Replacing Frank Lampard – Two Poor Decisions in One

Patience is a quality that is somewhat lacking in modern football – that is to say, it is almost non-existent. A bad couple of weeks and the manager’s head is on the chopping block. It’s ridiculous.

And at Chelsea sacking managers is not just a habit but a hobby. Roman Abramovich loves firing them. Loves it. Likes to swing the axe at least every eighteen months just to keep his arm in. Only Watford go through gaffers faster (they have had, insanely, four “permanent” managers in the last twelve months). And today that axe has swung again, this time to behead Frank Lampard.

Now, there are two terrible decisions here. The first is sacking Lampard, and the second is replacing him with Thomas Tuchel (as is, reportedly, the plan).

Firstly, sacking Frank Lampard. Why? I know that Chelsea are on a poor run at the moment, but why? He had a good first season and received a massive amount of investment in his vision over the summer. Why not show some faith in Lampard and try to wait the poor form out? Sacking him just means that a new gaffer comes in and will want to reshape the squad in his image. And when he has a poor run he too will be sacked, and the cycle will repeat. And then repeat again. Over and over, as has been the case for the last two decades since Abramovich bought the club. There is no long-term strategy – just win immediately or you’re out. How Chelsea can continue to find new suckers to take the job on is beyond me.

Plus, there are plenty of recent examples in the Premier League of patience paying off. Take Ralph Hasenhüttl at Southampton. Last season the Saints were in the relegation zone in October after being humiliated 9-0 by Leicester – now Hasenhüttl has them chasing a European spot. Or Mikel Arteta, whose Arsenal side were hovering close to the relegation scrap earlier this season but have since reeled off a run of results to haul themselves into the hunt for continental football. Or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose Manchester United were fifteenth in October and then were knocked out of the Champions League in embarrassing fashion. They are now top of the table.

So why, Mr. Abramovich, don’t you try demonstrating some patience? Just for a change.

Solskjaer and Arteta received their clubs' backing, and have since charged up the league

And as for hiring Thomas Tuchel, um, what? In his managerial career he has done absolutely nothing to qualify himself to take on any big job. He was bang average at Dortmund, and nothing special at PSG (sure, he lead them to the Ligue 1 title, but so could my Nan have). His only achievement of note has been to lose last season’s Champions League final. His teams don’t play anything special either.

Odd looking fella too.