Super Frank Thread

[NikkiCFC 7,579]

1 hour ago, Jason said:

What is this based on? Trend of the month? Stats? Or have you been watching Gallagher closely? 

Based on everything you mentioned. 

[Jase 43,479]

Well, well, well...

[Johnnyeye 7,412]

21 minutes ago, Jason said:

Well, well, well...

overkill

[OneMoSalah 8,613]

3 hours ago, Jason said:

What is this based on? Trend of the month? Stats? Or have you been watching Gallagher closely? 

When Mount was at Vitesse the same things were said by many in here. Its just a constant rotation of young player X or Y being better than a current squad member. Mount had 2 seasons on loan before making the break here, largely due to a coach he had worked with coming in and a transfer ban as well as his potential obviously. If Gallagher can do something similar at a team that gets promoted/nearly does then bring him back definitely but until then just let the guy develop at his own rate.

[milka 3,307]

What a team , what a players , what a spirit we had ... miss so much these days ...  

 

[Vesper 27,307]

Chelsea: Frank Lampard’s best path forward may require a step back

https://theprideoflondon.com/2019/12/18/chelsea-frank-lampards-best-path-forward-may-require-step-back/

Chelsea has had a rough few weeks since returning from break. To stop the rot, Frank Lampard may need to retreat to an old set up.

In preseason, Frank Lampard played around with a few different formations with the same basic tenants. High, aggressive pressing led to fast vertical attacks. If the ball was lost while trying to attack, the numbers were already there to press. If the press succeeded, it was easier to move the ball forward in the chaos.

The issue was when the press failed. A year and a half of management is not much to make a sweeping judgement about Frank Lampard’s style, but the defensive side of things is where he lags behind. The press does most of the work and often does well, but if it is beaten, a high line is left to rely on individuals doing something great rather than a set up shielding the goal.

Lampard already had this issue before, but earlier in the season he had more goal scorers to at least push Chelsea along. Since they have all dried up bar Tammy Abraham, the results have dipped. Lampard solved the issue last time by taking a step back briefly. That worked in the short term to allow the winning streak in the long term. Something similar is needed again.

Following the return from the first international break this season, two changes were made. The first was the switch to a 3-4-3. That was largely injury enforced but also served to better shield Chelsea from the crosses that were tearing the Blues apart. The second was a deeper defensive line but that only tells part of the story.

snip

[OneMoSalah 8,613]

12 hours ago, Vesper said:

Chelsea: Frank Lampard’s best path forward may require a step back

https://theprideoflondon.com/2019/12/18/chelsea-frank-lampards-best-path-forward-may-require-step-back/

Chelsea has had a rough few weeks since returning from break. To stop the rot, Frank Lampard may need to retreat to an old set up.

In preseason, Frank Lampard played around with a few different formations with the same basic tenants. High, aggressive pressing led to fast vertical attacks. If the ball was lost while trying to attack, the numbers were already there to press. If the press succeeded, it was easier to move the ball forward in the chaos.

The issue was when the press failed. A year and a half of management is not much to make a sweeping judgement about Frank Lampard’s style, but the defensive side of things is where he lags behind. The press does most of the work and often does well, but if it is beaten, a high line is left to rely on individuals doing something great rather than a set up shielding the goal.

Lampard already had this issue before, but earlier in the season he had more goal scorers to at least push Chelsea along. Since they have all dried up bar Tammy Abraham, the results have dipped. Lampard solved the issue last time by taking a step back briefly. That worked in the short term to allow the winning streak in the long term. Something similar is needed again.

Following the return from the first international break this season, two changes were made. The first was the switch to a 3-4-3. That was largely injury enforced but also served to better shield Chelsea from the crosses that were tearing the Blues apart. The second was a deeper defensive line but that only tells part of the story.

snip

Honestly if he makes huge adjustments, whats the point in the work hes done in the last few months since coming in?

If he, like Sarri and Conte, has a method he believes in he may as well continue implementing it.  Once coaches go totally against their philosophy or whatever you want to call it, whats the point? All that other work basically goes out the window.

We will make mistakes continuing in this way but at least we will implement what he wants. Pep and Klopp had same issues when they arrived in England but persisted with it and improved their squad. We lack a few top quality players in some positions, the set up is vunerable on transitions and at set plays but that can be sorted with minor tweaks, more coaching and a few additions as opposed to going back to basics playing 10 men behind the ball.

