Spot on. Wouldn't have been a surprise to see Caballero start, but Lampard seems to want to show faith in Kepa, even though he's signing a replacement. I remember a young lad called Marcin Bulka. If Lampard had been boss at the time I think he'd have gotten game time. Tomori > Christensen. To be fair Christensen had a decent game at Brighton. Alonso looked better than I thought... but it's clear he's no left back. Can Rudiger play there? Timmy should be on penalties. Get him some confidence and off to a flying start.
Thought I saw a link quoting Lampard saying Kepa wasn't starting next week so I'm not sure if it's Willy or Mendy
I agree, but it's the games against big teams and physical teams that is the problem. Man Utd last year, the Liverpool game and the Sheff' Utd game where he just went missing. He's a bit like Oscar, and would do a lot better in a less physical league. It's a bit sad, because he's an academy graduate, and has a very good attitude, but it's also the harsh reality of a club trying to win big trophies, and he just doesn't cut the mustard. He's an example of a player who is given a lot of leeway, and he needs to be moved on. It would have been great if he had turned out to be another JT, but let's be honest he isn't, plain and simple.
West Brom 3 v Chelsea 3 An impressive recovery in the second half, but for this one the responsibility rests with the manager. Most fans agree that Alonso can't play in a back four, but Lamps perseveres even when there are other options including Emerson who had a very good match mid week and looked sharp. There will be more problems ahead re' Andreas Christensen. The defence needs more spine in the mould of JT, Ivanovic, Cahill and Luiz. Lampard clearly likes AC and that will bring problems. There will be post match interviews where the manager like a broken record talks about defensive mistakes. Mistakes that could quickly be rectified by not picking certain players. Up front, Abraham was reasonable although missed a golden chance. Playing him beyond Werner will be another problem. Werner brings pace in behind, and with Abraham in that position, they will end up getting in each other's way. Giroud links up very well and brings others into the game, and he does that job a lot better than Abraham. Hudson Odoi had an impact, and that's rare unfortunately. If he can do that consistently, he can be a big help with nicking results. With the huge investment, the pressure will be on the manager more than ever. Will he make the tough decisions and keep a talented squad happy? 50 / 50 at the moment.
Agreed - Alonso was terrible once again - at fault for the 3rd goal, and made a mistake leading to the first. He's a winger or a wing back. He's not a defender. Azpi or Rudiger would have been better choices. I'm not a fan of AC, but his past couple of performances have been more solid. Kevin did brilliantly against Barnsley and did score the equaliser against Bromwich. His finishing was a tad inconsistent though - however so was Timmy's...! I'm not sure about the sense in playing a short pacy striker against a team who sits back constantly. If Timmy were to play up front then he'd have to ensure he finishes everything put in front of him. thus far he's been unable to do so. Absolutely - great to see Callum have such a great impact. I think he's been given a rocket up his arse and it's paid dividends.
Agreed with that. With Rudiger seemingly heading out, it makes you wonder at Lampard's man management skills, especially in regard to experienced CB's. Last year, the club might have won the FA Cup if Luiz had stayed. Him and Lamps did not get on well as players from what I have heard, and Luiz was very quick to hand in his request when Lamps was appointed. Now Rudiger appears to have done similar. A successful manager has to be able to manage experienced players with egos at times, as well as academy graduates. If he can't do that, I can't see the club winning big trophies.
In my opinion Luiz is a disaster zone unless you're building the entire defence around him. Given Lampard's inadequacies as a defensive tactician you'd have to say selling Luiz was a good idea. As far as I remember Luiz was advised he wouldn't have guaranteed game time, and given that Arsenal were waiting in the wings the transfer was sealed, with Lampard's full approval. I couldn't see Luiz being the kingpin to an FA Cup triumph for Chelsea. Aubameyang's pace did for CFC after all. Azpi looked every one of his 31 years in that match up. As for Rudiger - it seems he was relishing the chance to stay at Chelsea, but Lampard has made the call that he's the odd one out. Personally I'd have kept Rudiger on as a centre back / fill-in full back. Christensen for me is the player not up to standard in that squad. Happy to eat humble pie on that one if it turns out differently, but I've never had confidence in AC - so can't agree with Lampard's judgement on it at this stage.
