Lampard has a message for the Chelsea squad

Frank Lampard is a wise old Owl isn’t he. You will often read quotes from him putting things into perspective. On this occasion, he has a message for the other Chelsea players.

As we know, plenty has been made of the fact that Cesar Azpilicueta started against West Brom at left back meaning Ashley Cole had been dropped to the bench. As a result, the press and media have jumped on that and have questioned Cole’s place in the side as they have with Juan Mata, Kevin De Bruyne, David Luiz and Eden Hazard so far this season.

So while away with England, Frank Lampard was asked of Cole’s current situation and responded with a message for Cole and all the other Chelsea players who have faced problems getting into the starting eleven by saying:

“I don’t think he’s lost form. I think it’s modern times at Chelsea. We all have to take it on the chin, being on the bench.

It’s not being dropped, it’s about being patient. Over a long season that’s what happens. Sometimes a lot’s made out of it.

We all under performed at Newcastle, the manager said he could have dropped anyone. I wouldn’t pinpoint it on that.

We all know Ash is a top quality player. Leighton has got there on his performances as well, but we’re talking about Chelsea here. It’s not easy for our manager to pick one player in any position for every game of the season.”

As usual, Lampard is right isn’t he. OK, it sounds like he is banging the drum for Mourinho but with a squad like ours I can understand it.

We often hear managers talk about their preferred squad having two players for each position and you can understand that based on injuries and suspensions and the amount of games a player faces during the course of a season these days.

No disrespect to the majority of the other teams in the Premier League but you look at their squads and you can see that although they have two players for each position, some of them are youngsters or backup players bought especially for that role within their squads.

With the likes of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal, Man United and now Tottenham, all have genuine competition for places throughout and you have to imagine for a manager it has to be difficult to manage. Just look at Chelsea’s “B Team” performance against Arsenal the other week!

We all look at the Chelsea squad and the transfer business we have done over the last two or three years and have been impressed with the calibre of player we have brought in but, on the flip side to that and as I am saying, they all can’t play at the same time and touch wood (so far) we have been lucky with injuries!

I have posted this week the situation with the likes of Michael Essien and Kevin De Bruyne, players who have hardly had a look in this season urging Mourinho to give them a run. Why have I done that? Well think about it, players only get their match fitness by playing games. Players only feel comfortable and get their confidence in their games by playing and playing regularly so you do understand their frustrations.

What Frank Lampard is trying to do here is to calm things down with a sense of perspective. He re-affirms that no one should feel as though they have a right to be playing ahead of anyone else unless you are playing well.

The most important thing out of all this is the Football Club. We just need the players who are not selected to get behind the ones that are to support them and to be ready to come on if called upon and we need the ones that are selected to get out on that pitch and to perform.

The problem is, when those players don’t, we end up with the situation we find ourselves reading/writing about!

Carefree & KTBFFH!