🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Frank Lampard

[Jase 43,479]

19 minutes ago, Blues Forever said:

 

So, the club are willing to take the risks? Okay...

[Superblue 6,372]

3 minutes ago, Jason said:

So, the club are willing to take the risks? Okay...

To be honest, aside from the initial athletic report last night, it seems to have calmed down a bit again. 

The pressure has definitely gone up several notches and more questions are being asked throughout the media whether he's right for the job, but there doesn't seem enough there at present to suggest a change is imminent.

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,401]

3 minutes ago, Jason said:

So, the club are willing to take the risks? Okay...

"Lampard faces a fight to convince Chelsea that he can lead the club towards future glory". 

I would give anything to be a fly on the wall to hear his convincing argument to our board. Liverpool, United, Spurs, Leicester and Man City are all on course to finish higher than 70 points. We are on course to finish well below that and there are virtually no signs of progression given the one dimensional play we continue to see day in and day out. 

Hopefully the board are smarter than this. 

[Azul 1,615]

"Lampard faces a fight to convince Chelsea that he can lead the club towards future glory". 
I would give anything to be a fly on the wall to hear his convincing argument to our board. Liverpool, United, Spurs, Leicester and Man City are all on course to finish higher than 70 points. We are on course to finish well below that and there are virtually no signs of progression given the one dimensional play we continue to see day in and day out. 
Hopefully the board are smarter than this. 

Nizaar Kinsella just said that he won't be sacked immediately but he'll be given another chance. The board are fucking idiots.

We're going to win against Morecambe and Fulham, after that we'll lose points again and we'll be in the same position. If we sack him now the new manager atleast has some time to get ready for the Premier League match.

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

No, he doesn't. He just stands on the touchline, hands crossed and looks passive and quiet. And god knows what even Jody Morris is doing as well. 

As long as Anthony Barry stays im happy

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[NikkiCFC 8,516]

Yeah, in our minds he is already gone. I am sure players feel the same way. It is going to be hard for them to get motivated to play for him again imo.

[Jase 43,479]

Surprised we haven't read any of the traditional clear-the-air talks.  

[Azul 1,615]

Yeah, in our minds he is already gone. I am sure players feel the same way. It is going to be hard for them to get motivated to play for him again imo.

It's a waste of time and energy to talk about him leaving to be honest. The board clearly can't look at things objectively, and see his actual flaws as a manager.

The only reason he got the job is because of his status and that's also the only reason on why he'll keep it for now. That's why I've actually given up talking about him being sacked until he actually does.

[NikkiCFC 8,516]

There were worrying signs from the day one. Remember his first week here? 4:0 trashing at OT and Super Cup where he did some irrational decisions like putting Tammy to shot 5th penalty ahead of Azpi and Pedro.

He did not learn and did the same thing this season when he put Mount to shot 5th PK against Spurs. This costed us a trophy and a good chance to go for another one. Also remember how we played Fa Cup final? 

Compere that to Sarri two finals.

What are the most positive things about Frank? Top4 last season and youth. But lets see the bigger picture here.

In Roman era apart from first two seasons we would never get top4 with that amount of points. We got lucky with Spurs underperforming and Leicester collapsing.

We can all agree that without Giroud goals from February to July we would finish probably 6th or 7th last season. The same Olie, who was not in the squad from August to February. He saved us and Frank last season. And Michy was ahead of him!

We would now have completely different perspective. Do not forget we had worst defense in like 30 years. And even this season we are on the road to concede more goals than in Sarri season. And back than we had Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso and Kepa as starters. and Jorgi ahead of them.

About youth, for me it was exciting first two months last season. He was the one that dropped Tomori, did not give much chances to CHO who is imo our best product. Mount was way overplayed and this annoyed so many people.

Tammy scored many goals but is not better than Giroud. Fair play to James but we knew he was the real deal even before in Wigan. Sarri also did good job with CHO and RLC, and I am sure would introduce some others if he was here last season. James and Billy for sure.

We can even argue why Ross never started last season two games in a row apart from Liverpool 2:0 and Everton 4:0 wins.

How many times he went with 3 at the back, two games in a row only to fail every single time. He never tried 442 with Werner which is so weird even when we did not had any wingers. Or Ziyech as number 8?

Zouma and Rudi kept clean sheets last season all the time but he just continued with Chris who was shit. So many tactical and lineup mistakes from Frank...

Really not many positives this 18 months... Thanks for everything, especially helping us getting Kai and others but it is time to say goodbye.

