Former Chelsea manager linked to Norwich even if it makes little sense

Where Chelsea legend and former manager Frank Lampard took a job next was always going to be of interest to the true Blues. Lampard is a legend and though things didn’t end as fans would have desired, he’s still someone to keep an eye on.

But, Lampard can’t take just any job next. He guided a Chelsea side that had a transfer ban and had lost Eden Hazard into top four despite few believing the Blues would do so. Before last December, he had Chelsea fighting at the top of the table playing some exciting, fluid football. He’s clearly too good to return to the Championship, but his relative inexperience and Thomas Tuchel’s performances with the same squad will mean wherever Lampard goes next, he has to succeed to set the narrative a certain way.

That’s why the recent rumors don’t make much sense. Norwich City, surely doomed to relegation, have sacked Daniel Farke. Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has been heavily linked. While these things can (and likely will) change quickly, it just doesn’t make much sense for any party to see Lampard go to Norwich.

First of all, from Lampard’s perspective this is hardly the sure thing he needs after his Chelsea stint. Norwich is all but guaranteed to go down after their start to the season and it would take something herculean to flip that narrative. Coming in this early, that relegation would be reflected back on Lampard. That’s a hard mark to shake once acquired. Just ask Big Sam Allardyce who stayed as relevant as he has for as long as he has because of his ability to save clubs from relegation.

Furthermore, if Norwich wants to try to stay up, more of the same likely isn’t going to cut it. Lampard, like Farke, is an attack minded manager. Both have proven themselves good at using and developing young players in aggressive systems. And while that may have gotten Norwich promotion twice in three years, that same idea seems set to get them relegated twice in three years too.

But, the one idea to set aside right now is that Norwich did stick by Farke through his relegation. Very few clubs are willing to do that with only Newcastle with Rafa Benitez and Burnley with Sean Dyche coming to mind in recent memory. Perhaps the difference is that those managers were able to switch to something more defensive once in the Premier League, but if Norwich is willing to stick by Lampard through relegation, they might just be a good club for him after all.

Norwich has a great youth system and they are generally pretty aggressive with getting transfers. Though a relegation would hurt Lampard’s career prospects for sometime, being able to stay at Norwich would give him a team ready made to get promoted. And, knowing Lampard, he’ll do that using a lot of young players. Those young players will be able to develop and maybe the team and manager will be more prepared for the Premier League should a promotion come.

A club that would suit Lampard is the recently open Aston Villa. Dean Smith did a wonderful job at the Birmingham club but this season has not started well for them. They have shown an ability to play attacking while staying in the Premier League though, so it makes for a much easier fit for Lampard than a Norwich side doomed for relegation.

The surface level of this doesn’t make sense for any party though. Norwich needs something different to survive, not something similar. Lampard needs a sure thing to ensure his career trajectory, not a massive risk. This one should play out quickly but if it’s Lampard to Norwich, it has a few hoops to go through.