Rubber bullets

Thank you RDM! You have given me much more faith in you! Edit: But I hope for god's thee above screenshot is wrong and Ramires is in the double pivot.

He said that they would like to try him at DM at one point. So they are basically putting Romeu further down te pecking order.

I wonder what the actual relationship has been every since RDM became assistant manager (and then subsequently as full time manager)? He does not seem to have a lot of faith in him as he was dropped as soon as RDM took over and hardly starts, even on the wings. Not happy with his attitude in training or how he conducts himself?

To be honest I had serious doubts when Newton gave that interview and basically confirmed that every thing that is annoying about RDM's tactics (Ramires at RW, no use of Romeu (he actually argues that they may use David Luiz in DM) no dropping of Lampard or Ivanovic) will pretty much be dogmatic and will hardly be changed.Its the sign of a stubborn mule more then Carlo or AVB combined.

Yes but he was incredibly influential before he got subbed , controlling the tempo when we got the ball, influential flicks on and help setting up attacks, dropping deep to retain the ball. He is Brazil's No.10, is 21 (not a 16 year old still wet behind the ears) and already has a lot of tools in his box to play a big part on the pitch. And again, when do we decide we crossed the line and can start regularly. In two years do we still keep saying "oh he is not strong and bulky enough to do well in the league, has not started many games, lets keep it that way". Bullshit.

Oh not this shit. First off its very poor generalization that Stoke do nothing but kick the shit out of players. They can play decent football but do have the long ball option if needed. Also just because a player make look small and lightweight does not mean they can not handle a bit of physicality (look at Hazard), also so what, every time we face a team tat might be a bit physical means that we never play him? When do we actually determine he is capable of playing "physical games"? He is going to have to start in them sooner or later.

If Danny pulled a hamstring, then expect him to be out for at least two weeks.

In that case he should be dropped for being one dimensional. Because if he can't play in any other way then this is going to be a huge long term problem for him (even medium term). But I think this conversation should be in a more appropriate thread, this is not the place.

And what about the Man Utd game? Or Newcastle? West Brom? Fulham? Aston Villa? Everton? Bayer Leverkusen? Even when Torres was in that 5 months goal drought Lampard gave a more shit performance in those games then he did. Face the facts, Lampard is not the player 5 years ago. He needs to do what Scholes and Giggs done and adapt his game to a more defensive role, because the way he is playing (trying to act like he is in Jose's 4-3-3 formation) is jeopardizing the balance of the team, is getting in the way of Oscar, Mata and Hazard from doing their roles and he is too slow to make up loss ground creating gaps in midfield. He is finished as an attacking force, he either adapts or drops out of the team.

I guess you forgot last season when he was god awful a lot of the time when he was played in more attacking position (maybe not in scoring, but certainly in terms of possession of the ball, passing, retaining the ball and tactical awareness), there is a good reason RDM has never played him in more advance positions. Especially now we have a bunch of players coming in who are better suited for advance role. Its time Lampard accepts he should be more defensive and disciplined in his performances, stop running into the box like a headless chicken and let the likes of Oscar, Mata and Hazard do their jobs. That is what they are there for.

When will RDM learn, Ramires is not working at RW. Please stop it for my sanity's sake.

Dear Fernando, Please stop acting like you're playing on the wings or in midfield. I thought we had talked this over last year that your better when in the striker role. Please go back to doing that even if it means having to repeatedly punch Frank Lampard in the face to stop him bombing forward into the box and getting in everyone's way. Failure to do so could see you having an unfortunate "accident" with your hair and a lit match. Yours sincerely, Sam.

I really wanted us to win the game for Oscar, the headlines should have been how he scored a wonder goal to get us 3 points. But awful defending took away that.

Gutted, especially since it was from a shocker from Mikel that caused it. We still have the problem of the opponents being able to go through large periods of total domination and our midfield can't cope with the pressure. It has got to be sorted out.

The good, Oscar starts! Bad, fucking Mikel and Lampard together again, and for gods sakes how long before he learns that Ramires on the RW does not work.

We didn't have a holding midfielder for the last month or two (at least when Mikel was injured for the last month), we played a flat midfield trio of Malouda, Ballack and Lampard, where they all had to advance up the field together. When we did play with a holding midfield it was always with Mikel.

