Frank Lampard

[Phil Driver 503]

That was due to overloading in the wide areas where they managed to get their full backs forward and create 2v1s ,our wide men needed to work harder and of course Azpi was like out of position ,we needed to counter better and we did that better 2nd half + our early goal meant we had a lead to defend ,Rammy and Lampard have been part of a team that has won every game sine Mikel was dropped ,surely that will not change for City and Ya Ya?

[Phil Driver 503]

Good in second half, but the first was one to forget, for both pivot players tbf. Frank too easily taken out of the defensive picture and Rami too easily drawn out of position. No wonder Schalke managed to get the ball into our box in almost every single attack.

By the way neither were drawn out of position both were instucted to hold and they did,but of course both have the ability to counter when on with powerful running and quick long passes.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

By the way neither were drawn out of position both were instucted to hold and they did,but of course both have the ability to counter when on with powerful running and quick long passes.

If neither were drawn out of position, how did Schalke manage to create so many chances in the first half? Like I said, they were both miles better in the second, stayed disciplined and denied Schalke any space in the middle which is why they struggled to create anything.

[Rmpr 8,977]

I miss the old Frank!

[The only place to be 11,313]

Good performance last night statistically. 92% passing accuracy with 6 of 7 long balls accurate and he also made 4 interceptions and 3 tackles which were a team high.

That's the fourth game in a row that he's had a passing accuracy of higher than 90%.

What seems to happen is that he and Ramires have issues in the first-half which are remedied during the half-time break, which isn't surprising considering that the whole team is still very much a work-in-progress. I don't really see a reason to make changes for the City game - let's be honest, throwing Mikel in against Toure is no guarantee of a more defensively-strong performance from the pivot.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Had a very good game yesterday. Not only was his passing accurate, but his passing was accurate with 7 long balls and 4 crosses and led the team in touches. He wasn't just passing 5 yards to the side. He was completing difficult passes at a high volume. He also made a couple of very key defensive plays and was excellent in the dead ball situations. .

[Phil Driver 503]

And of course as well as fine passing stats /tackle and interception stats,the stat I like most is Chelsea win again with him in the team.

[Jase 43,479]

Mikel, is out of the picture he has got no chance of playing ,his stats suggest when he plays we lose and him against Toure is a farce ,Lampard and Rammy is our midfield of choice since they teamed up we have won every game ,bringing Mikel back will mean we will struggle to win and perform like Spurs first half away where we let the opposition midfield totally overwhelm us ,because Mikel just sits and leaves his midfield partner to do too much work alone,he cant run and lacks stamina.

I dont see Jose making the same mistakes other managers have with Mikel and the signs are good that he will not. We need to beat City this is our biggest game of the season and Toure is far too good for Mikel,every time we play them he wlaks all over Mikel. Rammy and Lampard will make Toure defend which is what he does not want,look at the Bayern game .

It's never a Phil Driver's post in this forum if he doesn't include the same old repetitive 'attacks' to Mikel every single time..

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Mikel, is out of the picture he has got no chance of playing ,his stats suggest when he plays we lose and him against Toure is a farce ,Lampard and Rammy is our midfield of choice since they teamed up we have won every game ,bringing Mikel back will mean we will struggle to win and perform like Spurs first half away where we let the opposition midfield totally overwhelm us ,because Mikel just sits and leaves his midfield partner to do too much work alone,he cant run and lacks stamina.

I dont see Jose making the same mistakes other managers have with Mikel and the signs are good that he will not. We need to beat City this is our biggest game of the season and Toure is far too good for Mikel,every time we play them he wlaks all over Mikel. Rammy and Lampard will make Toure defend which is what he does not want,look at the Bayern game .

Jesus fucking christ. What made up bullshit stats?

