Lampard (13 Viewers)

[Ccfcisparks]

I'd like to think our first 10 games was him getting to grips with the squad, and the last 10 issues with the squad depth.

Both he should be able to rectify for next season.

 

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[Hobo]

JDS was behind our defensive line for the sending off, it had some similarities to the ball that done him at Hull. It's so frustrating/

He was unfortunate to get a red, especially with the new guidelines that an unintentional foul as last man should be a yellow.

But you are right, it is yet again his poor positional play that puts him in trouble. He may not be directly responsible for a lot of the goals we conceded. But there is some form of his poor defensive play that features in most of them; out of position, not closing down, allowing the cross to come in too easily, allowing players to walk round him with the ball, laziness in tracking back when the opposition counter attack and not spotting danger.

He is one of the poorest defenders I have ever seen. In recent games his forward play has vastly improved but his defensive frailties are still there. Practically every team targets him and it is not just because he is small.

 

[TomRad85]

Well see. Jury is out for me. We seem to be up for some big games but out thought and out fought in others. I’m willing to believe this deck is mentally weak and overall has quite a low ceiling. I’m just not seeing much from Lampard that he’s capable of a push for 4th over a season. I think we’ll be roughly where we are most seasons and battling for 6th, 5th at a push.

We haven't argued for a while but i think your mind is made up from the moment Robins got the boot tbf, there's a couple of others who are similar. Honestly i'm finding it hard to believe anyone could say he hasn't done a good job up to this point.
If he's well backed in the summer and his team start in a similar way to how we started this season then i'll be as angry as the next man, but i don't see that happening as things stand. Time will tell on that there's no point in even discussing what hasn't happened yet.

 

[shmmeee]

We haven't argued for a while but i think your mind is made up from the moment Robins got the boot tbf, there's a couple of others who are similar. Honestly i'm finding it hard to believe anyone could say he hasn't done a good job up to this point.
If he's well backed in the summer and his team start in a similar way to how we started this season then i'll be as angry as the next man, but i don't see that happening as things stand. Time will tell on that there's no point in even discussing what hasn't happened yet.

That ten game run was great fun, but come on are you saying we looked great? I think we’ll have a fun season and might make play offs. But I’m not seeing a team about to do a Sunderland without some serious surgery (like more than Doug would spend), or a step change in our tactics and set up.

 

[Hobo]

If we finish sixth I think we get done at Sheff Utd in the semis. Save us Preston you’re our only hope.

Don't forget Leeds

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

Well see. Jury is out for me. We seem to be up for some big games but out thought and out fought in others. I’m willing to believe this deck is mentally weak and overall has quite a low ceiling. I’m just not seeing much from Lampard that he’s capable of a push for 4th over a season. I think we’ll be roughly where we are most seasons and battling for 6th, 5th at a push.

2bf I’m excited about what he can do in the summer. His one major signing is Matt Grimes and he’s improved this side 100%

my concern is he doesn’t seem to get the team up for games where we’ve got to scrap. Against teams playing football we’ve either been better or held our own.

we’ve been woefully shown up by teams that bully and scrap against us

 

[Ccfcisparks]

That ten game run was great fun, but come on are you saying we looked great? I think we’ll have a fun season and might make play offs. But I’m not seeing a team about to do a Sunderland without some serious surgery (like more than Doug would spend), or a step change in our tactics and set up.

about to do a Sunderland? Blow their load by January and then limp into the playoffs...

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

If we miss out on the playoffs, the season is a failure despite Lampard’s turn around and he should be held accountable.

What does the last bit mean? Accountable to who?
If you mean we can grumble about him on here, that's a given from some.
If we make 6th, then get knocked out, is he accountable then? Or if we get through and lose in the final?
The only person he is accountable to is Doug - and I don't see any fallout if we don't get into the play-offs.
The plus side would be an opportunity to get on with planning for next season. If we get knocked out in the play offs, at least we'll have a few more £££s in the pot to spend.

 

[shmmeee]

about to do a Sunderland? Blow their load by January and then limp into the playoffs...

Be the best of the rest. Or that. I don’t think many teams outside the parachute clubs tend to maintain a whole season of form TBF.

 

[TomRad85]

That ten game run was great fun, but come on are you saying we looked great? I think we’ll have a fun season and might make play offs. But I’m not seeing a team about to do a Sunderland without some serious surgery (like more than Doug would spend), or a step change in our tactics and set up.