I don't buy this idea that AVB was treating wrong and that was the excuse for Lampard to act like a prick. He was giving some awful performances and even an idiot could tell that if you are suddenly dropped after being a starter for so long means you were probably not playing well and should up your performances when you are given another chance. I'm sick of this idea that manager's have to to always talk about decisions with Lampard and Terry as though he needs some sort of final approval, he's the bloody manager! He above them on the hierarchy scale. Alas its the problem with modern day footballer and having way too much power.

My gripe with Drogba last season was that when it was not perceived to be a big game (basically anytime in the Premier League because getting in the top 4 would not exactly be a medal) was that he never turned up and was becoming a big disadvantage for us (seriously watch the away game against Wigan and you will see what I mean) so while I'm grateful for his performances in the CL. Its a good thing we let him go because he would basically be wasted in the team and using him as a sub role would be difficult for both the club and the player. My gripe with Lampard goes much further when AVB rightfully dropped him for some incredibly awful performances and Lampard could not stand the fact he was not being treated like some god and was trying to use his status as some Chelsea untouchable who should practically run the club himself to get his own way like some spoiled little shithead to get his own way. Its seems that RDM is too scarred to drop him as an automatic starter in case it happens again, when he really shouldn't be.

Because the way he plays is affecting the way the board (and maybe the manager, I don't know since he keeps giving mix messages in that department) not to mention he is getting slower so he has to change the way he plays sooner or later. The fact is the position he plays requires him to play more defensively means he better to do or be dropped. The Athletico Madrid game will become more apparent if we can't get a double pivot that does it job properly and helps take off any opposition pressure. Lampard doing what he does in Jose's 4-3-3 is upsetting the balance. And how can we use him like SAF uses Scholes? Because judging from past experience not making a constant starting 11 player means he will just act like a petulant brat and kick up a fuss in the dressing room and in the media. For gods sakes we should not be treating him like royalty (like some fans think we should)

That is quite misleading with Xavi and Iniesta (and not just the fact that they have played a lot less games). For the last decade Lampard's game has been making as many runs into the box as possible to score goals. With Xavi and Iniesta its more about staying in the middle of the pitch to dictate play. That is why they don't have as many assists, although Xavi is only 10 behind him with a lot less games played.). Lampard has to be more like Xavi or Iniesta in terms of staying in the midfield and not making stupid runs every time we get the ball into the opposition half,but he seems more concerned on becoming the all time top scorer and is completely neglecting his duties in the double pivot. This is why I feel that if we continue with the 4-2-3-1 we need a different partnership in the 2 man DM

He hardly became a big game player when he was with us in the first place. What makes you think a nearly 36 year old injury prone has-been is magically going to become one? And I'm sorry, signing him back just because the CL trophy has eluded him is not really a good excuse based on rational thinking, but sappy sentiment. Its clear that months after he has been released by Bayer that all clubs relies he has little to offer, is near retirement too injury prone, and is asking too much in wages for what he has to offer. Its good thing he club is not considering this.

Its the midfield I'm worried about, how long will it take for him to realize that the Mikel, Lampard partnership is not a steady and sustainable one. And as we saw against Madrid good teams will constantly take advantage of this, even QPR were able to for long periods in the game. This will be his undoing as the manager of Chelsea Football Club. And you say he will be more offensive against Stoke, if he was alarmingly over cautious with QPR, when will he decide to be more offensive?

But for how long? If in 2 months we find us rolling along in 5th or 6th place because thee problems seen against Madrid or QPR are still not addressed, what then?

According to the Madrid manager, he made sure the double pivot of Mikel and Lampard were constantly under pressure so they could not balance the play and kept giving away possession, since RDM will certainly play both of them, expect another thrashing.

While this article may be seen as laughable to some, it shows us that RDM must have the courage to make radical decisions once in a while when things go pear shaped and not be afraid to tackle any possible rumbles from the choices he makes. http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2012/09/12/3370835/the-dossier-lampard-and-terry-must-be-sacrificed-for-chelsea It also confirms my opinion that Lampard is simply not suited for the double pivot, and as seen against Madrid and QPR, will see us being constantly run over by the opposition and unable to control the game.