2021/22 Frank Lampard

[kenada_blue]

Exactly, while he wasn't the perfect appointment, he's not to blame for our predicament.

Park the bus, grind out clean sheets, etc, etc, none of that would matter with these defenders. That's just reality. They'd STILL make boneheaded decisions and leak goals.

Frankie surely cannot believe the state of these players and likely wants to strangle them every day more than we do

He looked absolutely fuming last night.

 

[Zatara]

Of course you’re not going after him, that’s why you‘re not so subtly dripping your usual poison into every post you make about him.

Exactly, while he wasn't the perfect appointment, he's not to blame for our predicament.

Park the bus, grind out clean sheets, etc, etc, none of that would matter with these defenders. That's just reality. They'd STILL make boneheaded decisions and leak goals.

Frankie surely cannot believe the state of these players and likely wants to strangle them every day more than we do

Oh, you mean just like Benitez tried for the whole time he was here ????

Its comical to read how Lampards masterplan should be to play the exact same 'style' used under Benitez.

The 'style' that got us into this mess.

Give the opposition a free hit every attack and then pray we score on the counter...

He tried and failed at that.

That;s not what he tried.

Pinocchio.

 

[kenada_blue]

I mean the 3rd goal last night was scored when we had about 12 players in the box.

And 1 sliced clearance directly to an opposing player sealed the deal.

 

[Brownie]

I think he has good ideas but isn't experienced enough to know exactly when to do what, which is exactly what you'd expect really.

 

[Toffeelover]

There's two options if we get beat again on Saturday or even draw:

1/ stick with Lampard and be relegated

2/ sack Lampard and in all probablity be relegated

I grant you it isn't much of a distinction, but the difference is there.

Missed out one very important point Dave, who would we replace him with and would they want to come to a football version of the Titanic.

 

[Tilling]

Burnley's first goal was a set piece mistake. Nothing to do with numbers

Burnley's second goal, DCL, Gordon and Kenny all got skinned within about 2 seconds and let their full back get to the by line. How many numbers do we need to try putting in a challenge.

Burnley's third goal game from switching off from a throw, and a horrific clearance by Godfrey.

None of those goals are anything to do with numbers. They are entirely caused by a lack of responsibility and inexplicable errors.

I think it should be less about 'getting men behind the ball' and more about actually coaching the defence effectively and trying to limit the extent to which our mentally and physically slow defence is exposed. You can do this two ways; either you control the game by winning the ball back and keeping the ball effectively, thereby reducing the time the opposition have on the ball ergo less attacks. Alternatively, you can reduce the complexity of what the defenders have to do by playing a lower line - Keep It Simple, Stupid - get the defence off the ball ASAP, don't let them venture too far up the pitch so they can stay in position and essentially get them to do something that they can be coached to do. It's not about 'numbers behind the ball per se', but more about congestion - train the team to block shots, win their battles, and make it difficult for the other team to play through you.

We currently do neither - on the former, Burnley had more of the ball than us yesterday (which I believe might genuinely be the first time that's happened for them all season) because the squad has no confidence and is mostly turgid in possession. On the latter, I think it's fairly self-evident from the goals (and what limited videos we have from the club account, which are mostly possession drills) that there isn't much defending going on in training. People will point to the third goal as an individual mistake, and fair enough - it's a relatively innocuous ball in that a miskick turns into an opportunity. But the response to the miskick sums up that these players either aren't being coached or they don't have the discipline to stay in position - see how they charge Weghorst and leave Cornet completely unmarked on the literal penalty spot.

The worst example is actually the second goal - they have plenty of time to steady themselves and find their man ahead of the cross coming in, because Kenny gets rinsed miles away from the goal. Go and watch the second goal again, and each time watch a different defender - you'll get a sense for what I mean about their not being much defensive work on the training ground. In this sense, the errors aren't inexplicable (of course they aren't, they've happened all season) - Everton don't actually suffer from a hex or a curse, they've just had a succession of defensively weak coaches.

There's probably more I'd like to write on this but I think that's what people mean when they say we need to change the style - what we are currently doing is exposing the weakest part of our team and not really allowing us to reap any benefits. Let's face it, we don't look like scoring do we, even with more of the ball! The question is whether you think Lampard will recognise this too, and look to go back to how we played against City - I think he's either too naive or too arrogant to recognise that's what needs to be done.

 

[jazzy]

They can motivate. Or they can be a wumming device. Alex Ferguson often betted on the latter so did Dyche there. Lets see how Frank and the lions react.