Does it matter if we looked great though? Burnley and Sheffield United are a horrible watch and they make up 2 of the top 3.
I think Doug has surprised most people 2 summers in a row with how much backing he's given for transfers, even again in Jan for Grimes. I'm hoping we'll get the Gyok money, some of our squad players like BTA and Eccles could probably go for more than you might think, i have a sneaky we might go upwards of £15 million again when all said and done. Lets see if we can use it wisely. Doug not being prepared to spend money is something the forum ITKs seem to get wrong over and over, especially the doom monger in chief.

 

[shmmeee]

Does it matter if we looked great though? Burnley and Sheffield United are a horrible watch and they make up 2 of the top 3.
I think Doug has surprised most people 2 summers in a row with how much backing he's given for transfers, even again in Jan for Grimes. I'm hoping we'll get the Gyok money, some of our squad players like BTA and Eccles could probably go for more than you might think, i have a sneaky we might go upwards of £15 million again when all said and done. Let’s see if we can use it wisely. Doug not being prepared to spend money is something the forum ITKs seem to get wrong over and over, especially the doom monger in chief.

It’s the words from King I’m going off. Though agreed he does always play it down. I think if you want a top three push you need 8-9 quality players on top of what we’ve got which is a lot before you get to the impact on the wage bill.

I think we’ve looked OK. We’ve looked shaky at the back and a bit uninventive going forwards. I think comparing us to Burnley or Sheff Utd is a stretch.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

He really does need to deliver next season at this point though.

I have a general concern that we‘re not creating particularly great chances for any of our strikers. Since Haji has come back, how many of his goals have been good ‘strikers’ goals in the box that we’ve created for him?

Most have been exceptional individual efforts or rebounds.

He has missed a couple of big chances but for me, we need to be creating more chances for them. Thats something Lampard and the staff will be looking at because we need to be more ruthless in the final third.

Haji has upped his production from 23/24, but Simms, BTA and Bassette have all dropped off. BTA and Simms scored 32 goals between them last year and they’re on 13 this season and I don’t believe they’ve both become bad players.

 

[shmmeee]

2bf I’m excited about what he can do in the summer. His one major signing is Matt Grimes and he’s improved this side 100%

my concern is he doesn’t seem to get the team up for games where we’ve got to scrap. Against teams playing football we’ve either been better or held our own.

we’ve been woefully shown up by teams that bully and scrap against us

Yeah Grimes was a really smart signing and if his others are similar fits for what we need it’ll be a good summer.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Does it matter if we looked great though? Burnley and Sheffield United are a horrible watch and they make up 2 of the top 3.
I think Doug has surprised most people 2 summers in a row with how much backing he's given for transfers, even again in Jan for Grimes. I'm hoping we'll get the Gyok money, some of our squad players like BTA and Eccles could probably go for more than you might think, i have a sneaky we might go upwards of £15 million again when all said and done. Lets see if we can use it wisely. Doug not being prepared to spend money is something the forum ITKs seem to get wrong over and over, especially the doom monger in chief.

Are Burnley horrible to watch? They've scored at least 4 goals in 6 games this year.

 

[TomRad85]

Are Burnley horrible to watch? They've scored at least 4 goals in 6 games this year.

Yes they are.

 

[clint van damme]

He's not been here long enough to break his games into 3 separate sets of results, the results are what they are. We were way off it and he's put us back into contention. It's not even his team so you can't ask for more really.
Think its more likely we've dropped off a bit due to injury problems tbh, but if we make it in and a few start coming back in time for play offs then even that will have been successfully navigated to an extent.

As for a team storming the league, no neither do I, but that's hardly on the manager as they aren't his players. We've got some very good ones but when you dip too far out of the best 11 there are some questionable ones to say the least that will hopefully be moved on. See where we are when they are gone and some Lampard players are in. The potential 'Lampard pull' will be interesting to see in the summer.

I think anyone else expecting Lampard to have us challenging for the autos let alone storm the league is going to be very disappointed.
AndId say the same whoever is in charge

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I think there’s excuses for the results
I don’t think Wilson makes less errors than Collins so we need a better number 2 for dovin

 

[TomRad85]

I think anyone else expecting Lampard to have us challenging for the autos let alone storm the league is going to be very disappointed.
AndId say the same whoever is in charge

No i agree, i agree with Shmmeee on what we'd need to challenge top 3 but i don't think we will and i don't think Lampard will be expected to. He'll be expected to get us finishing regularly in the play offs with the hope of winning them at some point.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

What does the last bit mean? Accountable to who?
If you mean we can grumble about him on here, that's a given from some.
If we make 6th, then get knocked out, is he accountable then? Or if we get through and lose in the final?
The only person he is accountable to is Doug - and I don't see any fallout if we don't get into the play-offs.
The plus side would be an opportunity to get on with planning for next season. If we get knocked out in the play offs, at least we'll have a few more £££s in the pot to spend.

