Lampard's lack of new manager bounce prolonging Chelsea's suffering

The return of Frank Lampard to the Chelsea dugout was supposed to lift the mood at Stamford Bridge.  

The Blues were languishing in mid-table despite winning the summer and winter transfer windows. Graham Potter had the unenviable job of stamping his authority and ideas on a squad made up of new signings. In truth, it was an impossible task and yet he was being judged on, well, everything. Team performances, results and player performances.  

In the 10 matches following the end of the January transfer window, Chelsea won on just three occasions and lost on four. It felt like a matter of when and not if the former Brighton manager would be replaced as manager. A top-four challenge was not unlikely so a change wasn’t required to kickstart the campaign in that sense. But bedding in all of these new signings, when the mood was as low as it was, was far from ideal from a player development point of view.  

So when Todd Boehly made the decision to sack his second manager of the campaign, it almost made sense. There wasn’t much to play for in the Premier League while knockout football is often tied to momentum. At this stage of the season, the new manager bounce could’ve resulted in a run to a Champions League final.  

The appointment of Lampard raised a few eyebrows. He had been dismissed by Chelsea for Thomas Tuchel and then he was sacked by Everton earlier this season. As a long-term appointment, he would’ve made little to no sense. But, as a short-term hire, it could’ve worked out.  

Lampard knows the club and has the support of the fans. A number of the players within the squad will have worked with him and those who haven’t could’ve viewed this as a window of opportunity.  

We’re now three games into his second stint as Chelsea manager and Lampard is winless. The Blues have scored just a single goal and have conceded five. They lost to Wolves, who at the time were firmly in a relegation battle. They then went to Madrid for a Champions League clash with holders Real Madrid and suffered a 2-0 loss. The Blues got off the mark against Brighton but eventually lost 2-1 to cement their place in the bottom half of the Premier League table. 

🫠 Frank Lampard's last 17 matches as a manager (all comps):

❌ Lost 2-1
❌ Lost 2-0
❌ Lost 1-0
❌ Lost 2-0
❌ Lost 2-1
❌ Lost 3-1
❌ Lost 4-1
🤝 Drew 1-1
❌ Lost 2-1
❌ Lost 3-0
❌ Lost 4-1
❌ Lost 2-0
🤝 Drew 0-0
✅ Won 3-0
❌ Lost 1-0
❌ Lost 2-0
❌ Lost 2-1 pic.twitter.com/3wtrCR8QHe

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 17, 2023

Lampard has raised concerns with player fitness recently, saying: "It is more about speaking to the players individually. When we do get the chance to work, I think the team needs some physical work. I think that’s important for us because at this level you have to be right on the limit and we are not on the limit right now.  

"I think that can be a capacity thing with the players for whatever reason. It doesn’t matter how we got there but it needs to be addressed now." 

While that will certainly limit what can and cannot be done, the manager’s decision to change the system on a game-by-game basis won’t help anyone. One of the criticisms levelled at Potter was that his tactical tinkering had an impact on consistency. It is difficult to build momentum when multiple changes are being made on a weekly basis. Lampard has continued this.  

In his first match, he set Chelsea up in a 4-3-3 shape. He then changed to a 3-5-2 in Spain before deploying a 4-2-3-1 against Brighton. The one-time Derby County tactician isn’t just changing the shape though, he’s also changing personnel.  

For example, Marc Cucurella started the first match at left-back, came on as a centre-back against Madrid and then didn’t get off the bench against Brighton. Raheem Sterling has played on the left of a front three, as part of a front two and then he lead the line over the weekend. Benoit Badiashile had to settle for a place on the bench against Wolves and wasn’t part of the Champions League squad before coming in to start in the defeat to the Seagulls.  

New managers usually come in with a clear vision in mind. They often go back to basics and look to shore things up defensively. After all, if you are difficult to score against then the likelihood of losing decreases. They then build on a few positive results. Lampard hasn’t done that and this is perhaps due to the interim nature of his role. Maybe he thought a good first impression on the new owners could see him get this job on a permanent basis. 

Whatever the case, his lack of a plan for this opportunity has nullified any potential new manager bounce and Chelsea now find themselves winless in six with Real Madrid to play this week.