Super Frank Thread

[Vesper 30,085]

fuck Paul Merson

already pushing tosh that we should have went for Brendan Rodgers over Lamps

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1166826/Chelsea-Frank-Lampard-Paul-Merson-Brendan-Rodgers-Chelsea-news-rumours-gossip

[Vesper 30,085]

On 15/08/2019 at 1:42 AM, DH1988 said:

Very confused, can only assume the ones being somewhat negative did not watch the game? Aside from Dave and Zouma, I thought we played really well against the European Champions. I was shocked at times how good some of our play was considering how little time Frank and Jody have had.

I'm pleasantly surprised and I'm glad we had a reality check against United.

I have been very critical of Zouma, but I thought he had a really good game v the Bindippers

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Definitely a lot a lot a lot of work to be done but we knew this! Don't think anyone is so naive to think otherwise. Just hope he's given the time and learns 

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I really, really have to question his line-up today. The players looked dead on their feet from the half-hour onwards. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Before the moaners come here as well, please keep it to a minimum.

I'll post what I posted in the match thread here:

Just to put into context we played 120 mins in sweltering heat on Wednesday. We gave everything physically and mentally in that game. Liverpool were also pretty poor against Southampton.

We've seen these sort of performances before after Champions league games and this was even worse because the CL games are at least 90 mins. I don't know why some of us are so surprised.

Lamps was a bit naive for not making enough changes but his hand was a bit tied. Our bench is still looking a bit light without RLC and CHO. Maybe Barkley and Willian should have started today but if you look at the players that played heavy mins against Liverpool vs the ones that played today, there aren't that many different options available right now. Maybe Emerson instead of Alonso as the former player 120 mins but Emerson was good today despite the obvious fatigue. Maybe Batshuayi instead of Giroud and Zappacosta for Azpilicueta but its only Lampard's 3rd game in charge and he needs time to learn about his players.

We just need to be calm and show some perspective here. The Super Cup was a massive distraction. 120 mins in brutal heat and the physical and mental emotion of losing the PK. What I saw from the Liverpool match and the first 25 mins here is what I expect to see from the team. We just didn't have anything left in the tank to pull it off for the full match.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Just on another note, I can't believe I heard some boos at the end of the match. That really shocked me. What the fuck was that about? That was absolutely absurd . I just hope it was the Leicester fans booing or it was something that wasn't related to the game like the officials or something. Lampard certainly didn't deserve to hear that on his 1st game at The Bridge no matter the result.

[Laylabelle 9,534]

5 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

Just on another note, I can't believe I heard some boos at the end of the match. That really shocked me. What the fuck was that about? That was absolutely absurd . I just hope it was the Leicester fans booing or it was something that wasn't related to the game.

That's it. No one can expect a amazing season this year. Its shit circumstances and gotta make do with what we can do. Plus Lampard hasn't got that much experience so will be rocky. Stupid to boo now! Stupid to boo at all tbh. 

[BlueLion. 21,491]

5 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

 

Just to put into context we played 120 mins in sweltering heat on Wednesday. We gave everything physically and mentally in that game. Liverpool were also pretty poor against Southampton.

 

Exactly, and Lampard chose ten of the eleven that started on Wednesday... just plain silly in my humble opinion. 

 

3 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

Just on another note, I can't believe I heard some boos at the end of the match. That really shocked me. What the fuck was that about? That was absolutely absurd . I just hope it was the Leicester fans booing or it was something that wasn't related to the game.

Yeah, I was extremely disappointed by how poor our second half was, but booing was extreme. We have some extremely shit fans, although regular match-goers like to jump on their high horse and defend their right to "express themselves"... but that's a debate for a different day. I'd like to think those booers were tourists wondering why Hazard and Luiz weren't playing. 

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

5 minutes ago, BlueLion. said:

I really, really have to question his line-up today. The players looked dead on their feet from the half-hour onwards. 

I get the feeling he will be like Sarri and Conte with his system too. Like for like swaps. Rigid with his system.

To be fair we started very well. Took the initiative, hassled them high up, had some bright moments, good tempo. Personally I think the 120 minutes during the week hasn't helped but Frank would of been aware not everyone was as fresh as they could of been but still he has got options. Willian if hes fit enough to come on when he did surely was fit enough to start. Tammy or Michy could have started although Giroud did alright first half. Tomori could have played. Alonso could have played. He didn't have to go mental and make 10 changes but he has enough in some areas to make 2 or 3. I felt that Mount should of been subbed out for Ross in the 2nd half, he faded out of the game a bit and looked very tired. 