 

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Blue Armour 4,731]

3 hours ago, Jason said:

Both but I would place greater emphasis on the manager to lead the way. I don't think you will see managers like Klopp, Guardiola, Mourinho etc just stand on the touchline with the arms crossed and look passive and quiet when things are going horribly wrong on the pitch. Said it before that I don't think Lampard will be a manager who screams and shouts on the touchline BUT since he's always saying that this team is young, inexperienced etc, he needs to come out of his shell a bit more and help provide leadership and guidance. I don't know if he's expecting the players to solve problems on the field like he, Terry, Drogba etc used to do but it's clear that the current players are not capable of that (yet maybe). He - and even his coaching staff like Morris - needs to do more from the touchline to help the team. He can't keep on doing nothing and then turn around and blame them after a bad result. 

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 

[Tomo 21,751]

I remember at Palace's first season back in the PL Ian Holloway held his hands up and said the job was too much for him, maybe Frank should consider doing the same? 

I could take the average results if the football was still good or vice versa but can never accept not both. For the first time since Conte's last few months watching games has felt like a chore and this has come at the worst possible time with lockdown imminent.

[Blue Armour 4,731]

14 minutes ago, Tomo said:

I remember at Palace's first season back in the PL Ian Holloway held his hands up and said the job was too much for him, maybe Frank should consider doing the same? 

I could take the average results if the football was still good or vice versa but can never accept not both. For the first time since Conte's last few months watching games has felt like a chore and this has come at the worst possible time with lockdown imminent.

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.

[Azul 1,615]

[Azul 1,615]

He's staying for now, so there's no point talking about him getting sacked sadly enough. The board will kick themselves for not getting Tuchel in during and that's the last thing I'll say.

 

[DDA 10,244]

5 minutes ago, bigbluewillie said:

I thought you wanted Stevie "fucking G

On reflection, I don't think Stevie G would be a good choice right now.. but keep an eye on him... I bet he ends up going to the scouse scumbags after Klopp and has them playing for titles.

[killer1257 3,282]

My guess is Alonso, jorgi, Emerson and Toni are unhappy with their situation. Toni is moaning almost every second week by giving interviews with German sky

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[Jase 43,479]

39 minutes ago, Azul said:

 

Yup, we're going down the "blind hope" route now...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/01/04/chelsea-yet-hit-panic-button-frank-lampard/

Chelsea do not have a ready-made succession plan for the replacement of head coach Frank Lampard with the club yet to hit the panic button over their poor run of form.

Lampard is well aware that pressure on him is building as a result of four defeats in six games and that there are members of his large squad who are unhappy with the situation they find themselves in.

But Chelsea are mindful of the fact that Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal have suffered difficult periods in what has been an incredibly unpredictable Premier League season, and remain hopeful that Lampard can steer the club out of their slump.

Out-of-work managers such as Thomas Tuchel and Max Allegri are trying to position themselves at the front of the queue should Chelsea decide to make a change. But no emergency measures have yet been put in place, with the club operating as normal and Lampard sticking to his plan of giving his squad two days off following Sunday’s defeat to City in order to recharge bodies and minds.

Games against Morecambe, in the FA Cup on Sunday, and Fulham, in the Premier League a week on Friday, offer Lampard and his team an opportunity to start to rebuild confidence and momentum ahead of an important run of fixtures building up to the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid on February 23.

A defeat in either of the games against Morecambe or Fulham would place Lampard in an incredibly difficult position, but that is a scenario he will be confident of avoiding.

Despite his trigger-happy reputation, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been reluctant to sack managers mid-season over recent years, choosing to wait until the end of the campaign in the case of Antonio Conte, resisting the urge to sack Maurizio Sarri before allowing him to eventually take over at Juventus and holding off for several weeks before firing Jose Mourinho in his second spell.

Unlike Conte, Mourinho and, to a lesser extent, Sarri, Lampard has not compounded disappointing results by taking pot-shots at the Chelsea board or refusing to fulfil his club duties away from the first team.

Twice previously, Abramovich turned to Guus Hiddink to take temporary charge, but the Dutchman is now 74-years-old and there are no obvious alternatives outside Chelsea to replace Lampard in a short-term capacity if the club felt forced to make a change.

The January transfer window gives Chelsea the opportunity to try to streamline Lampard’s squad and help reduce the risk of any widespread disharmony developing among the players.
Lampard has four senior left-backs, including Baba Rahman, five central defenders, and three senior goalkeepers in his squad. Marcos Alonso, who has been linked with Atletico Madrid and frozen out since the draw at West Bromwich Albion, could be allowed to leave, while Fikayo Tomori is expected to leave on loan and offers would be considered for Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The long-term futures of Antonio Rüdiger and Jorginho remain in doubt, but Chelsea may not receive offers good enough to allow either of the players to leave in the current transfer window.

