Rival Lines
Match Preview: Chelsea v AFCB
This week I chatted to Chelsea Daft after their successful Champions League match that took them into the last 16. But the league form had a shock last week when a rejuvenated Everton beat Chelsea comfortably. So, is there any chink in the Lampard reign or is he the best thing that has ever happened for Stamford Bridge fans?
CC: Has Frank Lampard changed what Chelsea fans thought might be possible before the start of the season?
CD: For me 100%. With the transfer ban and losing Eden Hazard, knowing that youngsters were going to be given a chance, I'd hoped that we could challenge for top six and identified that as a success. Now, the top four is possible.
CC: After the good start to the season with young players, do you think Frank Lampard would rather work with young players than buy in proven internationals at this moment in his career?
CD: I think Frank doesn't mind who he works with as long as they feel the club, knows what it means to be Chelsea and puts in the effort.
CC: Ross Barkley has made a few mistakes off the pitch, but do you think having Lampard as a manager has been good for him?
CD: Yes I do. The perfect role model as Frank has been there and done it as far as being a success and has proven himself.
CC: Christian Pulisic has hit the ground running in the Premier League. What do you think his best qualities are?
CD: He reminds me of Eden Hazard when he first arrived. He is raw, hungry and believes in his ability. After a slow start he is now finding his feet and is growing in confidence every week.
CD: I would have to say Fikayo Tomori as far as the defensive side of the game goes. There are still mistakes in his game but he has been the standout so far. Now Toni Rudiger is back that will change.
CC: Tammy Abrahams has a difficult first couple of weeks this season and then started scoring loads. Has he surprised you in the amount of goals he has been able to get and to keep Olivier Giroud out of the starting line-up?
CD: Being honest Yes, based on the fact he had played in the Premier League before. I thought that 15 goals would a great target for him for the season but he has been fantastic.
CC: Is Callum Hudson-Odoi getting enough game time at Chelsea or can you see reasons why he doesn't start every week?
CD: I don't buy into the Hudson-Odoi talk personally and feel that he needs to grow much more. Of course that comes with playing regularly but he has a long, long way to go. The form of Willian and Christian Pulisic has kept him out of the side.
CC: Chelsea will probably be keen to make amends for the Everton defeat. But did you see an away defeat like that coming?
CD: No, I didn't. With Everton on the ropes, it was the ideal opportunity for us to take advantage and we blew it.
CC: Have Chelsea got any major injuries ahead of the Bournemouth match?
CD: Only Ruben Loftus-Cheek who has been out for the season.
CC: How do you expect Chelsea to line-up for the Bournemouth match?
CD: 4-2-3-1 - Kepa, James, Rudiger, Zouma, Azpi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Willian, Mount, Pulisic and Abraham.
CC: Which three teams do you think will be relegated this season?
CD: Southampton, Norwich and Watford.
CC: And which four teams will finish in the top four?
CD: Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea.
Blogger Interview: Chelsea Daft
Twitter @Chelseadaft.org
CC: Has Frank Lampard changed what Chelsea fans thought might be possible before the start of the season?
CD: For me 100%. With the transfer ban and losing Eden Hazard, knowing that youngsters were going to be given a chance, I'd hoped that we could challenge for top six and identified that as a success. Now, the top four is possible.
CC: After the good start to the season with young players, do you think Frank Lampard would rather work with young players than buy in proven internationals at this moment in his career?
CD: I think Frank doesn't mind who he works with as long as they feel the club, knows what it means to be Chelsea and puts in the effort.
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CC: Ross Barkley has made a few mistakes off the pitch, but do you think having Lampard as a manager has been good for him?
CD: Yes I do. The perfect role model as Frank has been there and done it as far as being a success and has proven himself.
CC: Christian Pulisic has hit the ground running in the Premier League. What do you think his best qualities are?
CD: He reminds me of Eden Hazard when he first arrived. He is raw, hungry and believes in his ability. After a slow start he is now finding his feet and is growing in confidence every week.
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CC: Who has been Chelsea's best defender? 
CD: I would have to say Fikayo Tomori as far as the defensive side of the game goes. There are still mistakes in his game but he has been the standout so far. Now Toni Rudiger is back that will change.
CC: Tammy Abrahams has a difficult first couple of weeks this season and then started scoring loads. Has he surprised you in the amount of goals he has been able to get and to keep Olivier Giroud out of the starting line-up?
CD: Being honest Yes, based on the fact he had played in the Premier League before. I thought that 15 goals would a great target for him for the season but he has been fantastic.
CC: Is Callum Hudson-Odoi getting enough game time at Chelsea or can you see reasons why he doesn't start every week?
CD: I don't buy into the Hudson-Odoi talk personally and feel that he needs to grow much more. Of course that comes with playing regularly but he has a long, long way to go. The form of Willian and Christian Pulisic has kept him out of the side.
CD: No, I didn't. With Everton on the ropes, it was the ideal opportunity for us to take advantage and we blew it.
CC: Have Chelsea got any major injuries ahead of the Bournemouth match?
CD: Only Ruben Loftus-Cheek who has been out for the season.
CC: How do you expect Chelsea to line-up for the Bournemouth match?
CD: 4-2-3-1 - Kepa, James, Rudiger, Zouma, Azpi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Willian, Mount, Pulisic and Abraham.
CC: Which three teams do you think will be relegated this season?
CD: Southampton, Norwich and Watford.
CC: And which four teams will finish in the top four?
CD: Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea.
CC: Thanks to Chelsea Daft. The impact Frank Lampard has made is remarkable considering that he has not managed in the Premier League before. The Everton result was probably the first little bump in the road for him, but he'll want to bounce back quickly. Bournemouth go to Stamford Bridge with a stretched squad, but it is good to see that Chelsea Daft does not include the Cherries in their bottom three.
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