Frank Lampard being sacked by Chelsea this week wasn’t a surprise, but it was unfair - here’s why
Lampard out, Tuchel in…
Chelsea FC as we know all too well by now, have a very definitive and business-like way of doing things. Big managers come in and leave two years later in a constant uncertain and ruthless cycle.
The biggest mistake as a manager of Chelsea is to ever think your job is completely safe or get settled in your new home or often new country.
It would be naïve to take on the job thinking that there is any security.
So, I guess the question is; why do managers take the Chelsea job with all this in mind?
Via Getty Images/Goal
I think the answer is because there are several managers who have had short term success and even though it has predictably ended sour, often the manager doesn’t get all the blame for that from the press.
That’s because everyone knows how ruthless Roman Abramovich is and so often managers have actually enhanced their reputation after a spell with Chelsea.
Look at Conte for example who was able to land a job straight away with Inter Milan.
Jose soon went into the United job and Ancelotti is still recognised as one of the best managers in Europe and is excelling at Everton.
The point is, managing Chelsea is often a great chance of silverware and it’s one of the greatest achievements for any manager to win the Premier League.
It was different for Lampard though, as whilst I’m sure he dreamed of winning more trophies as manager with his boyhood club, he knew it was going to be a longer-term project.
He, I’m sure, would have wanted to have a Ferguson like reign at the club too but with Chelsea being the club they are, that was never going to become reality.
However, whilst I’m not saying Chelsea’s board should completely change their approach as it has largely been successful, I do think they made a mistake with this decision.
Lampard in my opinion worked wonders for Chelsea last season.
They were up against it from the start, losing their best player in Eden Hazard to Real Madrid and a transfer ban meaning they couldn’t spend the money from his transfer fee to replace him.
Whilst the free signing of Pulisic was a type of replacement and he had a good first season, the squad needed more reinforcements.
So, to then accept the situation and give opportunities to inexperienced youngsters was brave and admirable.
He found a way to integrate players like Tomori, James, Mount and Abraham into the first team picture and on the whole, it paid off. Mount and James were the standout youngsters, both playing a big part and showing they have great futures at the club.
So, was there as much need after a successful season with young players at the heart of it, to have a squad overhaul with 5 big name summer signings? There’s no doubt Thiago Silva, Chilwell and Mendy have been a success and improved Chelsea’s biggest weakness from last season which was their defence and keeper.
However, adding two attacking players in Havertz and Werner as well as a new look backline was perhaps too much all at once.
I’m sure they will all turn into important players for Chelsea, Havertz and Werner have too much talent to be complete flops. Although, the boards expectations for it to all click in place straight away and for Chelsea to be challenging for the title was unrealistic.
Abramovich for perhaps the first time, is being seriously questioned for his approach. Often his decision making in the past has been business like and smart but this time it feels just business like.
Lampard needed more time and the unanimous backing from the players and the board could have been all it took to turn this recent slump in form around.
We will never know how successful Lampard could have been at Chelsea, so I can’t judge his reign one way or the other.
“That’s modern-day football for you”
‘That’s modern-day football for you’ is the response you usually get for making this argument, but I question why is it?
What is wrong with giving managers some time to build their philosophy at the club, particularly when it’s a club they know so well and care about its success as much as anyone.
Thomas Tuchel will come in, there will be an inevitable bounce back in form, I’m sure he’ll get Werner and Havertz performing over time and go on to win some trophies.
There will come a time though, not so far down the line when the form dries up and as soon as it does, he’ll be out the door like all those who came before him.
That is why Chelsea are back to square one, they had a chance to change the culture of the football club and they blew it.
This isn’t what football should be about but it’s in line with the world we live in, one where everything has to be instant.