Davey Baby

I never thought we'd get top four at the start of the season, in fact, I thought we'd end up in the bottom half. Frank has done better than I expected, and I really wanted him here, and I really wanted the kids to play, so that was enough for me. Anything else is just a bonus. First 12 games, 26 points. At that stage I'm thinking we're getting top four and Frank is far exceeding expectations. Last 13 games, different story, 15 points. Let's see what the final third of the season brings, but the way we're playing, I'd be very surprised if we get top four, and it really wouldn't bother me at all if we don't. Despite my criticisms of Frank, I never expected him to be anything other than a guy learning on the job, and I'm really happy to give him time and see if he has what it takes. Right now, we're not really creating, aside from that first half yesterday, which really surprised me. We created a few good chances, and that was encouraging. Second-half was more typical, no chances created from open play, and ridiculously open, as you say. For me, that's the biggest worry and the thing Frank should be focusing on if we're to have any chance of achieving top four. We're not scoring freely anymore but we can still win games if we learn to see out games out and if we bring a bit of stability to our game. We are just ridiculously easy to score against, and our goals against column illustrates that. We never look like keeping a clean sheet. Our best performances this season, Ajax away, Tottenham away, we looked stable, controlled, disciplined, well-drilled. We looked like a serious football team and that gives me hope for the future. Those were amazing performances. Most of the time, as you rightly say we saw yesterday, one pass bypasses our midfield and suddenly Maddison, Perez or Barnes have got the ball in that pocket of space in front of our defence, and then we're really in trouble. We've got a chance of top four. We have far less points than at this stage last season but luckily the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Utd have their own problems, so we've got a chance, but we've looked porous all season and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon, and that for me is the likeliest thing to prove our stumbling block. It's easy to blame it on personnel but for me a lot of it is about the way we set up. There's a lack of control about our game most of the time, and that always makes us vulnerable, in my opinion.

Maybe Nibs, I could be being harsh on Frank there, but I think it's a valid point. For me, the manager is responsible for performances, that's his job. Kepa was much better last season, maybe not great, but a lot better. Why? That's what fascinates me. Why? Does the manager have any role in that, however small? I think so. Look at Simeone. He had Courtois, who looked unbelievable, far better than he ever was for us. After Courtois they got Oblak, who they signed from Benfica, for under £15m, and all of a sudden he looks like the best keeper in the world. Surely the manager plays a part in that? The manager has to get inside the player's head. If you're asking your keeper to play out from the back, and there isn't really a structure, they can lose a little bit of calmness, and it can affect their confidence and maybe mess with their head. When I think of the managers that ask their keepers to play out from the back, like Pep, Klopp and Poch, there is a real structure to the way their teams play, and a real method to it, and if it's working, that breeds confidence. It's noticeable that Kepa's kicking has been a lot more messy this season, and as soon as that happens maybe you start to feel a little less in control. Heck, it's a theory. I'm not saying he's the best in the world, or I'll be bemoaning his loss in the summer, but when a player loses form as starkly as he has, even a goalkeeper, I think it's fair to ask questions of the manager, even if it's a very small question in this instance.

