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Official now, if it wasn't already.

As chef said, we all wanted this work, but it hasn't and it really is a sad day for the club.

As much as I've been annoyed with the line-up, strategy etc., every game I've been quietly hoping our fortunes will turn and in the very least, he'd be given until the end of the season to get things on track and the last month or so was obviously the straw that broke the camel's back. I don't know if Frank's fate was decided before the Luton game, but like me, the powers that be surely would've been unimpressed with the manner in which they played last played and personally, I don't think that is being negative at all.

I'd only assume Jody Morris and Frank's support team will depart too.
 
To piggyback on chef and dylan, we all wanted this to work but, realistically, the move was way too soon. His only managerial experience before joining us was getting Derby to the Championship play-off. He probably needed to spend another season with them before making the move to a PL club (and, even then, it would've been more ideal for him to join a lower-table club). I would've preferred for us to wait until season's end before making a decision and having a crack and any of Nagelsmann, Rodgers, Hasenhuttl or ten Hag. I'm still happy it's not Allegri but this leaves a pretty sour taste.

 
Feels like he’s chasing Tuchel more than getting rid of Frank. Made more sense to see what he could do for the rest of the season and look at other options. We’ve had a down patch sure, but we were on a crazy undefeated run to start the season and walked through our CL group. Never going to get anywhere if we sack every manager that has a bit of a lean run and don’t back him to turn it around. It was probably going to happen eventually but I’m disappointed at the timing of it more than anything. If Roman were owner of Arsenal, Arteta wouldn’t have made it past 5 games..
 
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In what way; do you have a link to the article?



  • Lampard’s relationship with influential director Marina Granovskaia deteriorated
  • Ralf Rangnick was offered interim job last week for four months but turned it down
  • Calls were made in recent weeks to sound out Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann
  • Leicester game was tipping point and morning after spent trying to finalise successor
  • Lampard shook players hands and thanked them for efforts under him after Leicester match
  • Petr Cech involved in talking to new stars’ agents as form dipped
  • Some players complained about lack of tactical instruction and not being spoken to for months
  • Desire to re-sign Declan Rice annoyed his bosses
  • The dressing room felt manager showed no empathy and were hurt by his public criticism
  • Lampard would have walked out had he been working for any club other than Chelsea


  • tensions behind the scenes really began to emerge during the January transfer window 12 months ago. Lampard asked for Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was considering leaving Emirates Stadium at that juncture, and Ajax’s attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech. Neither arrived that month
  • it was at this juncture that Mauricio Pochettino, who had been fired by Tottenham in November 2019, and RB Leipzig coach Nagelsmann were being mentioned as a potential “plan B”.
  • things were becoming more tense with Granovskaia and one of the biggest points of contention was the treatment of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. “They clashed over Kepa. Lampard put in a request for a replacement and was told he should try putting his arm around Kepa, to help build his confidence. Lampard was insistent though.”
  • Lampard wanted the club to sign West Ham midfielder Declan Rice and pushed for him again ahead of January. But some at the club had reservations about re-signing the player who was released from the academy as a teenager.
  • In December The Athletic were told: “He needs to stop pushing for Rice or he’ll lose his job. The hierarchy are very wary about the potential embarrassment of buying back an academy reject at huge expense.”
  • of the six players to join, only Ben Chilwell was a Lampard target.
  • plan was not only to acquire Rice, who Lampard felt could be converted into a top centre back as well as using him as a defensive midfielder, but also to buy James Tarkowski from Burnley. Defenders earmarked to go were Fikayo Tomori, Marcos Alonso, and Rudiger. There was even talk that Lampard was open to the idea of captain Cesar Azpilicueta departing.
  • after the Manchester City game, Roman became “very, very unhappy”. ( After the season relationship between Roman and Lampard was "strong"
  • Tuchel was reluctant to come midway through the season initially but was eventually persuaded, having almost taken the Stamford Bridge job before Antonio Conte a few years ago. He felt it was too good a job to turn down.
  • “The problem was, the manager didn’t talk to the players — well only the ones he liked"
  • One senior player told The Athletic that Lampard staying on for the rest of the season would have been a ‘catastrophe’, with the levels of tension in the dressing room to high to recover from and players comparing his criticism of performances to Jose Mourinho in his final days at the club.
  • By the Fulham game in early January, players were expecting Lampard to be sacked if they didn’t win
  • Lampard warned everyone, including the hierarchy, that a title bid was unlikely in 2020-21, that the arrivals would require patience to settle into a new league and country.
Thanks to the user who posted it - I'm just pasting for those who aren't on the site.
 