As much as Sarri wasnt everyones cup of tea I had respect for him because he came to do things his way and barely wavered from his philosophy. We played some nice sequences coming out from the back under pressure but struggled in the final third due to shortcomings in quality, if Frank goes and makes huge changes to his philosophy then we will just go back to old ways imo and the ground work Sarri had also instilled is rendered useless too. We have got the technical players to play football where we play out, control the midfield and look to dictate the game with quick football in the final third. A great deal of squad is made for it, especially in midfield and offensive positions. Defence we maybe lack a CB and LB who are of top quality. As well as maybe lacking another winger, 10 and CF who can push the other players/relieve the weight on their shoulders (ie. Tammy and Pulisic who have been leading the way for us in attack imo).

As I have said many times the shape and set plays are an issue but I believe its more coaching and a lack of players than Franks general idea of how we should play and set up. Yes we need to have tactical flexibility but we do have it already,  we can play 343, 433 or 4231 as weve seen but these problems are always evident. That means for me its more the coaching side of that and personnel in some areas as opposed to the actual formation or way he wants us to play.

[Vesper 27,307]

1 hour ago, OneMoSalah said:

Honestly if he makes huge adjustments, whats the point in the work hes done in the last few months since coming in?

If he, like Sarri and Conte, has a method he believes in he may as well continue implementing it.  Once coaches go totally against their philosophy or whatever you want to call it, whats the point? All that other work basically goes out the window.

We will make mistakes continuing in this way but at least we will implement what he wants. Pep and Klopp had same issues when they arrived in England but persisted with it and improved their squad. We lack a few top quality players in some positions, the set up is vunerable on transitions and at set plays but that can be sorted with minor tweaks, more coaching and a few additions as opposed to going back to basics playing 10 men behind the ball.

As much as Sarri wasnt everyones cup of tea I had respect for him because he came to do things his way and barely wavered from his philosophy. We played some nice sequences coming out from the back under pressure but struggled in the final third due to shortcomings in quality, if Frank goes and makes huge changes to his philosophy then we will just go back to old ways imo and the ground work Sarri had also instilled is rendered useless too. We have got the technical players to play football where we play out, control the midfield and look to dictate the game with quick football in the final third. A great deal of squad is made for it, especially in midfield and offensive positions. Defence we maybe lack a CB and LB who are of top quality. As well as maybe lacking another winger, 10 and CF who can push the other players/relieve the weight on their shoulders (ie. Tammy and Pulisic who have been leading the way for us in attack imo).

As I have said many times the shape and set plays are an issue but I believe its more coaching and a lack of players than Franks general idea of how we should play and set up. Yes we need to have tactical flexibility but we do have it already,  we can play 343, 433 or 4231 as weve seen but these problems are always evident. That means for me its more the coaching side of that and personnel in some areas as opposed to the actual formation or way he wants us to play.

i do not think we have the offensive players atm other than Tammy and Pulisic and maybe Mount (who is pants lately) for this offensive football. Willian, Pedro, Barkley, Bats, Giroud, and unfortunately an atm still-damaged CHO are simply not capable as of right now. RLC remains out . Hopefully we bring in somebody in January.

[Vesper 27,307]

GALLERY: THE COBHAM CHRISTMAS LUNCH

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2019/12/18/gallery--the-cobham-christmas-lunch-?cardIndex=0-5&_branch_match_id=702950631193333503

The festive season is of course well underway, and at Cobham today the players celebrated with the annual Christmas lunch. 

A feast was laid on by the chefs at our training ground, with Frank Lampard giving a speech before the players and staff tucked into a hearty festive meal. 

We have picked out some of the best photos from a delicious lunch that left everyone very full indeed!

 

 

snip

[Jase 43,479]

‘Family is the most important thing’ – Lampard’s heartfelt speech at Christmas lunch as he tries to end Chelsea’s slump

https://theathletic.com/1473828/2019/12/20/family-is-the-most-important-thing-lampards-heartfelt-speech-at-christmas-lunch-as-he-tries-to-end-chelseas-slump/?source=shared-article

Seated in the Cobham canteen, it was almost time for Chelsea’s players and staff to tuck into their annual Christmas ‪lunch on Wednesday‬ when Frank Lampard stood up to speak.

The head coach, surrounded by a feast prepared by the club’s army of chefs, kept his message short and simple: all of your work — seen or unseen — is appreciated, everyone is on the same team and family is the most important thing at this time of year.

Talk of football was kept to a minimum, with Lampard saying that everyone is sticking together during the run of results that have made this the most testing stretch of the season so far.

Lampard is not the first Chelsea boss to thank the club’s staff for the work they do at Christmas. Antonio Conte once spent the best part of two hours making small talk with the lesser heralded employees of Stamford Bridge and Cobham during a surprise appearance at the staff party, having already filmed the customary video address expressing his gratitude.

Nor are festive speeches of thanks from a Chelsea head coach uncommon. Those familiar with the tradition, however, insist they do not usually come across as quite so personal or heartfelt. Lampard’s words were well received, in keeping with pretty much everything else he has done to build a more positive, inclusive culture at Cobham since his return to the club in July.

