Chelsea: Three positives and one well-known negative from win over Everton

2. Frank Lampard is finding the right blend of young and old

As much fun as it has been to watch a team chock full of academy prospects mix it up with the grownups, the collective lack of guile and experience has proven problematic on a number of occasions this season.

Against Everton, however, Frank Lampard had no choice but to lean on some of the older squad players who had been relegated to bit-part roles under the new regime.

Pedro and Olivier Giroud filled out the attacking line alongside Willian, using their combined intelligence and decisiveness to turn Everton’s defense inside out time and time again.

Ironically, Chelsea’s two oldest wingers turned in one of the most energetic and irrepressible attacking onslaughts of the season, with both players registering a goal and an assist. Even Giroud, who definitely looked gassed for a large portion of the match, scored the type of goal that experienced poachers make their livings off of.

While the entire attacking three played well, their jobs were made easier by the energy and unbridled optimism of a much younger midfield consisting of Gilmour, Mason Mount and Ross Barkley. Barkley was especially good, offering a bit more graft and toughness than his fellow midfielders, while adding an extra punch of athleticism to the forward line. His two assists were a testament to the quality and hard work he showed against his former club.

The general takeaway is that Lampard showed his increasing understanding of his squad, and is piecing together lineups that make tactical sense, rather than blindly playing the best youngsters or cramming players into a formation that doesn’t quite make sense. It’s further proof of his development as a manager.

If he can keep getting it right for a few more weeks, this will be a very successful first season when all is said and done.