The Reece James hype machine is grasping for new angles as Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso cement their place in Chelsea’s best XI. Frank Lampard’s handling of Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi should calm the needless noise.
Remember back in the day, you know, two weeks ago, when a bucketful Chelsea fans and most of American soccer (American football being an entirely different thing) media were proclaiming Christian Pulisic’s transfer a flop and accusing Frank Lampard’s anti-American / pro-English bias of snuffing out another young player’s prospects? Or maybe last week, when the same snowflake Cassandras thought Lampard’s obstinacy would consign Pulisic to perpetual substitute duty despite the American’s obvious quality in his appearances off the bench? Good times.
Pulisic’s progression into the side has been patient and cautious. Lampard has been relying on players familiar with the Premier League and the English game while Pulisic learns and adapts to both, including the increased physicality.
Lampard has also been balancing Pulisic’s national team duties with his integration into Chelsea’s XI. Pulisic is the captain and star of the US Men’s National Team, lashed onto the Iron Throne of global football. Pulisic reported to Chelsea this summer after one week of off time. Lampard knew Pulisic needed more time to recover before entering the full slate of training, let alone competing in multiple competitions in a new league and new country.
Lampard’s careful development of Pulisic’s physical, psychological and tactical states converged with another recognition of Pulisic’s national team duty. Not long after being left out of the squad against Lille and then rebounding perfectly with his 10 minutes against Southampton, Pulisic was subbed off in utter despair and frustration as the USMNT lost to Canada. Pulisic had shown against Southampton and in training that he was ready for more. Lampard knew the best way to put the USMNT’s latest embarrassment behind Pulisic was to put Pulisic into the thick of things at Chelsea.
In the next three games spanning one week, Pulisic played 36, 34 and 90 minutes. His impact in each game grew from a strong supporting role against Newcastle to assisting the winning goal against Ajax to a hat trick against Burnley.
Pulisic is now Chelsea’s second-leading goal creator, with three goals and five assists, trailing only Tammy Abraham’s nine goals and two assists. Pulisic, of course, has done it in about half as many minutes.
Two weeks ago we wrote about how Frank Lampard, Aidy Boothroyd and Gareth Southgate worked together to give Callum Hudson-Odoi the best foundation for a strong October and a healthy, productive season for club and country.
Since the break, Lampard has continued the pattern of managing Hudson-Odoi’s minutes: 90 minutes against Newcastle and Ajax, 18 against Burnley.
Christian Pulisic did not “replace” Hudson-Odoi on Saturday, nor was Hudson-Odoi dropped or cut in favour of Pulisic. Frank Lampard managed both players’ progression into the side, as he has been doing since the summer. Impeccably, we might add.
Reece James is the next player in the line from the physio room to the regular squad. James played 67 minutes against Lille before having an injury setback in training with England’s U21s. Since the break he has had stoppage time run-outs against Newcastle and Ajax and 27 minutes against Burnley.
This measured progression in no way inhibits or jeopardizes James succeeding Cesar Azpilicueta as Chelsea’s starting right back. If anything, it ensures it.
Lampard has no reason to rush James into the side with Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso playing as well as they both are. Azpilicueta has been one of Chelsea’s best all-around players this season, and Alonso has likely made himself the prohibitive favourite at left back even after Emerson Palmieri returns from injury. Lampard has the time and determination to take a conservative approach with James – as he did with Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi – which is the best approach for James’ long-term success and the right back line of succession.
Given their recent performances and the minutes-management Lampard has shown this season, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James will likely all start against Manchester United on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup.
This is not because Mason Mount, Willian, Alonso or Azpilicueta deserve to be dropped or, conversely, because they are too good to play in a lesser competition against Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s floundering side. The upcoming game is simply the right game for one set of players to rest and another set of players to play. For the latter group, it is a well-considered step in their return from injuries and their controlled ascent into the top flight of English football.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said that he knew what his starting lineup would be several months out. Frank Lampard seems to be taking the same approach. Too many patterns are converging on too many positive outcomes for him to be taking things one game at a time.
It’s amazing how much easier it is to trust a process when you can see the mechanisms and results of the process play out in real time.