Chelsea’s Frank Lampard has what former managers did not in the market
By Travis Tyler
Chelsea is in a unique situation with Frank Lampard. His words are similar to Jose Mourinho’s or Antonio Conte’s, but Lampard has something they never did.
The window is nearly closed and despite rumors about Nathan Ake, Edinson Cavani, and whoever else, Chelsea has nothing to show. It is understandable that the Blues are sick of getting Davide Zappacosta’s and Danny Drinkwater’s but there seems little point in having the ban lifted to do nothing.
Frank Lampard is getting agitated too. After the Hull match, which was quite simply dreadful to watch in its ineptitude, Lampard went to the presser fully loaded. The manager stopped using words like “it has to be right”. He used “need” and mentioned how Chelsea has fallen behind because of the ban.
This is a familiar story. Jose Mourinho complained about the lack of transfer activity. Antonio Conte did as well, especially in his last year. But there is one major difference between the reactions against Mourinho and Conte and the reactions against Lampard: Lampard has the fans on his side.
See, it has always been a weird irony that the fans will say “we need signings!” on one hand, and then when Mourinho or Conte said the same they were “whining”. Those narratives lingered long after both managers left as seemingly all the issues were placed on their heads rather than the boards. Maybe it was a simple case of agreeing with the message, but not the delivery.
It is already different with Lampard. When Lampard said what he said in his post match presser, it was not matched with cries of “whining”. It was praised. The fans have firmly taken Lampard’s side over the lack of transfer activity.
This could be important in the run in this season. If the fans side with Lampard now over the lack of transfer activity, they will (likely) continue to do so as Chelsea chase top four this season. Losing out on top four would be bad, but as it stands Lampard will get sympathy over it rather than ridicule and blame.
Another reason for the change could be that there is a sense Chelsea is not going to just buy any player but only the right player. Rather than settle for deadline day deals for a right back and center mid that will barely play, it feels as though Chelsea will only move for a player that will actually work out.
But realistically, it could just be the culmination of years of the board doing the same thing or rather the same lack of a thing. Whereas it was a newer concept under Mourinho or Conte, now it is a well set in factor. The board, while praised when doing something, has very little support overall when inactive like they are currently.
That is a buffer that will only benefit Lampard in the long run but he would surely prefer the buffer of actual signings. With only a few days left, that seems like an increasingly slim chance but a lot could happen quickly.