2021/22 Frank Lampard

[BlueToff]

Gambled with his subs but they paid off, when Alli came on with Iwobi dropping deeper I feared we were going to get pummelled to be honest. Leicester will be kicking themselves they didn't go for the 2nd but that final spell 10 mins plus injury time where we were all over doesn't happen if he hadn't made those changes.

The above said, he left Gray on for far too long. Kid was so lazy tonight that at times it was like playing with 10 men, I was spitting mad! Needs to have been hammered by the coaches and his team-mates in the dressing room afterwards.

Certain players have definitely improved under Frank and he's been unlucky with injuries (story of the season) but his game-management can be rather poor. Still willing give him lots of time, hopefully this relegation battle is helping him learn vital lessons for the future.

We did get pummelled tbf it was a mad sub, and he compounded it by not bringing Doucoure on to add legs in midfield.

I understand fully why he wanted to have Iwobi central but right now you can't have him and Gray and Gordon in the same team with no focal point up top.

 

[blulouie]

Richarlison isn't the issue

Gray is. He's just not very good

Love Richy me , but he was the issue until he equalised.
Criminal them misses.
He stunk the place out upto that point.

Yeah Gray has been crap for a good while now.

 

[Neiler]

I get he wants to play out from the back and keep pocession passing through the lines, but when are defenders are trying to do it and playing three or passes around to each other in and around the box while being pressed by the opposition it scares the bejaysus out me.

The man, knows the score, he has the team fighting, they are motivated and he’s I lacti g
performances and games.

Keep her lit Frankly, we fight & grow together.

 

[EFCPaul]

We did get pummelled tbf it was a mad sub, and he compounded it by not bringing Doucoure on to add legs in midfield.

I understand fully why he wanted to have Iwobi central but right now you can't have him and Gray and Gordon in the same team with no focal point up top.

Starting Richy up top instead of out left with Rondon as striker was clearly a mistake. I have sympathy though because he had his team and tactics set but got thrown a late curveball with DCL's injury.

Gray was pathetic tonight, just jogged around for 60+ mins and kept wasting the ball. Definitely should have been off sooner and I'd have used VDB before Alli as sub personally to ensure we had more of the ball.

It'll be interesting to see what type of midfielders he'll go after in the summer, technical ones, physical beasts or just standard work-horses. I honestly don't know what our style of play is under him yet.

 

[BlueToff]

I get he wants to play out from the back and keep pocession passing through the lines, but when are defenders are trying to do it and playing three or passes around to each other in and around the box while being pressed by the opposition it scares the bejaysus out me.

The man, knows the score, he has the team fighting, they are motivated and he’s I lacti g
performances and games.

Keep her lit Frankly, we fight & grow together.

but tbf mate the issues we have don't really come from that. He's been going more direct lately but you can't go direct to Richy and have Gray and Gordon either side of him. Ain't gonna work.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

He is the best manager in next seasons league. He will do what he needs to do.

 

[Neiler]

but tbf mate the issues we have don't really come from that. He's been going more direct lately but you can't go direct to Richy and have Gray and Gordon either side of him. Ain't gonna work.

We struggle to score, we struggle to defend to my mind mate. Hence we’re in the relegation zone.

For me I don’t blame the manager or the players - each is trying hard in the context of their abilities. I do blame DOFs and club decisions overall, Frankly has been dealt a bogey deck that’s tricky to play.

I don’t think the direct thing was plan A, but we were obviously mitigating with DCL. I think it’s a marginal decision before the game, given who was available, we know Rondon struggles with more then 30 mins. I think his options were limited to be honest, but maybe got the best out of the available options. I honestly don’t think it was the plan to lump it either, or go direct as you say, but it’s how the game unfolded as we struggled to penetrate.

Evans and Forfana have been injured all season, massively unlucky that both are now back when our fixture fell, they both played well, but Leicester have been leaky all season, both playing direct or lads getting in behind, so I don’t think it was the maddest decision in the world.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Not much wrong tactically again except I think he got the line up wrong with Gray.

We created some absolutely clear cut chances tonight as well. The 2 Richarlison missed are as clear as you get.

The team are trying and the manager is trying. We just are badly short of quality. We really could have done with 3 points but it would have been totally deflating if we had got nothing.

 

[BlueToff]

We struggle to score, we struggle to defend to my mind mate. Hence we’re in the relegation zone.

For me I don’t blame the manager or the players - each is trying hard in the context of their abilities. I do blame DOFs and club decisions overall, Frankly has been dealt a bogey deck that’s tricky to play.

I don’t think the direct thing was plan A, but we were obviously mitigating with DCL. I think it’s a marginal decision before the game, given who was available, we know Rondon struggles with more then 30 mins. I think his options were limited to be honest, but maybe got the best out of the available options. I honestly don’t think it was the plan to lump it either, or go direct as you say, but it’s how the game unfolded as we struggled to penetrate.

Evans and Forfana have been injured all season, massively unlucky that both are now back when our fixture fell, they both played well, but Leicester have been leaky all season, both playing direct or lads getting in behind, so I don’t think it was the maddest decision in the world.

we're not in the relegation zone (yet)!!! Somehow haven't been all season.

The going direct thing has been a plan in recent weeks, as in playing vertically using Iwobi in midfield. That kind of direct.

But for all the rightful stick DCL has got it showed today that you can't have Rich, Gray and Gordon up top unless you've got a midfield capable of getting hold of the ball.

