Another day, another defeat for Chelsea and Frank Lampard.
The decision to bring him back to the club on a interim basis was widely panned at the time, although some claimed there was some logic to it. After all, Lampard did 'know the club' and is still beloved by their supporters. It would have been hoped that he could lift morale over the remainder of the campaign and restore some pride within the squad.
You had people such as Richard Keys hailing the move, saying Lampard has done more to deserve the job on a permanent basis than some of the more fashionable 'foreign coaches'.
Of course, the irony of such comments were not lost on those who have followed his managerial career from afar. After all, this is someone who has never let a lack of qualifications stand in his way when it comes to running teams into the ground.
It is fair to say he walked into a difficult situation on this occasion. Chelsea have massively underperformed this season, while their squad was bloated, unsettled, and unhappy after the huge amount of signings made over the previous 12 months.
It is also fair to say that there was never any chance that Frank Lampard was the man to arrest that slide. Over the course of his managerial career, he proven time and time again that he simply isn't up to the required standard.
Frank Lampard & the case of the horrific managerial record
Frank Lampard has been handed managerial opportunities that other up and coming coaches could only dream of.
He was gifted the job at Derby County despite having no previous managerial experience. At this time, they were seen as one of the prime candidates for promotion from the Championship.
The Englishman was lauded for the job he did at Pride Park. Having finished sixth in the previous season, Lampard would lead them to the dizzying heights of sixth during his only season in charge. They would lose the play-off final against Aston Villa.
After that, he was once again handed a job well above his station. This time it came at Chelsea, the top of gig that would never been given a manager with one middling Championship campaign on his CV.
In a repeat of his time at Derby, he was hailed having led Chelsea to an incredible fourth-placed finish, one place below where they had come the previous season under the much maligned Maurizio Sarri. It became quickly apparent during the following season that he was not up to the task and was replaced by Thomas Tuchel.
Next up, it was Everton that were seduced by the name. They turned to him as the club were faced with a relegation battle, with Lampard receiving a remarkable amount of praise after helping them to beat the drop.
However, a quick look at his stats from that season would suggest that it wasn't necessarily deserved.
When he took over Everton sat in 14th place, five points above the relegation zone with over three months remaining in the campaign. Even a modest upturn in form would have seen them move comfortably away from trouble, but they were still threatened by relegation with a week to go in the season. They moved closer to being relegated under his stewardship.
For some reason, many assumed that they would not be in a relegation battle this season with Lampard at the helm. He would be sacked in January with the club sitting in 19th place in the league and having gone ten games without a win.
He has now brought that stellar run of form with him to Stamford Bridge.
Having been at the helm for five games after last night's 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford, his record reads as follows: zero wins, zero draws, one goal scored, five defeats. Chelsea now sit in 11th place, as close to the relegation zone as they do to the top eight in terms of points.
In all, the 44-year old has won only one of his last 19 games as a manager.
Frank Lampard's last 19 games as a manager:
Lost 2-1 ❌
Lost 2-0 ❌
Lost 1-0 ❌
Lost 2-0 ❌
Lost 2-1 ❌
Lost 3-1 ❌
Lost 4-1 ❌
Drew 1-1 ➖
Lost 2-1 ❌
Lost 3-0 ❌
Lost 4-1 ❌
Lost 2-0 ❌
Drew 0-0 ➖
Won 3-0 ✅
Lost 1-0 ❌
Lost 2-0 ❌
Lost 2-1 ❌
Lost 2-0 ❌
Lost 2-0 ❌… pic.twitter.com/Q9BNZtVQxu— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) April 26, 2023
All of this has been done while employing no way clear of playing or philosophy, something that has been a hallmark of Frank Lampard the manager. He has also marginalised a number of Chelsea's recent big money signings.
Logic should dictate that a track record such as this one would rule him out of the running for any desirable jobs that may appear in the future, but Lampard's time in management has repeatedly shown us that logic need not apply when it comes to his coaching career.
Another team will be taken in by the big name and headlines that come with his appointment, only to quickly realise that they made a terrible mistake.
It's all part of the package with English football's golden boy.
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