Super Frank Thread

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

16 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Arsenal home (yes it was a fucking ball ache to blow two points Vs ten men but we absolutely dominated the game in terms of terrortory that was probably the most dominant we've ever been against Arsenal at home bar the 6-0).

Oh come on if you can't dominate territory against ten men then you're all kinds of shit. Having possession of the ball means fuck all if we lose out to champions league by two points it will be little comfort saying oh well at least we dominated possession against Arsenal. We should have slaughtered them bottom line is we didn't.

[Jase 43,479]

13 minutes ago, Tomo said:

I still think we've had some good games during this poor run.

Outplaying Tottenham, Arsenal away (after half hour), Burnley home (should have been 6), Arsenal home (yes it was a fucking ball ache to blow two points Vs ten men but we absolutely dominated the game in terms of terrortory that was probably the most dominant we've ever been against Arsenal at home bar the 6-0).

There has to be season by season progression (ie if next season is the same results and especially performance wise I will have no defense against calls for his sacking infact I'd likely be on that train myself) but I think overall we've been given enough encouragement to go on despite a wretched run of late.

I know we have had our struggles against the smaller teams this season but adding Burnley in there seems rather generous. We dominated Arsenal because they played over an hour with 10 men and even then, I hardly recalled seeing us create much from open play or Leno had to make spectacular saves. It also got all rather desperate in the end when Lampard had to throw Batshuayi in late on and not to mention, both of our goals came from set pieces (which seems to be the only way we're ever gonna score these days). 

That leaves only Spurs and Arsenal away for me. And as much as there's some good things seen during this bad run, there's also the bad things seen in this period. As games go by, the negatives are outweighing the positives and that's not a good thing.

[Henrique 9,133]

3 hours ago, Fernando said:

I still back Lampard. 

To me this season was always a write off and I had no expectations for top 4. 

As we might still do it is still a miracle for me.

Next season we should improve from this season. 

Mediocre season in terms of overall quality, home defeats to Southampton and Bornemouth, losing to Newcastle in the last minute after dominating the game, failing to beat 10 men Arsenal at home.  It doesnt matter if you didnt expect a top 4, it was on the sight and he had to win those games.

Poor squad management and lack of clear direction. The only positive thing about Lampard right now is having the balls to bringing young players. 

[Laylabelle 9,534]

30 minutes ago, Jason said:

I know we have had our struggles against the smaller teams this season but adding Burnley in there seems rather generous. We dominated Arsenal because they played over an hour with 10 men and even then, I hardly recalled seeing us create much from open play or Leno had to make spectacular saves. It also got all rather desperate in the end when Lampard had to throw Batshuayi in late on and not to mention, both of our goals came from set pieces (which seems to be the only way we're ever gonna score these days). 

That leaves only Spurs and Arsenal away for me. And as much as there's some good things seen during this bad run, there's also the bad things seen in this period. As games go by, the negatives are outweighing the positives and that's not a good thing.

Agree that's the problem I have with the Arsenal game. We dominated.. that's lovely. Except they scored 2 goals with 10 men. They scored with both chances. We looked clueless in parts. It's a pattern that has become familiar. 

I'd rather not dominate the game and win! Which is what teams keep doing. Less shots.. less ball but oh theyve won.

[Atomiswave 6,117]

4 hours ago, Tomo said:

The start of the season, people took the piss out of our squad, laughed at any thought of even a top four challenge and claimed we'll be lucky for top half (with most saying/implying they would be quite content with that aslong as youth were playing and there were some signs of encouragement to build on, a vow which has surprise surprise turned out to be bullshit).

Its never that easy, never will be. Progress must be made in order to asses if its woth it or not. And none of us believed all our rivals will be just as crap, we though they were gonna be better, the landscape has changed since then. Getting top4 was well reasonable since the start imo, thats how shit our rivals have been. That gap is gone now, we have been practically in top4 all season, and if we lose it its thanks to us not our rivals. We are better than this, we have been in relegation form for so many months now, same mistakes keep happening no matter wha they are. Sorry this is not good enough. I would happily have him here if I could see Progress, or at least the mistakes being remedied. He may just still do it but its not looking likely.

[Superblue 6,372]

5 hours ago, Iggy Doonican said:

Not one of our managers has given a toss about bringing through young players Lamps had no choice in the matter. I can't see our next manager being anything but a pragmatic, experienced safe pair of hands.