[BlueLion. 21,491]

The last three games have, simply put, been a real reality check. 

In all three matches, we have started absolutely superbly, genuinely playing some of the best football I've seen Chelsea ever play. Yet in all three matches, a lack of composure and an inability to convert chances has meant we stand here with a draw and two defeats from three competitive matches. 

I think we need to be realistic and consider the pros and cons of the situation, which ultimately will determine our season's ambitions.

I think there are plenty of positives right now. As I've mentioned, the brand of attacking football we are playing is making us an enjoyable watch (which is our fanbase's greatest criticism of the former manager), and the biggest plus point is the belief in youth players. Chelsea have needed a season like this for the past decade. We have never truly transition properly from one squad to the next. Our approach has also been so short-termist that, instead of bringing through youngsters (the odd exception aside), we've chosen to spend big and either invest in young foreign players, or go for players that can still function and perform well, but perhaps have already seen their better days - players such as Pedro, Giroud, David Luiz, for example. We have the propensity to make a negative situation (the transfer ban) a positive one by bringing through these young players and giving them considerable game time, which is something of a premium when it comes to our talented youngsters. We have a terrific academy and we are now in a position where we both have to, and need to, play these youngsters and give them the shot they deserve. Mason Mount is the biggest, most obvious evidence of this transition. We've been putting it off for years and years, but necessity dictates that this is the time to give these players the chance to shine. We also have to consider the fact that we are, realistically, missing three first XI players, meaning things will improve in terms of squad options and that we haven't yet seen our best team, playing our best football. Nobody can argue that Rudiger is our best defender; on recent evidence, whilst Pedro has had three promising games for us, CHO is probably more productive in the final third, and the player who I believe to be our best box-to-box midfielder, RLC, is yet to come into the team. We also have Reece James, who I will reserve judgement on, but Lampard seems to think he will play a considerable role this season, but we need to make sure we aren't doing the usual thing of putting too much pressure on the young man. That being said, he can't be any worse than Azpilicueta, but that's a separate debate...

But there are some major problems inherent within the squad. There is a flipside to every situation - and playing kids is no exception. There's the famous quote - "You won't win anything with kids" - and to some extent this does ring true. The reason that we have gone out and invested frequently is because, at a club like Chelsea, there is such an expectation to win (- that expectation needs to be relaxed this season, which I'll come onto later). Then there are issues with Frank. I want to make this clear: this is not a post bashing Frank Lampard. I am 100% behind him, though I do believe his tenure has come at the wrong time, though only time will tell with regards to this. But we need to accept the obvious: this is Frank's second season as a manager. Look at today - I am furious with his decision to play ten of the eleven that started on Wednesday, and think it was incredibly naive to do so against a team like Leicester, who are one of those horrible teams that press you and push you and harass you for 90 minutes and would do for another 90 if they could. Whilst he's got us playing a good brand of attacking football, this is the worst we've been defensively in quite some time. Having Rudiger back in the team will add more balance (Andreas is good enough, but Kurt panics on the ball and doesn't have the composure that Rudiger has; with the style of football we're employing, that is a big disadvantage), but we need to especially look at the way that we are dealing with crosses and set pieces at the minute. There are then issues within the squad from an attacking point of view - we have a lot of players who are good around the box, but not necessarily with that final phase of play. We are not a crossing team and we don't necessarily have many players who can play killer through balls. More importantly, our striking options are poor. Let's be honest. Giroud is an honest striker and links the ball nicely; he'll get us 10-15 goals a season reliably, but who is replacing the Hazard x-factor and the ability to pull a rabbit out of the hat? Is it Mount? I'm not so sure, though he took his goal well today. 

The point I'm making is this: we have to relax our ambitions this season. I'm sorry guys, I really don't think we are going to finish in the top four. You can't write us off in the cup competitions, but I can realistically see us struggling in the UCL without a favourable group draw. I'll leave it up to you as to whether you think I'm being reactionary or otherwise (I don't much care either way), but I think we need to ease the pressure on the boys. Short-term pain could be of massive long-term gain. We need to consider youth development as being the priority this season, that is the target and playtime is the reward. A trophy or four would be nice, of course, but this is a case of building for the future. We also need to think about the expectation of Frank as our manager. He will learn so much from every minute. He is level-headed and I think we need to be about the current situation. There is no need for doom and gloom - I think we have been really unlucky so far - but we need to temper our expectations somewhat. 

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Yeah not expecting much from this season. Top 6 finish and a cup run. Not even sure if we'll stay in the champions league depends on the groups but time will tell. Issues to be felt with and hopefully they can be felt with