Paul Merson: Give Frank Lampard time – Chelsea Are Still In The Title Race

“If this was Chelsea’s points tally last season or the season before, I’d say Chelsea are in trouble. But not this season. They’re still in it, big time.” – Follow Fulham vs Chelsea on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm on Saturday Night Football; kick-off 5.30pm

Paul Merson believes Frank Lampard should be given time at Chelsea, because the bizarre nature of the season means they are still in the title race. Lampard’s Chelsea go to Fulham on Saturday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Premier League, having won just one of their last six Premier League games, leaving them outside of the top six.

However, given the crowded nature of the Premier League season, Merson believes Chelsea are only a handful of victories away from being back in contention for the title, and feels the Blues must have a plan that includes giving Lampard time.

Having spent £226m in the summer, Lampard has an embarrassment of riches in his forward line, and Merson believes he is still “playing bingo” when it comes to selection, and that a more experienced manager may have put faith in a consistent starting XI by now. In his latest column, Merson also insists Thiago is the key to Liverpool winning the title this season, and is puzzled by Sam Allardyce’s appointment at West Bromwich Albion.

‘Give Frank time… Chelsea could easily be back in race’

If Chelsea don’t beat Fulham, should they sack Frank Lampard? It depends what Chelsea want this year. It’s alright saying: ‘Let’s get rid of Frank’ but who comes in? Do they go back in for Rafa Benitez? If you’re going to bring in Andriy Shevchenko, what’s the difference? It’s the same as Lampard, he hasn’t managed world-class players, and will need time.

It’s not like you can bring in a Carlo Ancelotti for a quick fix. Sooner or later, there has to be a plan at Chelsea. You can’t spend £200m and think you’re going to win the league, it doesn’t work like that. Lampard did a great job last year, and it’s the first time he has worked with world-class players. Give him a chance.

A plan is to be realistic about where they expect to come this season: I would have probably said the plan was to stay in the top four – because they already made the top four not spending £200m last season – and probably be in the title race. Chelsea have all the advantage on Saturday now because of Fulham having to play midweek. It isn’t kind to Fulham really because their team may have been different in the FA Cup against

But the way the season is going, if you can win three games on the trot, you’re back in the title race. Teams are losing games and dropping points left, right and centre. If you put a run of five wins together, you’re probably top of the league. That wasn’t the case last year.

It’s a massive football match, and it’s a big local derby. But Chelsea expect to beat Fulham, and should beat Fulham because they have better players. I expect them to win this game. If this was Chelsea’s points tally last season or the season before, I’d say Chelsea are in trouble. But not this season. They’re still in it, big time.

Manchester United have come from nowhere, chipping away, and all of a sudden they can spread eagle the field if they beat Liverpool. They’ve just had that bit of luck, starting in November against West Brom, who had a stonewall penalty. That’s why I still don’t think Chelsea are out of it. Whoever you are, put five wins together and you’re in it.

‘Selecting Chelsea front men is like bingo’

I still don’t think Lampard knows his best team – he has his back five, then N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount, and then it’s bingo. Put the names in the hat and whoever you draw out, any one of them can seemingly do a job, because they are top drawer players, but it’s about getting that balance right. He has got too many players, and he has got to get that balance right because he doesn’t know his best team yet.

When you’re a new manager – and he is a new manager, let’s be honest – you think about what your best team is, but when that ‘best team’ gets beat, you want to change four players for the next week. I think with experience, you give your team a chance, give them time like you want time. But does Frank know he has got time? Chelsea need to build and get this right.

These players are not Frank Lampard. I’ve watched him play enough times, he’d go to the very end and run through a brick wall for you. I can’t remember seeing him play a game, leave the pitch and thinking: ‘He could have given a bit more.’

He needs to remember that these players are not him. When they were getting ripped to shreds by Man City, you could see the frustration on his face, because he’s thinking: ‘I wouldn’t allow this, show me something!’

Some of my managers would say to me: ‘Stop getting frustrated… you’re not playing with Dennis Bergkamp here. You’re not playing with Ian Wright here.’ Frank needs to realise and understand that.