Scout Notes

How Chelsea are shaping up under Lampard in pre-season

Chelsea slumped to a 1-0 defeat in their latest pre-season friendly on Friday morning.

Frank Lampard’s tactical experimentations continued in Japan and we’ll analyse his first loss as the Blues’ head coach in our Scout Notes article below.

Our game-by-game, team-by-team pre-season minutes spreadsheet has also been updated and is available to read here.

Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 Chelsea

Lampard says he wants Kurt Zouma to stay at Stamford Bridge this summer and bolster his options in central defence.

Zouma, who spent last season on loan at Everton, played the first 45 minutes of Friday’s friendly against Kawasaki Frontale as Lampard’s search for his Gameweek 1 centre-back pairing continued.

Antonio Rudiger (£6.0m) is expected to miss the start of the campaign and Lampard has tried various options in Chelsea’s three pre-season games to date, including playing Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) at the heart of the defence.

This latest fixture saw Zouma and David Luiz (£6.0m) start the match at centre-half, with Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) replacing the Frenchman at the interval.

Lampard said:

Kurt is a very good defender, a very good person and professional, and I want him here, simple as that. We are competitive with the centre-backs we’ve got in the team. He had a very good season at Everton and I understand why they want him but he’s a Chelsea player and I want him. He’s working really hard and if he competes for a position and plays well this season then he plays.

Azpilicueta’s reversion to right-back will disappoint those who held out faint, optimistic hopes of Davide Zappacosta (£4.5m) offering us a cut-price route into Chelsea’s defence in FPL.

The Italian full-back did replace Azpilicueta at half-time, at least, and has featured in all three of Chelsea’s pre-season friendlies so far.

Chelsea were beaten by an 86th-minute header from Leandro Damiao and understandably struggled to sustain any intensity in a humid Yokohama, although had plenty of chances before they fell behind.

The mercury read 30 degrees in the Japanese city and Lampard cited the heat and humidity as an excuse after full-time:

Obviously, we want to win matches no matter what but ten days of pre-season, having flown into Japan three days ago, brings up a lot of difficulties for us physically.

That’s why I was very pleased with the players physically. They gave everything in strong humidity with some good individual performances. I discovered a real appetite and attitude to work in the humidity with jetlag for a lot of the players.

People are finding their fitness and their form. There are the normal things in pre-season that take a bit of time: being clinical in front of goal which we weren’t, but that comes, and some small details we will work on.

Our quality of play on the ball was not quite what we want. We will get there. In front of goal, it was a similar thing. We are not quite as sharp as we want to be but we are working towards that and I’m confident it will come. I have got no fears. I was happy with big parts of the performances.

There were still positives to take from the game, with Ross Barkley (£6.0m) a man-of-the-match candidate and Jorginho (£5.0m) resembling the intelligent pass merchant we were all promised at the start of 2018/19.

Barkley set up a succession of chances – two for Kenedy – with some sumptuous through-balls, operating in the hole in a 4-2-3-1.

It was a mixed bag from the Brazilian, who struggled on the left flank before improving on the opposite wing in the second half.

Lampard said:

With Kenedy, my feeling coming into a big squad with a transfer ban, is that I need to assess the players for as long as I can in pre-season to make sure we pick the right squad.

If Kenedy continues to show the attitude and play the way he did today he is making a great case to stay having been on loan in recent seasons. Nobody is in or out of the squad or has had a line drawn under or over them. Everybody is competing to stay in it.

Mason Mount, who played under Lampard at Derby last season, was involved with the senior team for the second game in a row, first starting as a number ten before moving to the left flank after Barkley’s introduction.

The Chelsea boss said of the young midfielder’s performance:

I thought Mason’s performance was really good. It was a continuation of how he played for me last year on loan. His energy is quality even though he hasn’t been with us long. We know Mason is part of the first-team squad this year, and it’s time for him. His qualities will improve even more with the quality around him. Everyone knows the hopes I have for Mason, and he showed a glimmer of what we may see this year and going forward.

