I’ve very much gone through the emotions on this one. My initial thoughts were that it was a desperate move, and I can actually understand why some people are screaming PR. It’s certainly a move that will fill Stamford Bridge with excitement there’s no doubt about that. Is is a smart move from the owners to calm the toxicity and lift the mood? Perhaps, but only they will know that.
My initial thoughts was that it was a bit straw clutching and lacked direction. I mean, we’ve done a full circle. Sacked Frank Lampard to be replaced by Thomas Tuchel. Sacked Thomas Tuchel to be replaced by Graham Potter. And now here we are, about to put Lampard back into that same hot seat again just two years later! It struck me as a bit of a circus act.
But then, after pondering some more and resting on my thoughts for a bit, it all started to make a bit more sense. I still believe that we are going all in for Julian Nagelsmann. But maybe after talks this week, he’s not been keen to take the job yet and really does want that time out. So if he’s not available until the summer, then getting Lampard in as interim until then does make sense.
As previously mentioned, Lampard will lift the mood. You can already see that on social media (albeit there are some odd ones who just hate Lampard, which I’ve never understood). I know there are some who doubt him as a manager, I’ve even questioned him a lot. But if hiring an interim is the only option right now, then Lampard is a fairly decent option to come in for the last 9 games of the season.
We’ve got nothing to lose in the league, and at the very least Lampard has the ability to motivate players. A lot of this current squad naturally respect him, many of them haven’t worked with him before, and some of them might also be seething at the fact he’s coming back, at least those that he didn’t used to rate!
But Lampard has also never been afraid to drop the ‘reliable’ or ‘experienced’ players if he feels they aren’t good enough, and that’s a huge plus point.
Players like Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, and Reece James will be buzzing with this news. And other players who have not really had a look in under Graham Potter will be feeling like they have a fresh chance; players like Carney Chukwuemeka, David Fofana, and even Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might have a chance.
I’m not saying this is a perfect option, far from it. But it’s a fair option for sure. And to be honest, it’s super Frankie Lampard, and there is no way that I can be anything less than buzzing and excited for him coming back to our club. A legend returning, with potentially other legends by his side, has certainly given me a pick me up when I really needed it.
I have no idea how it is going to go, but he has a much better and bigger squad at his disposal now and some of the players who caused him problems are no longer there.
The quality in this Chelsea side is clear to see, and if Lampard can just get us scoring again, then he has a chance of going on a good run from now until the end of the season and getting some results. But if he doesn’t, then I don’t think he will/can do any worse than any other interim options we could bring in right now.
I’m buzzing!
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