Chelsea backed Lampard with an enormous £220 million summer spend, but, like a lot of top clubs, found it difficult to offload their unwanted stars during the coronavirus pandemic when many budgets were severely cut.

That left Lampard with an inflated squad to work with, which has brought its challenges and meant that some players have been left unhappy with their relative lack of playing time.

While the club work on potential outgoings, Lampard’s immediate challenge is to try to find a balance within his team and help two of the club’s most expensive summer signings, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, rediscover their best form.

Werner has now gone 12 games without scoring for Chelsea since returning from international duty with Germany, when he was part of the team that was humiliated by a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain.

Just as concerning as his lack of goals has been Werner’s work-rate and general contribution, which has tailed off alarmingly in recent weeks. Lampard stuck by the 24-year-old for the visit of City, but was not rewarded for his faith.

Midfielder Havertz has struggled since contracting and recovering from coronavirus, although the German did set up Callum Hudson-Odoi’s consolation goal in the 3-1 defeat to City.

Hudson-Odoi’s impact on Sunday, following a promising performance against Aston Villa, gives Lampard another factor to consider while Billy Gilmour is also very much in the Chelsea manager’s thoughts as he attempts to find the right mix in midfield.

Gilmour is understood to have impressed in training and a start against Morecambe would give the Scotsman the chance to stake a claim to start against Fulham in the Premier League with Lampard not afraid to turn to his young players.

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, Tomo said:

I remember at Palace's first season back in the PL Ian Holloway held his hands up and said the job was too much for him, maybe Frank should consider doing the same? 

I could take the average results if the football was still good or vice versa but can never accept not both. For the first time since Conte's last few months watching games has felt like a chore and this has come at the worst possible time with lockdown imminent.

What makes you think Lampard will come out and say that knowing his ego?

Since the club are going down the "blind hope" route with him, one can only hope he realizes his mistakes and fixes them ASAP. We face Fulham (a), Leicester (a), Wolves (h) and Burnley (h) this month - and before going to Spurs - and if we don't pick up at least 4 points from the next 2 games or at least 10 out of 12, then I think he would be gone. 

[Jase 43,479]

Goal, Telegraph and ESPN all running the same story today - Lampard will be given a bit more time (also note the 4th last paragraph below)...

https://www.espn.com/soccer/chelsea/story/4279843/chelsea-prepared-to-be-patient-with-lampard-despite-poor-results-sources

Chelsea are prepared to give Frank Lampard time to turn around the club's poor form despite mounting speculation over his future, sources have told ESPN.

The Blues were comprehensively beaten 3-1 at Manchester City on Sunday to slip to their fourth defeat in six Premier League matches, a run which has seen them drop to eighth in the table.

Lampard is under increasingly pressure after overseeing a summer spending spree in excess of £220 million featuring six signings, several of whom have underperformed in their first few months in west London.

However, there is recognition of Lampard's achievements last season, most significantly guiding the club into the Champions League despite starting the campaign with a FIFA transfer ban preventing the club making any new signings.

The 42-year-old's legendary status as a player -- he is Chelsea's all-time leading goalscorer with 211 goals from 648 appearances in a 13-year career which featured 11 major honours -- is also a factor and sources have told ESPN no single candidate has been identified to replace him.

The Blues are reluctant to part company with Lampard but there is alarm at recent results with a top-four spot a minimum expectation after such a huge financial investment, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lampard has not been given an ultimatum or a timeframe in which to improve the club's fortunes but an FA Cup third round tie against League Two side Morecambe -- assuming it goes ahead with COVID cases rising across the country -- and a Premier League game against relegation-threatened Fulham offer a presentable chance to get back to winning ways.

A major shock in either of those matches would leave Lampard in major trouble, particularly coming after City outclassed Chelsea despite missing a raft of first-team players due to positive COVID-19 tests.

Sources have told ESPN that several Chelsea players have expressed their frustrations at Lampard's tactical approach and there is a view among some that he is yet to establish his best team.

Timo Werner, a £47m acquisition from Red Bull Leipzig, started the season brightly but has now gone 12 matches without scoring. While Kai Havertz, who signed for an initial £62m from Bayer Leverkusen, has struggled under the weight of that price tag.

Lampard will be expected to get more out of his big-money signings, especially with more experienced managers currently out of work.

Thomas Tuchel, sacked by Paris Saint-Germain on Christmas Eve, and Max Allegri, who left Juventus in the summer of 2019, are two obvious candidates while Brendan Rodgers is also thought to have his admirers having impressed at Leicester. Rodgers also joined Chelsea as an academy coach in 2004 and was later reserve team manager before leaving for his first managerial post at Watford in 2008.