We didn’t have much time to assess Christian Pulisic (£7.5m), who made his bow as a 65th-minute substitute and took up a left-wing role.

Speaking after full-time, the American said:

I’m delighted to be out here with the team and to play in an actual match for the first time as a Chelsea player feels really good.

We wanted to come out with the win but pre-season is all about getting minutes under the belt and I feel great for being out there.

It was a tough one out there with the humidity and they were a very good opponent, we saw that with their goal at the end but you want tough games like that in pre-season.

Pulisic showed glimpses of what he is capable of against Kawasaki and Lampard has been impressed with the ex-Dortmund winger so far:

He’s comfortable on the ball and I think he should have had a penalty towards the end of the game.

He wants to try to take people on, the sort of player the fans are going to like so we have to give him a little bit of time to adapt slightly.

But the way he has trained, the way he has come in with his personality looks great so I am really pleased to have him.

Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud (£7.0m) each got a half to impress, battling gamely in the lone striker’s role without much to show for their efforts.

Tammy Abraham wasn’t involved, with Lampard explaining why the young striker and Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) missed out:

Tammy Abraham has tonsillitis and Kepa reported a stomach bug this afternoon. I’m not a doctor but it probably comes a little bit alongside what I mentioned before about players not sleeping and finding it difficult in different ways, and it’s come out in those two players.

I don’t expect either of them to be too long. I know Tammy is already on the mend. Hopefully, both are in contention for Barcelona next week.

Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Azpilicueta (Zappacosta 45′), Zouma (Christensen 45′), David Luiz, Alonso (Emerson 45′); Kovacic (Drinkwater 57′), Jorginho (Bakayoko 57′); Pedro (Barkley 45′), Mount (Pulisic 65′), Kenedy (Palmer 71′); Batshuayi (Giroud 45′).

1,631 Comments Post a Comment
  1. I'M 2 OLD FOR THIS HIT
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Bilva or Richarlison, when DeBruyne and Digne already in the team?

    1. Siggy in the Middle
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Rich. He's gonna haul with those fixtures.

    2. The 5% Team
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Richa

    3. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Richey

  2. Roy Rovers
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Would you change anything?

    Pope
    TAA Zinchenko VVD Dunk Cathcart
    Salah KDB Siggy Perez Jorginho
    Kane King Greenwood

    1. Hedge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Kane to Vardy and upgrade Jorginho if it were my team

      1. Roy Rovers
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers but happy with Perez as Leicester cover.

    2. AuFeld
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I would downgrade Dunk and Cathcart to Kelly and BJ and have a €6m mid instead of Jorginho for a 3-5-2

    3. Peter Ouch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Keep an eye on Zinch

    4. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah id get rid of zinchenko

      1. Roy Rovers
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Mendy out until the end of September...so I think Zinchenko plays.

  3. GgeorgeG
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A, B or C? Subs are lowest possible. I'm leaning towards C atm.

    Thanks in advance.

    A) 4-3-3
    Ryan
    Digne Robertson TAA Laporte
    Sigg Salah Perez
    King DCL Aguero

    B) 4-3-3
    Ryan
    Coleman Robertson TAA Walker
    Perez Sterling KDB
    Wilson Kane DCL

    C) 5-3-2
    Ryan
    TAA David Luiz Robertson Walker Ake
    Sterling Salah KDB
    King Jota

    Any suggestions most welcome!

    1. Peter Ouch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      C

  4. JHolmes
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Pickford
    TAA - VVD - Digne
    Salah - Sigurdsson - Fraser - Perez
    Vardy - Wilson - King

    Is this too risky with all the triple and double ups?

    1. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I think you have answered your own question.

      1. JHolmes
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, but on the flipside this could haul a lot on the first few gws with good fixtures.

    2. Peter Ouch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

    3. The 5% Team
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      not a lot of faith in City fixtures?

      If you're playing the fixtures, then why the Leicester double up?

