Chelsea: It’s time to admit, Frank Lampard was never the right choice
“We beat you at home, we beat you away. Stop crying, Frank Lampard!”
Born in Elland Road and inspired by Oasis, this iconic chant became the face of Frank Lampard’s tenure in the Championship. Concocted by Leeds United’s fans to the tune of ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’, it was engineered with the aim of mocking Lampard’s irate and exasperated responses to the infamous ‘Spygate’ scandal.
Albeit diluted by Derby’s victory in the play-off semi-final that extinguished what was perceived as Leeds’ best opportunity to get themselves back in the top-flight, the lyrics carry meaning until this very day, all the way over to London, in a different way of course.
It’s time to start crying, Frank Lampard.
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An alarming dip in form has seen Lampard’s men manage a miserly 4 wins in their last 11 Premier League games. Chelsea’s sharp vicissitudes of fortunes have not stemmed out of the blue. Lampard’s revolution seems to have run its race and it is, frankly speaking, something that he should’ve seen coming.
What is even more mindboggling is Lampard’s lack of assertiveness in forcing the board’s hand. Despite the transfer ban being lifted, there have been no significant arrivals or departures at Cobham.
Reinforcements are needed and needed at once. Mason Mount looks drained, Tammy Abraham is injured, N’Golo Kante is a husk of the player he once was and the less said about the left-back conundrum the better. Chelsea are lacking in confidence, and it has manifested itself in their performances on the pitch.
Tammy Abraham has shouldered the goalscoring load with 13 goals in the Premier League. Whilst several names including the likes of Timo Werner and Moussa Dembele have been cited, there has been no concrete approach. Edinson Cavani seems to be on his way to the club, but one must question the reasoning behind going after a 32-year-old when much younger alternatives are up for grabs.
Lampard’s possession-based approach has done Chelsea more harm than good in recent times. The strict adherence towards this credo has seen the London based side carved open on the counter-attack on multiple occasions. 32 goals have been conceded by this Chelsea defense, one that begs, pleads for further supplements. They have not been helped by Kepa’s inability to ‘Kepa’ the ball out of the net.
Frank Lampard is no stern and feisty presence in the dressing room, unlike a certain Mr. Jose Mourinho. While Jose tends to lose the dressing room more often than not, he does not shy away from his duties.
Mourinho takes no prisoners and Lampard could do well to add such elements into his plans. Sometimes, all one needs is tough love. Granted, too much of it serves a detrimental purpose, but none of it has the same effect. So, start crying Frank or rather, make your players cry.
It is somewhat miraculous that Chelsea are still in fourth position in the league. Tottenham and Manchester United have been going through a similar tumultuous period and have been unable to capitalize on Chelsea’s inconsistencies.
Failure to secure Champions League football will be cataclysmic for a club of Chelsea’s stature. The time has come for Lampard to force his opinions on the board and wake them up from their slumber. Chelsea have only until the 1st of February to salvage their season.
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So, start crying Frank Lampard, start crying to the board, plead them so that you get to mold the team in your image. If not, the revolving door that has greeted so many of your predecessors beckons, albeit not immediately.