Chelsea: Lampard ‘should be given the boot’ says radio caller
Chelsea players would have “welcomed” three new signings in the January transfer window, says expert Ian McGarry. Chelsea only discovered in December their appeal against their transfer ban had been successful. Head coach Frank Lampard repeatedly reiterated his desire to bring in reinforcements, especially in attacking positions.
However, the window closed with Chelsea failing to bring in a single player.
McGarry says Chelsea first-team members would have welcomed competition for places and adding depth to the squad, especially in the centre of defence, the left of midfield and up front.
“[Chelsea] went into the season under [Lampard’s] tutelage for the first time obviously knowing that they couldn’t recruit players in the summer window,” McGarry said on the Transfer Window podcast.
“And so they played that part of the campaign up until Christmas, knowing that ‘This is us, this is our squad, this is what we have to perform with and make sure we do the best we can’.
Chelsea news: Frank Lampard's squad would have welcomed new signings (Image: GETTY)
“Unfortunately, what happened after that is obviously their appeal against the second window ban was upheld and so he spoke openly about his hopes to recruit but only to strengthen where it needed doing in the January window.
“His players, I know from speaking to people close to the dressing room at Stamford Bridge, were not afraid of competition and in fact welcomed the idea of having augmentation to the squad, especially because they trusted their manager to only do it in places where he believed, and indeed the team themselves knew, they had to have stronger options.
“Centre-half, striker and on the left side of midfield, so attacking midfield.”
Chelsea are currently fourth in the Premier League, just one point clear of fifth-placed Tottenham.
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“People are only making runs when they've got the ball. When they get to the edge of the box, it's all too nice, that's the problem.
“[Tammy] Abraham had been struggling a bit anyway - he wasn't setting the world alight when he got injured. He became a better player on Monday night, when he's out of the team but he hadn't been playing well.
“Manchester United were playing so deep, there wasn't the need for pace up front - I didn't think Pedro would ever play again, so I was shocked to see the team news.”