loz

All about the result I guess but f**k me how is this team third in the league.
Whatever we do in the window please let us come out of it with a backbone and a leader as both are massively missing.
 
 
 

All about the result I guess but f**k me how is this team third in the league.
Whatever we do in the window please let us come out of it with a backbone and a leader as both are massively missing.
 
 
 

I'd love for Kante to be back but I think it unlikely or, if he is, he would be getting rushed back out of desperation and would be playing at 80% and just risking further injury.
It really is at a point where we may as well let the defence choose who to play through a best of three game of shove penny shove.
I am certainly not for bring complacent just because its Norwich. We have been sh*te for weeks and any team in the league can see points in us.
Surely Kovacic and Giroud will start ahead of Tammy and maybe Mount. I can see Jorginho starting again assuming Kante is not available. I also expect Alonso will be brought back in. Personally I'd put Azpilicueta back in the centre if we go for four at the back. Or go with the wing backs and three in the centre.
 
Whoever we pick at the back I suspect  it's going to be another chocolate air biscuit 90 minutes.
 

At least we can save time arguing over who played badly! Diabolical all over the park. Bar the late subs there isn't a player who remotely played anywhere near average . Maybe only Kepa absolved of blame as he was totally abandoned by our defence throughout.  Three big games coming up, our confidence is f**ked and Lampard really seems out of ideas to get a performance out of a collection of below par players.  If it wasn't Frank I'm sure there would be more question marks over his future.  

It was the sort of game he has always looks poor in. Under pressure he buckles. Given time and space he looks quality. Even if we keep him and he is playing well I'd never be inclined to play him against a team like Sheff Utd.
Unfortunately we didn't have many options today.
But he was no worse than anyone  else today.
 

It was the sort of game he has always looks poor in. Under pressure he buckles. Given time and space he looks quality. Even if we keep him and he is playing well I'd never be inclined to play him against a team like Sheff Utd.
Unfortunately we didn't have many options today.
But he was no worse than anyone  else today.
 

At least we can save time arguing over who played badly! Diabolical all over the park. Bar the late subs there isn't a player who remotely played anywhere near average . Maybe only Kepa absolved of blame as he was totally abandoned by our defence throughout.  Three big games coming up, our confidence is f**ked and Lampard really seems out of ideas to get a performance out of a collection of below par players.  If it wasn't Frank I'm sure there would be more question marks over his future.  

I actually don't mind those changes
 We need to chase the game and the wing backs should help that. However it also needed Giroud on as Abraham will feed on balls from the flank like Linda McCartney fed on beef brisket.

I actually don't mind those changes
 We need to chase the game and the wing backs should help that. However it also needed Giroud on as Abraham will feed on balls from the flank like Linda McCartney fed on beef brisket.

You could easily justify being the first team in a competitive game to make five changes at half time. Unfortunately we can't change Barkley, Jorghino and Mount as we don't  have three options on the bench. If we did I'd be minded to do so. All three awful. Surely one of them will be hooked.   Not a lot of point changing a centre half as they are all as dodgy as each other. Was it last week Zouma was now first choice? Now he is utter gash again. Could maybe bring on Alonso and put Azpilicueta into centre.  There really isn't anything surprising about this. We are bloody fortunate to have got the points we have since football returned as we haven't looked convincing in any of the games bar a spell of the City game.   If we end up not qualifying for the CL, especially if City ban not overturned, don't be so sure Lampard will be on charge next season. Abramovich is spending again and he might not be willing to give it to a manager who seems to be struggling tactically. I doubt the Chelsea ties will buy him much grace.     

I think the love for Zouma after the Palace game really emphasises how poor we are defensively. Without bothering to look I'll wager I'll find posts saying he has to go and isn't remotely good enough to be a first team player. The same posts exist for all our centre half options.  Today he played well and made that tackle at the death. But he also conceded a totally unnecessary corner not long before that. We got away with it. Against West Ham, Rudiger did the same and we didn't get away with it. He got hammered for it. Next week Zouma may make a cock up and suddenly he will be back in the 'get rid' camp.  Its hard to think of a consistently top class side who didn't have a leader at the back. A Terry, Kompany, Baresi, Beckenbauer, or Erland Johnsen.   We need that dominating influence and voice at the heart of the defence. Someone who leads by example, commands authority and demands a certain standard. Just now none of our defenders do that. Nobody organises them or portrays a need for collective responsibility. 

I really can't see the point of giving Willian an extension of any sort if we are going to place confidence in Odoi. We will have Pulisic and Ziyech next season as first choice, Odoi as the third option and, as a 4th choice emergency option, Werner can play out wide. There just won't be enough game time for Willian and, even as a regular first team player, he has been hit and miss for too many seasons now. I can't see him being a player who will happily sit out 5 or 6 games or be satisfied with league appearances and a few runs off the bench.

Yes it would be a nice luxury or bit of security to have 4 wingers to choose from and it would provide plenty cover but I'm not sure it would make for a happy changing room.

I really can't see the point of giving Willian an extension of any sort if we are going to place confidence in Odoi. We will have Pulisic and Ziyech next season as first choice, Odoi as the third option and, as a 4th choice emergency option, Werner can play out wide. There just won't be enough game time for Willian and, even as a regular first team player, he has been hit and miss for too many seasons now. I can't see him being a player who will happily sit out 5 or 6 games or be satisfied with league appearances and a few runs off the bench.

