Superblue

The only real action so far was his transfer request in January, which I believe if anything was borne out of frustration at the lack of game time under Sarri. Since then everything has been kept under wraps and most of the media is coming from Bild which to Bayern is like Marca to Real Madrid. A contract can take time under normal circumstances but in this instance there are so many things at present which can compound to this (new manager, CHO's serious injury, only year left, etc). I just think we all need to be patient, I'm confident what Lampard said will prove to be right and will convince CHO his future is here - that being he can be an important player in this team and will get plenty of chances and game time but there will be no guarantees for any player at the club.

Since Lampard was appointed, lots of media sources that are usually tied closely with Chelsea have said the likelihood of CHO signing a new contract is high. Then the Daily Mail run a story that Bayern are still interested and preparing a new bid (doesn't seem to even suggest that he wants out) and everybody freaks out. People just need to calm themselves down and allow things to pan out over the next couple of weeks.

I don't think it's anything like that. All the pictures and videos so far of the keepers training has been Hilario doing it. As you said it could simply just be an innocent chat, but even if it is a bit of advice we're talking about a genuine world class talent back in his prime, Kepa would be stupid not to pick that brain sometimes if its available to him. Emenalo was regularly seen watching at the training ground, and kitted in training gear so again I wouldn't read much into this. It's a very weird summer. With no work needed on transfers in, it actually gives Cech opportunity to concentrate on what is at the club already and the chance to work closely with Lampard and the coaches whilst on tour in pre season. It was detailed when he was appointed that part of his role would be acting as a link between board and coach and he can focus on this element at present. Lampard being inexperienced himself will need as much support as possible from all corners. Cech would obviously know Lampard well from a team-mate previously but their relationship now needs to be altered somewhat due to their different roles within the club so its a good chance for both to adapt to this. Don't forget too that it also works both ways. The board will also likely want feedback from Cech with regard to the playing and coaching staff; his role in and around the training ground won't comprise solely of supporting Lamps.

Agreed, I've very much been in the pro Lampard camp and whilst it's very early days I like what I've seen so far with what he and the coaching staff are trying to achieve.

A few thoughts from today: Tomori looked very good and comfortable in there today. I hope he'll be given some sufficient game time in the friendly against Barcelona because it would be good to assess him against significantly stronger opposition where we will have to defend and won't dominate as well as today. Hopefully he can make the step up because his ability and composure on the ball could put him above Zouma in the pecking order. The two games have definitely showed much more intent with our passing. We should benefit from the work with Sarri last season with regards to looking to dominate possession and be comfortable on the ball, but it looks like Lampard is trying to quicken up the transition and get the ball up the pitch into dangerous areas much quicker. It should benefit Kovacic and Jorginho too, both were ridiculed at times last season as only being able to recycle and keep possession but both have so much more to their games and skill sets than that and both are very capable of playing at a quicker tempo and playing those dangerous passes to create chances. I've been impressed by Batshuayi for both games. I understand he spent much of his holidays training and staying fit, and came back earlier than was needed. He looks sharp and hungry. His finishing wasn't up to scratch today but he's pressing well, working hard leading the line and his general and hold up play seems to have improved. I cannot see there being a role for Bakayoko in this squad. He just simply isn't technically anywhere near good enough to play in a team that will look to control and dominate the game.

Any idea of recovery time?

I dont understand people's frustrations with the squad tonight. This was almost a "pre" pre season camp and Lamps was right to give chances to the likes of Piazon and Baker in the same way as Bakayoko and Drinkwater. Are they likely to make the grade? No, but that's Lamps call. I can only compare this to Conte giving Moses a chance and the rest was history. If he hadn't, would he have had a good enough right wing back within the squad to change to a back 3 and then perhaps the title wouldn't have been won. We had 12 or 13 players join up a day or two ago, all of which are either established or much more on the fringes of the squad and ready than most of these players tonight. Add to this Willian, Pulisic, CHO, RLC, Rudiger and James all not there and we're talking almost an entire squad. Lamps just needs a bit of time to run the rule over everything at his disposal but I would expect when the season starts only a few that played tonight will be in the squad.

My thoughts on the game, very much as expected. Both halves we started well only to fade very badly in each. This team are midway through their season and that was clear to see so it would have acted as a very good workout tonight. A couple of things I did like however: 1. Flexibility of formation. I think the 4-2-3-1 is best suited to our players but I'm glad Lampard is willing to try and experiment and we are at least already well accustomed to playing 4-3-3. 2. I like how we tried to play the ball much quicker through the lines. At times it was forced but the execution will improve and should be a welcome tweak to last years style. 3. Bats played well, not just his goal which he finished well as expected. He worked very hard and some of his play on the ball also seemed much improved.

These things take time, especially if CHO wanted to wait and speak to the new manager which he is fully entitled to do. Lampard literally was appointed and off to Dublin the next day whilst CHO is left back dealing with his injury. I would expect something to happen one way or another in the next couple of weeks.

Batshuayi needs to be given the chance this season. I feel the club needs to retain all of Giroud, Bats and Abraham and give all three opportunity to stake a claim for the striker spot because it's very much up for grabs next season. Drinkwater isn't great by any stretch of the imagination. However I don't mind him being a squad player. His homegrown status helps him for the Premier League and Champions League squads, and to be honest I would trust him to step in and do a solid, if unspectacular job compared to Bakayoko who can't even do the technical basics to play in that position. The midfield makeup we have, I hope Lampard reverts to a midfield two. Kante, Kovacic and Drinkwater are all used to that and I believe it would benefit Jorginho too. If Drinkwater was 4th choice amongst that group I'm not going to lose sleep, although I'm also not going to lose sleep either if he left.

