No one will know more than Frank Lampard that a slump can cost a Chelsea manager his job.

After a pretty successful maiden season as The Blues boss, Lampard and his side have started to struggle this term.

After a bright start to the campaign, Chelsea are currently on a run that has seen them win just once in their last six Premier League outings and losing four times! That dismal run has seen Frank’s team fall to eighth in the league table and seven points behind league leaders Liverpool and Manchester United (who also have a game in hand over Chelsea).

On Boxing Day, Chelsea were humbled by city rivals Arsenal who too were experiencing their own issues. Yesterday, Manchester City easily turned over The Blues at Stamford Bridge (BBC Match Report) and the pressure has really started to build for Frank Lampard.

That being said it’s not all doom and gloom for Chelsea and their manager just yet. They should take inspiration on the run Man United have been on since November, that saw them reach joint first place after languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

For Chelsea to go on a similar run, I think Lampard will once again have to trust some of the talented youngsters that he has at his disposal.

Last term, young Scot Billy Gilmour came to the fore and really shone when given a chance.

Wide-man Callum Hudson-Odoi’s talents have been known for a few seasons now. Injury hampered him last year but 2021 could really be a breakout spell for the young England internationalist.

Incidentally both youngsters came off the bench against City yesterday and actually started to take the game to their opponents, which was more than more experienced players had managed up until the arrival of the talented youths.

Younger players have sometimes got less awareness to the pressures of form. They are still keen to prove themselves at elite level and have a hunger to get wins for their team.

New signing Kai Havertz probably needs more minutes if you are going to get the best out of him. He too came on against Man City and made an impression.

It wasn’t by chance, in my opinion, that it was Havertz who provided an assist for Hudson-Odoi’s goal.

The players that made way for the young trio were N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech.

They were all sluggish and much of the game seemed to pass them by. Ziyech in particular seemed to not understand that he had to put a shift in for the team both defensively as well as in attack.

I am not saying these players should be dropped from the first team in the long term but a kick up the backside wouldn’t go amiss as they struggle to find form.

Gilmour gives more energy to the team and he isn’t scared to get onto the ball and dictate play.

Hudson-Odoi has that spark that’s needed to give his teammates some creativity to gain a spark that can make things happen. Lampard even said as much after his recent performance against Aston Villa:

“I liked his performance today and I liked the range of his passing which was very evident in the first half. a couple of great cross field ball and some of feet, touches and movement were great.”

Frank Lampard via SI.com

It seems a bit strange that the Chelsea gaffer would then drop the winger for the City game. Callum probably needs more consistent starts to get to his very best!

While I would be happy to see Frank Lampard call upon his young stars more as his team languish in a stale state, I am not advocating a total overhaul and having just kids in the starting eleven. That would be foolish.

Olivier Giroud has already proven himself as being leader in attack, I’d actually look at dropping and resting Timo Werner and having Giroud starting again. I also have to hold my hands up and say that Thiago Silva has impressed me more than I believed he would.

There’s a balanced to be had when sprinkling young, talented players in with older more experienced pros. But for me, Frank Lampard has to trust the likes of Billy Gilmour and Callum Hudson-Odoi as he tries to save his side’s league campaign and possibly his own job!

Posted on January 4th, 2021 by scott
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