Chelsea’s future fluidity can be a strength and a weakness

Chelsea is aiming to build a squad that can adapt tactically to every situation on and off the pitch. That can be a strength just as much as a weakness.

Frank Lampard is clearly a believer in formations being fluid constructs. While his teams often maintain some sort of basic structure, the players are allowed to express themselves and roam about to wherever the space is. Even some of the positions he fields, like “wingers” require quotations because they are rarely truly just that role.

The strategy has paid dividends for Lampard. He caught Marcelo Biesla off guard when he switched to a 4-diamond-2 midmatch in the Championship playoffs. He caught Jose Mourinho twice with a 3-4-3 switch prior to the match. Being able to not only use multiple formations, but switch between them in game, is clearly a goal of Lampard’s.

That flexibility can catch opponents unaware and make Chelsea a very dangerous side. But on the same note, it can also be a hindrance to the Blues themselves. It is a knife that cuts both ways.

First of all, consider the attackers Chelsea will have or is pursuing for next season. Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner (if he ever signs), and Kai Havertz (the pipe dream) are all extremely flexible players. Even Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi can be counted in that group given how the “wingers” are often attacking midfielders and vice versa under Lampard.

The Blues would be able to go from a 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 to a 4-diamond-2 almost at the drop of a hat. Starting with a back three, the Blues could flow from a 3-4-3 to a 3-4-2-1 to a 3-5-2 to pretty much any configuration anyone can think of. Opponents will have to constantly check where every player is and adjust accordingly.

But again, that works both ways. At least in the initial stages, Chelsea players could be just as confused by the changes as the opponent. If just one player does not get the memo that things are changing on the pitch, the whole set up could be jeopardized.

Something similar to that has already been seen this season. When Chelsea swapped back and forth from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3 for a series of matches, the Blues began to struggle. When they stuck with one or the other for a few games, things went much smoother.

That is a balancing act Lampard will have to manage. How much fluidity is too much? When should things stick and when should they be allowed to flow? Clubs often go through these phases on a macro scale but Lampard’s desires will push it to a micro scale. It is a difficult job but one Lampard is clearly eager to have.

Lampard wants players capable of playing multiple roles not only so he can pick the best players every time, but so that he can pick the best formation as well. Sometimes that shift can happen midgame and sometimes it may happen game to game. That will make Chelsea dangerous, but it can also become confusing for the Blues themselves. Lampard will have to find the right give and go, but if he does, Chelsea will be a true force next season.