There is a lot of talk from fans across the board that Frank Lampard is a huge risk for Derby County if the deal does happen. Lampard has no experience in first-team management and Derby have a huge task ahead of them, money is scarce and experience has failed them time and time again, so why not Frank Lampard?
SKY SOURCES: Derby in advanced talks with Frank Lampard over managerial vacancy. #SSN pic.twitter.com/ppgkOYQOa6
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 29, 2018
Lampard, like former England team-mate Steven Gerrard is about to join his first club as a manager and the jury is out. Gerrard has taken over at Rangers, a very tough task because their money issues coupled with the fact they are competing directly against a much better side in Celtic makes it an extremely tricky job to succeed with. Lampard would be entering a time of serious change at Derby County. The experience track has failed miserably, with players and coaching at Lampard will be a breath of fresh air.
What have Derby really got to lose by appointing Lampard? They aren’t going to be able to compete with the big spenders anymore and could potentially have a transfer ban heading their way unless costs are cut massively so the expectation levels will drop for the first time in a while which will suit Lampard and it means he will probably get the time from the board and the fans. The fans had already started avoiding games last season, maybe the appointment of Lampard would bring some back.
Derby will have to sell some of their better players this summer and the youth system may come into focus for the first time in a long time at the club. Lampard may not have the experience but he could provide a spark and some belief at a club where they clearly lack. Players like Matej Vydra and Tom Lawrence are the star players at the club and their will be suitors for them, will Derby sell? Who knows, they manage to keep some of the high earners but there is some dead wood at the club that Lampard would want to get rid of.
Taking a gamble on Frank Lampard is a risk, but gambling on experience again is an even greater risk. Nigel Pearson, Paul Clement, Steve McLaren twice and Gary Rowett have all tried under the current regime at Derby and have all failed. Lampard will have connections and it may well mean loans and free transfers are the way forward for a year or two but that isn’t the end of the world, throwing money hasn’t worked has it? It may not work and Lampard may struggle massively with his first job, that’s a risk they will have to take. The deal isn’t done yet anyway, but it’s getting closer.
