Pob

Has Mount or Havertz worked on the left either? Werner scored his first goal today when he on the left side. Albeit, yes, perhaps he should be part of a front three instead of in a 4-2-3-1.

Scrabbling for a defence, what is interesting is quite a few of the sides who had to play in Europe last month are looking a little worse for wear now - Wolves shipping four at West Ham, Manchester United lucky not to be stuck on zero points, Manchester City’s capitulation against Leicester, us and the first half shambles at West Brom. Going abroad, Bayern lost 4-1 at Hoffenheim, Leverkusen have started their season with two draws, Inter conceded three at home (though did win), PSG started their season with back-to-back defeats and Lyon haven’t won in four. Barcelona and Sevilla have bucked the trend slightly but they only started their league programme over the last weekend so had a longer rest. This isn’t trying to excuse Frank’s obvious issues and weaknesses but that lack of a summer break, considering the truncated length, may be playing a part of why, for chunks of games, we look worse than last year.

This sounds cruel but Frank was appointed as he loves the club and would take on the job even in the face of a transfer embargo. If we hadn’t been under the embargo would we have gone for him as early as we did? I have my doubts - at the very least we would have let him prove himself further at lower level.

The issue is are lessons being learned? All I can see is the same mistakes being made over and over - especially when it comes to defensive shape, transition and chance creation. If we were improving and adapting then a few bumps in the road would be expected and accept, at least to a greater degree. If anything we’re going backwards on last season and that has to be a great concern considering the outlay. It wasn’t even a Spurs first XI tonight - no Doherty, Davies, Sanchez, Lo Celso, Sissoko, Moura, Kane, Son... who can we honestly saying was missing from our first XI - Silva, Havertz, Pulisic and Ziyech. At a pinch maybe Christensen and Kante but I cannot honestly argue they would have improved us.

In his defence I presume Chilwell isn’t ready for 90 minutes and three games in a week may be too much for Silva. But otherwise I agree - though dare I say I don’t think defence was our issue tonight, Emerson switching off aside.

For all the arguments about a full team though, we were still, on paper, stronger than both West Brom on Saturday and Spurs tonight - and on both occasions we’ve been found out. Unfortunately these are not aberrations either.

Mendy Azpilicueta - Zouma - Thiago Silva - Chilwell Kante - Jorginho Hudson-Odoi - Havertz - Werner Abraham Subs: Caballero, James, Tomori, Kovacic, Barkley, Mount, Giroud In fairness without Pulisic and Ziyech we’re really suffering out wide. Maybe we should try a 4-4-2 narrow diamond!

I’d agree with that as well; I think Frank is being told he needs to keep Kepa involved considering the amount of money splashed out on him.

My one disagreement with tonight’s line up is we should have gone with our first choice backline ahead of Mendy - presumably at this stage it’s Azpilicueta, Christensen, Silva, Chilwell. Allow them to build an understanding rather than constantly chop and change players, especially important with a new goalkeeper.

Arteta wasn’t at Arsenal last summer, it was Emery. He made no permanent signings in January whilst signing Mari and Soares on loan. He’s had less time than Frank but built an understanding and pattern of play nonetheless which is something we’re seriously lacking.

I’m sorry but these are basically the same defenders - and midfielders - that Sarri marshalled to conceding just 39 league goals less than two years ago. Suddenly we need new people in the line up? It’s the tactics which are the problem, not the players. Frank had this issue with Derby and he’s continuing it here; he’s not learning or changing. If he made mistakes but learned from them I would support him more and I’m really hoping in May we can look back and laugh at how we reacted to this evening as we finish top four and lift one or two trophies but I cannot see it at all.

For me this is a weak excuse. As much as I hate to say it you only have to look at Arsenal and what Arteta has done with them, even though he’s had less time with a weaker squad coming off the back of worse results. Each player knows what they need to do, they have a plan, in general he’s made them more solid at the back and they can transition through midfield. Frank’s had a year and we haven’t moved forward at all - new players, same errors. Why is every player coming into our side and basically having the same issue? Roman won’t wield the axe yet but a win against Palace is a must now. Nothing else will do.

First post and I make it with a heavy heart but I really think a change of manager is needed. Frank is a Chelsea legend and he deserves a warm welcome at the Bridge every time but I don’t think he’s ready for a job of this magnitude - we have no plan of attack and our defence is abysmal. Defensively, these are basically the same players as Sarri had and we only conceded 39 goals in the league that season. Looking at the players we fielded at The Hawthorns and tonight only to see a point and a cup exit in return when considering the opposition? We’re in trouble.