closed Sheffield United 3-0 Chelsea

[Milan 17,852]

On 8. 7. 2020 at 8:57 PM, Jason said:

Fuck it...

IF we beat Sheffield United and Man City's European ban sticks (decision TBA on July 13, Mon), 1 win against either Norwich, Liverpool or Wolves will guarantee a Champions League spot. If that ban gets overturned, then EEEEEEEEKK!

[Vesper 28,679]

5 minutes ago, Muzchap said:

 

I didn't see the game, but I can imagine how it was.

 

our worst performance of the year

EVERY player was basically shit, with 2 tiny exceptions of Puli and Giroud )and they were nothing special)

multiple players were utter dogshit

AC (the 2nd worst, sell his shit arse)

Zouma (yet another pathetic game, SELL)

Azpi (truly wretched, playing him at LB is a fucking joke)

Jorginho (utterly wuthless today, slow slower, slowest)

Barkley (SELL, he will never be worth more than now)

Tammy (the worst on the pitch, he was truly ghastly)

the rest were boring, no effort

Lampard got his arse handed to him from kickoff, he looks clueless

[Pizy 18,360]

My power had been out for nearly 24 hours since yesterday afternoon and my phone finally lost charge shortly before this match started. 

So imagine my shock and horror when my power was finally restored and I excitedly checked online for the result. I felt like putting my first through a wall. 😡😡😡

[OhForAGreavsie 5,890]

14 minutes ago, Muzchap said:

United will overtake us for third and we will battle it out with Leicester.

This has seemed inevitable for the last two weeks.

[OneMoSalah 8,766]

21 minutes ago, ulsterchelsea said:

I'm not a stat minded guy like some on here but I'd love to know how pep and Jose and the likes got on in their first big appointments. Then take into account that they managed in much easier leagues than the premier League. Seriously don't know how 'fans' can so easily turn on this clubs greatest goalscorer (legend imo) for getting us into the top 4/knockouts of UCL/semis of fa cup etc. I know I didn't expect anything of this season. Might trawl back through the thread when Frank came back and see what was said/expected

Its not a matter of what Jose or Pep did in their first clubs or what theyve done here/at other clubs. Or Sarri or AVB or Scolari or Conte or whoever.

Its a matter of where we are at now and how the same themes have been recurring throughout the season time and time again. Be it players looking good one game and not looking interested in the next few, conceding goals from set plays and transitions far too often, general defensive play or in game management throughout. 

The top 4 is in sight still and we are in knockouts stages of the CL (although we are 9/10s out bar a minor miracle) and a cup semi final (against a team we haven't beat under OGS) but dont let that paper over some of the cracks that have been recurring all season. The players can take the blame for some of it, absolutely, but firstly, look at today and several other games against these lesser sides all throughout the season. We have lost 11 games this season. Here are who we have lost against Sheffield United, West Ham x2, Newcastle, Southampton, Bournemouth, Everton, Man United x2, Liverpool, Man City. Okay City, Liverpool, United, lets be honest their much better teams than the others and are further along but lets not kid ourselves and say if we finish top 4 that it has been all hunky dory either. The top 4 should have been sealed long long ago imo considering the gap we gave ourselves between United, Spurs and Arsenal so if we lose out, it is probably not good enough. Even more so when you look at the fact Frank maybe overplayed some of the boys and sidelined others who could have made a difference when others were faultering. 

Also it wouldnt matter if FL was arguably our clubs best ever player or not, he is here as a manager and people shouldn’t let his playing career cloud their judgement at all IMO. Okay its great he has been at the club as a player and has a real connection with the fans but football management is result based. We didnt lose or concede as many as we have under Frank under Sarri and people were ten times as harsh so lets not kid around here and say its harsh or cant believe people are turning against him. Its hardly turning, its just stating facts which if you look at these 11 loses where 7 of them really shouldn’t be happening as well as some of the draws we have had against the same sort of “lesser sides” if you will, with the manner of how these games have went, there is clearly a basis to why people have the right to say that he hasnt exactly inspired huge confidence this season. When you look at his Derby team as well, even here with a higher quality of player, the traits are similar: conceding too many goals and not scoring enough.

For me, even with the arrivals of Werner and Ziyech there is still a huge red flag defensively and with some of these games as well as Frank’s persistence with continuing to use average or out of form footballers, these decisions will ultimately reflect on him. Thats the reality. I think we will still concede too many chances next season and its not just down to the quality of players, you can see when we play teams, particularly lesser teams so to speak, they just expect they are going to get chances from transitions and set plays and that is not good regardless of who the manager is. Frank has to learn fast because there is a clear history at this club, where the people upstairs look at situations that havent completely arisen and act decisively before they do. 
 