There are weaknesses in our squad but the real weakness right now is the manager. We are so open. We can't keep a clean sheet to save our lives. It's 1 in every 6 games I think, which is comical. Coaching. Jorginho is the holding midfielder, which only works if every single player in the team presses, and presses hard, and remains compact at all times. It has to be like clockwork, engrained into the team. Then there's movement, and options on the ball, so that when he receives it every player knows where to go. This just isn't happening. We play a far more open, a far less structured style under Frank, which is fine, but Jorginho is completely the wrong guy. He's not a holding midfielder to save his life. You need a real tactical mind to use Jorginho, otherwise his limitations come to the fore. Our defence had no protection. Zero. There was space behind Jorginho all day long, in front of our defence, and Leicester were finding it. They were by far the more cohesive side, especially after our initial spell. Second-half, from open play, there's only one side that looked like scoring, again and again. That has f**k all to do with the transfer window, and the sooner Frank realises the better. Some people don't want to hear it, because they love Frank, as I do, but right now we're on a run of 15 points from 13 games, and more than anything, the reason for that is the coaching. I don't care about top four this season, it isn't a big deal for me, I'm happy Frank's here I'm happy he's playing the kids I'm sure he'll get the chance to shape the squad more in his image in the summer, but people pointing the finger at the board or the players should be really focusing on the manager. Second-half Leicester were immeasurably superior to us, they were finding those pockets of space in front of our defence, they were creating chances and we weren't. Frank did nothing to change it. We went ahead from a corner as soon as the second-half started, after which they took control and deservedly went 2-1 up. We could see it coming but Frank did nothing. We scored from a corner again, at which point Frank made changes, but they had missed a few gilt-edged chances. Some of you will think this is harsh, but the game lasts 90 minutes. Sure, we missed a few chances early doors, but the game goes on, Leicester get a foothold and but for two goals from set-pieces we're losing that game, very easily, and then a lot of you would be being harsher. Over the course of the game we were second best, and that has nothing to do with personnel, and everything to do with coaching. Lastly, Kepa. He's been poor this season, undoubtedly, but nobody has ever mentioned the role Frank may have had in this. Kepa last season was pretty good. He had a very encouraging season, generally, although there is obviously a problem in claiming crosses. He was excellent with his feet, and Sarri wanted a keeper that could play, to fit his style, and that gave Kepa confidence, because there was a strategy, because Sarri's a very meticulous manager, every time Kepa had the ball at his feet the defenders and the midfielders knew exactly where to go, so that Kepa had options, and he didn't have to think. It was drilled into them in typical Italian style, until it's on auto-pilot. As a result, Kepa was calm, cool, composed, and oozed confidence. I'm not letting him off this season, as his primary job is to stop goals and he hasn't been doing that, but a lot of that calmness and serenity at the back has left us. We're shipping way more goals than last season, and Derby shipped a lot of goals last season. We're playing out from the back but not in a structured way, and we're not pressing from the front as a team, and I think that's impacted the whole team including the keeper. A lot of you will scoff at that and so be it, but that's my theory, It's not all to do with how we play, I'm saying it's played a part, however small, and it's got into his head, and maybe the manager can help him out more. He's a good keeper, from what I saw last season. We'll be getting rid in the summer, maybe for somebody who's more suited for us. Which brings me to this....... What are we? As a team? Does anybody know? We're a bit of a muddle. We're half one thing and half another. That's okay, we're a work in progress, and I like managers that let their players play, but if you're going to let your players play, play your best players. Kovacic has to be in that midfield, ahead of both Jorginho and Kante. Kante's another one, does Frank really know how to use him properly? All these questions are far more important than who we might have signed as a back-up striker. What are we? Who are we? Is there a method? These are the questions I want answered as Frank's tenure at the club ensues. People talk about planning with the board. What about planning on the pitch? This is what I'd really like to see some more of, and I'm hopeful we will as Frank grows into the job. I think the kids could do with a bit more method. Right now it all looks a little bit higgledy-piggledy to me.

He's an untouchable, wrongly so. Simple as that.

He played in a 3 under Conte, and I think the significance of his Barca mistake is overstated, because there were concerns about him expressed on these boards before that. There has always been a timidity about him, and s lack of personality. It's far easier to play in a 3 if you're a CB. Has he ever impressed in a 2?

He could easily have stopped both goals if he'd stuck an arm out, especially the first goal. He could have just stood up and caught it. I can think of only one save he made that wasn't bread and butter, but the problem is, his aberration for the second, is par for the course with Willy. He just has a brain fart every single game, at least once. We know all this however. Kepa deserved to be dropped and if Willy keeps his place I'd understand. I wouldn't agree with it but I'd understand.

It's worse than that Spiller. You're being very kind to him. Their attack at the end, when they claimed a penalty, came from Christensen losing out on the touchline, putting us in immense danger. He needs to be much stronger there, as you say, but there are so many instances where he doesn't sniff the danger, which is what all good CBs do. It all just seems to go on around him. He's out of his depth in the PL I'm afraid. Their chance in the first half, which Willy saved. We gave the ball away and it led to the chance but Christensen is the covering defender and he should be flinging himself in front of the ball to block the shot. It's last ditch. He should be trying to stop a certain goal. He doesn't even go to ground. He has to go in the summer so we can all stop having these conversations.

As I've said before, this guy has to be taking corners and set pieces. It boggles the mind that Frank allows Willian and Callum to take them when Mount's on the pitch. If Mount's not on the pitch I'd give James a go.