      1. JHolmes
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Actually unsure about the city players to go for. Tried combinations with kun, sterling, Laporte... both whu and spurs could very well score. Zinchenko could convince me with the price. Leicester double up im most unsure of...

    4. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      No. But I wouldnt on Leicester with their fixtures.

      1. JHolmes
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Is there a better fixture option i dont see?

      2. JHolmes
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Iwobi lacazette maybe?

  5. Demel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Which do you prefer?

    King - Sterling - Perez

    Or

    Kane - Maddison - Zaha

    1. Peter Ouch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A your a heavy hitter will score more than your b

    2. Holmes
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      1st

      Not sure about Maddison and Zaha

    3. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      1st one

  6. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Trying to watch Man City match but all the red pitchside advertising and City's sunset strip is hurting my eyes

  7. R.C.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Fraser Sterling Siggurdson 4th Mid Who?

    A. Bilva
    B. Richarlison

    1. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      What about Pogba or Perez/Tielemans?

  8. Peter Ouch
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    RMT after long time lads, opinions appreciated

    Ryan
    VVD Robbo Digne Azpi
    Salah KDB Siggy Fraser
    Jota Vardy

    1. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I'd be concerned about chelsea conceding lots of goals, early on at least. Plus, don't rate Vardy, Leicester fixtures bad and I think he's been overperforming

      1. Peter Ouch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I can go Zinch if Mendy is out till September according to my fantasy friend TUBE!!

        Vardy can score against any team and he is overperforming according to his stats for the last 3 years.

        Vardy is a category on his own

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Very nice indeed. If KDB/Jota is not essential for you then you could consider changing them to Bilva and Wilson as an alternative

      1. Peter Ouch
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Bilva offers too little fpl wise, I would never get him in.
        I think KDb can score 200 points this year

        Thanks for the reply!

  9. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A) VVD + Sterling + King
    B) Robbo + KDB + Wilson

    Same price, same teams... what do we reckon?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

  10. Negan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    My GW1 team analysis: 4-3-3
    Lloris (Spurs solid defence cover, great penalty stopper)
    VVD & Robbo ( Pool nailed defenders and bps magnet)
    Digne ( Everton defence getting better, Set piece taker, attacking)
    Laporte (most nailed City defence cover)
    Salah (C) (simply GOAT)
    Siggy (Everton's main man, set piece and penalty takes, playmaker)
    Maddison (Leicester's engine, set piece and playmaker)
    Kane ( Spurs main target, GB contender, penalty taker)
    King ( Nailed, penalty taker, 1.5 mil cheaper than Wilson)
    Deeney (Watford'd legend, more mailed than Deulofeu, penalty taker)

    Bench : Button - Dendoncker - Stephens - Kelly
    Thoughts lads ?

    1. K.Jabba 88
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Nice. My only concern is no city attacking cover

      1. Negan
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah rotation risks I guess. KDB fitness and Aguero minutes/Jesus recent Brazil form putting me off. Then it was either Salah or Sterling .

  11. Winston.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A) Sterling, Zinchenko, King or
    B) KDB, Laporte, Wilson ?

  12. Piggs Boson
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Wan Bissaka is a fecking beast.

    1. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      We’ve nicknamed him AWBeastModeActivated on RedCafe

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        So so good. His touch and passing have impressed, and his tackling is otherworldly. An absolute brick wall.

        1. AuFeld
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          He is a joy to watch compared to a frustrating Young.

    2. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I have always preferred a beauty over a beast

  13. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    KDB is such a class player

    1. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, playing well

  14. Gorgles
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Why all the Dendoncker love? He seems to be the 4.5m mid of choice

    1. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Best pick of 4.5s

  15. Maddi Son
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan
    Coleman, Trent, VVD, Zinchenko
    Rich, Fraser, Salah, Sterling, Norwood
    Rashford

    Button, Targett, Greenwood, Nketiah

    I think this my favourite draft yet. I like that Rashford could potentially become Wilson or Haller.

    Norwood & Targett rotate nicely who both have assists in their locker. Thoughts?

