It may have been more than five years since Frank Lampard left his position as Derby County manager, but if he gets the Coventry City job, he could indirectly help the Rams stay in the Championship.
In Frank Lampard’s one season in charge of Derby County, the former Chelsea man took the club all the way to the Championship play-off finals.
The Rams fell at the final hurdle, though, and things went downhill from there, with financial difficulties pushing the club to the brink and consigning them to a two-year stay in League One.
Some pundits have even blamed Lampard for his role in destabilising the club with the players he signed. But, he could be back coaching in the Championship once more in the very near future, and it could play right into Derby’s favour if things go well for their former manager.
Frank Lampard could beat Derby County’s relegation rivals
After Coventry made the shocking decision to sack Mark Robins in the week, it has now emerged that Lampard is the favourite to fill the vacancy with the Midlands club.
If he does join Coventry, Derby fans should be cheering on the former Derby Country manager, as he can have a direct impact on their chances of survival in the Championship this term.
From the start of December and heading into the New Year, the Sky Blues will face off against Hull City, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle, and Cardiff City, all of whom are around the bottom third of the Championship table as things stand.
While Derby are currently in 12th place, there is a long way to go this season, and the newly-promoted side would be wise to remain cautious of how easily they could be sucked into a genuine relegation battle.
Obviously, staying in the division will largely be dictated by the results Derby pick up themselves, especially against the aforementioned teams. Still, a little favour from Lampard would go a long way to helping them avoid any risk of dropping divisions again.
Derby County need stability in Championship this season
After their two-year absence from the second tier, Derby fans are, rightly, very excited to be back in the Championship. And, the club has given a good account of itself so far in the first few months of the season.
But, the Championship is proving to be as unpredictable as ever. After 15 games, Derby find themselves six points off the top six, and four points clear of the bottom three, and as we’ve seen in previous years, it is not impossible for teams to climb the table quickly.
So, while Derby fans are hopeful of a top-half finish this season, and perhaps even a sneaky push for the play-offs, the main thing is that the Rams consolidate their status as a Championship club first and foremost.
-
Championship
-
Preston
Derby
-
-
Championship
-
Derby
Swansea
-
-
Championship
-
Derby
Sheffield Wednesday
-
-
Championship
-
Leeds
Derby
-
-
Championship
-
Burnley
Derby
-
Frank Lampard has to succeed in his next role
For Lampard, the idea of helping Derby will almost certainly not factor into his motivations for success if he does take the Coventry role.
Instead, the 46-year-old will be far more concerned with rebuilding his own reputation as a manager. His relative success at Derby and Chelsea early in his career have long been forgotten now, with most remembering his disastrous spells with Everton and as caretaker at Stamford Bridge with more clarity.
| Team | Total games | Matches won | Matches drawn | Matches lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea (caretaker) | 11 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9.1 |
| Everton | 44 | 12 | 8 | 24 | 27.2 |
| Chelsea | 84 | 44 | 15 | 25 | 52.3 |
| Derby County | 57 | 26 | 15 | 16 | 45.6 |
Many suspect the Coventry job would be Lampard’s last chance to really make a success of himself in the managerial world. Indeed, if he fails there, one cannot imagine he would be given the opportunity to coach in the Championship again, and would have to look further down the footballing ladder, either at home or abroad.
For More Stories Like This, Check Our Home Page
Be the first to comment