Chelsea Tactics and Transfers: Frank Lampard still the best thing going

Chelsea beat Arsenal because of the fantastic management of Frank Lampard. Suggesting anything else would be madness, at the least.

Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 in a match that could have gone either way on many occasions, and that showed exactly the spirit and fight Chelsea have become known for as a club. A victory like this highlights why this current squad has been so frustrating at times. The lethargy and lack of character with which they started the game was inexcusable. They simply haven’t turned it around enough this season.

Frank Lampard deserves all the credit for not only realizing what was happening and why, but being brave enough to make bold decisions that would have been held against him had Chelsea lost. This is exactly what a truly top level manager is able to do.

Lampard was always going to be a good training ground coach. He was a great training ground player. He will improve the players undoubtedly at Cobham, but now he has shown the sort of tactical nous that points to a truly complete manager.

The quality of his squad isn’t great at the moment. Having them in fourth despite the lack of genuine talent is good work by him. Getting them there with recent victories over Tottenham and Arsenal away is even better.

Bringing on Jorginho as a substitute in the first half as well as changing his formation before the first half was even over was the definition of proactive management. To do that and then give a 32 minutes debut away in a London derby to Tariq Lamptey is the sort of thing only a very smart and self-assured manager can do.

It is discouraging that yet again we’re forced to talk about how poor the defending has been. They’re unorganized, flat and submissive. Sometimes it’s about as terrible and unconvincing as watching a group of teenagers drink too much for the first time.

Even from simple set pieces they look as if they’ve never played together before.

At this point we have no idea how much improvement Kepa Arrizabalaga may have made between last season and this because he’s never had a chance to show it. He barely had a chance at almost every goal scored against him, and it happened again at Arsenal. He remains a save artist but so was Carlo Cudicini, and you don’t pay Gianluigi Buffon money for Cudicini.

Arrizabalaga has shown the potential to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but all the other contenders have at least a minimal degree of competence in front of them.

Chelsea won’t want to make rash decisions in the transfer market that could hurt the maturing youth or reverse the club’s gains in player development. But Chelsea simply must improve their defence through the transfer market, and it looks like space will be opening up soon.

Emerson has regressed as sadly and obviously as cheap plastic surgery, and rumors have it that Marcos Alonso will be on the way out as well.

At this point and it’s sad to say there’s not a single central defender to hang a hat on at Chelsea . They have three central defenders, all of whom represent the steel over silk option and yet still do not even do that perfectly. They also all lack the necessary complete defensive skills for distribution and game reading. It’s a comedy of errors that Shakespeare would envy.

Fikayo Tomori is a top young player, but still doesn’t look as comfortable or commanding in the role as the questionably loaned out Ethan Ampadu did under Antonio Conte two whole years ago.

Cesar Azpilicueta is, as always, a good if non-glamorous soldier and Reece James is injured.

So essentially Chelsea’s defensive corps is one hard working right back and an injured one. That’s it. Wow. Out of eight men, only two can be unquestioned at this point. The indecency is alarming.

An experienced and traditional central defender who can offer some intelligence, organization and class to the back line would likely improve the side with immediate effect. Alessio Romagnoli of AC Milan would be a perfect option given his character and talents to step into the left-sided center back position. Behind him, Ruben Dias, Milan Skriniar, Jose Gimenez or Tyrone Mings would be worth taking if a deal can be made in January.

Chelsea showed a great deal of promise in beating Arsenal on Sunday and they should be happy with where they are at the moment. They’re nowhere near as talented or disciplined as the sides in front of them in the table and even a few that are behind them.

Fortunately, Lampard’s management is quickly improving, and as evidence the Blues are in fourth place despite many obvious reasons why that is so improbable.

Chelsea still don’t look like they’ll capture fourth place at season’s end, especially given the talent and momentum on show at Manchester United, Wolves and Tottenham. The Blues should prepare for that outcome. It would be OK. They shouldn’t overreact as long as Frank Lampard is showing all the necessary improvement.

Patience is the only thing the support needs to offer at this time and improvement is all that they can ask for. At this moment, it looks like both are happening.