Paul Merson considers Chelsea do not have the anxiety factor that they had, but says patience is key beneath Frank Lampard.
After coming from Derby from the summer, Lampard has picked up five points dropping leads in Stamford Bridge in both of the matches.
They drew 1-1 on August 18 with Leicester prior to throwing away a 2-0 lead against Sheffield United on Saturday, prompting a few jeers from the home fans.
But with a transfer ban set up, Merson considers patience is crucial, together with Chelsea fielding one of the youngest average ages in their starting XIs this season.
Chelsea were beaten 4-0 by Manchester United on the opening day of this season, but speaking on The Debate, Merson believes game direction in their two house draws has been most worrying.
“I had been frustrated with them at the last half an hour against Man Utd, I thought they threw in the towel and then drifted off.
“But elsewhere, it’s a difficult one; as a new manager that you would like to appear and entertain. I’m a Chelsea fan. If Mourinho had been 2-0 up from Sheffield United, he put on the other defensive midfield player and’d bring a striker off. That was the end of the match and that was known by the other team .
“The other teams don’t know that now. Chelsea have not obtained that fear factor anymore. Today, teams like Leicester can remain in the game , and towards the end it seemed like perhaps Leicester would win it.”
Merson believes Lampard will be overachieving if he says some of his squad’s inexperience, also was able to sneak Chelsea to the top four this year, including the Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, should let him more time.
“I like Frank, and that I believe you get expertise as you proceed. Would somebody else have played Mason Mount? He’s a unique player. And now Tammy Abraham has four goals.
“We just do it by studying, you don’t get five games down the road and say:’You’re out of the team,’ if they’re not performing. You return to square one just like this. Patience, patience. These are children.
“Man City and Liverpool are so far ahead of everybody today, this is a different situation. If Chelsea ended in the top four this year, Frank will get director of the calendar year, in my view .”
Merson also appreciates that Lampard, as the Chelsea legend and director, may feel more inclined to amuse the crowd when his side are currently top. His advice to Lampard would be to’Do a Mourinho!” And take the things.
“Winning games is a hard thing to do when you’ve lost your very best player, and one of the greatest players on earth in Hazard. Frank is up against it. I believe he’ll have patience, however in the present time, I believe you do need to entertain. Do a Mourinho!
“You occasionally think in a job:’Oh, I have to stay entertaining here, otherwise that the fans are going to find the hump!” In the long run, you don’t have to do that, you have to get clued up, take the 3 points.”
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