Frank Lampard sacking shows how much faith Brighton have in Graham Potter

Ian Hart
Frank Lampard was sacked by Chelsea and replaced by former PSG boss Thomas TuchelFrank Lampard was sacked by Chelsea and replaced by former PSG boss Thomas Tuchel
Frank Lampard was sacked by Chelsea and replaced by former PSG boss Thomas Tuchel

So Frank Lampard becomes the latest football manager to join the ranks of the unemployed.

Unfortunately given Chelsea’s current form it’s not that surprising, and in the grand scheme of things even Frank knew under Roman Abraamovich it was always going to happen.

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That said, Frank walks away from the Bridge with a seven-figure payout - tell me, in what other line of work are employees handsomely paid for failure – with the icing on the cake being in the not too distant future another chairman will employ them in a similar job they’d be sacked for not doing properly?

From speaking to diehard Chelsea fans, club legend or not, I’d say Lampard was out of his depth, and unfortunately appeared to have no Plan ‘B’. Sound familiar Brighton fans?

The news that Chelsea have been talking to Thomas Tuchel, Lampard’s potential successor, for at least a fortnight should come as no shock – that’s what happens in football.

Its happened at the Albion on more than one occasion, the last being May 2019.

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Chris Hughton’s side were just about to take on Champions elect Manchester City at the Amex on the last day of the 2018/19. The person I normally sit with it at the Amex was enjoying some ‘R and R’ out in Spain, where we’ve both got places.

He was sat in our local, also frequented by the chairman of a Scottish Premier League Club, he texted me 25 minutes before kick off to say he’d be told this was Hughton’s last game and that Graham Potter was coming in from Swansea.

A full 90 minutes before the club let Chris do a lap of honour with his grandchildren and be interviewed looking forward to the next season, and obviously 24 hours before they sacked him.

But that’s football, in Sussex Hughton was oblivious to what was going on, down on the Costa del Sol he was a dead man walking.

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Chelsea’s latest managerial change does highlight how much faith and belief Albion owner Tony Bloom has in Graham Potter his current manager.

With the Albion now on a two match winning streak, a third victory, against Fulham, at time of going to press, on Wednesday night, will put the Albion eight points clear of the West Londoners.

To reiterate, no one gets relegated in January, but anything less than a win will put more pressure on the already beleaguered Potter. I’m even prepared for the Albion to win ugly, just a win.

Which then follows into Saturday’s visit of Spurs, another one of those Top six ‘free hits’, but much depends on which Tottenham arrive at the Amex?

It must be almost as frustrating as being a Brighton fan as supporting Spurs, they always seem to promise so much then deliver very little.

Whether or not Jose parks the bus, I’d take a point now……