First and foremost, Lampard and his staff will see it as a failure and so will his boss, Doug King.

The injuries and the slow start is obviously a mitigation but all things considered, we did the hard bit of pulling ourselves the table. So everyone should be disappointed if we don’t make the playoffs. We managed 1 point from 4 away games against the bottom 4 and despite that, we’re still odds-on favourites for this weekend to beat Boro and finish 6th.

Everyone should be optimistic that with a solid pre-season and some quality additions to the squad, the squad should be Top 4 minimum.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It’s the words from King I’m going off. Though agreed he does always play it down. I think if you want a top three push you need 8-9 quality players on top of what we’ve got which is a lot before you get to the impact on the wage bill.

I think we’ve looked OK. We’ve looked shaky at the back and a bit uninventive going forwards. I think comparing us to Burnley or Sheff Utd is a stretch.

The wide areas is where we need the biggest upgrade imo.

There’s no depth for MVE, the options ant LB could be improved on and we have 2 contracted wingers for next season.

I want to see our wingers take fullbacks on and see a lot more chances created like EMC’s assist v Hull. Too often the wingers get the ball and pass it back in the final third rather than taking a man on.

 

[shmmeee]

The wide areas is where we need the biggest upgrade imo.

There’s no depth for MVE, the options ant LB could be improved on and we have 2 contracted wingers for next season.

I want to see our wingers take fullbacks on and see a lot more chances created like EMC’s assist v Hull. Too often the wingers get the ball and pass it back in the final third rather than taking a man on.

Yeah I think I agree though I’m coming round to the idea a new ST would make the most difference. There were signs Sheaf Grimes and Rudoni could be a decent midfield but still feel we need better in the box to box profile and better backup for Rudoni, Torp is OK but a slightly different profile again. The back line aside from MvE is clearly fucked and needs ripping up and starting again.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

Yeah I think I agree though I’m coming round to the idea a new ST would make the most difference. There were signs Sheaf Grimes and Rudoni could be a decent midfield but still feel we need better in the box to box profile and better backup for Rudoni, Torp is OK but a slightly different profile again. The back line aside from MvE is clearly fucked and needs ripping up and starting again.

Agreed - a new LB, 2xCB a back up RB and a striker is a bare minimum

 

[shmmeee]

Agreed - a new LB, 2xCB a back up RB and a striker is a bare minimum

Add in a GK and probably a RW, maybe a CM or two and it gets expensive. I wouldn’t be averse to selling one or more of the stars as it’s Lampards first full window and not his squad TBF.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

Add in a GK and probably a RW, maybe a CM or two and it gets expensive. I wouldn’t be averse to selling one or more of the stars as it’s Lampards first full window and not his squad TBF.

I think someone big has to go- I’m surprised at how quiet people are on here about Haji Wright. World Cup year for him- he’s gonna want to be front and centre for a major team

I can see agent definitely asking about

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Yeah I think I agree though I’m coming round to the idea a new ST would make the most difference. There were signs Sheaf Grimes and Rudoni could be a decent midfield but still feel we need better in the box to box profile and better backup for Rudoni, Torp is OK but a slightly different profile again. The back line aside from MvE is clearly fucked and needs ripping up and starting again.

Unpopular opinion but I’m confident Simms will do well next season.

If not, Wright needs to start more games upfront if Simms isn’t up to it and you put out and out wingers around Wright.

Sakamoto and EMC have 9 goals between them in 70 games and that isn’t good enough and I’m surprised to see this go largely unnoticed. A goal every 490 minutes…

If you’re playing a formation with one striker, you need 2 other players who will get you 10 to 15 goals a season. Next season, I’d back Rudoni to have a 20-25 goal contribution season but who else will step up?!

 

[TomRad85]

Unpopular opinion but I’m confident Simms will do well next season.

If not, Wright needs to start more games upfront if Simms isn’t up to it and you put out and out wingers around Wright.

Sakamoto and EMC have 9 goals between them in 70 games and that isn’t good enough and I’m surprised to see this go largely unnoticed. A goal every 490 minutes…

If you’re playing a formation with one striker, you need 2 other players who will get you 10 to 15 goals a season. Next season, I’d back Rudoni to have a 20-25 goal contribution season but who else will step up?!

I'd be more confident of EMC stepping up to get that many than i would Simms atm. The wingers do get plenty of stick on here, some of it fair, some of it unfair, but there's a reason Simms is attracting more atm...