Yes it would be a nice luxury or bit of security to have 4 wingers to choose from and it would provide plenty cover but I'm not sure it would make for a happy changing room.

I think the love for Zouma after the Palace game really emphasises how poor we are defensively. Without bothering to look I'll wager I'll find posts saying he has to go and isn't remotely good enough to be a first team player. The same posts exist for all our centre half options.  Today he played well and made that tackle at the death. But he also conceded a totally unnecessary corner not long before that. We got away with it. Against West Ham, Rudiger did the same and we didn't get away with it. He got hammered for it. Next week Zouma may make a cock up and suddenly he will be back in the 'get rid' camp.  Its hard to think of a consistently top class side who didn't have a leader at the back. A Terry, Kompany, Baresi, Beckenbauer, or Erland Johnsen.   We need that dominating influence and voice at the heart of the defence. Someone who leads by example, commands authority and demands a certain standard. Just now none of our defenders do that. Nobody organises them or portrays a need for collective responsibility. 

I thought he was top class when he came on today. And I'm one who has been very critical of him in the past. Brought a calmness and level head which Gilmour, Barkley, Mount and RLC all failed to bring whilst Palace were dominating possession.   I felt he should have started the game rather than Gilmour (which I did say a day or two ago) to bring a little more experience to the midfield and not expose Gilmour to a level of pressure at such a young age.  Couldn't understand why RLC came on instead of Jorginho and I was questioning Lampard then...then he created the  goal for Abraham and I accepted I'm a sofa football fan!   That said I still think Lampard allowed is to be dominated for far too long today. Jorginho was an obvious change at half time for me.  

I think the love for Zouma after the Palace game really emphasises how poor we are defensively. Without bothering to look I'll wager I'll find posts saying he has to go and isn't remotely good enough to be a first team player. The same posts exist for all our centre half options.  Today he played well and made that tackle at the death. But he also conceded a totally unnecessary corner not long before that. We got away with it. Against West Ham, Rudiger did the same and we didn't get away with it. He got hammered for it. Next week Zouma may make a cock up and suddenly he will be back in the 'get rid' camp.  Its hard to think of a consistently top class side who didn't have a leader at the back. A Terry, Kompany, Baresi, Beckenbauer, or Erland Johnsen.   We need that dominating influence and voice at the heart of the defence. Someone who leads by example, commands authority and demands a certain standard. Just now none of our defenders do that. Nobody organises them or portrays a need for collective responsibility. 

I think the love for Zouma after the Palace game really emphasises how poor we are defensively. Without bothering to look I'll wager I'll find posts saying he has to go and isn't remotely good enough to be a first team player. The same posts exist for all our centre half options.  Today he played well and made that tackle at the death. But he also conceded a totally unnecessary corner not long before that. We got away with it. Against West Ham, Rudiger did the same and we didn't get away with it. He got hammered for it. Next week Zouma may make a cock up and suddenly he will be back in the 'get rid' camp.  Its hard to think of a consistently top class side who didn't have a leader at the back. A Terry, Kompany, Baresi, Beckenbauer, or Erland Johnsen.   We need that dominating influence and voice at the heart of the defence. Someone who leads by example, commands authority and demands a certain standard. Just now none of our defenders do that. Nobody organises them or portrays a need for collective responsibility. 

I thought he was top class when he came on today. And I'm one who has been very critical of him in the past. Brought a calmness and level head which Gilmour, Barkley, Mount and RLC all failed to bring whilst Palace were dominating possession.   I felt he should have started the game rather than Gilmour (which I did say a day or two ago) to bring a little more experience to the midfield and not expose Gilmour to a level of pressure at such a young age.  Couldn't understand why RLC came on instead of Jorginho and I was questioning Lampard then...then he created the  goal for Abraham and I accepted I'm a sofa football fan!   That said I still think Lampard allowed is to be dominated for far too long today. Jorginho was an obvious change at half time for me.  

I thought he was top class when he came on today. And I'm one who has been very critical of him in the past. Brought a calmness and level head which Gilmour, Barkley, Mount and RLC all failed to bring whilst Palace were dominating possession.   I felt he should have started the game rather than Gilmour (which I did say a day or two ago) to bring a little more experience to the midfield and not expose Gilmour to a level of pressure at such a young age.  Couldn't understand why RLC came on instead of Jorginho and I was questioning Lampard then...then he created the  goal for Abraham and I accepted I'm a sofa football fan!   That said I still think Lampard allowed is to be dominated for far too long today. Jorginho was an obvious change at half time for me.  

Great strike but poor goalkeeping

Great strike but poor goalkeeping

In fairness if you are using the Leicester game to determine selections then we would start against Palace with three players!

Watford he was barely on for ten minutes.

Dear@coco

Whitehall isn't my pseudonym...honest [emoji3]

Dear@coco

Whitehall isn't my pseudonym...honest [emoji3]

I really can't see the point of giving Willian an extension of any sort if we are going to place confidence in Odoi. We will have Pulisic and Ziyech next season as first choice, Odoi as the third option and, as a 4th choice emergency option, Werner can play out wide. There just won't be enough game time for Willian and, even as a regular first team player, he has been hit and miss for too many seasons now. I can't see him being a player who will happily sit out 5 or 6 games or be satisfied with league appearances and a few runs off the bench.

Yes it would be a nice luxury or bit of security to have 4 wingers to choose from and it would provide plenty cover but I'm not sure it would make for a happy changing room.