Frank Lampard

[Phil Driver 503]

He bossed the game last night with Rammy ,this midfield combination is perfect and left the lauded Spurs midfield fighting for breath.

Class and energy ,this is Jose's first choice now,performances have earned that .

[English Freak 456]

Non-existent against Norwich.

He shouldn't be starting every game at his age...

[Phil Driver 503]

You must be p1ssed or a mug,he ran the game ,two passes for Ba in the first ten minutes could have put us 2 up.

What a load of bullshit .

[Magic Lamps 11,677]

He probably should not have started. Did not look fit. But some nice long balls and he was decent in the build up. A few inaccurate passes. This game was not his best, but there were worse players on the pitch.

[Phil Driver 503]

He could have of course played a 95% slow sideways pass game . But is that really what we need? I Jose obviously doesnt hink so ,him and Rammy bossed it again and with better play from our front 4 we win this easily ,they were wasteful Frank set up Ba four or five times with great first time vision.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

This game showed what I mean by Lampard being deployed in a position that is alien to him.

In the first 15 minutes he was in his element, we had a glimpse of a Lampard of old, spraying marvellous long balls left and right, with time on the ball and no defensive duties as we were pinning Norwich back and playing direct football with a strong, tall and up-for-it Ba leading the line.

After that, especially in the second half we got the Lampard of today, the Lampard that's resorting time and time again to attempting to hold, grab and tug players' shirts as they still go past him with ease, whilst leaving inviting gaps in a crucial area in front of our back 4.

We look very fragile at the back, but not because of the back four itself, but the two players who are deployed in front of it, Ramires is world-class at what he does, and that mitigates the problem a little but it's still obvious to see we need a lot better to parter him.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Excellent in the first 15 minutes, pretty poor in the remaining 75. Misplaced way too many simple passes and went missing for ages in the second half. Our formation just doesn't suite him.

[Phil Driver 503]

Another one with poor reading of a game ,still sounds like you are pining for Mikel,who was not even on the bench .

Jose has got this spot on since Mikel was dropped we have been on a great run and Lampard has been class.

Special managers work things out and Jose has worked this one out very quickly as I expected.

[OneMoSalah 8,810]

This game showed what I mean by Lampard being deployed in a position that is alien to him.

In the first 15 minutes he was in his element, we had a glimpse of a Lampard of old, spraying marvellous long balls left and right, with time on the ball and no defensive duties as we were pinning Norwich back and playing direct football with a strong, tall and up-for-it Ba leading the line.

After that, especially in the second half we got the Lampard of today, the Lampard that's resorting time and time again to attempting to hold, grab and tug players' shirts as they still go past him with ease, whilst leaving inviting gaps in a crucial area in front of our back 4.

We look very fragile at the back, but not because of the back four itself, but the two players who are deployed in front of it, Ramires is world-class at what he does, and that mitigates the problem a little but it's still obvious to see we need a lot better to parter him.

Thats because Rami and Lamps are too similar, both are box to box midfielders who like to get up and support the strikers but Ramires is capable of recovering due to his speed and mobility unlike Lampard who often tries to foul players/shirt tug them back. I didn't see the game today but I've seen Lampard do this far too often, especially last season.

[OneMoSalah 8,810]

Another one with poor reading of a game ,still sounds like you are pining for Mikel,who was not even on the bench .

Jose has got this spot on since Mikel was dropped we have been on a great run and Lampard has been class.

Special managers work things out and Jose has worked this one out very quickly as I expected.

Jesus christ.. all I'm saying...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Jesus christ.. all I'm saying...

Nope, I don't think even he can make any sense of that..

[Phil Driver 503]

What is it with you Mikel fanboys?

Jose picks on performance and results ,not on mythical attributes like 90% sideways passes ,surely you will wise up soon ?

Class is permanent and rubbish trains alone at Cobham .

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

No one has even mentioned Mikel's name but you Phil.

We are talking about Lampard here.

[Phil Driver 503]

You can talk all you want squire ,Jose picks the team and he knows class when he sees it ,hence Lampard will play and the fanboys can make their excuses ,he was class today and controlled the midfield .

He has cemented his place in the team now,Jose has worked things out ,even if some fans have not.

zeez are facts. Not surprised you do not want to talk about Mikel mate

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

I'm reading Dominic Fifield's article/ match summary on The Guardian and also the comments. Unsurprisingly, the great majority also see our great flaw in midfield in the way Lampard is being played.

Here is the link Phil, it's not only a few who are seeing the problem with Frank starting all these games in the pivot.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/06/norwich-city-chelsea-premier-league

[Phil Driver 503]

Dominic who in the Guardian? ,dont make me laugh . I am reading Jose Mourinho and his team selection .

Lets not take this to farcical levels now ,the Guardian? who does he support Spurs or Arsenal ?

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

It was more of a reference to the comments down the page, from mostly Chelsea fans giving their sincere take on the game, the actual article isn't really that relevant.

You are sort of taking this the wrong way Phil, Lampard is and will always be a legend at the Bridge, what we are really discussing here is his selection and performances in a position he can't execute fully, leaving us exposed at the back and a little disjointed with our attacking lines, unless you play like we did in the first half, long balls into the tall, strong centre foward, even that only solves one problem and the defensive flaw would still remain.

[Phil Driver 503]

I am discussing the same ,there were no long balls ,they are high balls that are hit and hope balls that a forward fights for ,Lampard saw the space behind their back four and played Demba in this meant their back four had to drop off ,slow sideways balls have the opposite effect ,sorry mate but fans are ignorant about the game and jouranlists have prejudice opinions

I am nore than happy to share a view with Mourinho,although I saw it a long time ago ,but Jose was always going to see that Mikel is our problem (and I know you dont want to talk about him) but seeing as him and Lampard seem to be in competition for a start it does seem relevant and from what I can see Essien is next in line to play now.