Opinion: Frank Lampard must now take risks and be expressive

In Chelsea’s remaining league matches this season, Frank Lampard needs to just be expressive and try different things in my view.

Granted, Lampard changed the formation back to a back three for Real Madrid this week, and that was needed. He also dropped Kai Havertz, which we were all calling for. I applaud both of these decisions even if hindsight now questions it.

But Lampard is doing the same as what Graham Potter did when he was here, he is trusting some of the same ‘experienced’ players and he is not being bold with his decisions and line ups. There is such thing as bad experience.

Mykhailo Mudryk was signed for £88m in January, use the guy! What have we got to lose now? Noni Madueke has barely touched grass since his arrival, why? David Datro Fofana was kept in the squad instead of being sent on loan now he’s in the U21s, why? Where is Carney Chukwuemeka? Impressed Lampard last week in training, didn’t even travel to Madrid this week, why?

Mateo Kovacic has been abysmal recently, yet he gets to wear the prestigious captains armband of Chelsea Football Club, why? He is the furthest example of what a captain should be.

Play Benoit Badiashile who was playing a lot when he arrived but now has been completely ignored. Get Lewis Hall back in the squad, give Charlie Webster and Harvey Vale a place on the bench, show these quality players that we believe in them. I’d even rather have Omari Hutchinson over Raheem Sterling right now.

I do think Lampard will play an actual striker on Saturday, probably Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Try it, why not?

Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images

I also think he will start Mason Mount and he absolutely has to. I know we could end up slipping down the table even more but we could also do that with our current crop too.

Take some ‘risks’ and pick players who want to be at the club and will give it there all. Any player who isn’t doing that, any player who wants to leave, is thinking about leaving, or has indicated they are unsure about signing a new deal, then give them a place on the bench at best. We need to plan for the future now and develop some of these young players.