Whilst I wouldn't try arguing that this wouldn't happen, because previous history by the board suggests there is a good chance of that, I think it would be a huge mistake if we took that step.

We've spent the last 2 seasons buying players and trying to change a philosophy and style of play from a more defensive, pragmatic brand to a more open and offensive style.

If we move back to a more pragmatic manager, he'll be left with a team split in half of young players more suited to an offensive brand and the other half of older heads clearly in decline who suit a defensive brand. We'll be back to square one again and another couple of years away from getting near the top teams. A big summer window that allows us to bring another four or five players suited to this style of football and ship more of the deadwood out will be huge.

If Lampard was to go, then the next manager has to be of a similar ilk to Lampard and Sarri with regards to philosophy and identity, and also be prepared to continue coaching and developing younger players as around a third of our first team squad now is players aged 22/23 and younger.

I don't rate him as highly as some do on these forums but as an example if Lampard was sacked, and it was a choice of somebody like Poch or somebody like Allegri or Simeone then I'd go with Poch 100% because he'd be the most suited to try and follow through with what the club has already started over the last couple of seasons.

[Laylabelle 9,534]

That's the problem. 4 wins in last 14 and cracks are obvious. It's not so much the dropped points that's bothering it's the way we keep doing it time and time again.

We've won 12 games..if we lose on Saturday it will be 10 losses..  we shouldnt be 4th but somehow for now anyway we are!

[DDA 9,924]

59 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

The talk is quite real, in fact after last night he is under some serious pressure. This isn't something that can be as simple as putting the head under the pillow, it's happening. I want FL to succeed here but this is football management and if things do not pick up quickly it will not be ignored, I promise you.

I think there have been to many deciding factors going against him for the board to swing the axe... whatever the outcome of our season. If there was ever a time the board could be lenient towards a manager not meeting the clubs demands... it will be this season. Especially after not backing him in January. It was like the board were saying, let's not waste money now, ride out the season and go hard in the summer with this current project and see where we go next year under Frank.

[Atomiswave 6,117]

4 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Whilst I wouldn't try arguing that this wouldn't happen, because previous history by the board suggests there is a good chance of that, I think it would be a huge mistake if we took that step.

We've spent the last 2 seasons buying players and trying to change a philosophy and style of play from a more defensive, pragmatic brand to a more open and offensive style.

If we move back to a more pragmatic manager, he'll be left with a team split in half of young players more suited to an offensive brand and the other half of older heads clearly in decline who suit a defensive brand. We'll be back to square one again and another couple of years away from getting near the top teams. A big summer window that allows us to bring another four or five players suited to this style of football and ship more of the deadwood out will be huge.

If Lampard was to go, then the next manager has to be of a similar ilk to Lampard and Sarri with regards to philosophy and identity, and also be prepared to continue coaching and developing younger players as around a third of our first team squad now is players aged 22/23 and younger.

I don't rate him as highly as some do on these forums but as an example if Lampard was sacked, and it was a choice of somebody like Poch or somebody like Allegri or Simeone then I'd go with Poch 100% because he'd be the most suited to try and follow through with what the club has already started over the last couple of seasons.

Poch would do wonders with us I reckon.....and he looks like itching to come back to the epl. The uproar from spurs alone is worth the admission lmao.

I hope we somehow get top4 eventhough in my heart I know we most likely wont, we are in free fall and have been for so long now. What an ugly scene if we see JM's smug face having landed spurs in top 4

[Atomiswave 6,117]

4 minutes ago, DDA said:

I think there have been to many deciding factors going against him for the board to swing the axe... whatever the outcome of our season. If there was ever a time the board could be lenient towards a manager not meeting the clubs demands... it will be this season. Especially after not backing him in January. It was like the board were saying, let's not waste money now, ride out the season and go hard in the summer with this current project and see where we go next year under Frank.

That would be fucking stupid of them as im sure they can see how terrible we are getting them points. Willingly risking top4 like that screams lunacy imo.

[ZaynChelsea 423]

[Laylabelle 9,534]

I cant see them sacking. Theyve just spent 80,000 plus whatever it is sorting out Conte. That's why think possibly more patience it's all starting to add up.