Many lost faith in Sarri for less IMO and while I doubt Frank will get sacked, there is plenty there that if it were someone else without his connection to the club, there would be many many more posts or worse than what we are seeing on here. Its a harsh reality where guys like Allegri and Pochettino are unemployed and both better managers than Frank. Its not as if the club hasnt had a interest in Allegri before or potentially thought about Pochettino either. 

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

1 hour ago, Atomiswave said:

Mate its clear they are not managed well defensively, that much is clear. You remedy by coaching them proper, making sure we move as a unit to protect them if need be, stay solid and in shape. That alone gives you a alot......practice set pieces to death, motivate them when needed. Put them on the bench if they keep fucking up, he has to set the standards higher than this. I dont for 1 min believe we cant defend better.

So you reckon that Frank Lampard, serial winner, Mensa candidate isn't smart enough to have worked all that out? And the fact he's pure raging after each loss isn't down to the fact that maybe just maybe our defence is Clueless/useless. Be surprised if the lads haven't coached set pieces/defensive tactics more than regularly. It never ceases to amaze me that average Joe's like us can see and know that the blades will be a handful in those areas but for some reason think that an above average learner like Frank just hasn't understood this...

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

38 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Its not a matter of what Jose or Pep did in their first clubs or what theyve done here/at other clubs. Or Sarri or AVB or Scolari or Conte or whoever.

Its a matter of where we are at now and how the same themes have been recurring throughout the season time and time again. Be it players looking good one game and not looking interested in the next few, conceding goals from set plays and transitions far too often, general defensive play or in game management throughout. 

The top 4 is in sight still and we are in knockouts stages of the CL (although we are 9/10s out bar a minor miracle) and a cup semi final (against a team we haven't beat under OGS) but dont let that paper over some of the cracks that have been recurring all season. The players can take the blame for some of it, absolutely, but firstly, look at today and several other games against these lesser sides all throughout the season. We have lost 11 games this season. Here are who we have lost against Sheffield United, West Ham x2, Newcastle, Southampton, Bournemouth, Everton, Man United x2, Liverpool, Man City. Okay City, Liverpool, United, lets be honest their much better teams than the others and are further along but lets not kid ourselves and say if we finish top 4 that it has been all hunky dory either. The top 4 should have been sealed long long ago imo considering the gap we gave ourselves between United, Spurs and Arsenal so if we lose out, it is probably not good enough. Even more so when you look at the fact Frank maybe overplayed some of the boys and sidelined others who could have made a difference when others were faultering. 

Also it wouldnt matter if FL was arguably our clubs best ever player or not, he is here as a manager and people shouldn’t let his playing career cloud their judgement at all IMO. Okay its great he has been at the club as a player and has a real connection with the fans but football management is result based. We didnt lose or concede as many as we have under Frank under Sarri and people were ten times as harsh so lets not kid around here and say its harsh or cant believe people are turning against him. Its hardly turning, its just stating facts which if you look at these 11 loses where 7 of them really shouldn’t be happening as well as some of the draws we have had against the same sort of “lesser sides” if you will, with the manner of how these games have went, there is clearly a basis to why people have the right to say that he hasnt exactly inspired huge confidence this season. When you look at his Derby team as well, even here with a higher quality of player, the traits are similar: conceding too many goals and not scoring enough.

For me, even with the arrivals of Werner and Ziyech there is still a huge red flag defensively and with some of these games as well as Frank’s persistence with continuing to use average or out of form footballers, these decisions will ultimately reflect on him. Thats the reality. I think we will still concede too many chances next season and its not just down to the quality of players, you can see when we play teams, particularly lesser teams so to speak, they just expect they are going to get chances from transitions and set plays and that is not good regardless of who the manager is. Frank has to learn fast because there is a clear history at this club, where the people upstairs look at situations that havent completely arisen and act decisively before they do. 
 

Many lost faith in Sarri for less IMO and while I doubt Frank will get sacked, there is plenty there that if it were someone else without his connection to the club, there would be many many more posts or worse than what we are seeing on here. Its a harsh reality where guys like Allegri and Pochettino are unemployed and both better managers than Frank. Its not as if the club hasnt had a interest in Allegri before or potentially thought about Pochettino either. 

Yet despite those reoccurring themes we still sit currently in 3rd. Not bad I suppose. Also it's not clouded vision to give Frank more room for manoeuvre. It's good damn loyalty. By Christ if you can't give him loyalty and time... Who does get it?

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

1 minute ago, Mana said:

...? Wait until the weekend is over before you spit this out. We can be 5th by the end of it.