Simms
Games: 42
Minutes: 2218
Goals: 6
Assists:2

Mason-Clarke
Games: 30
Minutes: 1635
Goals: 5
Assists: 5

Sakamoto
Games: 41
Minutes: 2501
Goals: 4
Assists: 5

To be honest thats fairly respectable from EMC for an injury hit first season at this level. It's not even close to good enough from Simms.

 

[skybluecam]

I think someone big has to go- I’m surprised at how quiet people are on here about Haji Wright. World Cup year for him- he’s gonna want to be front and centre for a major team

I can see agent definitely asking about

Don’t see anyone paying the close £20m or so we’d ask for. Probably next summer he goes.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I'd be more confident of EMC stepping up to get that many than i would Simms atm. The wingers do get plenty of stick on here, some of it fair, some of it unfair, but there's a reason Simms is attracting more atm...

Simms
Games: 42
Minutes: 2218
Goals: 6
Assists:2

Mason-Clarke
Games: 30
Minutes: 1635
Goals: 5
Assists: 5

Sakamoto
Games: 41
Minutes: 2501
Goals: 4
Assists: 5

To be honest thats fairly respectable from EMC for an injury hit first season at this level. It's not even close to good enough from Simms.

The dogs abuse Simms gets is disproportionate imo. By all accounts his season hasn’t been good but his MPG is slightly behind EMC and Sakamoto’s MPG is barely better Bobby Thomas’ yet is treated as an undroppable key player.

Looking at the top scorers in the league, you have; Sainz, James, Mehmeti, Azaz, Windass, Bundu and Lang with 10 or more goals playing RW/LW/AM.

 

[Evo1883]

The dogs abuse Simms gets is disproportionate imo. By all accounts his season hasn’t been good but his MPG is slightly behind EMC and Sakamoto’s MPG is barely better Bobby Thomas’ yet is treated as an undroppable key player.

Looking at the top scorers in the league, you have; Sainz, James, Mehmeti, Azaz, Windass, Bundu and Lang with 10 or more goals playing RW/LW/AM.

Simms has been fucking shit this season and the people pointing it out have been justified in their opinion

You seem comfortable knocking other players to make your point though , players that have given us more this season despite coming back from injuries etc

 

[Offhegoes]

I really feel Luis Binks has got off lightly here. Easiest left footed clearance ever and he shanks it in with his right. Probably worse than Kitchings top corner finish own goal in many ways.

Lot of criticism of Binks on here since Saturday. Terrible signing etc…

He was good on Saturday, messed up his clearance on the line, but he shouldn’t of been put in that position in the first place.

Great option in a back 3 but had struggled in a back 4. Thought he looked beefed up on Sat and stood up to one of the most physical teams in the league.

Binks was brought in on loan (summer 2024) when we were setting up with 3 at the back (same with Lati, Kitching, Thomas & Dasilva).

We signed him permanently last summer, but by then Robins was recruiting for a 4-3-3 style.

We could of done with a physical bruiser rather than a ball playing CB in truth.

In summary : Good squad player.

 

[Evo1883]

I really feel Luis Binks has got off lightly here. Easiest left footed clearance ever and he shanks it in with his right. Probably worse than Kitchings top corner finish own goal in many ways.

Easy to say but tired legs tired brain running backwards easy to make mistakes ..

The keeper creates the entire situation

 

[Balli001]

Easy to say but tired legs tired brain running backwards easy to make mistakes ..

The keeper creates the entire situation

It is down to Collins up to that point but Binks could easily have cleared that. Lets not forget Collins did keep us in the game up til that point.

 

[Evo1883]

It is down to Collins up to that point but Binks could easily have cleared that. Lets not forget Collins did keep us in the game up til that point.

Well in the words of roy Keane its his job to make saves ,he still helped create their winner for them .

This isnt on binks

Collins should still be on his line and binks shouldn't be having to backtrack towards goal to cover him

 

[Offhegoes]

Simms has been fucking shit this season and the people pointing it out have been justified in their opinion

You seem comfortable knocking other players to make your point though , players that have given us more this season despite coming back from injuries etc

Not sure I agree with that. He was still doing a great shift when the goals dried up a few weeks ago. Haji Wright was as quiet as Simms yesterday (and at Plymouth).

 

[Evo1883]

Not sure I agree with that. He was still doing a great shift when the goals dried up a few weeks ago. Haji Wright was as quiet as Simms yesterday (and at Plymouth).

Simms does next to nothing every game and gets overly praised for doing the bare minimum , hes had about 3 good games all season