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I’ve been consistent on this point all season: we’re not as far off being a solid playoff to automatic team as we think. We were 2-3 players off as the season kicked off and signing Grimes, we’re 1 or 2 starting players off being able to compete right up there. A starting team of something...

There you go, we will be transitioning into four at the back as soon as all our key players return. He’s a solid contributor and he’s able to play DM, CM and AM. Definitely an asset to a squad and a stalwart that all clubs need but it’s also fair to say he’s not the main man. If we’re being...

He’s played well, but he’s not at the level required to be a starter for a playoff team. IMO, Sheaf, Grimes and even Eccles are better players. Allen is a capable role player and a leadership figure so he has a lot value as a squad player, not as the main man.

How good was Simms’ goal yesterday? Kept the ball in, bullied the defender 2-3 times, laid it off to BTA who returned the favour with a brilliant cross to Simms who flicked up and belted it in from close range. It was a big mistake from Robins, Carr and Lampard’s early reign to leave him on the...

Exactly, and the system is more than just playing 5-3-2. How many goals did we concede playing 3 CBs and WBs? The players have touched on it in interviews how we defend higher up and a few other things. The key takeaway here is that there’s been a significant shift in tactics and coaching...

The variables have changed, you’ve got Dovin, Kitching, Allen and Simms playing now which wasn’t the case before switching formations. At this point of the season, we were basically conceding all shots on target we faced with Collins in goal. Something you dismissed earlier in the season...

Yes and no. A formation is just a shape, the real success of the ‘Lampard Revolution’ is the tactics and how we play in possession and out of it. In any case, Lampard definitely sees the team playing with wingers and some good results won’t change that.

Agreed, it’ll take a few weeks to reintegrate new signings and the injured players into the system Lampard wants to play. 5-3-2 has served a purpose and got the most out of the players we have available. Lampard deserves a lot of credit for finding a way to get results without 3 key players.

The point was in counter to one referencing 4 clean sheets in 24 which was pre-Lampard and the point was more that we rarely kept clean sheets irrespective of formation. Under Lampard, we’ve kept 3 clean sheets playing 4 at the back so it’s not true to say we can’t keep clean sheets playing...

We conceded a lot of goals playing 3 CBs. Take out the last 4 games and the defensive record is like for like. In addition, we’ve kept a few clean sheets playing a back 4 under Lampard. Comparing the CS stats pre-Lampard isn’t useful. The issue has been tactics and coaching, not formation...

Why don’t they look capable of it? The same players played in a back 4 all of last season and our defensive record was 9th in the league and that was after a bad start and end to the season. It’s all in the tactics and coaching, certain formations just don’t win games by themselves. The way...

I reckon Lampard will view the job with us as a project. He’s been there and done that in the sense that he’s been fast tracked right to the top of the Prem and knows the fall can be brutal. If he builds with us, gets us promoted and keeps us up as the likes of Howe and Frank did with...

Look, I agree and just want to keep things in perspective. Norwich and WBA should’ve been draws really and they were both huge tests. Missing the players we have been has been huge for us and our form doesn’t change that we’re missing 3 key players.

Thought that was more Rudoni’s miss if anything. In reality, it was some good defending and goalkeeping from Swansea. That all said, I’ve not watched the replays of anything other than the goals.

It’s only Norwich away where he missed a huge change. Other than that, there haven’t been many big chances missed. Bassette and Simms have missed more chances. BTA has probably played less minutes overall and particularly less minutes as a striker.

I was really happy BTA got a goal and assist yesterday, there were some right idiots behind me calling him shit constantly through the game. Our MOTM, imo was Rudoni but BTA’s goal and assist isn’t to be underestimated.

Beating Leeds is the big test and would raise eyebrows. Not to take away from out achievements this last 4 games, but there’s an element of fortune playing teams in and around the playoffs in bad form. Swansea and Watford in particular are in free fall. The performances have been pleasing to...

In possession, BTA could be liability, he holds on to the ball too long and his passing is quite awkward. He can finish really well, the finishes yesterday and against Bristol were top drawer and demonstrated why we signed him and why he was WBA’s top scorer last season. With strikers, they...

People forget that in December, you don’t get a lot of contact time with the players to actually coach them, between Pompey and Norwich away, we had 5 games in 16 days. Lampard is starting to make a difference now his team have got more time with the players. It really does show that the...

Certainly but the manner in the defeat stirred an ugly response. Taking a step back, the performance itself was a stepping the right direction imo.