Chelsea: Four themes merging into Blues’ identity under Frank Lampard
Chelsea’s win over Everton captured some of the defining themes of the final stage of Frank Lampard’s first season. The team are now showing a true identity under Lampard and as Chelsea Football Club.
Chelsea are in the last quarter of the season, and are coming into their own as a club under Frank Lampard. The blend of youth and experience and his handling of individual players are defining this stretch.
1. The old guard are not finished just yet
Such has been the euphoria surrounding the kids at Chelsea, the more senior players like Willian, Pedro and Olivier Giroud have been largely forgotten and written off.
During the course of the season the youngsters have developed injuries, perhaps because of too much game time, or merely because they are still developing as athletes. As a result, their appearances in the starting XI have diminished.
Frank Lampard has consistently said that the whole squad will be needed throughout the course of the season, and that’s certainly the case right now.
In many ways, this season has the makings of a perfect first year of Premier League management for him. The kids started the season well, dipped in form and while Lampard has struggled to find the right combination of players, the last two games against Liverpool and Everton have delivered great results.
As the final games come, the club’s old-guard have a chance to complete that good work started by the “yoof.”
2. Frank Lampard’s management of Kepa Arrizabalaga
We saw during Kepa Arizabalaga’s first season with the club that he certainly didn’t lack confidence, at least as far as standing up to the manager was concerned.
Maurizio Sarri’s sanction following “Kepa-gate” at the League Cup Final was for the keeper to miss just one game.
Under Frank Lampard, following a series of poor games, the 2-2 draw with Arsenal pushed Arrizabalaga out of the starting XI, where he stayed for six weeks.
His return to action this week revealed a marked improvement in attitude. The results – both wins, both clean sheets – may have said more about the opposition, but the Spaniard still played his part well. He commanded the penalty area with more confidence and his distribution mixed up long and short balls.
Whatever the reason behind his blip, Lampard has managed it well. Of course, the Twitterati thought it may be the end of Kepa Arrizabalaga, but the world’s most expensive goalkeeper’s time in SW6 may not be done just yet.
3. Players being given and taking responsibility
Coming in like a new broom, Lampard restored parity between the management and players. He made it less about himself and more about the team, giving the players freedom to express themselves.
It may not always have worked out but it’s led to a much happier, cohesive camp, and that can only be good going forward.
Having no leaders on the pitch was a criticism of Chelsea throughout last season. That may have been the fault of the manager or simply the players not being willing to step up.
That’s still the case but there have been signs that the tide is turning. In Mateo Kovacic, Chelsea have a player who looks like he could be an on-field enforcer and, although missing against Everton, his Chelsea future seems assured.
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The youngsters have no problem with responsibility. That’s to the credit of not only Lampard but Jody Morris and Joe Edwards. As that blend of youth and experience develop through the coming years, Chelsea can once again become a true force.
4. Billy Gilmour is the future
In Billy Gilmour, Chelsea have maybe saved the best until last in Frank Lampard’s inaugural season.
Jorginho’s suspension has given the young Scot his chance and it would be an understatement to say it’s all gone rather well. Two man of the match performances and plaudits from pundits aplenty mean things bode well.
It may have been mentioned somewhere on this particular website that Gilmour ought to have been in the starting XI before now. Jorginho really should be looking over his shoulder. The way Gilmour bossed the midfield during the last two games was way beyond his years and what Chelsea get from his Italian counterpart. That’s not to say he’ll be starting regularly just yet. We’ve already seen that the kids should be integrated slowly whilst they develop.
So there’s no need to say “my” “regista” is better than yours, at least not yet, but that time will come. One of the two may not even be with the club when that day arrives – you choose which.
Gilmour has looked incredibly calm and accomplished for one so young. Frank Lampard will have seen this at Cobham and watching Gilmour throughout the varying youth levels. Billy Gilmour really is the real deal.
All of this gives an indication that the management team in place are not just there by chance. For once it would appear Chelsea have some kind of a plan and are beginning to instigate it.
Next. Expectations are high for Billy Gilmour, but they are at least based on him. dark
Many have criticised Lampard and will continue to do so as the games pass, but he’s beginning to set his stall out and, more importantly, achieve his goals off the pitch as efficiently as he did on it.