1 minute ago, Gol15 said:

It was all Arsenal after min 20 till the end of the first half, but we were in control in the second half till the very point when we started pressing high again which led to the second Arsenal goal.

That showed that Lampard took the advantage of the half time break.

I thought that CHO, that has much to prove and much to show, should have come instead of Pedro, and that's it.

The ref ruined us, it's the simple truth. I knew that he would give Kovacic the second yellow and he did, that's how obvious his plan was. Arsenal needed a penalty, 2 key injuries and a red card to beat us.

I'm not seeing what you are regarding us getting control back. I thought we looked lost and directionless, everything going forward seemed a bit desperate.

I know the ref was sh*t but ultimately it's just a bit of a cop out isn't it? We weren't good enough, created nothing bar our goal and let them take control and get the win in another cup final against them.

3 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

This is the truth. 

For all Frank's good points there are a few that need addressing. His and his coaching staffs ability to make us hard to  penetrate is very worrying. It's got to the point we need 4 new top players at the back to mount a credible challenge. 

Our defensive record has nose dived since Frank took over and there is no hiding away from that. He HAS to sort it and quickly. Big money is needed but we need to sell the likes of Rudiger, Christensen and the other dead wood to fund it. 

An experienced defensive coach would be good i feel. I don't think it should be too embarassing for Frank to admit he needs a hand with that element of the game.

2 minutes ago, jack h said:

I'm not seeing what you are regarding us getting control back. I thought we looked lost and directionless, everything going forward seemed a bit desperate.

I know the ref was sh*t but ultimately it's just a bit of a cop out isn't it? We weren't good enough, created nothing bar our goal and let them take control and get the win in another cup final against them.

Well we had 65% possession during the first 20 min and also from 45-65'. That's what I mean by us taking the advantage of the break, we were in control till the decision came to press them very high once again. We don't have proper defenders for the high press, none of them can hold a top player like Aubameyang.

30 minutes ago, jack h said:

We lost control after 10 minutes and never regained that, Arsenal did break through and scored before half time and looked like getting another before half time, they were all over us for about 5 minutes just before the break. He needs to react to things earlier when the game turns against us. It doesn't have to be a sub, it can be a word to the player, setting the backline further back or a change of formation. As far as I can tell none of that happened.

They didn't really have many other real chances to score, at least not more than us. Both teams lined up the same way and it was always going to be one team attacking with their wingbacks and the other pegged back then it switching over. We started the second half 'in control' so to speak but that ended prematurely due to the injury to Pulisic.
I'm not saying that Lamps couldn't have done better, of course he could have but so could Arteta, they're both rookie managers with flaws. I'm just saying that it was supposed to be a fairly even match and the refereeing had a major effect on it.

I’m not going to be too harsh because Frank has done a fantastic job. But I think frank needs to learn how to organise a defence. Good managers use what they have and get the best of them. Managers like Conte and Sarri coached that defence so the players were so clear where they needed to be. Some of our positioning today was a shambles. 

34 minutes ago, JM7 said:

I’m not going to be too harsh because Frank has done a fantastic job. But I think frank needs to learn how to organise a defence. Good managers use what they have and get the best of them. Managers like Conte and Sarri coached that defence so the players were so clear where they needed to be. Some of our positioning today was a shambles. 

I agree. I think Frank certainly has done fairly well with the resources he has had available this season, although I will say that us finishing 4th was as much to do with everyone else conspiring to throw it away than it was to do with his management.

Regardless, whilst I think he has performed very well, he definitely needs to learn how to organise a defence. Whatever that is at the back at the moment, I don't know. I haven't seen a defence that bad, well, since before I started supporting in '94.

Well if it wasn't crystal clear where our problems lay, todays defence showed it to its fullest.

25 minutes ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Well if it wasn't crystal clear where our problems lay, todays defence showed it to its fullest.

Frank said he made it clear to the players the threat of Auba and how best to deal with it. He basically said he could not make it clearer and the players did not follow through.

Good on him. I hope we bin all of them bar Dave and James. Then Frank needs to show he can get the replacements to defend properly.

Our defenders haven't gotten no worst than last year they just have a different coach who doesn't really seem to know what organisation them. They aren't world class but they certainly aren't as bad as the performances are making them out to be

1 minute ago, Brutos said:

Our defenders haven't gotten no worst than last year they just have a different coach who doesn't really seem to know what organisation them. They aren't world class but they certainly aren't as bad as the performances are making them out to be

Most of our defenders are the same as they have always been, fact is our defense has been pretty average for the past few years, but the one player that has been really under-performing is Rudiger.

He was decent before but this is his worst season, probably the worst in his whole career...I have no idea why but he lost all the confidence and he isn't as vocal as he was last season when Hazard was still here, he was basically becoming one of our leaders last season and suddenly he can't even clear a simple ball anymore. Part from some long range passes that he still dares to try, he is a shadow of himself and someone should address that problem.

Hopefully with the arrival of Werner he regains some confidence, though I'm sure that the lack of it is due to something else that needs to be talked about, trained away and so on because he really wasn't this bad last season.

18 minutes ago, Brutos said:

Our defenders haven't gotten no worst than last year they just have a different coach who doesn't really seem to know what organisation them. They aren't world class but they certainly aren't as bad as the performances are making them out to be

So what is the answer? Sack Frank?

5 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Frank said he made it clear to the players the threat of Auba and how best to deal with it. He basically said he could not make it clearer and the players did not follow through.

Good on him. I hope we bin all of them bar Dave and James. Then Frank needs to show he can get the replacements to defend properly.

Azpilicueta gave away a stupid penalty, so he and Rudiger were at fault. 

Edited August 2, 20205 yr by enigma

I am not sure what to say about organising defense. Corners and freekicks are clear. We can do better there. Frank has to fix that.

