1 minute ago, Brutos said:

Outside of the 3 points it seems teams simply know how to play against us now we are so predictable even the worst team in the league can stop us 

But they didn't stop us did they? Aswell as the goal we hit the bar, missed a couple of sitters and Krul and made about 3/4 top saves.

2 minutes ago, Argo said:

But they didn't stop us did they? Aswell as the goal we hit the bar, missed a couple of sitters and Krul and made about 3/4 top saves.

And that was down to them being sh*tter than us, saying they didn't really isn't a complement to us it really isn't especially a club like Chelsea.

7 minutes ago, Brutos said:

And that was down to them being sh*tter than us, saying they didn't really isn't a complement to us it really isn't especially a club like Chelsea.

So they didnt stop us, at all, but thats because they were sh*tter than us....I genuinely have no idea what you are arguing here.

10 minutes ago, dkw said:

So they didnt stop us, at all, but thats because they were sh*tter than us....I genuinely have no idea what you are arguing here.

Then my points weren't aimed at you.

35 minutes ago, Brutos said:

Outside of the 3 points it seems teams simply know how to play against us now we are so predictable even the worst team in the league can stop us and if they had a little more quality we would have been In trouble or if they had their early season form.

Previous coaches got absolutely blasted for being predictable but this is no different, any manager with a bit of sense knows how to prepare against us and what is worrying me is I don't actually seeing this changing next season even with new players unless our approach to games changes.

At the start of the season we got spanked but you think first game unlucky but those performances have continued all season but with managers now figuring out "Hey this is how you counter this team".  At the start of the season managers didn't know how to counter Frank because his approach was new now he's easily countered  and he doesn't seem to be able to adjust his tactical approach when this happens.

 

I do hope we have a different approach next season because thinking new players is the magic fix for tactical Issue's , just look at teams in the past who spend millions  on players to try fix issues that are tactical.

How do you best prepare against us then? Outside of Chris Wilder and Sheffield United who definitly managed to stop us i would argue not many have stopped us per se.

Lost games and lost points sure. But everyone does in this league, proven by the fact that we are third. Which by all accounts is a great accomplishment this season.

30 minutes ago, Sindre said:

How do you best prepare against us then? Outside of Chris Wilder and Sheffield United who definitly managed to stop us i would argue not many have stopped us per se.

Lost games and lost points sure. But everyone does in this league, proven by the fact that we are third. Which by all accounts is a great accomplishment this season.

We have lost 11 matches in the PL this season...conceded 49 goals... so yes team's have figured us out am sure that's some record since Roman has taken over.

Because other team's have been just as sh*t as us this doesn't excuse the fact we are Chelsea we should be better. It's like people are finding every excuse because it's Frank to normalise sub par performances that's the Arsenal mentality when they use to celebrate 4th we use to laugh at them.

I think a good improvement for next season should be something like 

-15 goals less conceded 

-15 goals more made

Only 6-8 losses in total. 

That would probably be 3rd or 4th in the league but we can't expect massive leaps over one season. 

17 minutes ago, Brutos said:

 that's the Arsenal mentality when they use to celebrate 4th we use to laugh at them.

There's a big difference.

Arsenal didn't adapt their expectations when it was time too, it was the same targets when RVP, Nasri, Cesc etc were in the prime as to what it was when they were kids. It's a huge, huge difference to briefly accepting it while we overhaul our style of play, lose our match winner and rebuild with academy players. If when CHO, Mount, Pulisic, James etc are in their mid 20s we still aim for 4th then come back with the Arsenal comparison, at this point it's wrong on so many levels.

12 minutes ago, Brutos said:

We have lost 11 matches in the PL this season...conceded 49 goals... so yes team's have figured us out am sure that's some record since Roman has taken over.

Because other team's have been just as sh*t as us this doesn't excuse the fact we are Chelsea we should be better. It's like people are finding every excuse because it's Frank to normalise sub par performances that's the Arsenal mentality when they use to celebrate 4th we use to laugh at them.