Just so long as it's not as jinxed as the player and manager of the month awards seem to be!

Any information or confirmation of which players join up today and when the rest are likely to arrive?

Trying to set aside the emotional and sentimental aspect of Lampard's appointment, I'm very excited for the set-up and foundations the club seem to be setting up here. Forget the transfer ban for a minute, because the club could 'get by' for a season with the squad we already have at the club, but with spiralling transfer fees it is vital that the club creates a philosophy and foundation that gets some of these academy boys breaking into the first team squad. We can no longer build our squad entirely through the transfer market like previous years for a number of reasons (transfer fee inflation. FFP, increased competition). The club had a taste last season seeing RLC and CHO break through, it proved that with a platform some of these players are good enough to break through. It also showed the added excitement and vibrancy of the crowd seeing their own academy players playing and playing well for the club. In Christensen, RLC and CHO based on current transfer fees we have well over £100m of talent there straight out of our academy, and there's plenty more to be unearthed. I just hope the club holds its nerve in this. Its not a quick fix, but whilst City and Liverpool are seemingly fairly well ahead of the rest of the pack at present its definitely the right time to do this for a couple of seasons and lay a foundation which could help shape and create the next chapter of success for our club.

Class personified, although I'd expect nothing less from him.

I think Jorginho would improve in a midfield 2 and Kante and Kovacic are both best in such a setup. It would also give more flexibility to who plays further forward as you're not just restricted with Barkley or Mount playing the attacking midfield role but the likes of Willian, CHO, Pulisic could all play that '10' role too.

One of the things that I really hope he drills into this group too is to not be afraid to shoot. We have plenty of players more than capable of shooting around the edge of the box - Willian, Pedro, Barkley, etc. Too often we try and overplay or struggle to break down a team defending deep.

You can't help but feel excited listening to Lampard in his press conference. Ironically given the number of managers he has worked under in his career, I believe the closest of the top tier managers to what Lampard could be like actually is Klopp. I think he'll aim to build a strong harmony and "feel-good" factor within the club and build excellent relationships with his players and I also believe he'll look for his team to press aggressively across the pitch with maximum effort and commitment. The guy is a complete leader and winner. When he talks there is a friendliness and warmth about him, but there is also a hint of conviction and ruthlessness in his words. For example, he talked up the academy and young players but made it fully aware that they must have the talent and application for chances and it won't be handed to them. He uses the perfect mix and its part of the reason he both comes across so well but also so likeable.

Think RLC will be out past Xmas and by the time he is back fit the whole season could end up being a bit of a write off for him unfortunately. CHO however reportedly is well ahead of schedule and is expecting to start full training in about a month's time so he could very easily be back by September.

A lot of people are quick to forget about Christensen too as part of the academy group. The first step is they need to be trusted to be regular fixtures within the first team squad. For example the club needs to place faith in Reece James being good enough to challenge Azpi for the right back position, and therefore get rid of Zappacosta. I think if you consider within the squad then Mount and Abraham also have a very good chance of being integrated too. It's also possible that the club sells Zouma and if they did that then the fourth centre back spot needs to come from the academy too - Tomori, Clarke-Salter, Ampadu. Therefore there is a very good chance that seven academy products could be easily integrated into the squad next season. That doesn't mean chucking them into the first team immediately to see if they will sink or swim, they should be integrated slowly unless injuries/suspensions force them to be thrown in. If some of these develop into first choice then that is fantastic, but its just as important that the club creates a foundation whereby the club develops its own squad players and no longer needs to buy. In turn this will allow us to focus on the highest possible quality for the starting XI when we can buy again, perhaps only needing to buy 2 or 3 rather than 6 or 7. Until some of these players are afforded a chance we can't know if they'll be good enough or not. I would tend to agree with you that I don't know if Mount and Abraham are good enough yet, but amongst the first team and given chances next season you never know. I felt the same about RLC this time last year and many others did, now we're all begging he recovers fully from his injury and pinning our hopes on him to lock down a place in our midfield moving forward.

Probably the most technically gifted but definitely the least suited.

Matt Law reporting RLC has agreed a new 5 year contract and Chelsea are planning on CHO and James to sign similar length contracts shortly. Hugely positive for both club and player. If he can come back from this injury he has the potential to become THE dominant midfielder in the premier league with his mix of power, pace and skill, not to mention a vital goal threat from deep.

I have very good friends who are United and Arsenal fans that would give their right arm for Chelsea's board and setup compared to their own.

Derby owner today confirmed that Lampard only got back from holiday on Friday so that is likely a big cause of the delay. I know we've earned a bit of a reputation letting things overplay themselves but I'm confident everything is well in hand. He seemed resigned to Lampard leaving now so I would expect it to simply be a matter of time.

If Lampard is the target and/or is good as a done deal, do you think Cech is going to confirm this in an interview in his native Czech Republic. It's a typical "give nothing away" interview.

I believe that was directed at the Lampard deal, I've seen quite a few rumours regarding this as Derby have apparently cut things fine in recent times with regards to FFP and it would give them more leeway then for next year with their budgets. Whether it is true or not, it does seem a very realistic possibility.