4 hours ago, JM7 said:

It’s abit concerning that we haven’t beaten a top 10 team this season. 

Crystal Palace were in 6th place when we beat them.

2 hours ago, bluehaze said:

You haven't seen anyone on this forum literally or not. Sorry a bugbear of mine the use of the word literally what makes it worse it all stems from the literal retard Jamie Redknapp.

I really need to cut it out, I don't realise how much I use it, literally. 

Just rethinking our last sequence of matches and something sticks out, 5 games in 13 days. 

We won our first three matches in this run and thought we were unlucky against Everton not to get a point yet run out of steam against counter-attacking Watford.

Now we have a 6 day break until West Ham.

I'm not saying it is crisis over as somethings don't look right like Werner with his short powerful legs being asked to run up and down the Left side instead of making sprinting runs across the opposition box.

We look a bit predictable with Giroud in the middle throwing over hopeful crosses from too far back.

Now Frank has some time with the players and they can recharge their batteries and hopefully we will be back to winning again.

 

 

 

 

 

12 minutes ago, Slojo said:

I really need to cut it out, I don't realise how much I use it, literally. 

Jamie Redknapp once said the ball was literally put on a plate for him which has to be the most stupid thing I've literally 😁 ever heard.

Edited December 16, 20205 yr by bluehaze

11 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Just rethinking our last sequence of matches and something sticks out, 5 games in 13 days. 

We won our first three matches in this run and thought we were unlucky against Everton not to get a point yet run out of steam against counter-attacking Watford.

Now we have a 6 day break until West Ham.

I'm not saying it is crisis over as somethings don't look right like Werner with his short powerful legs being asked to run up and down the Left side instead of making sprinting runs across the opposition box.

We look a bit predictable with Giroud in the middle throwing over hopeful crosses from too far back.

Now Frank has some time with the players and they can recharge their batteries and hopefully we will be back to winning again.

 

 

 

 

 

There's no single answer really. There are multiple things, we played two good teams (but definitely should've beaten Everton with their poor form and injuries). But the main one for me is injuries definitely. Ziyech pulling up the other week was the worst thing that could've happened to us. On top of that Pulisic and Callum, it leaves us desperate and having to rely on players who aren't capable or ready. 

I hate to say it, but this is going to be a sh*t month for us. I don't fancy that West Ham game whatsoever, I said that a few weeks ago, they've got our number, and right now even more so. And I'll be devestated if we don't beat Arsenal with the form they've been in. 

2 minutes ago, bluehaze said:

Jamie Redknapp once said the ball was literally put on a plate for him which has to be the most stupid thing I've literally 😁 ever heard.

Me and numerous other people who butcher the English language use "literally" as a synonym for "very" when that's not it at all. I have no idea why I still use it so frequently, you're the first one to pull me up on it on this forum though which has surprised me. Everyone has probably just got used to my terrible grammar. 

15 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Me and numerous other people who butcher the English language use "literally" as a synonym for "very" when that's not it at all. I have no idea why I still use it so frequently, you're the first one to pull me up on it on this forum though which has surprised me. Everyone has probably just got used to my terrible grammar. 

The word got hijacked by Essex girls.

The thing I dread the most is if and when we'll have everyone fit and available but the team is still struggling and not performing. Then the pressure on Frank is going to be enormous and he wouldn't have any excuses to hide behind. He really needs to prove he belongs at the top, so to speak. Last season was an overachievement, but this time around it's a different challenge and psychologically it's probably easier to exceed expectations (like he did last season) than to live up to them, after being backed by huge spending in the summer.

I have a feeling Frank has it him to become a great manager at some point, but the Chelsea job probably came a bit too early for him. In some cases, you can learn on the job, but this isn't it.

Edited December 16, 20205 yr by abramovich

50 minutes ago, Slojo said:

There's no single answer really. There are multiple things, we played two good teams (but definitely should've beaten Everton with their poor form and injuries). But the main one for me is injuries definitely. Ziyech pulling up the other week was the worst thing that could've happened to us. On top of that Pulisic and Callum, it leaves us desperate and having to rely on players who aren't capable or ready. 

