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Three big questions: Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and year two

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Frank Lampard manager of Chelsea celebrates his teams victory over Spurs during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Frank Lampard manager of Chelsea celebrates his teams victory over Spurs during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard (R) gestures with Chelsea’s English midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in London on July 14, 2020. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard (R) gestures with Chelsea’s English midfielder Callum Hudson-Odoi at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in London on July 14, 2020. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Are there raised expectations because of the transfer market this summer?

This is probably the most hotly debated topic around Lampard’s Chelsea this season. Chelsea has been, on average, nearly 24 points behind Manchester City in the last three seasons. The club has been, on average, 21 points behind Liverpool in the same time period. Is it truly possible to close that gap quickly?

Then again, can a team really bring in a starting striker, starting winger, starting midfielder, starting left back, an experienced but still good center back, and potentially a defensive midfielder and a keeper and settle for closing the gap? And what does that look like for the cups? Chelsea was blasted out of Europe by the eventual Champions League winner Bayern Munich, but should Chelsea be merely aiming to make that a closer match with all these signings?

Some, including the vast majority of rival fans, will say yes, all these signings must result in massive improvements and challenges for silverware. Others will take a cooler approach, noting the time it takes players to settle and the sheer size of the gap over the last three seasons.

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The true answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Chelsea limped over the line to fourth last season. They exited the League Cup in the round of 16. They made the FA Cup final but lost to rivals Arsenal. They were in the round of 16 against Bayern Munich, but barely made it through the group stage and found themselves with no chance of getting further than the German juggernauts.

Next season, the minimum has to be getting out of the Champions League groups and making top four with comfort. Neither should be something the Blues should be worrying about going into the final matchdays. As for the cups and the rest of Champions League, merely being competitive will likely be enough. Lampard’s side cannot exit to a team they are clearly favorites over, but obviously good opponents would be met with little shock.

Beyond that, things just need to look more consistent than last season. The Blues had several good spells in Lampard’s first year, but they were often broken up with poor runs of form. Lampard will need his side to settle in a positive direction to make this season a successful one.

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