Five points from a possible 12 to start the season isn’t the start most Chelsea fans are accustomed to, but this Premier League is unlike any other in their recent history.
A 4-0 humbling to Manchester United couldn’t have been a worse start but they did well to win away to an enthusiastic and buoyant Norwich City.
Any positive momentum gained by that victory was nullified when they let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with newly promoted Sheffield United in a game where Frank Lampard’s relative inexperience and lack of tactical nous was exposed by the Blades.
The experience of club captain César Azpilicueta, Willian, N’Golo Kanté and Pedro will be invaluable to Lampard in nurturing and guiding the likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Billy Gilmour, who are all supremely talented but unproven and naive at the top level, which was evidenced in the game against Sheffield United.
(Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Mount and Abraham in particular have both been impressive and have transitioned seamlessly from the Championship to the Premier League, but managing their workload will be a challenge for Lampard as he looks to navigate three cup competitions as well as the league.
Bringing through the academy players has been necessitated by the transfer ban, which has hampered their ability to make any significant improvements to their squad. Losing the almost irreplaceable Eden Hazard was always going to be difficult.
In Christian Pulisic they have a player with undoubted potential, but he’s a few years away from being a true Hazard replacement.
From an England viewpoint, it’s going to be exciting to watch Chelsea play this season as there is an abundance of young English talent in the squad who could very well provide the backbone of the national team in the future.
Frank Lampard will be given time and his job will definitely not be under any immediate pressure. He’s a proven winner and while external expectations may be for a below-par season, Lampard himself will be determined to exceed expectations.
What would constitute a good season for Chelsea?
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Hazard was great I agree. He would make this team better. Personnel wise he will be missed. Tactically? probably not. Watford had improved to 3rd on the table after 4 games last yr. Chelsea =3rd best defence last season was largely thanks to the less than spectacular rudiger playing 33 games. Man utd's 3 games since? 2 points and less goals than Tammy Abraham.
Alexander Lowe
Roar Rookie
"Hazard leaving isn't much of a factor." Eden Hazard is one of the best player's in the world and was arguably Chelsea's best player since 2012 and you honestly believe the man leaving whilst the club is on a transfer ban "isn't much of a factor". Chelsea has the equal third worst goal difference in the League, so I hope the less than spectacular Rudiger can fix that up for you as well. Also what do you mean Manchester United hasn't improved much? They beat Chelsea 4-0 on the opening day, I'd say thats an improvement on last season.
Hutcho
Roar Rookie
Great point regarding the transfer ban. It could definitely be a blessing in disguise as it does allow the conveyor belt of talent an opportunity to shine. Chelsea fans are intelligent enough to know there’ll be lots of ups and downs this season but ultimately they’ll stand by Lampard and get behind their academy players. I think they may surprise a few people.
Hutcho
Roar Rookie
Arsenal could be a threat when they have their first choice defence back but if Chelsea can make the top 4 then that’s a massive win for Lampard. The players do seem to enjoy his style of play much more than they did under Sarri but the worry is always naivety both with the manager and the players. It’s going to be fascinating to see how Lampard tweaks throughout the season.
Hutcho
Roar Rookie
You make a good point with the substitutions. It’s not often talked about but substitutions are crucial in football and as Lampard gains more experience I’m sure this will be an aspect of his management that will improve.
Patrick Mastertoun
Roar Rookie
I think top 6 would be outstanding for Chelsea but with pressure from the like of Leicester, Wolves and Everton top 8 may be more realistic. With the abundance of exciting young players, maybe the transfer ban is a blessing is disguise? This next gen of Chelsea players are getting real game time and lots of it. This may not have happened had they been free to buy Wilf Zaha and alike. Only time will tell if Super Frank is up to the challenges of the Prem.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Hudson-Odoi is another exciting english youngster that will get plenty of game time this season. Between him and Pulisic developing, pedro reinvigorated and willian not finished with, Hazard leaving isn't much of a factor. Rudiger's return will improve the back line a lot. I haven't checked but I think if games were only 45 or 70 mins long theyd be sitting in top 3 and would have won a European Super Cup. The football he has us playing is great to watch (unlike Sarriball), they just can't sustain either that way of playing or their concentration for a full 90 mins yet. I said when he was at Derby that his tactics remind me of Klopp's style. The first month at Chelsea has just reinforced that. We won't drop out of the top 6, top 4 should still be the aim. It's not like Man Utd and Arsenal have improved much or at all on last season.
Russell Noble
Roar Pro
As a Chelsea fan, top 6 is the dream, but realistically, top 8 is where we should land. We're firing well with the squad we've been granted, especially with the lack of experience from our academy players. Just need to tweak the substitutions and we'll be right. We're suffering out the back, but when Toni comes back and with a healthy Kante, the backline should start performing well.