I hate to say it, but this is going to be a sh*t month for us. I don't fancy that West Ham game whatsoever, I said that a few weeks ago, they've got our number, and right now even more so. And I'll be devestated if we don't beat Arsenal with the form they've been in. 

I feel we have hit a brick wall,and will struggle to get any points from either team.

8 minutes ago, Bluesince66 said:

I feel we have hit a brick wall,and will struggle to get any points from either team.

Then freshen things up & use the squad. Bring in Emerson, Azpi, Kovacic, Jorginho/Gilmour & push James up to the RW

Things sure change quick in football. Ten days ago everyone was flying high after Sevilla and Leeds. Now it's all doom and gloom.

Obviously two gutting results in four days is going to dampen the mood. But I still think we are on the right path. I think it's going to take a lot for Lampard to be sacked this season. It's next season the pressure will really be on and we would be expected to win the title.

Lampard is a smart man, and a wise man once said. "I either win or i learn". I think Lampard will learn and we'll be better off for it in the long run.

A draw tonight which I think is likely and we are four points off the leaders. Which is nothing at this point in the season. We are still in with every chance to do whatever we want to do this season.

35 minutes ago, abramovich said:

The thing I dread the most is if and when we'll have everyone fit and available but the team is still struggling and not performing. Then the pressure on Frank is going to be enormous and he wouldn't have any excuses to hide behind. He really needs to prove he belongs at the top, so to speak. Last season was an overachievement, but this time around it's a different challenge and psychologically it's probably easier to exceed expectations (like he did last season) than to live up to them, after being backed by huge spending in the summer.

I have a feeling Frank has it him to become a great manager at some point, but the Chelsea job probably came a bit too early for him. In some cases, you can learn on the job, but this isn't it.

Sadly, i think that this is a fair summation.  I think that it is relevant that from what we would classically class as the Top 6 teams, the 3 teams currently thought to be competing (Scouse, man City and Spurs) all have managers with a proven track record of winning things at previous clubs, whereas others (us, Arsenal and man U) with Frank, Arteta and Solksjaer, all have unproven managers at the highest level. I don't think any of these guys know how to win when it really matters whereas the others know how to get the job done. When a quirky substitution wins a game, or a sudden change in tactics to a direct approach, etc.

I really hope that i am proven wrong but i have mentioned before that I think Frank and Jody would be great U23 or Development coaches, where the football is less physical and competitive and can be played on a more text book manner. I will support him throughout but i do feel that he is not quite ready for this role. I think a manager with a proven track record and experience in setting teams up to win, including in-game management, when we are in the pinch, would have this team comfortably top of the league the way this season has gone so far.

29 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Then freshen things up & use the squad. Bring in Emerson, Azpi, Kovacic, Jorginho/Gilmour & push James up to the RW

I don't know why Jorginho has fallen out of favour again.

31 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

I think that it is relevant that from what we would classically class as the Top 6 teams, the 3 teams currently thought to be competing (Scouse, man City and Spurs) all.............

......dropping points left right and center, to teams from all over the table, just like us. Mourinho and Pep more or less have full squads. Frank was going great until the injuries to our wings. Surely you lot moaning at Frank can see that ?

lets just stick to the conventional top six from last season. 

Liverpool

M City

M Utd

Chelsea

Leicester

Spuds

So that is 5 clubs to face, 10 matches to play total.

We've played 3 of those 10 games.

Lost 1 drew 2 and 7 still to play.

Everyone's judging Frank for not winning big games, but it's way too early to make that call, and foolish too, because when we have our wingers back we will be a monster again.

This how I picture some you lot bitching and moaning about Frank

4 hours ago, Slojo said:

Me and numerous other people who butcher the English language use "literally" as a synonym for "very" when that's not it at all. I have no idea why I still use it so frequently, you're the first one to pull me up on it on this forum though which has surprised me. Everyone has probably just got used to my terrible grammar. 

