Unfair goals, Lampard shackles and Root chat

Chelsea players look miserable

In the 2009-10 season, under Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea won the Premier League and, in 38 games, scored 103 goals. They scored five goals, or more, six times, and Frank Lampard alone scored 22 in the league. The team played with flair, panache and obvious enjoyment.

Now, the same Lampard presides over a team who play slow, risk-free possession football. He does adopt the trendy, almost mandatory, theory of “playing out from the

back”, disregarding the players’ inability and/or discomfort doing it. The players look miserable.

Against Leicester City on Tuesday, Chelsea had 64 per cent possession, made 636 passes to Leicester’s 339, and had 118 attacks to Leicester’s 88. They lost 2-0. The new players are being criticised but isn’t it possible the system they’re being asked to play is stifling all the skill, flair and talent out of them?

I don’t necessarily think Chelsea need a new manager, but they do need Lampard to release the players from the shackles of the current dreary system.

Mike Laugher, Windsor

Barmy Army far from being ‘yobs’

I should like to take issue with Dick Mould’s remarks (Letters, Jan 15) about the Barmy Army. My natural habitat is behind the bowler’s arm, but last summer the only available ticket for England v Australia was in the infamous Hollies Stand at Edgbaston. As a lone woman, I took my seat among the assorted traffic wardens, crusaders and monkeys and can report that, far from being “yobs who have no interest in watching the cricket”, the young men around me were simply enjoying their day and capable of having an interesting discussion about Warner’s vulnerability to early dismissal and England’s need for a top-class leg-spinner.

I hope to be back at Edgbaston for the summer Test against India and, after the year we have had, I suspect I shall burst into grateful tears at the sight of wobbly giraffes, pints in hand, belting out Jerusalem as Anderson steams in for his first over.

Ruth Corderoy, via email

Root sets a fine example in Galle Well done Joe Root for acknowledging and also taking the trouble to speak to the only British spectator at the Galle Test. How many professionals from other sports would have done the same? WA Kempton, Poole

Moore right to talk up Lions tour

Brian Moore is quite right (Jan 18). The Lions are a touring side with a big following. They are not a home-based team. What goes on tour, stays on tour.

Jack Marriott, Churt, Surrey

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