Sure, but we have 63 points so only two teams have been better. So in that case every top team bar Liverpool and City have been figured out. Because in the end it's all about how many points you end up with.

This season's been the mother of all transitional seasons. The circumstances haven't been normal and therefore no one in their right mind could have expected much more than third anyways. 

 

1 hour ago, Brutos said:

Outside of the 3 points it seems teams simply know how to play against us now we are so predictable even the worst team in the league can stop us and if they had a little more quality we would have been In trouble or if they had their early season form.

Previous coaches got absolutely blasted for being predictable but this is no different, any manager with a bit of sense knows how to prepare against us and what is worrying me is I don't actually seeing this changing next season even with new players unless our approach to games changes.

At the start of the season we got spanked but you think first game unlucky but those performances have continued all season but with managers now figuring out "Hey this is how you counter this team".  At the start of the season managers didn't know how to counter Frank because his approach was new now he's easily countered  and he doesn't seem to be able to adjust his tactical approach when this happens.

 

I do hope we have a different approach next season because thinking new players is the magic fix for tactical Issue's , just look at teams in the past who spend millions  on players to try fix issues that are tactical.

Cant be that easy to play against us, were 3rd in the league and won 7 out the last 9 in all competitions, including wins over Liverpool everton, city and leicester. 

Surely as chelsea fans, we can appreciate winning ugly at this stage of the season. We have seen out titles with numerous drab performances, and that was with teams filled with quality, and some of the best coaches in the world. 

Lets worry about what sort of performances we are putting in after Lampard has actually assembled parts of his team. 

 

The one thing which tells me that we just don't have the personnel to play the game in a way which Lampard wants us to play is his constant comment after a game of him wanting to move the ball faster and with intent. I am sure this is something that is discussed and trained for throughout the week however when it comes to match day we see the same sideways passing which lacks any intent, the reason for this I think is two fold; one, the players lack any creativity & lack the vision to pick out forward passes or alternatively the players are just not brave enough to make the pass.

I personally think creativity is lacking as in the last 2 games I've seen Pulisic, Tammy & RLC make numerous runs in behind with the player in possession to completely ignore the runs and play it sideways or backwards. I am hoping with the introduction of Ziyech and (Fingers Crossed) Havertz we can get players in who will be able to play through the lines and have the audacity to play the ball forward without the fear of losing the ball. 

I know I'm in a minority but I think our football is just as bad to watch as last season. 

It has to improve next year with the players that both Sarri and Lampard wanted to play their styles.

Unfortunately I think this possession based football is the only way to win titles at the moment. I much prefer football when it wasn't so common to have 70-75% possession. 

So Wolves drew today, only 2 teams can mathematically overtake us now in the league, Scum United AND Leicester ! (Sheffield United could potentially equal us points wise but currently our GD is 10+)

so in his first season of management in the prem, 2nd career year, SFL has very likely secured a minimum of top 5 and qualified for a European competition 

there’s still 6 points up for grab so mathematically 3rd position is still achievable although a long shot imo

EITHER WAY LETS HAVE IT RIGHT AND GIVE FRANK & JODY the CONGRATULATIONS & RESPECT they deserve !!!!
 

 

7 hours ago, big blue said:

Cant be that easy to play against us, were 3rd in the league and won 7 out the last 9 in all competitions, including wins over Liverpool everton, city and leicester. 

Surely as chelsea fans, we can appreciate winning ugly at this stage of the season. We have seen out titles with numerous drab performances, and that was with teams filled with quality, and some of the best coaches in the world. 

Lets worry about what sort of performances we are putting in after Lampard has actually assembled parts of his team. 

 

say it louder. I cant believe the doom and gloom on here sometimes. We have had an unbelievable season all things considered. I really dont understand the criticism for a man who literally majorly contributed to the majority of all the successes we have enjoyed over the last 17 years. 