It all helps explain why Chelsea’s run of one win in five Premier League matches, culminating in a dire performance in defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, has not been accompanied by the murmurs of disillusionment and discontent that often find their way out of Cobham at times like this. Lampard is not like previous head coaches, the desire to help him succeed is personal as well as professional.

Nothing has reached the Chelsea hierarchy either. From the top of the club there is an expectation that results will recover, but also a recognition that Lampard’s young team were always likely to encounter moments like this during a season of transition. The head coach and his staff are being given the time and space to identify what the problems are, and how to solve them.

Lampard was adamant after the Bournemouth loss that there would be no knee-jerk reactions. “It won’t be a hard week where I get them in training ‪tomorrow morning‬ (Sunday) and we watch a video for two hours,” he said. “We’ve got a long week where they can go away a little bit and have time with their families and when we work, we work and focus on the Tottenham game.”

He has been true to his word. Chelsea’s players were given Sunday off as planned before returning to Cobham on Monday. Training this week has been intense, but no more so than usual. A chunk of Wednesday remained reserved for the Christmas lunch, while ‪on Thursday afternoon the squad made their annual festive visit to youngsters at Chelsea And Westminster Hospital.

Throughout it all Lampard’s steady, warm demeanour has been appreciated by those at Cobham who still recall the more volatile manner of some of his predecessors. There is amusement at the ball-boy patting charm offensive of Sunday’s opponent Jose Mourinho since joining Tottenham, given the manner in which he made daily life a misery at Chelsea’s training ground during his final months.

Mourinho did at least win plenty of friends and admirers prior to that point. The same cannot be said for Maurizio Sarri, who made minimal effort to assimilate or ingratiate himself at any level last season outside the training pitch. And as relations with the board disintegrated after his glorious Premier League title win, even Conte became a spikier presence to be regarded with wariness at Cobham.

Lampard’s deep, long-standing connections at Chelsea have undoubtedly helped him, but it is more than that. As a player he was not the chattiest, often consumed by his daily routine in relentless pursuit of the consistent excellence he achieved. But from the start of his managerial career last season at Derby County, he has also been keenly aware of the importance of ensuring that those around him feel valued.

Perhaps this is because he is now in a profession where it is harder to convince himself that he is master of his own destiny. Through physical and mental preparation, footballers can exert a great deal of control over their own performances, but even the most meticulous managers cannot fully escape the million variables that affect results.

This unforgiving reality is why Lampard never subscribed to the unbridled optimism sparked by his vibrant young team’s early-season winning streak, or by suggestions that it would not matter if the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided not to lift the club’s transfer ban in time for them to buy in January.

“I’m disappointed but I think I got asked at all these press conferences when we were winning on the bounce about how good we were and how quickly it’s all changed,” he said after the Bournemouth loss.

“I was always guarded against that. Whether I’ve been proven right or whatever the best way to put that is now we have the reality, that if we’re not at our best, if we haven’t got enough to break teams down that are organised, if players with their individual quality and personality can’t do something to beat teams that are organised, then we need to find another way. That’s a test and that’s hard work needed for us.”

Hard work has always been Lampard’s default setting, from the moment he took on his father’s habit of putting on a pair of running spikes and doing shuttle sprints up and down the family garden as a 10-year-old. It is inevitable that whether results are good or bad, his focus will remain on the process.

That process has remained largely the same at Cobham this week, with assistants Jody Morris, Joe Edwards and Chris Jones leading the drills while Lampard stands one step back, taking a broader view and generally dispensing advice on a one-to-one basis. When it comes to the final preparations for Sunday’s game away to Tottenham today, his will be the only voice on the training pitch that can be heard.

Results may get worse before they get better, particularly with Mourinho’s resurgent Tottenham knowing they can leapfrog Chelsea into fourth place with a win. But with Lampard in charge, Cobham will not quite so easily be infected with the sense of crisis it has known all too well in the past.

[Vesper 27,307]

 

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Henrique 9,133]

If Mount start against Spurs I Will lost all my hope left in Super Frank.

[NikkiCFC 7,579]

30 minutes ago, Henrique said:

If Mount start against Spurs I Will lost all my hope left in Super Frank.

I was afraid about nepotism in our club too but Frank really impressed me with wanting Isco. 

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, NikkiCFC said:

I was afraid about nepotism in our club too but Frank really impressed me with wanting Isco. 

[Henrique 9,133]

Mount starting and Pulisic on the bench...Frank is the new Solksjaer.

[Jase 43,479]

Lampard's first Big 6 win comes against Mourinho and Spurs.  

Has also won both of his games against Mourinho!