2022/23 Frank Lampard

[ToffeeTim]

 

[BlueToff]

There's no way that's happening. The board is incompetent, but they're not completely stupid, and they'll have no intention of seeing their investment go up in smoke by letting the team get relegated without doing anything about it. Last season we were in a similar position and they made 5 signings. I have no faith whatsoever that they'll identify and sign the right people, but I would be absolutely astonished if they don't make signings and sack the manager if he doesn't turn it round quickly. They have a lot to lose.

Thing is they just need to sign players (the right ones, of course) - that's regardless of who the manager is.

And they should have had at least one signing ready to go this week. That, again,isn't on Lampard but the people above him, Thelwell included.

 

[ToffeeTim]

There's no way that's happening. The board is incompetent, but they're not completely stupid, and they'll have no intention of seeing their investment go up in smoke by letting the team get relegated without doing anything about it. Last season we were in a similar position and they made 5 signings. I have no faith whatsoever that they'll identify and sign the right people, but I would be absolutely astonished if they don't make signings and sack the manager if he doesn't turn it round quickly. They have a lot to lose.

They signed players last January while we had no manager, and unsurprisingly it was a bit of a disaster. I don't know if they will want to be left in a similar position again in January.

 

[BlueToff]

Obviously yes, but that's not necessarily how they will see it

I do think they know the team needs players. They just lack any competency or urgency.

 

[BlueToff]

They signed players last January while we had no manager, and unsurprisingly it was a bit of a disaster. I don't know if they will want to be left in a similar position again in January.

Not strictly true.

They signed two players ahead of the window opening - Patterson and Mykolenko were done in December - because Benitez wanted them in.

They signed Al Ghazi even though Benitez didn't want him, when Digne had gone the other way.

Then they lined up deals for VdB and Alli but ultimately Lampard will have signed those off. But it's not like he was involved in anything other than those players basically being presented as options that he gave the nod on.

 

[Lanolin]

Thing is they just need to sign players (the right ones, of course) - that's regardless of who the manager is.

And they should have had at least one signing ready to go this week. That, again,isn't on Lampard but the people above him, Thelwell included.

They signed players last January while we had no manager, and unsurprisingly it was a bit of a disaster. I don't know if they will want to be left in a similar position again in January.

This is what I mean really. They're useless, I don't trust them to get it right at all, but I can't imagine any situation where they think 'ah well we only lost 2-1 at United and that's only 8 games without a win now, I think we'll go with what we've got.' They will be desperate to get out of this, they could lose A LOT of money if we go down.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Not strictly true.

They signed two players ahead of the window opening - Patterson and Mykolenko were done in December - because Benitez wanted them in.

They signed Al Ghazi even though Benitez didn't want him, when Digne had gone the other way.

Then they lined up deals for VdB and Alli but ultimately Lampard will have signed those off. But it's not like he was involved in anything other than those players basically being presented as options that he gave the nod on.

I see it as 3 players signed without a DOF and manager, and 2 players signed without a DOF, on the request of a manager who was on the brink of the sacked.

Surely even our board will recognise it was shambolic. They won't want to have any sort of repeat in the transfer market, for a start we would go down if we had a similar window again.

 

[Lob]

Takes some believing doesn't it. There is not a single board at another PL Club that wouldn't have a backup plan already in place after the shocking performance this season. Most of them would have already implemented it 3 months ago.

 

[Lobster Johnson]

Why do we have a Director of Football?! If they haven't got a list of "Frank gets hit by a bus" candidates then we've just learned nothing from when Carlo left.

 

[Lanolin]

I see it as 3 players signed without a DOF and manager, and 2 players signed without a DOF, on the request of a manager who was on the brink of the sacked.

Surely even our board will recognise it was shambolic. They won't want to have any sort of repeat in the transfer market, for a start we would go down if we had a similar window again.

You're almost arguing against your own point here. We'll see at the end of the window I suppose, but I would be absolutely flabbergasted if we don't have at least 2 new faces at that point. They'll probably be crap, but I just can't envisage any situation at all where they do what you're suggesting.

 

[blueblue]

It's not the manager's job to sign players though. We have a DoF who has failed to hire a head of recruitment so far, so that remit falls on him. If the options they could come up with are Maupay and McNeil then I really worry about him, too.

Anyway, I do agree he's over-estimating. On the flip side, you can't take a match against the best side in the country where we had 2 shots, one of them an absolute worldy, as a template unless you get in additional attackers to make it work. If we had more quality up top, sure you can play fine margins footy, but we don't have that quality. So it's always on the cusp and it isn't ultimately sustainable.

Not to say we should be playing that kamikaze style like v Brighton, there's a balance. But literally any manager who is in charge of us will NEED players. Or this side goes right to the wire in terms of staying up.

I am guessing the manager had an input into the players that were signed, otherwise he should have walked back then if he has so little input into the team he is to manage.

Any team needs to learn to stop losing before you learn to start winning.

The City game showed that we can defend and be difficult to play against and that we can pick up points. I think that if we are going to avoid relegation this season the price we will pay is watching dull defensive football , not conceding much at all and scoring a little more than that.

I think if we try to do anything else we will be relegated for sure.... of course that does depend on no splurging of cash in this window.

 

[navidson]

I can't believe we're still implementing this 'game-by-game' approach to assessing managers - The result tonight is completely irrelevant as to whether or not Frank Lampard is the correct man to lead the club

Are they operating some sort of sliding scale for the decision?

Clear victory (2 or more goals) - Give Frank lots of money in transfer window
Close victory (1 goal) - Allow him to sign one forward player
Draw - Keeps his job but no money for player
Narrow defeat (1-2 goals) - Slap on the wrist and try harder
Heavy defeat (Over 2 goals) - Sack

 

[longers]

I get the impression we are the type of club who are all “ohh, he’s a nice guy, ideally we don’t want to sack him” when a manager is close to death whereas other clubs would already be preparing to have him loaded him into a cannon and yeeted him into the sea.

 

[blueblue]

Takes some believing doesn't it. There is not a single board at another PL Club that wouldn't have a backup plan already in place after the shocking performance this season. Most of them would have already implemented it 3 months ago.

There are three managers that immediately jump to mind that are out of work and one at least would jump at the chance of managing Everton.... Dyche,Martinez and Pochettino. I am sure there are others besides.

 

[BlueToff]

I see it as 3 players signed without a DOF and manager, and 2 players signed without a DOF, on the request of a manager who was on the brink of the sacked.

Surely even our board will recognise it was shambolic. They won't want to have any sort of repeat in the transfer market, for a start we would go down if we had a similar window again.

Depends but Lampard really did have a sign off at least on those two players. Ultimately he gave the nod to them. But if it's the only thing you are offered then as a manager you obviously aren't going to say no.

But yes all of those players were brought in with no DoF or head of recruitment in place. I keep banging on about this I know, but it is absolutely staggering we still do not have a head of recruitment. The one that has accepted the job (I don't have a name, others in the media/closer to the club do know) hasn't yet officially started, that's all I know. And that to me is crazy.