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Chelsea’s pre-season is up and running, and Frank Lampard is exploring his options with each passing day. The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw against Bohemians, while in their next fixture against St. Patrick’s Athletic, they emerged 4-0 winners.
In both games, Chelsea’s record goalscorer utilised contrasting configurations on the pitch; first a 4-2-3-1 and then the traditional diamond. One of the biggest highlights was the energy and pace with which the Blues were running the races.
In modern football, the style of play encompassed with intensity and speed requires purveyors in the middle of the pitch who can command the game.
The Chelsea ranks consist of a host of midfielders who possess various forms of footballing quality. While the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley are ball-carriers, N’Golo Kante and Jorginho act as defensive sheaths. Meanwhile, Danny Drinkwater is adept at hitting sweeping passes from one side of the pitch to the other.
As seen from Lampard’s time at Derby County, he often fielded three men in the middle. Due to the repeated change in systems over the last few years at Chelsea, there has been major transition in the set-up, which has, in turn, led to the accumulation of midfielders.
Lampard has a plethora of players to choose from, and on that note, let’s look at what Chelsea’s ideal midfield should be for the coming season.
CDM - N'Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante is sure to be the first name on the team sheet. Lampard lavished praise on the World Cup winner in his first press conference, conceding that he considers himself lucky to have a player of Kante’s prowess in his squad.
Undoubtedly, the former Leicester City midfielder will return to his favored position at the heart of the midfield. His quality on the pitch needs no second mention, as, be it with or without the ball, the man with the best smile in the game is nothing but spectacular.
A lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the full-backs and the more attack-minded midfielders, meaning Kante will be tasked with protecting the backline, keeping out danger and starting attacks.
No midfielder in the world tackles or recovers the ball as well as him; there's always danger lurking for the opposition because Kante's always around. In his favorite position, the 28-year-old will definitely bring back Chelsea's missing work ethic.
Why should he play in this position? Well, because Kante is quicker than his peers, alert to danger, knows what it takes to win the Premier League, and is a more convincing tackler.
LCM (LAM) - Ruben Loftus-Cheek
'Made in Chelsea' as they label him, Ruben Loftus-Cheek was arguably the biggest positive for the west London side besides the Europa League triumph last season.
He was always going to be a big player rising through the ranks on to the biggest stage, but the ever-so-talented midfielder received little or no opportunity about two years ago. Maurizio Sarri included him in his plans, but didn't believe the youngster was ready yet due to a supposed void in the player's tactical acumen.
However, Loftus-Cheek grabbed every opportunity with both hands, as he proved to be the only midfielder to share the goal-scoring burden with Eden Hazard. It's important to note that Willian and Pedro are not getting any younger, and the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic are yet to truly taste the arduous nature of the Premier League.
Thus, Loftus-Cheek's eye for goal, impressive decision-making off the ball in the final third and clinical finishing gives him an upper edge.
Defending, work rate, heading, dribbling, finishing, linking up play, intercepting - there's nothing this boy cannot do on the football pitch.
RCM (RAM) - Ross Barkley
It's a shame Ross Barkley is where he is right now, as injuries and the fading away of his old form at Goodison Park has curtailed the Englishman's career. He did enjoy a fine run in September and October under Sarri last term, displaying the quality he possesses in the advanced areas of the pitch. However, he has lacked consistency.
Under Lampard, he will have the license to play much further up the pitch and more central, unlike last season where he was shifted to the left of the midfield three. Barkley is most lethal when he's plying his trade from attacking midfield - a trump card Lampard could unlock and of course, utilize.
Mason Mount worked with the new Chelsea boss at Derby, but he is not expected to hit the ground running from the outset. It'll be a huge gamble if Lampard hands him starts from the very beginning. Danny Drinkwater and Tiemoue Bakayoko are neat defensively, and both possess their own special skill sets.
But, given their pace, ability to interchange short passes and close-range finishing, would Lampard play either of them on the right side of the midfield trio? Certainly not.
