Frank fact is Lampard’s only half ready for Chelsea job

FHe would train like a greyhound and then, when everyone else was done, go through his shooting drills and free- kick repeats alone. Nothing was left to chance.

For all the temptation of prodigal- son status, he should apply the same logic to his management career, make the tough call and pass up the opportunity to take charge of Chelsea for now.

Football management is about making choices. Player A or player B? Formation one or formation two? Substitution now or later? A manager makes those calls based upon instinct and experience. After just one season at Derby, Lampard has the former but not the latter. A coach

never acquires 100 per cent knowledge – no one can – but let us say the best eventually reach 95 per cent. How long does that process take?

The assessment of one experienced manager I spoke to on the subject was as follows:

In Year One a coach can move from zero to 50 per cent – a huge leap – but still with a massive amount of growth left in him. In Year Two that goes from 50 per cent to 70 per cent; in Year Three from 70 to 80 per cent and so on.

Chelsea are investing in a 50 per cent Lampard at this stage of his development, whether Lampard is able to see that or not. It is encouraging to see an Englishman being given a chance with a top club and great that Chelsea are seemingly content to allow him to learn on the job – flattering for Lampard too. But how this enlightened approach will survive if things do not go to plan at an organisation with attention deficit disorder when it comes to managers is another matter.

Ten permanent managers in the 16 years of Roman Abramovich’s stewardship tells its own story. If Lampard crashes and burns as a novice at Chelsea on such an unforgiving stage so early in his career, it will set him back a long way.

For all the affection he is held in at Stamford Bridge, Lampard will inevitably be subjected to the same whims as his predecessors in the boardroom. A strong- willed squad are unlikely to cut him much slack because of his playing record, either.

Where his international pedigree gave him an undoubted wow factor amongst a group of wide- eyed Championship players at Derby, there will be none of that at Chelsea. He will be judged purely on his managerial abilities. That is as it should be.

The limited evidence of one season at Derby, where he took the club to the Championship play- off final, indicates that Lampard will turn into an excellent manager – but only if he makes the right choices along the way.

Much better to pass up the chance with Chelsea for now and add to his managerial acumen with another couple of seasons at Derby.

Win promotion next year, dip his toe in the fast- flowing waters of the Premier League the year after and Lampard will be a more complete manager.

It is not as if the Chelsea job rarely comes up. You can set your watch by it. The next time it does – or the one after – Lampard will be much better equipped.