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Frank Lampard has brought in a wave of fresh optimism among Chelsea fans. The Blues are finally playing exciting football. Though this new style of football doesn't always give the desired results on the pitch - at least it is more enjoyable to watch. With an array of academy talent on display, Chelsea finally have a manager who is doing justice to the fantastic youth system at Cobham.
Die-hard fans need not look too far to list out players who didn't get a proper run at Stamford Bridge but went on to make a name for themselves elsewhere. The likes of Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake would walk into any Premier League team today.
Despite the undeniable talent of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James - there is something that this current Chelsea team lacks. For all their youthful exuberance there is hardly any experience. Leave aside Azpilicueta (who doesn't always start), Willian, Kante and Jorginho - the rest of the regular starters are all young.
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And that is one of the reasons why this team fails to close out games against weaker opposition. Case in point is their performances against the likes of Bournemouth, Southampton and Brighton in the last month. These are all games that a title-challenging team needs to win.
There has been a lot of talk about Lampard and the Chelsea team he played in. So let's look at 3 players that Lampard played alongside during his Chelsea player days, who he would love to have in the team that he now manages.
#3 Ashley Cole
One of the most obvious weaknesses in the current Chelsea lineup is at the left-back spot. Neither Marcos Alonso nor Emerson have been able to hold down a regular starting spot. Lampard has been instead forced to play Azpilicueta out of position. While Alonso is good going forward, his defensive game has always been found lacking. Emerson, on the other hand, hasn't covered himself in glory either despite starting quite a few games.
Who better could Lampard dream of for this position then club legend and one of the greatest left-backs of all time Ashley Cole? It is very difficult to look beyond the man who amassed 338 club appearances for Chelsea over his 8 years at the club. He played 229 games in the league for Chelsea (on top of 156 for Arsenal) keeping 93 clean sheets. Add to that 7 goals and 19 assists.
Cole provided defensive stability and a great outlet going forward as well. With his speed and tactical acumen, he was the best left-back of his generation. With 1 Premier League title, 4 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, 1 Champions League trophy and 1 Europa League trophy - he won everything that there was to win at club level. Lampard would love to have his current youth coach in his starting eleven.
#2 Gianfranco Zola
When Chelsea appointed Frank Lampard as manager last summer, Gianfranco Zola was still the club's assistant manager despite Maurizio Sarri's departure. However, post his appointment, Lampard decided not to continue with Zola in his backroom staff. But a player of Zola's capability and versatility is just what Lampard needs in his team right now.
Zola was a star with Chelsea before the Roman Abramovic era began. He could play as a supporting striker, attacking midfielder, winger or even outright striker. Just the kind of player needed to play alongside Tammy Abraham upfront. His wizardry and trickery is just what this team needs. Across 311 appearances for the club, he scored 80 goals - some of which were very crucial goals including the one in the Cup Winners' Cup final against Stuttgart just 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute.
While Mason Mount has done well in his role as a number 10, Zola would add creativity and goals. The Italian was also a free-kick specialist which earned him the name Magic Box during his Chelsea days. Though Lampard didn't want Zola in his backroom staff, he would want him in his starting eleven.
#1 John Terry
The most important thing that the current Chelsea team lacks on the pitch is a true leader. It is reflected in the way we have played. Defensively the team has been in shambles. In 21 games this season they have kept only 4 clean sheets and concerned 29 goals, a far cry from the glory days under Jose Mourinho when they kept a tight ship and knew how to shut out games.
Current club captain Cesar Azpilicueta doesn't start every game and is not much of a leader on the pitch. What the team needs is a commanding figure both on the pitch and inside the dressing room. Someone whose voice the rest of the players listen to. Someone who will aid Lampard in getting the best out of the players. No better man to marshal the defence and lead the team than club legend John Terry.
Stats are meaningless when it comes to JT as the sheer numbers are unimaginable. He played more games for the Blues than the entire current squad combined. Terry and Lampard are Chelsea's two greatest players ever with little separating the two.
JT is currently the assistant manager at Aston Villa and there have been rumours about Lampard bringing him back to Stamford Bridge in a coaching role. Whether those rumours come true or not, Lampard would give his right arm and more to have a player like Terry on the pitch, leading the team from the back.
