And so the utterly bonkers Premier League season continues.
One minute everyone is talking about who should replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, then a few weeks later it's Mikel Arteta and now it's Frank Lampard's turn.
Chelsea have picked up just one win in their previous six league games - a run which has seen them slip to ninth in the table - but what's even worse is those nasty memes calling the Blues boss fat have increased ten fold. It's the festive season guys, we're all carrying a bit of holiday weight, give him a break.
.@Carra23 admits he would be tougher with his criticism if another manager was responsible for Chelsea's dip, but refused to add to the mounting pressure on Frank Lampard, instead highlighting a potential lack of experience at the top level.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2021
It doesn't matter how much you're adored by the fans, if results aren't going your way then you're never immune from the chopping block - especially at a club like Chelsea.
So with that in mind, let's take a look at those in the frame to replace Lampard should he be given the boot, ranking them in order of the likelihood of their appointment.
6. Brendan Rodgers
Well, he fits the bill. Young, up and coming, enthusiastic, tactically astute and knows all about the club having spent time there as both a youth coach and reserve team coach.
However, Rodgers looks well settled at Leicester, with the club's hierarchy clearly keen to back him.
Not to mention, recent reports suggest that the former Chelsea youth coach has been blacklisted by owner Roman Abramovich after he insinuated Liverpool were a bigger club than Chelsea during his Anfield tenure.
Hmmmm, suddenly a very possible appointment looks absolutely dead in the water.
5. Andriy Shevchenko
If appointing a club legend who can do no wrong in the fans' eyes doesn't work out, then why not appoint someone who was absolutely useless at the club and could do no right? Seems pretty logical.
Alright, there's more to the speculation surrounding Andriy Shevchenko than that. The former Chelsea striker is clearly a favourite of Abramovich's after the owner essentially demanded the deal to bring him to Stamford Bridge in 2006 was put in place.
Shevchenko has been managing the Ukrainian national side since 2016, and is set to embark on the first major tournament of his managerial career at the European Championships later this year. Or is he? We'll see...
4. Julian Nagelsmann
If exciting, fluid football is what you want from a manager who looks destined for the very top of the game, then look no further than Julian Nagelsmann.
The RB Leipzig boss is undoubtedly the hottest managerial prospect in European football right now, the only black mark against his name is his lack of silverware.
Abramovich may be wary of appointing a boss who is yet to truly prove his credentials among Europe's elite in terms of winning trophies, with his Lampard experiment seemingly taking a nose dive.
A gamble? Possibly, but it could really pay off.
3. Ralph Hasenhüttl
Ralph Hasenhüttl's name is beginning to crop up a lot more in conversations regarding the jobs at England's top clubs.
The Southampton boss has done an incredible job on the south coast, with a mix of astute transfer business and savvy tactics seeing the Saints well placed for a top half finish this season.
The Austrian is another who seems destined for a shot at an elite club in the coming years, and it wouldn't be a surprise if Chelsea were to offer him the chance given his performances since arriving in the Premier League a little over two years ago.
2. Massimiliano Allegri
Touting managers who are already in a job is all well and good, but when there are world class managers with a proven track record just sat by the phone waiting, it would be daft not to think they weren't the favourites.
Massimiliano Allegri has been out of work since departing Juventus in 2019. During his time in Turin, Allegri tasted Scudetto success in every single one of his five seasons at the club.
Obviously a lot will depend on what route Abramovich chooses to go down in terms of whether he wants experience in England or just a manager with a winning mentality, but Allegri is a fantastic option who's available without the need for compensation.
1. Thomas Tuchel
Speaking of managers who are out of work at the moment.
Throughout this list we've looked at various possible arrivals and weighed up the pros and cons of each potential successor to Lampard, and Thomas Tuchel represents the best option of the lot.
Relatively young, has experience of managing superstars, isn't under contract at another club and has winner's medals on the mantelpiece - the only box which remains unticked is he's yet to manage in England, but that's rarely deterred Abramovich in the past.
Tuchel was relieved of his duties at Paris Saint-Germain only a few weeks ago, but if Chelsea are looking to put Lampard out of his misery then the German tactician could well be the man they turn to.
Source: 90min
