Jase

I don't think Lampard's "obsession" (not sure if that's the right word) with Mount isn't helping the player. This is basically his first season with the club and he's had to play all these high intensity games in the PL, CL etc and Lampard has played him in all but one game IIRC. That is A LOT for a young player to take, especially when they're not used to the workload yet.

Our source of goals in the last 13 Premier League games (since our inconsistent run started) has not been inspiring to say the least... L 1-2 Man City Long range pass L 0-1 West Ham W 2-1 Aston Villa Cross + Individual brilliance (volley) L 1-3 Everton Individual brilliance (long range strike) L 0-1 Bournemouth W 2-0 Spurs Individual brilliance + Penalty L 0-2 Southampton W 2-1 Arsenal Keeper blunder + Counter attack D 1-1 Brighton Corner W 3-0 Burnley Penalty + Keeper blunder + Cross L 0-1 Newcastle D 2-2 Arsenal Penalty + Cross D 2-2 Leicester Corner + Free Kick

Think the board should think twice before giving Abraham that new contract...

That is true but in some ways, I wouldn't read into that at all. I mean, how often do we even see a team drop only 2 points after 24 league games!

As much as the board deserve all the criticism for how the current squad has been shaped up, I think they can also turn around and ask Lampard questions. Why are we still bad at defending when you're already 6-7 months into the job? Why have you frozen Giroud out completely? Why even bother putting Batshuayi on the bench if you're not going to use him? Why have the team not been able to put a 90 minutes performance a bit more consistently? Yes, if we had gotten a quality attacker in January, that would have been nice but it wouldn't solve our shambolic defensive issues, would it? And as I said earlier, I find it nonsense that Lampard is getting pissed off at the board for not being able to sign a striker in the transfer window. If Lampard is gonna keep on making "statements" about the board not backing him rather than focus on actually improving the team - e.g. the shambolic defending!!! - then I'd find it hard to see him succeed in the long term. We don't need another manager to go all Mourinho/Conte on us while the season is still ongoing!

Yes Frank, signing an attacker would clearly help solve our shambolic defensive problems...

Alonso and Emerson are arguably much worse defensively than Azpi going forward.

People predicting us to lose after seeing the starting XI like they haven't predicted us to lose to begin with. And is that XI really any different to what we have been putting out recently? Kepa has been bad and getting dropped is no surprise, might be an improvement! Willian, for whatever work he does, doesn't do much offensively and haven't we been complaining about that? Pedro isn't great anymore but in theory, I can see why Lampard chose him for more offensive output. Heck, I'm surprised he even dropped one of his favorites!

CRIKEY! WHAT A LINEUP!

If you say so, Mr Pessimist...

Might be worth starting a riot at the Bridge then.

As frustrating as it is that we did not manage to sign anyone this window, I find it bizarre Lampard has moaned so much about not signing anyone when he has also openly admitted that it's difficult to sign the right players in January. Based on the names we were linked with, it wasn't a long/great shortlist, was it? Lyon don't want to sell Dembele. Cavani had high demands and seemingly only want Atletico. Piatek unconvincing after just 1 good season. Mertens is injured and Napoli don't want to sell. The squad right now ain't great overall but has Lampard made the best use of what he has so far? Debatable, especially when almost every game raises question marks over his team selection etc. Plus, some players have been tossed aside, some flogged to death. Maybe Lampard should re-evaluate things, at how he manages the squad first before going all Mourinho/Conte in the media. New signings this month would have helped this month but it wouldn't cover the coaching flaws etc.

Lampard sounding a lot like Mourinho/Conte there...

Make of this what you will...

But I expect better than the team's attacking play morphing into just lumping crosses into the box. The squad ain't great but has Lampard made good use of it? Debatable when almost every game raises question marks over his team selection etc.

Looks like Ighalo could make his debut against us then... Can't imagine the reaction if he scores the winner...

The board can be blamed for many things but it's not their fault if Lampard can't make us at least competent in breaking defensive teams down.

Yeah but if they have to look at the likes of Odion Ighalo, Josh King etc, then you know there aren't many great options out there to get this month.

Wonder why we can't sign any strikers this month? Just look at what United have resorted to now...