At the moment the main problem is Rudiger leaving and Andreas Christensen staying. There's something amiss with the manager's control of his defenders. It seems that AC is a dream to manage, no attitude or ego, etc, but the club will never win trophies with defenders who can't command their own box. The squad needs defenders who will put their bodies on the line to clear crosses, etc, and who can score goals at corners. Zidane has managed to keep Real playing with flair, while at the same time tightening the team up defensively, so it can be done. Liverpool only started to win trophies after they bought a rock at the back. Before that, the Kloppmeister lost many finals and didn't win a thing.
Team against Palace, 3/10/20. I'm saying this before the match! Defence, good. James gets a rest, and Azpi is no slacker. Problems? Hudson Odoi and Abraham. Hudson Odoi should be going out on loan, and Abraham is too slow. Benrahma would be a great option, and Abraham will need to be sold. Aware that Pulisic is coming back, but unlike Hazard when he was at the club, he is rarely injury free. If I'm proved wrong, I'll be happy for the club.
Post match performance. I stand by the comment about Tammy Abraham. Callum Hudson Odoi? Maybe he should stay. He needs to start beating defenders and delivering precise crosses as he did in the second half. Potentially a £70 million + player. Kai Havertz. I commented he could be another Oscar, and not strong or fast enough for the PL. Changed my opinion now. In 2 or 3 years, Real will be after him for £150 million +. Hopefully the club will not sell.
Why don't you like Abraham? I mean he bagged 18 goals last year and has only just turned 23. He is very passionate about CFC and can score and assist. Surely he will only get better? What did he do against Palace to change your mind?
Most fans don't rate Abraham. It's nothing personal, and he's a good lad with a good attitude. Today's result against Southampton again was down to Frank's decision making, and he's consistently getting his selections wrong now. Prediction. If Frank Lampard keeps picking Andreas Christensen and at other times Tammy Abraham, the club have got no chance whatsoever of winning titles or even getting close. Considering the improvement of clubs like Arsenal and Everton, it might not even be top 4. It's also demotivating for better players like Tomori, Rudiger and Giroud who see the manager not picking the best players, and preferring some academy players just because they are academy players. That demotivation will spread through the squad quickly. There are two CB's at the club now who are fit who should have played ahead of AC today, and the manager is creating his own problems. It might be that man management is not his strong point or it might be he just can't see the obvious. Either way, big Frank won't last long term the way he's going.
How about this guy as back up for Werner, Bielsa happy for 'noble and generous' Bamford Joins the list of De Bruyne, Salah, Rice, Lukaku, ..
Wolves 2 v Chelsea 1 Do the recent two losses point to problems ahead? Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have been poor recently. They do not like the pace of the PL and Werner does not like the physicality. The Bundesliga is not the PL, and there are now question marks over whether they can both fully adapt. Wingers? Pulisic and Ziyech are both very good, but also injured a lot. Hudson Odoi is still young, and at the moment just does not create enough to justify a starting place. From the bench though he could be effective. Abraham. He's just not quick enough to react to second balls amongst other things, and as said many times is not good enough for even a place on the bench at a top PL club. Yes I would have Bamford over Abraham. Bamford has much better movement, and is a better finisher. Some serious issues for Lamps to chew over, but he is the man to hopefully make the right decisions. One thing is for certain, Lamps needs to freshen things up and drop some players. Werner and Havertz probably out for now, and bring in Jorghino. Maybe buy another physical, quick centre forward in January and let Abraham go.
After watching the Arsenal match fiasco, I'm now at the point where I think that Lamps is not going to make it as a Chelsea manager. His perseverance earlier in the season with Andreas Christensen, when it was obvious from the Conte days that he is not a PL player was a red flag. Now we have his perseverance with Abraham as a slow, static target man. My sympathies are with Werner, and he did not come to the PL to play long ball football. Let's be honest, Chelsea were an embarrassment in that match. Passing backwards constantly, hit and hope crosses into the box and no link up play. Lampard is far too biased towards academy players, and is living in a fantasy land. He can't see the obvious any more, and the club should consider moving for Brendan Rogers. A manager who knows the club, and will try and bring young players through realistically. It’s sad to say, but Lampard won’t last much longer imo.
Avram Grant: Former Chelsea manager being considered for return by Roman Abramovich Evans /Houllier ?
