work, allowing Werner to play closer to the central striker and just focus on chances inside the box, instead of suddenly having to play a dual role with the defensive and offensive work as a winger. If Lampard really doesn't know how to use Werner, then one needs to question why did Lampard even buy him. Really, REALLY curious as to what Lampard said to Werner (and even the others) when he convinced him to join us.

Saw this from Lukaku... Lampard always talked about working hard in training but I wonder if he's actually working smart with the players in training.

If nothing happens tomorrow, then what?

A win is a win but it will be a hollow win given it's a lower league side etc. It'll just paper over the cracks until we go again at Fulham. As it stands, yes, it will go ahead.

I LOL-ed because you said Lampard isn't under pressure and his job is safe when there's already a story from The Athletic on him being on the brink.

LOL

It won't happen...

This. We were atrocious against Arsenal after a free week, decent against Villa after just 1 day of rest and then back to being atrocious against Man City after another free week. And that's just an example from this past week alone. There's more if we look back over the course of Lampard's regime.

Where has @Tomo disappeared to?

Chelsea 4-0 Morecambe PRE/POST-MATCH DISCUSSION, LIVE CHAT AND ANALYSIS 2020/21 FA Cup 3rd Round 10th January, Sunday 2020 Stamford Bridge 13:30 Kick Off (UK time)

Whatever hater.

Maybe Allegri can adapt his playing style and make it exciting here, I don't know but there's a reason why Juventus did away with him and decided to hire someone like Sarri instead.

Looking back at this, this comment (not that Lampard is challenging the club) brings back memory of when Mourinho told the club that they cannot sack him because he's the best manager after losing to Southampton (IIRC) in 2015/16, only to then get sacked weeks later. It's almost as if Lampard is telling the club "I can turn this around because I've experienced this before as a player".

Well, we used to have one...