Hes had his hands tied behind his back this year in his first year of managing at this level, by not being able to bring in any of his own players. Add that to losing our best player by a country mile this year. Do any of you in your right minds think klopp or guardiola would of faired better. Remember guardiola got money thrown at him in his first season and just about scrapped 4th, klopp worse. Neither of them club legends for the teams they are managing. This year generally our style of play has been a major upgrade compared to years of defensive football. And after all this we are 3rd in the league, we our own destiny in our hands. At the start of the year we would of all taken that. Semi final of the Fa Cup to boot.

We need to give frank time, a few years, but that doesnt mean what hes done this year hasentbin its own right been a great job, and dont let those fans who have nothing better than to moan convince you that weve been the best of a bad bunch if we finish 3rd or 4th. Fact is every team now is a hard game, and we have no right to just think we should beat everyone and handsomly. 

 

18 hours ago, Brutos said:

Outside of the 3 points it seems teams simply know how to play against us now we are so predictable even the worst team in the league can stop us and if they had a little more quality we would have been In trouble or if they had their early season form.

Previous coaches got absolutely blasted for being predictable but this is no different, any manager with a bit of sense knows how to prepare against us and what is worrying me is I don't actually seeing this changing next season even with new players unless our approach to games changes.

At the start of the season we got spanked but you think first game unlucky but those performances have continued all season but with managers now figuring out "Hey this is how you counter this team".  At the start of the season managers didn't know how to counter Frank because his approach was new now he's easily countered  and he doesn't seem to be able to adjust his tactical approach when this happens.

 

I do hope we have a different approach next season because thinking new players is the magic fix for tactical Issue's , just look at teams in the past who spend millions  on players to try fix issues that are tactical.

As others have said they didn’t stop us, Giroud could have had a hat trick (at least). If they were in their early season form they would have attacked as they did when they first came up and we’d have smashed them. They sat in to frustrate us. 
I think people don’t appreciate how difficult that is to break down, we’ve always struggled when teams have sat deep and let us attack. We’ve struggled under every manager with that. We just used to have Hazard for a piece of individual brilliance to unlock the door.

 

They didn’t muster a single shot on target in the first half - the fourth time we’ve done that this season (more than anyone else in the league).

Christ, we done it to teams for years. The year we won the CL. We sat deep against Barca for the whole away leg and then set up in our own 18 yard box for the entire final. Both Barca & Bayern (arguably the two best teams in Europe at that point) - one managed by a certain Guardiola.

 

better attacking players will absolutely make a difference. We do not have an out and out creative player in attacking areas other than Pulisic - it’s like hazard all over again but a younger more raw version so you shut him down and it goes to Willian to hit the first man or go backwards. Kovacic & Jorginho aren’t splitting any defences with their passing range. 
 

“you think first game unlucky but those performances have continued all season“ - not sure I follow? That scoreline didn’t reflect the performance at all. We played much better than you’re making out with that comment. Also, Frank has recognised when teams have countered us and has adjusted accordingly. He’s changed a number of games since the restart at the drinks break so again, I’m not sure where you’re getting some of this from.

On 12/07/2020 at 16:14, Slojo said:

That was like in January or Feburary latest? We're at the end of the season now, the Sheffield result has f**ked it massively, not enough games left to rectify it. 

 

On 12/07/2020 at 17:54, Slojo said:

Nobody is crying, the only person being emotional here is you. We lost a very important game, and we have 2 very tricky fixtures in our last 3. Very doubtful we get top 4 after losing to Sheffield, everyone was saying this before the match, and it's still the same now. 

You sound a bit sensitive. 

Those two posts aged really well, mate.  Probably best not to be too pessimistic (or optimistic) but just take it as it comes.

Either we'll get top four or we won't, we'll see.  But the ridiculous gloom in here (not specifically you) every year, regardless of how we are actually doing, speaks volumes about peoples' grasp on reality.

15 hours ago, Oli said:

say it louder. I cant believe the doom and gloom on here sometimes. We have had an unbelievable season all things considered. I really dont understand the criticism for a man who literally majorly contributed to the majority of all the successes we have enjoyed over the last 17 years. 

