F365 early loser: Frank Lampard and Chelsea’s defensive disadvantage

by



[ad_1]

Publication Date: Saturday, September 26, 2020 8:01 AM

Kepa Arrizabalaga is a big problem for Chelsea but the three ax keeper is clearly not THE problem. With this defense, unless Petr Cech has somehow discovered in Edouard mendy the reincarnation of Lev Yashin, it almost doesn’t matter who scores Chelsea’s goal.

The Black Spider in its heyday might have had trouble keeping his composure had he played behind Frank Lampard’s four butts at West Brom. By conceding three goals in the first half, Chelsea’s defense failed catastrophically, individually and collectively.

The Blues have acted to remedy their concern for Kepa, but the looming chaos continues unabated. Since Lampard’s appointment, no Premier League team has conceded as many away goals as Chelsea and to suggest that the foul is in the careless hands of the goalkeeper is a smokescreen.

Chelsea have recognized the need to improve their defense and great signings have been made. Much more was paid for Ben Chilwell for what he can deliver later on on the left side, but the arrival of Thiago Silva was expected to harden the heart of Lampard’s defense. Preliminary evidence suggests that the 36-year-old will have a hard time plugging the Chelsea leaks alone.

Silva was awarded the captain’s armband on his Premier League debut, but the 45 minutes during which the Brazilian dominated the Blues were perhaps the most neglected of Lampard’s chaotic reign so far. Chelsea barely set a right foot, especially Silva, who let the ball roll under his to allow Callum Robinson a second goal of the night.

Before that, Marcos Alonso had already endured a torrid opening that saw him boob in the race to Robinson’s first, before being signed after being skinned alive by Semi Ajayi. That was only in the first seven minutes.

Lampard also blamed Alonso for West Brom’s third when Chelsea offered no reaction to the hosts’ pre-planned corner routine. “Marcos lost his man,” Lampard said later, but the Blues coaching staff also needs to see his negligence.

Chelsea conceded 12 goals from set pieces last season and the answer they came up with over the summer seems to be “to get 11 men between the goal line and the penalty spot.” But West Brom cut through the Blues pack by handing over Darnell Furlong unopposed at the edge of the box, and his header found Kyle Bartley in a similar space at the edge of the six-yard box. Some Chelsea defenders pushed up on the first ball, but Reece James turned off to play Bartley on the side.

Chelsea’s set-piece problem predates Lampard: It was a similar failure under Maurizio Sarri, who switched from Antonio Conte’s successful approach to scoring men to a zone system. Lampard has tried both but cannot find a solution. His players apparently don’t help much. If Silva’s experience extends to organizing a functional set-piece defense, perhaps that should be the focus of his English lessons this week so he can get the message out sooner rather than later.

Veteran Silva, who is no longer lucky enough to have the kind of pace needed to defend one-on-one regularly, might be more concerned about what’s happening in the open game. He and Andreas Christensen were both exposed by the barrage from the wings (James threw a dozen crosses in the first 45 minutes around West Brom’s goals), while N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic failed in their selection duties. It’s no wonder Declan Rice’s ability to play as a center back or a defensive midfielder appeals to Lampard. Unfortunately, you cannot do both at the same time.

The Chelsea manager admitted that the character his team displayed and the point he won were the only positive aspects of a maddening night of work. But the Blues, even with all their new attacking talent, won’t be able to bounce back as repeatedly as they make the mistakes they have in the opening weeks of a decisive season for Lampard.

Ian Watson



[ad_2]