Oh what Dyche said is true and backed up by evidence of our performances this season.
And he is deliberately sticking the knife in to send Everton deeper into a tailspin.
But if you have a modicum of professionalism those words should resonate and inspire / motivate you to prove the ginger one to be wrong.
If it was me I'd be wanting to ram those words down his gob. Somehow I doubt that our frauds will react in the same way.

 

[Lapeno77]

For me, its about next season now. In the Championship.
Are we going to give Lampard the money to rebuild a new starting 11, probably a couple of hundred million.
If not, we need a manager who can do work miracles with this group.
This squad under Lampard in the Championship will be eaten alive. They won't be able to cope with the pressure of 46 games with a target on their back.

 

[ToffeeTim]

I think it should be less about 'getting men behind the ball' and more about actually coaching the defence effectively and trying to limit the extent to which our mentally and physically slow defence is exposed. You can do this two ways; either you control the game by winning the ball back and keeping the ball effectively, thereby reducing the time the opposition have on the ball ergo less attacks. Alternatively, you can reduce the complexity of what the defenders have to do by playing a lower line - Keep It Simple, Stupid - get the defence off the ball ASAP, don't let them venture too far up the pitch so they can stay in position and essentially get them to do something that they can be coached to do.

We currently do neither - on the former, Burnley had more of the ball than us yesterday (which I believe might genuinely be the first time that's happened for them all season) because the squad has no confidence and is mostly turgid in possession. On the latter, I think it's fairly self-evident from the goals (and what limited videos we have from the club account, which are mostly possession drills) that there isn't much defending going on in training. People will point to the third goal as an individual mistake, and fair enough - it's a relatively innocuous ball in that a miskick turns into an opportunity. But the response to the miskick sums up that these players either aren't being coached or they don't have the discipline to stay in position - see how they charge Weghorst and leave Cornet completely unmarked on the literal penalty spot.

The worst example is actually the second goal - they have plenty of time to steady themselves and find their man ahead of the cross coming in, because Kenny gets rinsed miles away from the goal. Go and watch the second goal again, and each time watch a different defender - you'll get a sense for what I mean about their not being much defensive work on the training ground.

There's probably more I'd like to write on this but I think that's what people mean when they say we need to change the style - what we are currently doing is exposing the weakest part of our team and not really allowing us to reap any benefits. Let's face it, we don't look like scoring do we, even with more of the ball! The question is whether you think Lampard will recognise this too, and look to go back to how we played against City - I think he's either too naive or too arrogant to recognise that's what needs to be done.

I don't think there is any need to play the same way against Burnely as City.

 

[ToffeeTim]

For me, its about next season now. In the Championship.
Are we going to give Lampard the money to rebuild a new starting 11, probably a couple of hundred million.
If not, we need a manager who can do work miracles with this group.
This squad under Lampard in the Championship will be eaten alive. They won't be able to cope with the pressure of 46 games with a target on their back.

You think we would spend "a couple of hundred million quid" if we get relegated?

 

[BlueToff]

Does that stop Godfrey slicing a cross?

I wanted Delph on at half time personally but it still wouldn't help a defender not defending or a team pressing when they should.

The West Ham mistake was going down to 10 men.

Well the West Ham mistake was also Keane/Iwobi for their goal

 

[jinkyali]

For me, its about next season now. In the Championship.
Are we going to give Lampard the money to rebuild a new starting 11, probably a couple of hundred million.
If not, we need a manager who can do work miracles with this group.
This squad under Lampard in the Championship will be eaten alive. They won't be able to cope with the pressure of 46 games with a target on their back.

We spent 1.7 m in the summer. There's no chance we spend a couple of hundred million.

 

[Tilling]

I don't think there is any need to play the same way against Burnely as City.

Not for the whole game, sure - I don't think we should be that inflexible; but as we saw after the equaliser against West Ham, this team needs to be more street-wise, and there are moments during the 90 minutes where we need to prioritise being defensively sound; and yes, that includes against Burnley.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Not for the whole game, sure - I don't think we should be that inflexible; but as we saw after the equaliser against West Ham, this team needs to be more street-wise, and there are moments during the 90 minutes where we need to prioritise being defensively sound; and yes, that includes against Burnley.

I just think if defenders do their jobs even to a respectable level, we win the game.

Each goal is properly shambolic. What system truly covers up basic errors? I don't think there is one out there.

 

[BlueToff]

I think he has good ideas but isn't experienced enough to know exactly when to do what, which is exactly what you'd expect really.

That's fine and I kind of agree but if these thick, crap players don't make basic errors then we've got 4 points from the last two games and would probably be fine