closed Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea

[Fulham Broadway 16,869]

24 minutes ago, Jason said:

It isn't anything unique and while I don't keep track of what Klopp says after Liverpool games, it's predictable by now that Lampard always blame the players after bad results. Players aren't always at fault for bad results, some times it's also down to the manager. Am sure half of the time at least, our bad results have been down to Lampard's selection, game management etc. You can only blame the players for so long before players start to ask questions. What also makes things worse right now is we aren't barely seeing anything different from Lampard. Not saying we should go back to the overzealous chopping and changing of last season but now, Lampard is just sticking with 4-3-3, putting square pegs in round hole and hope that it works when it hasn't for the last few games. Lampard has suddenly gone all stubborn like Conte and Sarri!

To be honest - a manager holding up his hands and saying its all my fault is asking to be sacked and is rarer than hens teeth in the professional game. To his credit he blamed the performance on the players but said he takes the blame from the outside. People seem to be missing this as it doesnt fit their narrative.

You and I have watched Chelsea long enough to know that performance by the players this evening lacked intensity, speed, pressing -something that was never lacking with Lampard, Terry, Ballack etc as players.

The only thing I would criticize the manager now for is not making the players play with more animal cunning, guile and grit -we're probably the softest touch around at the moment,  but then again you cant fundamentally change a players character from nice guy Pulisic into a cheating Suarez Cavani type. On to the next game....

[Blue Armour 4,292]

6 minutes ago, Jason said:

Whatever it is, it's clear that some things within the 4-3-3 aren't working as well as before. Maybe the players' form just went, teams have sussed us out etc. So I don't know, maybe a change of formation? 

Not sure, but some things I would like to see:

Better press from our forwards and midfield. If some players are tired, drop them for others who can put in the effort.

CHO replacing Werner on the wing. Werner needs to be dropped period, and return as sub. Or, if he must start, start in a more central role (either in a 3-4-3 or ST role)

Short term turnaround could be achieved simply by having Ziyech return. His range of passing covers up for several deficiencies in Lampard's team.

 

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, Fulham Broadway said:

To be honest - a manager holding up his hands and saying its all my fault is asking to be sacked and is rarer than hens teeth in the professional game. To his credit he blamed the performance on the players but said he takes the blame from the outside. People seem to be missing this as it doesnt fit their narrative.

Lampard said he takes the blame from the outside but that feels like a throwaway comment in the wider context of what he said. He still put all the blame on the players. What makes it even worse is that he does nothing different in the following games. 

[Fulham Broadway 16,869]

1 minute ago, Jason said:

Lampard said he takes the blame from the outside but that feels like a throwaway comment in the wider context of what he said. He still put all the blame on the players. What makes it even worse is that he does nothing different in the following games. 

He also gave the players a lot of credit, but you cant give them 100% credit if you lose 3-1 unless its exceptional

[Jase 43,479]

6 minutes ago, DANILA said:

I don't think it has ever worked, we just got lucky and also played some pretty poor teams. I was going on how all Lampard can do is cross the ball a while ago and everyone including yourself thought I was an idiot. I knew this implosion of the team would happen; you can't sustain a full season with your only attack being crosses. Lampard is way out of his depth and the players are now against him because this isn't what they signed up for. 

Firstly, I never thought of you as an idiot when you said what you said. I did make the same point earlier this year but poor opposition or not, we did play good football, beyond than just crosses, during our recent unbeaten run and mind you, some of the poor teams we beat then were the same ones we failed to beat last season. Maybe I allowed myself to get my hopes or expectations up from that run but it's clear as hell as now we are back to playing Big Sam football, back to making silly mistakes again whenever we play against a half decent side. 

[Jase 43,479]

2 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

He also gave the players a lot of credit, but you cant give them 100% credit if you lose 3-1 unless its exceptional

So? That again feels meaningless when the game was already gone by then. 

[Fulham Broadway 16,869]

7 minutes ago, Jason said:

that feels like a throwaway comment in the wider context of what he said.

 

1 minute ago, Jason said:

That again feels meaningless

Exactly its only  'feelings'. We all feel aggrieved, but kneejerk *insert manager here* out, isnt necessarily that constructive as Abramovich has discovered

[MoroccanBlue 5,312]

12 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

 

Short term turnaround could be achieved simply by having Ziyech return. His range of passing covers up for several deficiencies in Lampard's team.

 

You’ve posted this a few times so I’d like to ask you this... 

Is a manager that dependent on one player, a good manager? Especially when he’s at a club filled with talent and just recently spent 200 million? 

[Fulham Broadway 16,869]

On the positive its papered over the cracks of Kroenkes creaking ship, and Arteta will stick around for a while 

[Jase 43,479]

3 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Exactly its only  'feelings'. We all feel aggrieved, but kneejerk *insert manager here* out, isnt necessarily that constructive as Abramovich has discovered

Kneejerk? It's most definitely not kneejerk when you see all the issues we have had under Lampard. Sure, we have had some good runs but games like today just reinforce those issues and issues that Lampard shows no sign of fixing. 

[Blue Armour 4,292]

2 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

You’ve posted this a few times so I’d like to ask you this... 

Is a manager that dependent on one player, a good manager? Especially when he’s at a club filled with talent and just recently spent 200 million? 

No, it won't make him a good manager.

Also, my comment about Ziyech was not meant to defend Lampard.

Jason had asked about what we could change to turn things for the better. I just remarked that Ziyech coming in could result in a turnaround. 

To me, Ziyech returning is not even that important, because the biggest problem in my IMO, is our complete lack of intensity & coordination in pressing. That's one of the things that Lampard is at fault for.

[Muzchap 8,966]

He must have lost the dressing room or needs to try and get things across in a different way.

Because it isn't working. We look so poor in all areas.

[Fulham Broadway 16,869]

6 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

the biggest problem in my IMO, is our complete lack of intensity & coordination in pressing.

Its weird some games its there big time, but then its like they forget it for some matches. Today, the standing back was Sunday on Hackney marshes

[Blue Armour 4,292]

6 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Its weird some games its there big time, but then its like they forget it for some matches. Today, the standing back was Sunday on Hackney marshes

Yep, can't put my finger on it. Lampard keeps bringing it up when it fails, just like he did today.

At this point, you have to ask why he's letting that happen in so many games.

Its not just 1-2 players either, its the whole team. That is one area he needs to shore up fast. 

[Jap Si. 50]

Frank blame players no good him soon gone if keep doing and what is Boxing Day mean ?

[ZAPHOD2319 4,490]

You box up your Christmas stuff....or you drink beer and watch football all day.... but Chelsea ruined that plan!

[chelsea_4_eva 1,159]

Cross, cross, cross.

Why do we always take the L from teams in bad form... cry...

[Vesper 28,885]

4 hours ago, chelsea_4_eva said:

Cross, cross, cross.

Why do we always take the L from teams in bad form... cry...

Poor management. 

It is not rocket surgery. 

Amazing how little offensive ingenuity Lampard shows with his tactics and formations and where he puts players.