Rumours are swirling in regards to the future of current Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri.
Reports, especially in Italy, are that Roman Abramovich is set to pull the trigger, even if Chelsea win the Europa League final in Baku.
There’s only really one name lined up to replace Sarri, and that name, is Super Frankie Lampard.
Chelsea’s record goal scorer has impressed in his short tenure of Derby County, and his sides recent play off semi-final win against Leeds United, had most of Chelsea twitter calling for his appointment.
His celebrations after the game with the Derby players and supporters showed a connection that has been missing at Stamford Bridge.
The atmosphere at times has been toxic, largely due to the fact that Sarri and the supporters have never really connected.
Obviously it helps when you’re winning games regularly, but for many, Sarri is just a dead man walking.
Lampard already has the connection with Chelsea fans, having been such a hero for so many.
Right now however, is not the right time.
Lampard has only managed for one season, his Derby team, despite making the play off final, finished with one point less than last season where they got knocked out to eventual winners Fulham in the semi final stage.
People may look at Pep Guardiola getting the Barcelona job after just one season with Barcelona B, but the differing situations at both clubs is another key reason why now isn’t the right time.
Barcelona already had a Champions League winning squad, yes Guardiola changed the style of play and went on to create one the greatest teams ever, but he had solid foundations (and Messi) to start from.
Frank wouldn’t have that at Chelsea, the squad needs an overhaul and perhaps with the transfer ban that can’t happen just yet.
Although his assistant Jody Morris does have great knowledge of the academy having worked there for so long, and winning lots of trophies on the way, but we aren’t going to suddenly have a starting XI of just academy kids.
We still wouldn’t accept finishing outside the top 4 and then where does that leave Frank?
I want Frank to manage Chelsea, I want JT back as well. These players know the club inside out and get us supporters, however I want to do so when it gives them the best opportunity to succeed.
Setting them up for failure isn’t fair and Chelsea fans wouldn’t turn on Frank, they’d turn on Roman.
And that would create an ever worse feeling and atmosphere at the Bridge.
The main reason that I feel now isn’t the right time for Frank is that I don’t believe we should sack Sarri.
Under difficult circumstances we’ve finished 3rd, got to a domestic cup final and we’ve got a chance to win another European cup final.
His objectives at the start of the season have been met and we shouldn’t move the goal posts now.
We’ve also seen, in more recent weeks, evidence that Sarriball or an adopted version of it, can work.
Our major problem is our inconsistency at playing it, we’ve managed whole half’s of football but not whole games.
Given a full pre-season, and the time to further coach and work with the players I believe this will only get better.
Sarri’s also given more first team minutes to academy players than any other Chelsea manager in the Abramovich era.
The likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi are now (when not injured) key components of this Chelsea team.
While there could be even more youth team players coming through this summer in the likes of Tammy Abraham and Reece James.
My main reason for continued support of Sarri, is that he sees this team playing the way I’ve always wanted.
Instead of always believing we are inferior to our opponents and having to simply defend and break, we want the ball, we want to dominate.
To me, my football club is the best in the world, but we’ve never been respected as such, even when we was winning, this would change under Sarri.
The key part of that though, is winning.
Going next season without success isn’t going to be good enough. We need to see improvements and we need to see silverware.
Maybe then, after Frank has had a year in the Premier League with Derby and kept them up, can we be a bit more serious in our ideas of him coming back to manage us.
It will happen, but maybe not right now.