    1. LSK
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Good team but the risk with 4-5-1 is that you only have 1 sub. I would switch Rashford to Wilson and get a 5.0 striker such as Mousset or Andone who at least look like they might play

  16. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A) Vardy + Moura
    B) Jota + KDB

    1. Coys96
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      B

  17. Coys96
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Surely if Lukaku stays he's great value?

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hé won’t stay

      1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        He*

      2. Coys96
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        if

  18. Coys96
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Best 6.5m striker to finish my team:

    A) Jota
    B) Deulofeu
    C) King (already have Brooks + Wilson)

  19. Coys96
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    pen city... wonder who will take

    1. Coys96
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      sterling

      1. Coys96
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        missed!

  20. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Man City looking Fab

    Literally like a Fab

  21. Annie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling pen miss

  22. Hedge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling pen missed!

  23. SADIO SANÉ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling pen...missed

  24. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Oops......... Raheem

    Nice conversion

  25. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Oh dear Sterling

  26. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Hahahaha Sterling is such a trash finisher.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      This

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      One of the highest goal conversion rates in the league last season.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        And a high xG delta.

        Just wrong, he's a very good finisher.

        1. Brosstan
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          No he isnt. Hes good at positioning in the box, mediocre finisher. Jesus is miles worse though.

      2. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Because he scores tap ins at the back post. I'm talking about the ability to strike a ball cleanly, he's hopeless at it.

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          If that were true, his xG delta would be negative. But it's highly positive, meaning he scores more goals than he should given the quality of opportunities he gets. Opinion and bias to one side, he's statistically a very good finisher.

          1. Drip Doctor
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Watching football > Stats. He's not clinical. If he was he'd have more than 8 goals for England. City put chances on a plate for him.

            1. I Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              Have a +1. Not sure how anyone can actually watch the sport consistently and think Sterling is some sort of top finisher. He's improved a lot at it in recent seasons but he's still far from a natural.

    3. Party time
        5 years, 3 months ago

        He shot his leg

    4. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Looks like Sterling is off penalty's now 😀

    5. Little fekirs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling on pens. Essential

      lol

    6. ClassiX
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling misses penalty...

    7. The Train Driver
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Lol @ posts allowed pre fpl season?

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Are you any relation to the bus driver?

        God I hope they are not allowing lol@ posts. What a step backwards that would be

        1. Brosstan
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          lol@ people who get their panties in a twist over lol@ posts

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            ban

            1. Brosstan
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              Publicly calling for bans is a bannable offense on most forums.

              1. SADIO SANÉ
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 3 months ago

                sounds a bit like you're saying I should be banned..? BAN

                1. Brosstan
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 3 months ago

                  No Im stating a fact

                  1. SADIO SANÉ
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 3 months ago

                    😀

          2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
            • 15 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            You are one of the lol'er trolls. You have to defend your stance. I have no issue with you defending your rights.

            1. Brosstan
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              I mostly do it because its such a ridiculous rule. I can say HAHAHAH TRIPPIER OWNERS I F*ING TOLD YOU SO when Spurs concede and dont get banned (real example from last season) but "lol@ Trippier owners" is a bannable offense? Why? Wheres the consistency?

              1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                • 15 Years
                5 years, 3 months ago

                We all know that a bad week in FPL hurts a lot more than it should so last thing you want is someone rubbing it in. A lot of folk have a lot of money riding on FPL so someone shoving them posts down your throat isn't necessary. What is fun for you, isn't for a lot of us.

                From the mods perspective , a lot of good people left this site because of posts like that. Go on FISO or any similar site then the mods would ban you outright for such posts. It's about maintaining site quality

                1. HamezMace
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 3 months ago

                  This.
                  For me, it's not whether you're saying LOL or HAHA, it's just generally not helpful to anyone.
                  We're generally a community that look to help each other out, not laugh at each other.

                2. Brosstan
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 3 months ago

                  It's just banter . If you have more money riding on FPL than you can shrug off then you have a gambling problem. And im saying that as someone who has a lot of money at stake each year.