We got away with one. We were so lucky second-half. They could have scored loads, while we didn't create a chance from open play, and didn't even look like doing so. Leicester were finding pockets all game, between our lines, in front of our defence, and Frank couldn't do anything to stop it. Unbelievably set pieces saved us today. We started well, creating chances, easily the better side, but after the initial spell they just looked a far more assured side, even though they're not in the best of form. Very happy with a point today. I'll take that. The keeper's a clown. Christensen is nowhere near good enough. James is going to be a beast. Kante put in a shift but there's precious little quality on the ball. A pivot of him and Jorginho just doesn't do it for me, and I've no idea why Frank is persisting with it. Pedro was completely anonymous second-half and not much better first-half. Lastly, the decision to bring on Barkley at the end instead of Batshuayi? I wouldn't try that one again Frank if I were you. This can only be viewed as a good away point.

Cannot for the life of me fathom why he's been dropped.

Magnificent second goal. Well done Rudi.

Luckily for Kepa our reserve keeper is a complete clown. I'm glad he was dropped. It might just buck him up a bit. I'll be even gladder when he's reinstated. Willy should not be keeping goal for a PL club.

I thought he was diabolical second-half. The way he allowed Evans a free header at a corner was ridiculous, but there were so many instances where he just wasn't at the races. He's not good enough, not by any stretch. I've no idea why Frank is playing him.

Rodgers is a good example for Frank to follow, in my opinion.

You keep your frustrations with the board to yourself. 100%. You get on the training ground and you work with your players and you help them win games. You collect your pay packet. These are the basic rules of management.

Nobody really expected or demanded top four last summer, and if he fails to get there, people will be citing mitigating factors, such as those you've just cited. I understand he's ambitious and wants to achieve his goals, and I understand he's frustrated, but what I would say to you and Nibs is this: The board are trying, just like he is. He wants his own players, or a certain kind of player, they are trying to get it done for him. Maybe they could do better, but maybe he could do better. The important thing is unity and positivity. He wants something, they couldn't deliver, not through want of trying, he shouldn't allow those frustrations to spill out into the public domain, or to filter through to his players. Say we were down in the bottom half, and the board suddenly started letting their frustrations known, wondering if he could be doing better, would you like it? I'd be equally critical of the board. We're all in this together. We're a club. Let's present a show of unity. That would be my advice. I'm not an apologist for the board, far from it, but I absolutely hate it when the manager starts presenting an image of unhappiness with transfers. I don't like it one bit, and never have. Klopp's a far better manager than Frank, he had far more pedigree when he joined Liverpool. He just got on with the job and started building something special and it took time. Maybe Frank should learn from the best.

I don't disagree that upgrades on our striker options would be desirable. Everybody agrees that, including Frank, obviously. However if you think we've been creating chances you've been watching different games to me. Southampton, Bournemouth and West ham, we may have had 50 shots. I only remember one real chance.

By the way, Tottenham need a striker more than anybody, yet Jose very upbeat in his presser. If that old miserable c**t can do it, surely Frank can.

His frustrations should be with himself above anybody else, in my opinion. It's very important he doesn't play the blame game, not even in his head. The teams we're struggling against, we have more than enough to beat, but there isn't much pattern to our attacking game, and that has nothing to do with the board.

It's Frank's job to keep things positive.

He went to Hertha. Doesn't that tell you something? He can't get a game for Milan. A stop-gap signing of quality I would understand, but if we're looking for long-term upgrades on our back-up strikers, surely we're right to wait on the right guy, and maybe, just maybe, this guy wanted guaranteed first-team football, after what's happened at Milan.

I've heard of Mandzukic. Out of interest, what's he bringing to the table that Giroud isn't? I mean, why would Lampard want him when he can't find much use for Giroud?

Regardless, I feel very strongly that Lampard needs to start setting a more positive tone, and stop blaming all our problems on finishing, because that's complete nonsense. This is his squad, get on and do your job. I don't see managers of other clubs complaining and they have to work with a lot less resources than he does, mostly. Furthermore, he's only been in the job six months, and he's got the job by virtue of who he is rather than his managerial pedigree, and he gets paid a king's ransom, so now he needs to focus on himself and what he can do better.

I'm going to take your word on these guys. I've never heard of most of them.

He's 33 in three months, he'd need time to adapt, Napoli would hold us to ransom whatever the circumstances, and he really ain't all that. I just don't think he's bringing much value to the squad and I don't think he'd be the difference between qualifying or not. If we spent over the odds on this guy the board will get pelters for it later on down the line.