I would love to see Tomori alongside Silva for this season, invaluable expertise and Tomori can compensate for silvas speed.
Tomori should be playing a lot this season. Prefer him to Christensen and Rudiger on last season’s form. Would have Silva, Zouma and Tomori as the main 3.
Having a settled pairing with this selection is unrealistic IMO, all of them vulnerable & Frank's tactics aren't helping them. It's a big problem.
I'd make a conscious decision to have one be an ever present, my choice would be Silva, and play Zouma vs. physical CF's or teams that don't counter press & Christensen vs. predatory CF's or teams that do counter press.
I'd like to see Tomori more just to have a better sample size of what he brings besides speed. And I agree with Frank's stance on Rudiger, just don't rate him at all.
comment by vavarising (U21731)
posted 19 minutes ago
I would love to see Tomori alongside Silva for this season, invaluable expertise and Tomori can compensate for silvas speed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 2 that I would plump for also.
Christensen has footballing ability but is completely milky with no rsole for the physical side of the Premier League. Zouma can perform well but always seems to have a fack-up in him (like yesterday) and Rudiger just seems to have gone backwards. I used to really rate him, but I just don't know how to explain his complete loss of form over quite a long period of time.
Might be worth switching AC to left sided CB (does for Denmark and did under Sarri) with Silva and Tomori in rotation, see how that works out.
AC the only CB who hasn't played left under Frank.
Same pair match after match is not an option when games coming thick and fast.
Taxing schedule (and Silva' age) doesn't allow for one constant pairing to play throughout...
Silva has done nothing but impress me over than one lack of control. Him and one other
comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
Having a settled pairing with this selection is unrealistic IMO, all of them vulnerable & Frank's tactics aren't helping them. It's a big problem.
I'd make a conscious decision to have one be an ever present, my choice would be Silva, and play Zouma vs. physical CF's or teams that don't counter press & Christensen vs. predatory CF's or teams that do counter press.
I'd like to see Tomori more just to have a better sample size of what he brings besides speed. And I agree with Frank's stance on Rudiger, just don't rate him at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Obviously I didn't mean 'every' game, unrealistic with the match load. 1st choice would probably have been a better choice of wording!
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
I personally believe that for the awful job Zouma and Christensen are doing, have done and did last year, we're better off concentrating on the development of Tomori next to Rudiger, using Silva as the third option. People forget how impressive Rudiger was in 2017/18. We never let him settle with a partner after his injury and he's a regular for the German national team where he has shown very good form this year. I seriously think that we would have beaten West Brom and Southampton with Rudiger in the team.
It always worried me that we didn't invest in a top centre back with all the money we spent on forwards. I know he's at Man City now, but Dias, for the price, was a very good option - and a leader.
We did invest in a top CB, just a 36 year old one who is probably just here for a season. Two max.
I'd also like to see Tomori given a run in the side either alongside Thiago Silva or whoever else.
This one doesn’t need words
https://youtu.be/flm1X1GwQWw
Zouma deserves dropping from the team, just for his sheer laziness on this goal. Also, didn’t like his attitude towards Kepa during the game.
Seen a few comment that Zouma looks scared every time he passes back to Kepa
comment by Sideshow (U11809)
posted 12 hours, 29 minutes ago
I echo Brums thoughts
We need to make the squad smaller. Frank needs to prioritise players who he thinks are good enough to be in the squad next season. Among other players, should Christensen and Zouma be? I don’t think so. Tomori has shown to be our best centre-back prospect, he needs game time to develop. If his forms drops by all means we can rest him, but at the he shouldn’t have to wait for Zouma and Christensen to make mistakes to be given a chance.
I think a similar argument can be made for midfield with Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic but we’re still waiting for Gilmore to come back, and no one has the heart to say that Kante isn’t an untouchable in an attacking side.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
True in most parts. Kante didn’t have a good game yesterday, although I have feeling Lampard doesn’t know how to get the best out of him. Maybe it’s a case of Lampard trying to fit square pegs in round holes.
The truth is, Silva is a great player (albeit 36), and the others are all very average. You could interchange any of them - they all have their strengths and their weaknesses. Zouma is strong and fast and incredible in the air, but has legs like Bambi. Christensen is the best technical player, but not as physically strong and is mentally weak. Tomori is fast, but young and inexperienced. And Rudiger is strong, but loses concentration. They are all liable to make mistakes, which are compounded by the fact that Kepa is so weak. When Mendy is fit again I suspect defensive mistakes will not turn into disasters quite so frequently.
I also have reservations about our central midfield pairings, which are meant to protect the defence. Two out of Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic (why wasn’t he on the bench yesterday, by the way?) - it doesn’t seem to matter. Whichever pairing Lampard selects has its weakness. I know Lampard wanted to buy Rice, and I don’t know if he is in the answer, but we need some alternative. The current 3 we have are not strong enough. I actually thought we wrestled control of the game back from Southampton when Lampard put James on as an extra defensive midfield player. We only conceded at the end because we gave away a soft free kick which allowed Southampton to lob one more cross into the box and we didn’t deal with it. A proper defensive midfield player could be the answer to a lot of our defensive issues.