He's still the greatest midfielder of the premier league era. Had a very good first season as manager, but went a bit shopping crazy like my wife and bought too much and pressure mounted.
His record versus bigger clubs wasn't good enough, in 18 months and lots of money spent that didn't improve.
Frank and Zola are my two all time favourite players!
 
He's still the greatest midfielder of the premier league era. Had a very good first season as manager, but went a bit shopping crazy like my wife and bought too much and pressure mounted.
His record versus bigger clubs wasn't good enough, in 18 months and lots of money spent that didn't improve.
Frank and Zola are my two all time favourite players!
18 months doesn’t seem fair though. He’s had to manage in 2 of the hardest and most unprecedented years in our existence with a transfer ban and Covid, and he didn’t even get to see out his second year in charge, despite getting some fairly good results with what he’s been handed. There’s more problems than just him if that’s how the clubs being run. We’re not a club built for any sort of long term project. Tuchel will be the same, has 2 years to win us a title before Roman gets bored again and the dressing room turns on him.
 

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Thanks for posting chef :thumbsu:

Obviously there were serious issues with Frank and it is evident he'd lost the dressing room.

As for Maria Granovskaia, who I am completely unconvinced about anyway; any reason she hasn't been given the arse? Concerned about Kepa, who let's be honest is an out and out dud. If Frank put his arm around him, would that have been the difference with his pathetic keeping against Luton? Maria paid a world record for a keeper, who really should be behind Willy Cabellera, who can actually keep.

And if Frank's repeated desire to sign Rice also angered officials, then perhaps those precious souls should also leave if they are concerned about 'losing face' because of the 'embarrassment of buying back an academy reject at huge expense'. Why not question those Academy officials for letting Declan go in the first place or are we just going to ignore the fact that the club continues to lose face with the likes of "rejects" De Bruyne, Salah etc. that would make the club infinitely better.

To also to be fair to Frank, given of the six players to join Chelsea, only Ben Chilwell was a Lampard target speaks volumes of Frank because Chilwell is the only one to actually show something, so perhaps Maria:rolleyes: could learn a thing or two instead of playing fantasy football because the squad she has put together actually sucks.

If the club wants to be transparent and fair, then Frank's head shouldn't be the only one rolling.

As far as I can tell; the club is in complete disarray.
 
18 months doesn’t seem fair though. He’s had to manage in 2 of the hardest and most unprecedented years in our existence with a transfer ban and Covid, and he didn’t even get to see out his second year in charge, despite getting some fairly good results with what he’s been handed. There’s more problems than just him if that’s how the clubs being run. We’re not a club built for any sort of long term project. Tuchel will be the same, has 2 years to win us a title before Roman gets bored again and the dressing room turns on him.
I don't disagree with the manager rollercoaster and pressure on to succeed, I'd rather not be in that position. Wish we'd stuck with Ancelotti longer, he had the team humming and then we got loads of injuries the year after and performance dropped but wasn't his fault.
I just don't Frank could beat big clubs, our record this year was draws with Tottenham, United, Villa and lost to City, Leicester, Everton, Liverpool and Wolves. 3 points from those games doesn't give much hope for the future, and it only seemed to be getting worse.
 
I don't disagree with the manager rollercoaster and pressure on to succeed, I'd rather not be in that position. Wish we'd stuck with Ancelotti longer, he had the team humming and then we got loads of injuries the year after and performance dropped but wasn't his fault.
I couldn't agree more. Carlo was one of, if not, my favourite manager in my time supporting the club since the 80's.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Frank follow's in his Uncle Harry's footsteps and manages West Ham one day.
 
I couldn't agree more. Carlo was one of, if not, my favourite manager in my time supporting the club since the 80's.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Frank follow's in his Uncle Harry's footsteps and manages West Ham one day.
Yeah, reckon he was my favourite. We definitely played our best football under him, with some huge wins!

Not many managers that are 15 points behind and 5th in the league mid season (due to key injuries), can turn it around and finish 2nd! This sacking really pissed me off, he was the long term option...
 
The club needs to bite the bullet and stick with a manager for at least three seasons. As stated on the London is Blue podcast, the squad has players from Mourinho, Sarri, Lampard and Conte, all played different styles and systems, so we have such a mish mash of players. We need to stick to a philosophy, clean out the dressing room of players not required and get the culture right.
 
Actually a cool video on the website of the training session:

Don't remember seeing anything like that before but could've been my ignorance.
 

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