Hence 'currently'

[King Kante 1,473]

11 minutes ago, ulsterchelsea said:

So you reckon that Frank Lampard, serial winner, Mensa candidate isn't smart enough to have worked all that out? And the fact he's pure raging after each loss isn't down to the fact that maybe just maybe our defence is Clueless/useless. Be surprised if the lads haven't coached set pieces/defensive tactics more than regularly. It never ceases to amaze me that average Joe's like us can see and know that the blades will be a handful in those areas but for some reason think that an above average learner like Frank just hasn't understood this...

Problem is Derby suffered from the exact same problems last year as well. For me, the single biggest mistake was letting Luiz go. Every one calls him a clown but if you put him in the middle of the back three, you can at least rely on him to head a ball away and also step out of the back and get the tempo going. Further to this, you can then use Alonso as a LWB as he is more effective going forward than most of the CM's and AM's. 

Further, today was an absokute sh*t show. SFL sounded like he was surprised and 'would remember'. The only thing I was surprised about was that he was surprised. As soon as I saw that team sheet, I knew what was going to happen straight away. 

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

D,you know what, I'm not arguing this anymore. Feel free to quote me or comment. It's personal opinion but by fuck some of you are short sighted. Tell me now who expected anything serious this season? At the start I'm sure all the lads were getting praise for being brought through and we were doing better than expected.Yet now it's a travesty? Utd are held up as some sort of yard stick yet we still sit above them at this point. Today's display was a shocker, by God it was and the last few ain't been great either but to turn on Frank and his squad now... Don't get it in afraid. With criticism? Yes! Worth discussing the next manager? Fuck off

[Magic Lamps 11,649]

a strikeforce that has scored a combined 5 goals all year before today has scored 3 times vs us.

[King Kante 1,473]

2 minutes ago, ulsterchelsea said:

D,you know what, I'm not arguing this anymore. Feel free to quote me or comment. It's personal opinion but by fuck some of you are short sighted. Tell me now who expected anything serious this season? At the start I'm sure all the lads were getting praise for being brought through and we were doing better than expected.Yet now it's a travesty? Utd are held up as some sort of yard stick yet we still sit above them at this point. Today's display was a shocker, by God it was and the last few ain't been great either but to turn on Frank and his squad now... Don't get it in afraid. With criticism? Yes! Worth discussing the next manager? Fuck off

From my perspective it is not about getting a new manager, I would not recommend that whatsoever. However, from watching Derby last year and us this year there is a very clear problem with SFL's teams and defending set pieces and the counter. 

My recommendation is to hire a defensive coach. The only real issue I have with SFL is his selection's at times. Today for instance required Giroud to start, why Tammy got selected was a mystery, especially as Norwich is next which is a team he is suited to playing and Giroud would not be as effective against. 

[Laylabelle 9,347]

1 hour ago, Muzchap said:

Shit happens - we were poor. United will overtake us for third and we will battle it out with Leicester.

We just dont have the bottle to win games.

I didn't see the game, but I can imagine how it was.

We have signings coming in to improve things.

I dont think we'll battle with Leicester...they have that advantage of goal difference. I can see points against Norwich thats it...even if they drop points we definitely will first.

 

[Jase 43,479]

If Man City's European ban gets overturned completely, then it's all over for the Champions League really. 

[Pizy 18,360]

22 minutes ago, Jason said:

If Man City's European ban gets overturned completely, then it's all over for the Champions League really. 

Id say Leicester are very likely to drop points still, but unless we win out (LOL!) it doesn't matter. Really, we need Leicester to lose ALL of their remaining matches and we have to beat Norwich and Wolves. We ain't beating Liverpool.

[King Kante 1,473]

7 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Id say Leicester are very likely to drop points still, but unless we win out (LOL!) it doesn't matter. Really, we need Leicester to lose ALL of their remaining matches and we have to beat Norwich and Wolves. We ain't beating Liverpool.

Our only hope is a City ban or Leicester/Utd completely sh*ting the bed. I see us only getting 4 points in our last three games. 

[Tomo 21,733]

1 hour ago, Pizy said:

Id say Leicester are very likely to drop points still, but unless we win out (LOL!) it doesn't matter. Really, we need Leicester to lose ALL of their remaining matches and we have to beat Norwich and Wolves. We ain't beating Liverpool.

I'm more confident for Liverpool than i am Wolves. We've brung our A game to every single clash against them in the last two years bar last years fixture at Anfield.

[communicate 2,703]

It was awful performance. I don't care about defense. We are struggling to build up against sheffield united. That is my biggest problem.