Against Spurs we simply had no answer against them, was hardly Mikels fault, he was withdrawn so Rami could move inside and with Frank playing you know he can score goals. If Toure walks all over Mikel then imagine how much fun he will have against a 35 year old? The fact City play a high pressing game too, we need composure in the midfield, Mikel came on against Schalke and we finally started trying to pass it more often. He along with Oscar is one of the players who will take the ball under pressure and still retain possession. Schalke's midfield had a field day against us last night, Lampard looked tired and disjointed at times and Ramires was struggling to get into the game a lot.

'because Mikel just sits and leaves his midfield partner to do too much work alone,he cant run and lacks stamina'

That is the sort of pattern and attributes I'd associate with Lampard actually, bombing up the pitch thinking hes midfielder-cum-striker when actually is job essentially is to protect the back 4 but I suppose you can't convince everyone huh?

[Phil Driver 503]

The only made up bullshit stat you need to understand is that Jose has dropped him because he is useless .

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

Jesus fucking christ. What made up bullshit stats?

Against Spurs we simply had no answer against them, was hardly Mikels fault, he was withdrawn so Rami could move inside and with Frank playing you know he can score goals. If Toure walks all over Mikel then imagine how much fun he will have against a 35 year old? The fact City play a high pressing game too, we need composure in the midfield, Mikel came on against Schalke and we finally started trying to pass it more often. He along with Oscar is one of the players who will take the ball under pressure and still retain possession. Schalke's midfield had a field day against us last night, Lampard looked tired and disjointed at times and Ramires was struggling to get into the game a lot.

That is the sort of pattern and attributes I'd associate with Lampard actually, bombing up the pitch thinking hes midfielder-cum-striker when actually is job essentially is to protect the back 4 but I suppose you can't convince everyone huh?

You couldn't have put it any better.

Top top post Ryan.

[Phil Driver 503]

Had a very good game yesterday. Not only was his passing accurate, but his passing was accurate with 7 long balls and 4 crosses and led the team in touches. He wasn't just passing 5 yards to the side. He was completing difficult passes at a high volume. He also made a couple of very key defensive plays and was excellent in the dead ball situations. .

All of a sudden they dont rely on stats ,I wonder why? Great stats .

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Good performance last night statistically. 92% passing accuracy with 6 of 7 long balls accurate and he also made 4 interceptions and 3 tackles which were a team high.

That's the fourth game in a row that he's had a passing accuracy of higher than 90%.

What seems to happen is that he and Ramires have issues in the first-half which are remedied during the half-time break, which isn't surprising considering that the whole team is still very much a work-in-progress. I don't really see a reason to make changes for the City game - let's be honest, throwing Mikel in against Toure is no guarantee of a more defensively-strong performance from the pivot.

Its clear that Mourinho wants Lampard to transform from a box-to-box into a deep-lying playmaker, and so far that transformation is coming along nicely. It will also mean that his number of chances at goal will go down and although I'm sure Lampard doesn't enjoy that aspect, he has taken the new role with gusto.

Ideally he would be paired with a Makele-type player, but with Ramires' energy being crucial to the team's play, there is no better partner for Lampard in the current set-up.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Its clear that Mourinho wants Lampard to transform from a box-to-box into a deep-lying playmaker, and so far that transformation is coming along nicely. It will also mean that his number of chances at goal will go down and although I'm sure Lampard doesn't enjoy that aspect, he has taken the new role with gusto.

Ideally he would be paired with a Makele-type player, but with Ramires' energy being crucial to the team's play, there is no better partner for Lampard in the current set-up.

+1. Lampard has never been more defensive or "deep-lying" than this season. It is a little bit of a shame, cos his goalscoring instincts are one of his greatest strengths. Anyway, I think now he has the goalscoring record it is not too important for him to keep scoring as much. HIs number of chances has also drown extremely because we have not had a penalty since 15 games.

Our highest goalscorer in history is a defensive midfielder. Lol.

[happy_juan 64]

Anybody who has seen chelsea man City matches in the past and is still asking for mikel to start to provide physicality against Toure needs a reality check.