We were set up badly and for me it boils down to Lampard picking Gray. He's just not up to it atm. I like the lad but he's showing why he's never lived up to his potential. It spiralled out from there. Yet fwiw we still had the best two chances of the game and missed them. Fortunately Richarlison made up for it, and got a bit of luck, at the end.

 

[BlueToff]

Not much wrong tactically again except I think he got the line up wrong with Gray.

We created some absolutely clear cut chances tonight as well. The 2 Richarlison missed are as clear as you get.

The team are trying and the manager is trying. We just are badly short of quality. We really could have done with 3 points but it would have been totally deflating if we had got nothing.

Ultimately mate getting it wrong is on him and his tactics. It was a tactical idea to have Gray left but it was awful and honestly he should have changed it much sooner. Personally I'd have got Doucoure on first half, Gray was that poor.

But yeah, those misses from Richarlison are dreadful.

Fortunately get a point that, for a few days at least, will mean we can't go bottom three. Hopefully Southampton and their Jarg Klopp do us a favour

 

[ToffeeTim]

Ultimately mate getting it wrong is on him and his tactics. It was a tactical idea to have Gray left but it was awful and honestly he should have changed it much sooner. Personally I'd have got Doucoure on first half, Gray was that poor.

But yeah, those misses from Richarlison are dreadful.

Fortunately get a point that, for a few days at least, will mean we can't go bottom three. Hopefully Southampton and their Jarg Klopp do us a favour

I want to see the old 4411 because thats the only way we get Alli on the pitch.

I've not been happy with Gray for a number of weeks. Iwobi and Gordon are putting in enormous shifts but hes not backing them up. I dont think we can afford players who don't offer much off the ball. I even think El Ghazi is a better option to balance the side.

 

[Neiler]

we're not in the relegation zone (yet)!!! Somehow haven't been all season.

The going direct thing has been a plan in recent weeks, as in playing vertically using Iwobi in midfield. That kind of direct.

But for all the rightful stick DCL has got it showed today that you can't have Rich, Gray and Gordon up top unless you've got a midfield capable of getting hold of the ball.

We were set up badly and for me it boils down to Lampard picking Gray. He's just not up to it atm. I like the lad but he's showing why he's never lived up to his potential. It spiralled out from there. Yet fwiw we still had the best two chances of the game and missed them. Fortunately Richarlison made up for it, and got a bit of luck, at the end.

Sorry mate meant in and around.

Honestly I think we’re limited. I don’t think our problem lies with with the Flash, Richarlison or DCL myself. Our problem is if any of them are going to score they are going to have to fight for it and make it themselves. We’ve no playmaker, we miss Jamo, Gylfi, Digne even Townsend for chance creation and creativity, and getting in between lines and high percentage quality ball in. I think you could play Aguero and Henry up there at the moment and they woukd struggle. Anything the lads get they are making it themselves. Therefore I don’t think it’s the striking personnel myself.

Which takes us to Iwobi, he’s the one player we proabably have who can create something, it’s why he’s in the team. This is it we have nothing else, maybe DVB, or Gomes but neither can slip into that playmaking role higher up, we can criticise the managers choices, but to be honest I think his choices and stark and limited. Just my opinion.

 

[BlueToff]

Sorry mate meant in and around.

Honestly I think we’re limited. I don’t think our problem lies with with the Flash, Richarlison or DCL myself. Our problem is any of them are going to score they are going to have to fight for it and make it themselves. We’ve no playmaker, we miss Jamo, Gylfi, Digne even Townsend for chance creation and creativity, and getting in between lines and high percentage quality ball in. I think you could play Aguero and Henry up there at the moment and they woukd struggle. Anything the lads get they are making it themselves. Therefore I don’t think it’s the st4iking personal myself. Which takes us to Iwobi, he’s the one player we proabably have who can create something, it’s why he’s in the team. This is it we have nothing else, maybe DVB, or Gomes but neither can slip into that playmaking role higher up, we can criticise the managers choices, but to be honest I think his choices and stark and limited. Just my opinion.

I agree mate. I do think FL got it wrong today by playing Gray because it really negatively impacted the shape of the team that, against United, was decent.

 

[BlueToff]

I want to see the old 4411 because thats the only way we get Alli on the pitch.

I've not been happy with Gray for a number of weeks. Iwobi and Gordon are putting in enormous shifts but hes not backing them up. I dont think we can afford players who don't offer much off the ball. I even think El Ghazi is a better option to balance the side.

But tbh it was a 4411 in the first half mate and it got ripped apart like it did under the Pig Man. Because we had Delph and Allan chasing shadows and Iwobi pressing high alongside Richarlison while Gray just mooched about on the left.

I think he worked back but he just has no defensive nous at all and it showed.

Personally think it had to be, as soon as they knew DCL was out, a sacrifice of Iwobi. Not taking him out, but shifting him to the right and putting Gordon left and stacking the midfield with Allan, Delph and Doucoure.

 

[arch stanton]

but tbf mate the issues we have don't really come from that. He's been going more direct lately but you can't go direct to Richy and have Gray and Gordon either side of him. Ain't gonna work.

we started to get more ground when we lumped it up to rondon, he did ok when he came on, we held it up better higher up thee pitch.

We need to empty this agains the rs, they will slaughter us if we try to play out, miss their midfield out and get it as Farr away from our calamity defence as possible