Colleague said we look like Derby of last season great at times but ultimately average

This was always going to be tricky coming off extra time and penalties in Istanbul. We could have easily lost but it was our failure to get the all important second goal that probably cost us just as much. We could have been out of sight in the first half hour with better finishing. I agree that Mount was a big positive. Less impressed with Pulisic today but hopefully he will improve.

10 minutes ago, Raven8er said:

I'm a huge fan of Dave but his days are spent. He's looked avg the last few seasons and was on his heels for Leicesters equalizer. He can't cross, he struggles under pressure, and his decision making is questionable. Willian... wow, I know it's his first competitive game back but... wow - we should have sold him years ago. 

See, this is what I don't understand. People are saying Azpilicueta is done, but at the same time, I am seeing praise for Emerson. Now, I'm not getting at Emerson, but what has he done that has been better than Azpilicueta in these first 3 games? The one thing I can think of is that he takes the opposition players on a bit more, but when it comes to crossing and creating chances, he hasn't done much of that at all so far. Azpilicueta has played the best cross in each of our two league games so far, and both Abraham and Mount didn't take advantage of them. I'm not saying Azpilicueta has been good, but let's get some perspective here, he's not the only one struggling.

Edited August 18, 20196 yr by Scott Harris

9 minutes ago, Old Shaggy said:

Think I'll give our matches a miss until we sort our sh*t out. I'm not in it to watch us get our asses handed to us every match

 

You have to be on the wind up, but can I suggest that as well as giving the matches a miss why don’t you also give this forum a miss.

Disappointing after the start we had, Leicester are a good side but with the quality in our lineup we should be more dominant. To be brutally honest, the draw was fortunate.

We looked a bit leggy and out of ideas after the opening 20 minutes. That instense high press is a great plan A, but when the energy levels dropped (much like the Man U game), we missed the crucial interceptions and players nded up out of position, gifting easy counter-attacks.

The lack of a top class striker to bail us out route one is going to hurt, but that's been the case since Costa (and since Drogba before that) - we need to find new ways through.

Aimless crossing from the wings without midfield runners isn't the answer. Giroud (and Higuain/Morata) can pick up the odd header from a pinpoint cross, but we can't rely on that being our only route through when we aren't countering.

The defensive problems are what they are, Zouma and Christensen will grow into the roles and Rudiger returning will be a massive boost. It's up front - and it's the movement and off-ball runs that we need to improve on (that, and a bit of composure in the finish).

We're not miles away - you can see from how dominant we are in patches when the aggression and intensity are at 10 - but we need to adapt when the frantic energy fades, the attacking plays need to be better thought out, and stay sensible with a press when the cover's not there.

25 minutes ago, AlwaysRight said:

This is hard to watch. Not quite sure how we were so good for 15 minutes, then so bad after lol. Still few minutes to grab a winner and all is forgotten until next game.

Everyone seemed to be sapped of energy and never got a second wind.

 

I'm sorry, I'm sure Tammy can work well in another system but bringing him on when we're already losing possession too easily and can't get into the box is just wrong. He's not that type of striker 

Well my optimism after the Liverpool game evaporated. Back to being worried AF. 

We look like a bunch of headless chickens on crack. There's lots of running around but no discipline whatsoever. They were getting into the heart of our midfield with ease and with Kante running all over the place it was an absolute mess. 

For 20 mins we looked on top of the world. It was all downhill from there.

The less said about Willian the better. 

Having spent years ridiculing Arsenals failings at Zonal marking and laughing Brendan Rodgers Liverpool real fail doing, what are we trying to achieve with Zonal marking and why do we put a 5 ft 10 defender on the penalty spot. The mind boggles

It is going to take time and so far we are seeing glimpses of what Lamps & Jody are trying to create.

First 25 minutes was excellent but we dropped off and second half Leicester got stronger and Maddison dictated everything and we were lucky they didn't take all 3 points.

Abraham for Giroud was a good sub as he gave us a bit more energy where we needed it but the Kovacic and Willian subs failed badly. When you are the home side chasing the points, to see Willian so lacklustre and disinterested and keep giving the ball away - just inexcusable and sums up why supporters get on his back.

Some good signs today - especially Mount, but still a LOT of work to do.

No excuses ffs, it’s f**king Leicester. We should have beaten them easily if the pool game was anything to go by. We were sh*t after our goal, no excuse. Maybe 4231 just does not work. If it Gad been any other top 6 team, we’d been done over several times today.  Nevertheless great to see Monts goal and celebrating in front of me.

15 minutes ago, Old Shaggy said:

Think I'll give our matches a miss until we sort our sh*t out. I'm not in it to watch us get our asses handed to us every match

 

Not much of a fan then.