Plus @moi hasn't been around as much. She is brutal when it comes to correct English.

10 hours ago, coco said:

Crystal Palace were in 6th place when we beat them.

Don't let the facts get in the way of good whine 😉

We have carried the same issue since the Krasnador game. We lack urgency. We are so ponderous on the ball, side to side, back and forth, lots of touches for Zouma and Silva and then cross which is dealt with by the defence. A pen and one that crossed the line by an inch or two is all we have to show from such play. 

Nothing like the hussle and energy we showed against Leeds. Is almost like we emptied the tank in that game and we cannot refill it.

12 hours ago, Sindre said:

Things sure change quick in football. Ten days ago everyone was flying high after Sevilla and Leeds. Now it's all doom and gloom.

Obviously two gutting results in four days is going to dampen the mood. But I still think we are on the right path. I think it's going to take a lot for Lampard to be sacked this season. It's next season the pressure will really be on and we would be expected to win the title.

Lampard is a smart man, and a wise man once said. "I either win or i learn". I think Lampard will learn and we'll be better off for it in the long run.

A draw tonight which I think is likely and we are four points off the leaders. Which is nothing at this point in the season. We are still in with every chance to do whatever we want to do this season.

I wonder what the board, or rather Roman, expect of Frank and would be deemed as acceptable to take in to a third season.

Is looking like finishing top 4 may well prove more difficult than last season.

Will they back him again in January?

What will the reaction be of we are not doing so well in the league and then get knocked out by Atletico?

What pieces are left for Frank's puzzle? Lot of talk about Rice but no way he is an improvement on Kante.

6 hours ago, axman2526 said:

I wonder what the board, or rather Roman, expect of Frank and would be deemed as acceptable to take in to a third season.

Is looking like finishing top 4 may well prove more difficult than last season.

Will they back him again in January?

What will the reaction be of we are not doing so well in the league and then get knocked out by Atletico?

What pieces are left for Frank's puzzle? Lot of talk about Rice but no way he is an improvement on Kante.

75+ points for me. 2 ppg. That's where we need to be. If that's 5th, so be it. 

What do we need? david alaba, a wide player who doesn't get injured every 5 minutes and Declan rice. + Conor gallagher. 

On 16/12/2020 at 17:34, Valerie said:

Plus @moi hasn't been around as much. She is brutal when it comes to correct English.

Yes, sorry. Thank you for sorting Slojo out!   I have been a bit stressed for a while. I will message you tomorrow. X

I hope we don’t get more sulky Frank on Saturday, if we’re losing at some point I hope he’s a bit more reactive on the sideline, we need more than like for like changes I think. 

Edited December 18, 20205 yr by Dolfy52

On 17/12/2020 at 02:15, axman2526 said:

What will the reaction be of we are not doing so well in the league and then get knocked out by Atletico?

What pieces are left for Frank's puzzle? Lot of talk about Rice but no way he is an improvement on Kante.

I think it will be, 'thanks Frank, now its time to move on'

The thinking will be the stop-gap manager that kept us ticking when the transfer ban was on could not deliver with his chosen players and my thinking is we will probably get Allegri. They won't want to risk another season without either silverware or a serious EPL challenge.

That changes if we win Silverware and get top 4. 

I don't think it will be a sentimental decision taking into account COVID and injuries more a hard edged business decision.

Also Roman may yet sell if the right offer comes in and that helps if we are seen as genuine challengers.

To lose 3 on the bounce would be sh*t no doubt about it, especially when you've got United who have somehow overtaken us despite being awful. It goes to show, great performances but too many f**k up games, Southampton and West Brom. Just a shame Mendy didn't come in ASAP. 

Either way I'll back Frank, it was going well until we were hit hard with injuries, I think it's unfair to want him out now given the circumstances.