With open play you can't say he needs to organise it better. It is about balance. If we want to be on the front foot all the time we will be very exposed to counter attacks and our defenders have to play one v one many times in games. Frank wants to play this system and the way it gets better is we give it time and we get more quality all over the pitch.

He doesn't want to compromise. We will get better players and time will make us a better team.

Frank could go the Simeone way and just sit deep and be extremely compact. He doesn't want to do it. I bet we'd have more points if he did. He could also play wingback system every game like Conte and we'd probably have more points. He doesn't want to do that. Both systems are setup the way you defend with defenders. He wants the ball back immediately after losing it and preferably high up the pitch.

It is so demanding for players but if you get it right you can win anyone and the football can be very entertaining. I hope Frank doesn't compromise too much. So far he hasn't.

So what is the answer? Sack Frank?

No, if he can't organise a defence or get a tactical framework where the defenders don't get constantly expose then get someone in to do the coaching until he learns, he is clearly lacking tactically which has been exposed so many times this season.
If he continues like this next season I don't think the owner or board will put up as much as they respect and value him football is results money business leave sentiment at the door.
I can't see the top 6/7 being as bad next season and if they all improve and we don't then we will once again be battling for th Arsenal Wenger trophy that is 4th.
One thing I realised here is the absolute devotion to Frank blinds a lot of fans.

I am objective, as a player love him as manager I treat him as any other manager of Chelsea.

I am not sure what to say about organising defense. Corners and freekicks are clear. We can do better there. Frank has to fix that.

With open play you can't say he needs to organise it better. It is about balance. If we want to be on the front foot all the time we will be very exposed to counter attacks and our defenders have to play one v one many times in games. Frank wants to play this system and the way it gets better is we give it time and we get more quality all over the pitch.

He doesn't want to compromise. We will get better players and time will make us a better team.

Frank could go the Simeone way and just sit deep and be extremely compact. He doesn't want to do it. I bet we'd have more points if he did. He could also play wingback system every game like Conte and we'd probably have more points. He doesn't want to do that. Both systems are setup the way you defend with defenders. He wants the ball back immediately after losing it and preferably high up the pitch.

It is so demanding for players but if you get it right you can win anyone and the football can be very entertaining. I hope Frank doesn't compromise too much. So far he hasn't.

Wasn't it another manager who recently Said you need to get Plan A right before you move to plan B and he was booed out of the stadium. Give it time but the fans said no we don't want to give it time.

1 hour ago, evissy said:

I am not sure what to say about organising defense. Corners and freekicks are clear. We can do better there. Frank has to fix that.

With open play you can't say he needs to organise it better. It is about balance. If we want to be on the front foot all the time we will be very exposed to counter attacks and our defenders have to play one v one many times in games. Frank wants to play this system and the way it gets better is we give it time and we get more quality all over the pitch.

He doesn't want to compromise. We will get better players and time will make us a better team.

Frank could go the Simeone way and just sit deep and be extremely compact. He doesn't want to do it. I bet we'd have more points if he did. He could also play wingback system every game like Conte and we'd probably have more points. He doesn't want to do that. Both systems are setup the way you defend with defenders. He wants the ball back immediately after losing it and preferably high up the pitch.

It is so demanding for players but if you get it right you can win anyone and the football can be very entertaining. I hope Frank doesn't compromise too much. So far he hasn't.

Agreed, if we wanted to solely focus on the here and now Jose was available last summer.

It's a win win with Lamps for me, worse case scenario he turns out to be a manager who can't make that final step but because of his recruitment and style of play he'll leave a bloody good team for someone who can.

I think we can all pick things that can be improved in hindsight, but at the end of the day football is a pretty simple game. Some you win, some you lose, some you draw. If it was easy to be the most consistent, perfect side, every team would be. Unfortunately, it isn't so easy to improve the side due to the ridiculous cost of players these days, as well as the difficulty in finding said players. 

37 minutes ago, Brutos said:

Wasn't it another manager who recently Said you need to get Plan A right before you move to plan B and he was booed out of the stadium. Give it time but the fans said no we don't want to give it time.

The said manager hid  behind that quote, because he hadn't a clue what his plan B was!

The said manager hid  behind that quote, because he hadn't a clue what his plan B was!

Similar to Lampard then.....

Frank has exceeded my expectations, I thought we’d finish around 6th.

This will be his first transfer window to address things.

Let’s get Havertz then we can concentrate on the defence.

We will be better next season.

It’s an exciting time to be a Chelsea fan IMO.

19 minutes ago, Brutos said:

Similar to Lampard then.....

Lampard have also been managing for two years. Sarri have been managing for 30.

Let's give Lampard some time shall we.

Disappointing yesterday yet we did have bad luck with key injuries during and before the match.

I think Arteta will improve Arsenal yet yesterday's win might just ensure they don't male the top 4 next season and we do via the Europa scheduling.

Let's hope we have some success in the transfer market.

10 hours ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Well if it wasn't crystal clear where our problems lay, todays defence showed it to its fullest.

Attack too!, didn't have a single shot in the second goal. Take Pulisic out we looked clueless.

4 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

Attack too!, didn't have a single shot in the second goal. Take Pulisic out we looked clueless.

Exactly why we need Havertz 

I agree with @2211, before the start of season I expected us to miss out on the top four. It totally made sense at the time due to Frank's lack of experience, Hazard leaving and transfer ban preventing us from upgrading the side that lacked quality and balance thanks to poor transfer business over the last few years.

He's done very well with what he had at his disposal. Now the real test starts. We've already signed a couple of exciting players, I'm confident we'll spend more money on more players. Next season Frank won't have an excuse of working with someone else's squad and the pressure to perform and win will certainly increase.