Super Frank Thread

[Strike 7,474]

3 minutes ago, Jason said:

There's the story from The Athletic yesterday about Lampard being on the brink and then there's this from Matt Law...

It's really amazing the kind of "support" a manager can get when he's English...

Law has a point. Despite the slide, the season is still alive. Lampard can get the next few games to implement changes. Job on the line now. I am very curious who will be on the shortlist of replacements

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Blue Armour said:

True, but doesn't mean they won't be keeping an eye out. At least as contingency.

There are candidates out there. It's just whether Roman, Marina, even Cech want to cut Lampard loose now or risk things becoming worse in the coming games. Am sure it's not lost on them that despite being just 3 points behind the Top 4 now, we have played a game more than Spurs and 2 more than City. We could easily be looking at a Europa League finish if things don't change ASAP. 

[Jase 43,479]

10 minutes ago, Strike said:

Law has a point. Despite the slide, the season is still alive. Lampard can get the next few games to implement changes. Job on the line now. I am very curious who will be on the shortlist of replacements

The season still being alive doesn't mean things are going well under Lampard. It's not as if the recent concerns came about because of the bad run. They are the wider concerns and have been there since Lampard took over and the bad run just reinforced them. We can't be 18 months into Lampard's tenure and after spending more than 200 million+ last summer, be worse than last season with no improvement, no identity, no style of play etc. 

The season could be dead if things don't change ASAP and while it's great to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage, I don't get this idea of parading it like it's something to celebrate when it's only the Round of 16 (we're not Arsenal FFS!) and not even quarter finals, semi finals or final. We used to consistently reach the knockout stage 10-15 years ago but we now have someone like Matt Law parading a Round of 16 qualification like it's some sort of success? The standards have really fallen! Based on current form, we'll lose to Atletico and get KOed from the Round of 16 again (so much for my optimism when the draw was made, HA!).

I don't know if Matt Law watches all of our games (he's a Villa fan after all) but fans who watch the team week in week out have a better sense of what's going on. It's like when pundits and journalists thought Willian was great here but he wasn't and it took them until he went to Arsenal to realize it.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

15 minutes ago, Jason said:

There are candidates out there. It's just whether Roman, Marina, even Cech want to cut Lampard loose now or risk things becoming worse in the coming games. Am sure it's not lost on them that despite being just 3 points behind the Top 4 now, we have played a game more than Spurs and 2 more than City. We could easily be looking at a Europa League finish if things don't change ASAP. 

Not sure really. If we're being objective about it, he will have time till Fulham/Leicester to turn it around, but will still be walking a tight rope even if he does. 

I know this administration can be ruthless with managers, but Lampards standing within the club is a little more...unique. 

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Blue Armour said:

Not sure really. If we're being objective about it, he will have time till Fulham/Leicester to turn it around, but will still be walking a tight rope even if he does. 

Based on current form, we could easily lose to Fulham and Leicester (or draw with Fulham and lose to Leicester) and be even further behind the Top 4. Then what? Would that be too late to salvage the league season? We really shouldn't be in this position at all, not after spending the money that we have. 

2 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

I know this administration can be ruthless with managers, but Lampards standing within the club is a little more...unique. 

That's Lampard as a player. We're talking about Lampard the manager here. I know he didn't really want him to begin with but if Roman could sack Di Matteo just months after winning the Champions League and FA Cup, then nothing really can save Lampard if Roman decides to pull the trigger now. Lampard is fortunate to still be in the job when other managers have been sacked for less in the past. 

[Blues11 213]

Does Frank ever make halftime adjustments? We never switch formation or throw different looks at opposing teams during the break. All I ever see him do is call for the two Wingers to swap sides on occasion, like that's really going to throw them off... 

Tactically he just keeps on coming up short and the players are playing with no confidence. I want to see him do well being a legend of the club, but it doesn't look very promising.

 

[Jase 43,479]

6 minutes ago, Blues11 said:

Does Frank ever make halftime adjustments? We never switch formation or throw different looks at opposing teams during the break. All I ever see him do is call for the two Wingers to swap sides on occasion, like that's really going to throw them off... 

Tactically he just keeps on coming up short and the players are playing with no confidence. I want to see him do well being a legend of the club, but it doesn't look very promising.

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. 

[Special Juan 28,090]

Has Morris ever left the dug out apart from going home.

[Strike 7,474]

2 hours ago, Jason said:

The season still being alive doesn't mean things are going well under Lampard. It's not as if the recent concerns came about because of the bad run. They are the wider concerns and have been there since Lampard took over and the bad run just reinforced them. We can't be 18 months into Lampard's tenure and after spending more than 200 million+ last summer, be worse than last season with no improvement, no identity, no style of play etc. 

The season could be dead if things don't change ASAP and while it's great to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage, I don't get this idea of parading it like it's something to celebrate when it's only the Round of 16 (we're not Arsenal FFS!) and not even quarter finals, semi finals or final. We used to consistently reach the knockout stage 10-15 years ago but we now have someone like Matt Law parading a Round of 16 qualification like it's some sort of success? The standards have really fallen! Based on current form, we'll lose to Atletico and get KOed from the Round of 16 again (so much for my optimism when the draw was made, HA!).

I don't know if Matt Law watches all of our games (he's a Villa fan after all) but fans who watch the team week in week out have a better sense of what's going on. It's like when pundits and journalists thought Willian was great here but he wasn't and it took them until he went to Arsenal to realize it.

I think its more to do with the admission that the club will give Lampard more time to turn this and sack him only when things are completely out of hand

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, Strike said:

I think its more to do with the admission that the club will give Lampard more time to turn this and sack him only when things are completely out of hand

Admission from who? 

Right now, is there any actual evidence or sign to suggest that Lampard will turn things around? Because I think we're at the point where we're just hoping he will turn things around, should he remain, rather than have any actual confidence in him doing so. Either we look to make the change or risk the season going bust by the end of January if we get a few more bad results. 

[Strike 7,474]

15 minutes ago, Jason said:

Admission from who? 

Right now, is there any actual evidence or sign to suggest that Lampard will turn things around? Because I think we're at the point where we're just hoping he will turn things around, should he remain, rather than have any actual confidence in him doing so. Either we look to make the change or risk the season going bust by the end of January if we get a few more bad results. 

Lot of journos saying that as much as people are writing off Lampard, the board will wait before a potential sack. It was only after the city result that the first few pieces about Lampard's job being under threat were out.  Its plausible that they give him till Leicester and then take the call when they have had time to figure out their main managerial target.

[Jase 43,479]

3 minutes ago, Strike said:

Lot of journos saying that as much as people are writing off Lampard, the board will wait before a potential sack. It was only after the city result that the first few pieces about Lampard's job being under threat were out.  Its plausible that they give him till Leicester and then take the call when they have had time to figure out their main managerial target.

But the City result also revealed that they have been thinking of the change for some time now. It hasn't just happened because of that result. The board also seem to share the same concerns that most fans have about Lampard. 

We obviously need wins ASAP but at the same time, we also need to see progression beyond than just results. Let's say if we beat Fulham and Leicester but the performances were unconvincing like in the recent West Ham game, then what?