• A physical game and didn't agree with a lot of the decisions I saw out there.
• Tammy is still struggling.
• Willian first appearance since injury so I'll give him a pass on this one.
• Bloggers suggesting previously  Azpi can be our CB, as I said before he is not big enough with just two CBs.
• Mount continues to impress as does Emerson.
• Zouma is improving too.
• Kante was muscled off the ball a couple of times yet we needed him.
• Pedro again a great work rate.
• Tammy was arguing with the defender with the Turkish sounding name, it looked handball to me on the replay.
• A lot of positives yet at times we were hanging on in the second we will need to wait and see if that is just because of ET in Europe.
• Good to get a point and great goal by Mount.

 

 

 

Frank - needs to react a lot earlier when we started to become overwhelmed at the back end of the first half.  Poor show tactically on his part.

I know this is heresy on here: but Abraham; seriously?  I've seen very little from him in the first three games of the season.  Can hardly win a ball in the air even with his height advantage - he is a million miles away from being our answer and don't ever see him being our saviour.

I think we rode our luck there to keep it level and sadly we have already lost touch with the league's pacesetters - early doors but 5 points is a big ask for our transitional team to close down.

Not massively disappointed yet as I've no big expectations in terms of our overall performance this season.

 

 

on that showing we wont beat any of the regular top 5 home or away , its going to be an hard and at sometimes depressing season , all we can hope for is that the supporters dont start getting on the players and franks back 

24 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

He hasn't been anywhere near as bad as our midfielders, strikers and wingers. He's becoming a scape goat on here.

It’s everywhere mate, Twitter is even worse. I thought he done well today, both he and Zouma got caught with the corner but it’s inevitable when an attacker runs on to the ball & you’re jumping from a standing start. Particularly, when the guy already has about half a foot on you.

Gandalf watched Christensen and he became Gandalf the Grey. Then he watched Zouma and turned into Gandalf the White. 

I’m not even angry. I knew we’d have games like this, people have to lower their expectations. Frank Lampard has only been managing for just over a year, plus a lot of our players are really young. The team and manager will learn as the season goes on.

Pretty sure if we had Hazard today we’d have won the game. Give the players time, although I agree Willian deserves all the sh*t he’s getting for his attitude today. Terrible.

I think we all need to remember that this is nowhere near our complete team/squad.  We will get better as the season progresses.  It takes time to implement new ideas, especially with the young guys playing.  Add to the the injection of Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, James, and Rüdiger, and I think we will be quite pleased with our performances as we go.  Top 4 is still very much achievable.

16 minutes ago, DP2 said:

Thought defense were good but the team didn’t defend well. Would help if Azpillacueta could cross the ball, it’s not good when you’re shouting at him to pass to Kante to cross it. Mount was good and Pedro was lively, the rest looked surprisingly tired and not at it today at all.

I find it amazing that people slaughter Azpilicueta and praise Pedro in the same breath. He runs about like a headless chicken a lot of the time and his decision making is horrendous at times. He has quick feet and is nifty going past players at times but I feel like people overlook all his short comings, he gave the ball away in a similar position to the one against United, but only this time Christensen saved him with his defending. 

Biggest cause for concern is just how easy it is to create chances against us...three games in and we've let in 7 and it could have been more...the gap between midfield and defence is too big. 

Definitely think we felt the pace of Istanbul today...good 30 minutes, then the ability/energy to press disappeared. Once again we didn't take some clear cut chances when on top.

we are going to be more entertaining to watch this season, but looks like it will come at a price.

Frank needs a transfer window to really put his stamp on this team.

With the transfer ban we knew we would struggle for goals this season.

I think we’ve just got to lower our expectations this season and hang in there.

There are gonna be some good days but there’s also gonna be some bad days this season.

As long as Frank makes it until the ban is lifted then, and only then can we even start to judge this team.

Anyway I'm going to stay positive. We were a tired team today after midweek, so that explains some of the subpar performances.

 

Next 2 games are Norwich and Sheff utd so things will look a lot better when we get 6 points from these games. Plus 3 of our best players still injured that will come back. 

3 minutes ago, The Brit said:

Biggest cause for concern is just how easy it is to create chances against us...three games in and we've let in 7 and it could have been more...the gap between midfield and defence is too big. 

Definitely think we felt the pace of Istanbul today...good 30 minutes, then the ability/energy to press disappeared. Once again we didn't take some clear cut chances when on top.

we are going to be more entertaining to watch this season, but looks like it will come at a price.

Our defence has no leader, Rudiger back in and controlling it will have a huge impact hopefully. 

29 minutes ago, Old Shaggy said:

Think I'll give our matches a miss until we sort our sh*t out. I'm not in it to watch us get our asses handed to us every match

 

So you’re in it just for us to win and when we don’t you pack in your support? Pretty pathetic that mate, suggest you cool off and re-visit this tomorrow.