Kovacic (why wasn’t he on the bench yesterday, by the way?)
————
Because the game was on Saturday.
But apart from that - why wasn’t he on the bench? Was he injured?
comment by Stretchy Mendy (U1641)
posted 4 hours, 53 minutes ago
Seen a few comment that Zouma looks scared every time he passes back to Kepa
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the least he could do is make sure his passes get to their intended destination.
He can't blame Kepa for his inadequacies!
AC should gave sokd, he is utter rubbish, worse than Rudiger.
Zouma gad until the Southampton mishap bern our best CB, but he is woeful on the ball.
I would like to see Silva Tomori given a try
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Stretchy Mendy (U1641)
posted 4 hours, 53 minutes ago
Seen a few comment that Zouma looks scared every time he passes back to Kepa
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the least he could do is make sure his passes get to their intended destination.
He can't blame Kepa for his inadequacies!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No excuse for Kepa not getting that ball though despite Zouma's mistake
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Stretchy Mendy (U1641)
posted 4 hours, 53 minutes ago
Seen a few comment that Zouma looks scared every time he passes back to Kepa
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the least he could do is make sure his passes get to their intended destination.
He can't blame Kepa for his inadequacies!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No excuse for Kepa not getting that ball though despite Zouma's mistake
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It should never have come to that Biggish. It was left well short for Kepa!
It wasn’t well short truth be told. Was a poor pass but 999/1000 a keeper just picks that ball up.
In fact kepa seems to kind of slide Past the ball bizarre
Silva
Tomori
Zouma
AC
Rudiger
Work with the top 3 then when no other choice use the next 2.
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 58 minutes ago
It wasn’t well short truth be told. Was a poor pass but 999/1000 a keeper just picks that ball up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We'll have to agree to disagree on that Nick. As soon as it happened I knew we were in trouble irrespective of who was in goal.
Awful mistake in my opinion!
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
It wasn’t well short truth be told. Was a poor pass but 999/1000 a keeper just picks that ball up.
----------------------------------------------Kepa had it covetec but changed his mind at the last moment to switch from hands to feet.. It was a total feck up by him. ------------------------
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Central defence
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posted on 18/10/20
I would love to see Tomori alongside Silva for this season, invaluable expertise and Tomori can compensate for silvas speed.
posted on 18/10/20
Tomori should be playing a lot this season. Prefer him to Christensen and Rudiger on last season’s form. Would have Silva, Zouma and Tomori as the main 3.
posted on 18/10/20
Having a settled pairing with this selection is unrealistic IMO, all of them vulnerable & Frank's tactics aren't helping them. It's a big problem.
I'd make a conscious decision to have one be an ever present, my choice would be Silva, and play Zouma vs. physical CF's or teams that don't counter press & Christensen vs. predatory CF's or teams that do counter press.
I'd like to see Tomori more just to have a better sample size of what he brings besides speed. And I agree with Frank's stance on Rudiger, just don't rate him at all.
posted on 18/10/20
comment by vavarising (U21731)
posted 19 minutes ago
I would love to see Tomori alongside Silva for this season, invaluable expertise and Tomori can compensate for silvas speed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 2 that I would plump for also.
Christensen has footballing ability but is completely milky with no rsole for the physical side of the Premier League. Zouma can perform well but always seems to have a fack-up in him (like yesterday) and Rudiger just seems to have gone backwards. I used to really rate him, but I just don't know how to explain his complete loss of form over quite a long period of time.
posted on 18/10/20
Might be worth switching AC to left sided CB (does for Denmark and did under Sarri) with Silva and Tomori in rotation, see how that works out.
AC the only CB who hasn't played left under Frank.
posted on 18/10/20
Same pair match after match is not an option when games coming thick and fast.
Taxing schedule (and Silva' age) doesn't allow for one constant pairing to play throughout...
posted on 18/10/20
Silva has done nothing but impress me over than one lack of control. Him and one other
posted on 18/10/20
comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
Having a settled pairing with this selection is unrealistic IMO, all of them vulnerable & Frank's tactics aren't helping them. It's a big problem.
I'd make a conscious decision to have one be an ever present, my choice would be Silva, and play Zouma vs. physical CF's or teams that don't counter press & Christensen vs. predatory CF's or teams that do counter press.
I'd like to see Tomori more just to have a better sample size of what he brings besides speed. And I agree with Frank's stance on Rudiger, just don't rate him at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Obviously I didn't mean 'every' game, unrealistic with the match load. 1st choice would probably have been a better choice of wording!
posted on 18/10/20
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 18/10/20
I personally believe that for the awful job Zouma and Christensen are doing, have done and did last year, we're better off concentrating on the development of Tomori next to Rudiger, using Silva as the third option. People forget how impressive Rudiger was in 2017/18. We never let him settle with a partner after his injury and he's a regular for the German national team where he has shown very good form this year. I seriously think that we would have beaten West Brom and Southampton with Rudiger in the team.