Hes had his hands tied behind his back this year in his first year of managing at this level, by not being able to bring in any of his own players. Add that to losing our best player by a country mile this year. Do any of you in your right minds think klopp or guardiola would of faired better. Remember guardiola got money thrown at him in his first season and just about scrapped 4th, klopp worse. Neither of them club legends for the teams they are managing. This year generally our style of play has been a major upgrade compared to years of defensive football. And after all this we are 3rd in the league, we our own destiny in our hands. At the start of the year we would of all taken that. Semi final of the Fa Cup to boot.

We need to give frank time, a few years, but that doesnt mean what hes done this year hasentbin its own right been a great job, and dont let those fans who have nothing better than to moan convince you that weve been the best of a bad bunch if we finish 3rd or 4th. Fact is every team now is a hard game, and we have no right to just think we should beat everyone and handsomly. 

 

It's not surprising. 

People were desperate for Sarri to be thrown out even after we won a European trophy, came third and nearly won the League cup. 

I've said it with Sarri and I will say it with Lampard. We need a manager to stick around for 3-4 years before we start pushing them out. Fix all the other problems before you fix the manager. 

Losing Hazard.

Second season in management, first in the PL.

Transfer ban, no January additions.

Key injuries to Pulisic, kante, RLC.

A cup semi final, minimum top 5 finish and european football next season.

Even if we lose our last 3 games Frank and Jory have done well and likely learned a lot.

2 hours ago, bisright1 said:

It's not surprising. 

People were desperate for Sarri to be thrown out even after we won a European trophy, came third and nearly won the League cup. 

I've said it with Sarri and I will say it with Lampard. We need a manager to stick around for 3-4 years before we start pushing them out. Fix all the other problems before you fix the manager. 

I half agree!

Time has to be earned, even when you're not getting results there has to be a blueprint (and a few matches were the projected end product is on display) to give encouragement, Lampard has done that so no qualms there but i wouldn't want us standing by say Emery for the sake of stability. 

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Losing Hazard.

Second season in management, first in the PL.

Transfer ban, no January additions.

Key injuries to Pulisic, kante, RLC.

A cup semi final, minimum top 5 finish and european football next season.

Even if we lose our last 3 games Frank and Jory have done well and likely learned a lot.

To me this is overstated.

The club has shown that Lampard is fully backed, we simply didn't panic buy in January, Giroud was there for us but till that point he wasn't being used that much, which was a mistake. ManU panic-bought a striker from China and Fernandes, we kept believing in what we had and it proved to be the right decision, I also wanted a new signing in January but I was wrong and I see it now.

Yes we had a transfer ban, even so the club secured Pulisic before the ban started which proved to be a key, snap call decision that made us look great. Furthermore Kovacic was signed, good move, Tammy after a good season in the Championship was given the chance to lead and for half a season he took it really well. Lampard also had the option to count on Zouma and James, he basically did what most fans wanted, he tested out the academy but he also could establish Mason Mount in the squad, a player that has been his project in Derby already. 

All that shows to me that Lamapard did have many new options to count on even during the transfer ban, he was fast to decide that he didn't want to count on David Luiz at all, we had a transfer ban but Lampard got some fresh new options anyway.

On one side, all that makes the club a really badass organisation that could simply brush off a ban by showing to everyone that we don't even need to count on anyone but on ourselves, and now Lampard is fully backed so the project worked, no need to point fingers at the board.

8 hours ago, yorkleyblue said:

 

Those two posts aged really well, mate.  Probably best not to be too pessimistic (or optimistic) but just take it as it comes.

Either we'll get top four or we won't, we'll see.  But the ridiculous gloom in here (not specifically you) every year, regardless of how we are actually doing, speaks volumes about peoples' grasp on reality.

I wouldn't say I was crying about it, and I'm fully aware of the situation we're in and that things can change at a moments notice. But after that Sheffield result it was a pretty reasonable take, which to be fair I've already explained and gone over. I'm usually always combatting negativity in the match day thread, that's why I'm saying if you think what I said is negative, try looking in there when we're losing or just after we've lost. 

