The merry-go-round sets off again this weekend, with a fresh nine months of agony and ecstasy compounded by severe transfer constraints and the arrival of a new manager, beloved by all, but untested at the top.
The big plus is that there is no shortage of Frankie Lampard songs. But all chants relate to playing days, not management.
Lamps has a reservoir of goodwill to draw on, and if he does succeed in turning emerging young talent into valuable commodities, any shortage of silverware in a transitional year will be forgiven.
The transfer ban gives the 41-year-old – the first full-time English manager the Blues have had for 23 years – an excuse to fall back on, but that’s not Lampard’s way.
With a likely baptism of fire for such youngsters as Mason Mount at Old Trafford this weekend, and renewed faith in the likes of Ross Barkley, the side will have a different look to the time, two short months ago, when Eden Hazard lit up the midfield.
Will Tammy Abraham (who scored in last weekend’s friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach) get the nod up front? What role will Christian Pulisic play?
One thing’s for certain. It’s a tough start for Lamps. After Man U on Sunday the team fly to Istanbul for Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash with the Red Scousers, before returning to the Bridge to face Leicester. Seven days, three games. Welcome back.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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