Credit; here
How important is Frank Lampard to Chelsea? The answer to that is hugely, we have learnt over the last weeks.
Last season, Lampard, 31, made 36 league appearances as Chelsea edged Manchester United to the title by a solitary point.
Not only that but the influential midfielder scored 22 times, only 7 less than top scorer Didier Drogba, as Chelsea went on an incredible home run which saw them drop points only twice against Everton (3-3) and Manchester City (2-4).
Compare that to this season, where Chelsea have lost to Sunderland (0-3) and drawn with Everton (1-1) in their last two home games. Hardly title winning form.
Frank Lampard has only scored 1 goal for Chelsea this season but the side haven't dropped any points, or conceded a goal with him in the side.
Credit: London Evening Standard
The key factor in form which has seen them win only one of their last seven league games is Frank Lampard.
He has been sidelined with hernia and leg injuries since their 2-0 home win over Stoke in August and how they have missed the former West Ham trainee.
Not only did Lampard play in each of the Blues' first three league games, but his appearance seems to bring the best out of the side, and that was proved when they beat both Wigan and West Brom 6-0 prior to Stoke.
Top of the league and sitting pretty.
Not any longer.
Big Frank's timely return ahead of next week's visit of title rivals Manchester United provides a boost for Carlo Ancelotti's side heading into what could be an interesting Christmas in the Premier League, with Manchester City currently joint top of the Premier League with Arsenal and managers being fired for precious little reason.
Perhaps he can inspire the side, and the likes of Didier Drogba, into life after the Londoners have taken their foot off the gas, and their Premier League dominance, in recent weeks.
Drogba himself has only scored four times in the league in 14 appearances since Lampard's injury, a shadow of the player fans, media and everyone knows and comes to expect week in, week out.
He will have to be back at his best soon if Chelsea are to improve and move up the league after their demise sees them currently lie in 4th position and only 4 points ahead of Spurs, who picked up a credible 1-1 draw in the clash between the sides yesterday.
The difference, for me, beside Chelsea's inability to score more than one at the moment, is their lack of depth in the midfield, combined with their lack of clean sheets.
It seems, this season, that Malouda is playing a lot further forward than he did last season and the midfield has struggled, with places being juggled around Essien, Mikel and Ramires, who is yet to show the class I expected from the £20million Brazilian.
It's hardly a world class midfield, given that the club let Joe Cole, Deco and Michael Ballack leave on free transfers over the summer.
Perhaps owner Roman Abramovic was expecting full fitness from midfield general Lampard, something that hasn't come.
Still, the Stamford Bridge side are far from out of the title race and found themselves topping their Champions League group and avoiding the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the trophy that Abramovic really wants to win.
Chelsea have got within touching distance of the Champions League trophy but haven't quite managed European success yet.
Credit; Daily Mail
Everyone has failed so far and with mounting pressure on Ancelotti to produce the goods, and the quality football the owner expects, on the pitch, maybe it's time for Champions League success.
If it doesn't happen now; with Drogba, Lampard and Terry not getting any younger, it won't.
Lampard is one presence who seems to have been underestimated since his so called expulsion form the England national team in favour of Steven Gerrard but I expect him to come back with a bounce when he finally returns to full fitness.
If that's against United, we will see, and what better game to turn around Chelsea's fortunes. It may well be the most important game of the season and hopefully one of the more entertaining.
Not a fan of theirs but 2 straight years I watched Chelsea get ripped off by the officials in the Champions League. Okay, one of those years was under Hiddink when they went to Barcelona and drew I believe, Chelsea fouled a lot and they did foul Juventus too, so that was kind of an ugly way to move through the tournament but if the officials did not call more fouls then I can't fault it. But I largely lost interest in the Champions League with such bad calls and stopped watching it. Last year, CFC probably lost to Inter Milan fair and square.
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