Just want to clarify that I think Frank has done an amazing job and that we've overachieved, but will it sting if we finish outside the top 4? Of course, we've been in it all season, and for someone to just come up and a last minutes notice and snatch it is sh*t, because we've lost so many silly games. 

 

Edited July 16, 20205 yr by Slojo

Fifth Place finish minimum secured today after Sheffield losing. Been a crap season though losing to crap teams a lot  😅

Frank is best in pressure situations. We are in one right now. The golden goose is FA Cup final and CL place and the other scenario is none of the above. Should be motivation enough to produce. 

I've always defended Frank because he took charge in a difficult situation and before the season started I'd have been OK with us not finishing in the top four and thought it unlikely. Has he overachieved in a sense that with two games to play we're still in a position to earn a CL place? Absolutely. But I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be severely disappointed if we ended up 5th.

In his post Sheffield interview he mentioned how before the season no-one expected us to finish in the top four and it's fair enough, but it also sounded like a ready made excuse in case we fail, and it sends the wrong message to his own players, like it's OK to come up short, especially after that disgraceful performance. Let others talk about your squad's shortcomings, Frank, your job as a manager is to prepare your side the best way you can and instill confidence and belief that they're more than good enough, that they fully deserve to finish in the top four and that they're playing for their future now. He said he'd learned about his team after that game and he won't forget that. Well, guess what, people are also learning about the manager from those type of matches too. Can you handle the pressure and finish on a high or you'll be looking for excuses and a pat on the back when things don't go as planned? Last season with Derby he came close but failed. If it happens again a year later, people will start wondering and having doubts. He needs to show he's the real deal, those are the moments that separate winners from also-rans. 

Lampard is going to be our manager next season no matter where we finish this year. He'll have a better squad and some new exciting players to count upon, hopefully a better keeper, better defence, more creativity in the middle and more potency in the attack. But these next two league games will have a bigger say on what kind of a manager he truly is and whether the club made a right choice in picking him ahead of more experienced candidates. I can live with missing out on a CL spot but I'm expecting the team to perform to their absolute best. These two matches against Pool and Wolves will tell us a lot about both the team and the manager, even more about Frank because the team will look significantly different next season while the manager will be the very same.

Edited July 17, 20205 yr by abramovich

10 hours ago, abramovich said:

 

But these next two league games will have a bigger say on what kind of a manager he truly is and whether the club made a right choice in picking him ahead of more experienced candidates. I can live with missing out on a CL spot but I'm expecting the team to perform to their absolute best. These two matches against Pool and Wolves will tell us a lot about both the team and the manager, even more about Frank because the team will look significantly different next season while the manager will be the very same.

Out of all big teams we played this season, I dare to say that we looked the best against Liverpool.

1 win, 1 loss and 1 draw that was lost on penalties is a decent record for us, after all Liverpool is the best team in the league.

If Lampard prepares the team like it's a final or a cup elimination game, we might just get away with a win there even if it's away since there won't be any fans.

The pressing at the middle of the pitch worked well against Liverpool and Man City and their defenses looked very shaky when we put them on pressure so I'm already thinking that Lampard probably has a good plan for Liverpool. 

But our game in the FA Cup might shape the whole pre-game vs Liverpool. ManU won against us all games this season and they have 8 goals against our 1 so I can see a potential loss of confidence going into the match against Liverpool if we get totally destroyed in the FA Cup, Lampard will maybe not even gamble that much and put out the best team in the FA Cup and hopefully nobody gets injured.

By the time we get to play Wolves we might be strong as a lion or very mentally wounded and out of shape and fitness due to hard games, but I still believe that 1 win out of those 2 last game will be enough for the top 4, I simply don't see Leicester winning Spuds, but ahead of Lampard are many hard decisions to make for sure.

If it's one thing that I know about him is that he wants us to win, that means he would want us to win the FA Cup too. 

Edited July 17, 20205 yr by Gol15