It always worried me that we didn't invest in a top centre back with all the money we spent on forwards. I know he's at Man City now, but Dias, for the price, was a very good option - and a leader.
posted on 19/10/20
We did invest in a top CB, just a 36 year old one who is probably just here for a season. Two max.
I'd also like to see Tomori given a run in the side either alongside Thiago Silva or whoever else.
posted on 19/10/20
This one doesn’t need words
https://youtu.be/flm1X1GwQWw
Zouma deserves dropping from the team, just for his sheer laziness on this goal. Also, didn’t like his attitude towards Kepa during the game.
posted on 19/10/20
Seen a few comment that Zouma looks scared every time he passes back to Kepa
posted on 19/10/20
comment by Sideshow (U11809)
posted 12 hours, 29 minutes ago
I echo Brums thoughts
We need to make the squad smaller. Frank needs to prioritise players who he thinks are good enough to be in the squad next season. Among other players, should Christensen and Zouma be? I don’t think so. Tomori has shown to be our best centre-back prospect, he needs game time to develop. If his forms drops by all means we can rest him, but at the he shouldn’t have to wait for Zouma and Christensen to make mistakes to be given a chance.
I think a similar argument can be made for midfield with Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic but we’re still waiting for Gilmore to come back, and no one has the heart to say that Kante isn’t an untouchable in an attacking side.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
True in most parts. Kante didn’t have a good game yesterday, although I have feeling Lampard doesn’t know how to get the best out of him. Maybe it’s a case of Lampard trying to fit square pegs in round holes.
posted on 19/10/20
The truth is, Silva is a great player (albeit 36), and the others are all very average. You could interchange any of them - they all have their strengths and their weaknesses. Zouma is strong and fast and incredible in the air, but has legs like Bambi. Christensen is the best technical player, but not as physically strong and is mentally weak. Tomori is fast, but young and inexperienced. And Rudiger is strong, but loses concentration. They are all liable to make mistakes, which are compounded by the fact that Kepa is so weak. When Mendy is fit again I suspect defensive mistakes will not turn into disasters quite so frequently.
I also have reservations about our central midfield pairings, which are meant to protect the defence. Two out of Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic (why wasn’t he on the bench yesterday, by the way?) - it doesn’t seem to matter. Whichever pairing Lampard selects has its weakness. I know Lampard wanted to buy Rice, and I don’t know if he is in the answer, but we need some alternative. The current 3 we have are not strong enough. I actually thought we wrestled control of the game back from Southampton when Lampard put James on as an extra defensive midfield player. We only conceded at the end because we gave away a soft free kick which allowed Southampton to lob one more cross into the box and we didn’t deal with it. A proper defensive midfield player could be the answer to a lot of our defensive issues.
posted on 19/10/20
Kovacic (why wasn’t he on the bench yesterday, by the way?)
————
Because the game was on Saturday.
But apart from that - why wasn’t he on the bench? Was he injured?
posted on 19/10/20
comment by Stretchy Mendy (U1641)
posted 4 hours, 53 minutes ago
Seen a few comment that Zouma looks scared every time he passes back to Kepa
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the least he could do is make sure his passes get to their intended destination.
He can't blame Kepa for his inadequacies!
posted on 19/10/20
AC should gave sokd, he is utter rubbish, worse than Rudiger.
Zouma gad until the Southampton mishap bern our best CB, but he is woeful on the ball.
I would like to see Silva Tomori given a try
posted on 19/10/20
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Stretchy Mendy (U1641)
posted 4 hours, 53 minutes ago
Seen a few comment that Zouma looks scared every time he passes back to Kepa
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the least he could do is make sure his passes get to their intended destination.
He can't blame Kepa for his inadequacies!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No excuse for Kepa not getting that ball though despite Zouma's mistake
posted on 19/10/20
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Stretchy Mendy (U1641)
posted 4 hours, 53 minutes ago
Seen a few comment that Zouma looks scared every time he passes back to Kepa
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the least he could do is make sure his passes get to their intended destination.
He can't blame Kepa for his inadequacies!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No excuse for Kepa not getting that ball though despite Zouma's mistake
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It should never have come to that Biggish. It was left well short for Kepa!
posted on 19/10/20
It wasn’t well short truth be told. Was a poor pass but 999/1000 a keeper just picks that ball up.
posted on 19/10/20
In fact kepa seems to kind of slide Past the ball bizarre
posted on 19/10/20
Silva
Tomori
Zouma
AC
Rudiger
Work with the top 3 then when no other choice use the next 2.
posted on 19/10/20
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 58 minutes ago
It wasn’t well short truth be told. Was a poor pass but 999/1000 a keeper just picks that ball up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We'll have to agree to disagree on that Nick. As soon as it happened I knew we were in trouble irrespective of who was in goal.
Awful mistake in my opinion!
posted on 19/10/20
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
It wasn’t well short truth be told. Was a poor pass but 999/1000 a keeper just picks that ball up.
----------------------------------------------Kepa had it covetec but changed his mind at the last moment to switch from hands to feet.. It was a total feck up by him. ------------------------
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