WAGNH posted an article today that all Lampard has to do in his first season is avoid relegation.  I hope that is actually true, let's give the guy as much latitude as possible, especially if we are changing the plan as to how the club operates.

We still have quality, experienced players in the team.

The mandate will be to do as well as we possibly can, given the following issues we will have to deal with:

• Implementing a new system
• Development and on-the-job learning of our coaching staff
• Dealing with the loss of the leading goal scorer/best player
• Long term recoveries of CHO, RLC, & Reece James
• No proven goal scoring threat
• Which returning loan players to add to the squad
• The strengthening of teams above us, around us, and behind us.

Given these issues, I don't see how we can set specific minimum goals like Top 4.   

As espn points out only Kante of last seasons  regular starters and kepoa are under 30. 

7 minutes ago, ozboy said:

As espn points out only Kante of last seasons  regular starters and kepoa are under 30. 

I dont understand what you are trying to say. Can you word it differently? 

9 minutes ago, ozboy said:

As espn points out only Kante of last seasons  regular starters and kepoa are under 30. 

What was their criteria?  Rudiger, RLC, Jorginho, Emerson, and Alonso all started plenty of games and all are under 30 years old.

11 minutes ago, ozboy said:

As espn points out only Kante of last seasons  regular starters and kepoa are under 30. 

Ah .. the old "fake news" chestnut ... good old ESPN !

Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Alonso, Palmieri, Christensen, Kovacic, Barkley & Jorginho all clearly lying to the club about their age ...

5 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Ah .. the old "fake news" chestnut ... good old ESPN !

Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Alonso, Palmieri, Christensen, Kovacic, Barkley & Jorginho all clearly lying to the club about their age ...

I didn't include Azpi, Christensen, or Barkley in my previous post because I'm curious what criteria ESPN used.  Probably a certain number of games started to qualify as a regular starter - would probably eliminate Barkley and Christensen - and probably under 30 for the duration of next season - would eliminate Azpi.

46 minutes ago, mwblue10 said:

I didn't include Azpi, Christensen, or Barkley in my previous post because I'm curious what criteria ESPN used.  Probably a certain number of games started to qualify as a regular starter - would probably eliminate Barkley and Christensen - and probably under 30 for the duration of next season - would eliminate Azpi.

In fact not one of our regular starters last season was under the age of 50. The criteria I have applied is the age they will be in 2049.

3 hours ago, mwblue10 said:

WAGNH posted an article today that all Lampard has to do in his first season is avoid relegation.  I hope that is actually true, let's give the guy as much latitude as possible, especially if we are changing the plan as to how the club operates.

I don't.

Don't get me wrong it has to be something extreme for his job to be in danger but absolutely no way should it be safe no matter what, that would be madness.

I will support Frankie even if we go down. Juventus was kicked out from Serie A only to end up building their own new stadium and to dominate for this long.

13 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

I will support Frankie even if we go down. Juventus was kicked out from Serie A only to end up building their own new stadium and to dominate for this long.

Juventus went down on a technicality and kept their core players. If we go down outright it would suggest something is seriously wrong.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

I don't.

Don't get me wrong it has to be something extreme for his job to be in danger but absolutely no way should it be safe no matter what, that would be madness.

I don’t think anyone, board or fans, actually thinks we will be anywhere near relegation, but giving him a season without a requirement of top 4 or even a Europa spot would be reasonable in my book.

5 hours ago, Gol15 said:

I will support Frankie even if we go down. Juventus was kicked out from Serie A only to end up building their own new stadium and to dominate for this long.

So you think it is possible we get relegated with Frank? We wouldn't get relegated if I was the manager. 

33 minutes ago, evissy said:

So you think it is possible we get relegated with Frank? We wouldn't get relegated if I was the manager. 

I don't think we would but in case even that happens I would support Lampard, that's all I'm saying.

5 hours ago, Argo said:

Juventus went down on a technicality and kept their core players. If we go down outright it would suggest something is seriously wrong.

Good points.

So people saying they would now be happy with relegation, wow just wow. I hope we keep this same attitude throughout the season if we getting beat and stuck in a mid stable scramble.

Another year another transition period, until the next one begins

22 minutes ago, Brutos said:

So people saying they would now be happy with relegation, wow just wow. I hope we keep this same attitude throughout the season if we getting beat and stuck in a mid stable scramble.

Another year another transition period, until the next one begins

Who has said they would be happy if we got relegated.

For those saying they would be happy with relegation, ask united fans if they are happy with Ole’s performance. Just because he is a fans favourite, doesn’t automatically mean he will be given a free pass. Ole is lucky at the minute that the fans are blaming the players but it won’t be long before they turn on him. 

Relegation, what the hell have some people been smoking? yes we've lost Hazard, to be honest I've already forgotten about him, but this team finished 3rd with a very limited tactical and motivational manager last year, so give Frank some credit he isn't an idiot, we will be around the top six I have no doubt, but if anyone tells me they are aren't excited about Frank coming then maybe they need to support someone else or take up croquet. We got no big signings coming in to get excited about, but Frank coming home and the potential of watching some youngsters mature into the team is exciting enough for me.

Is lazy Fat Frank back from holiday yet?

“Big fat, big fat Frank, big fat Frankie Lampard..... As the Pikeys would have it.

Cant believe they’re so thick they thought he only got in the West Ham side through nepotism.

He always seemed to have a blinder when he played against them just to rub it in.

Silly Essex twats

Am I reading the last topic page right? People wouldn’t mind battling for relegation just to have Frank back?

f**k that, give me a two season Conte every few years that competes against the big guns, if that’s the case!

We are past the point of building the club again, we done that in the late 80s/mid 90s. We are now a champions league club that should be competing Prem titles, if Frank can’t handle that as a manager, then he should continue at Derby!

 

A good read in The Times today about Lampard and our youth policy:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/culture-shift-how-frank-lampard-plans-to-run-chelsea-89dvfgjb3?shareToken=1bcc67895cb3e26c0d4fd1c777c725a0

Any chance of a copy and paste (for those tight gits among us who don't subscribe)?

1 hour ago, Mod Stark said:

Am I reading the last topic page right? People wouldn’t mind battling for relegation just to have Frank back?

f**k that, give me a two season Conte every few years that competes against the big guns, if that’s the case!

We are past the point of building the club again, we done that in the late 80s/mid 90s. We are now a champions league club that should be competing Prem titles, if Frank can’t handle that as a manager, then he should continue at Derby!

 

While I agree with your thoughts, there really isn’t a better time for our youth to break through - With the transfer ban and Lampard, Morris knowing the club inside & out.

I agree though 6th is the bare minimum for me. Anything less would be disappointing, even for Frank.