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One thing is clear, the other more uncertain. Firstly, Chelsea have a good enough squad to be challenging for trophies. Very few can rival the strength in depth at Stamford Bridge. More questionable is whether they have the right manager to take advantage.
Recent performances, of course, would suggest not. Whether it’s finding the right blend in team selection or organising and inspiring his chosen XI, Frank Lampard has failed to get it right. This inexperienced manager must be wondering what to do next.
It’s not as if he can turn to wise, old heads alongside. In Jody Morris and Joe Edwards, Lampard leans on coaches with limited track records in senior football. Just like the boss, they are learning as they go.
A big part of that will be dealing with players earning huge amounts of money — a much different task to handling hungry young prospects desperate to make a mark. Lampard doesn’t have many of those left now in the way he did last season. Improvement sometimes slows down in the comfort zone.
Top coaches, however, still make players better. They educate, nurture and accelerate development. In truth, there aren’t many at Chelsea improving just now. Mason Mount, I think, would be the only one.
If that’s a cause for concern, so are the struggles of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. To be fair, I’m sure Werner will soon start scoring again. At 24, with 35 caps for Germany, the striker is well equipped to clamber out of this slump.
Havertz is a little different. Clearly short on confidence, his cause hasn’t been helped by being moved about. It seems Lampard can’t quite work out how best to fit the 21-year-old playmaker into Chelsea’s system.
Establishing good relationships on the pitch has also proved difficult. That was painfully obvious against Leicester, a team working hard for each other within a tight structure cleverly devised by Brendan Rodgers. Lampard, on the other hand, has tried to keep everyone involved by constantly chopping and changing, which does nothing for understanding in partnerships.
Pulling off that feat requires an awful lot of skill and know-how. I mean, even Sir Alex Ferguson needed a few years to master the art of rotation. Man-management is another technique that needs space to grow. Eighteen months is no time to get all this right.
The big question, of course, is whether Roman Abramovich is prepared to wait for Lampard. This is actually an interesting situation for Chelsea’s owner. Does he grant more time than normal to a club legend or does he wield the axe in the same ruthless way?
Does he, for that matter, take any notice of events at Arsenal and Manchester United, where Mikel Arteta and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have come through sticky patches in what is the strangest of seasons?
If ever patience were needed in SW6, this might be the year.
Southampton vs Arsenal
Very slowly but surely, Mikel Arteta is sorting the wheat from the chaff. He’s moulding the Arsenal squad into something that appeals a little more than it did. So, farewell Mesut Ozil (let’s say Amen to that!) and also Sokratis, a whole-hearted defender who gave his all.
Time now, then, to look ahead, to try to turn the season into something more respectable. That means all the kids continuing their exciting progress and senior stars such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Thomas Partey leading by example.
Another great cup run, of course, wouldn’t hurt at all. The Gunners don’t want to let go of this trophy without a fight. And it might be a fight on the South Coast. Southampton on form are one heck of a side.
West Ham vs Doncaster
I don’t suppose he will win Manager of the Season, but David Moyes deserves an awful lot of respect for turning West Ham into a proper team, rather than one liable to roll over. Nobody will fancy facing them these days, thanks to the shape, discipline and threat engineered by Moyes.
With that in mind, surely it’s time to embark on a cup run, add some real excitement to all the hard work.
The Hammers, after all, have disappointed too often in this competition in the past.
Oh, hang on. I see Manchester United or Liverpool await if West Ham overcome Doncaster tomorrow.
Well, if ever there was a season to upset a big gun, this could be it if Moyes keeps things going.
Brentford vs Leicester
No prizes for guessing where Brentford’s priorities lie. Gaining promotion to the Premier League after last season’s disappointment must stand top of the list. They’re going the right way about it, too, beating Luton this week to make it 16 League games unbeaten.
Mind you, that doesn’t mean the Bees can’t push Leicester hard, even without Ivan Toney, their suspended top scorer. Thomas Frank has some dangerous players at his disposal, ones keen to show they can compete at a higher level.
Beating Newcastle here in the Carabao Cup must have helped belief. Only to a certain extent, though, because nobody at Brentford needs telling that Leicester at the moment are an entirely different proposition.
Fulham vs Burnley
This all-Premier League clash is difficult to call.
From one perspective, the fact Fulham have tightened up at the back to an impressive extent means Burnley should find it difficult making a breakthrough on Sunday.
Sean Dyche’s side, after all, could hardly be described as potent, despite last night’s shock 1-0 win at Liverpool.
That victory, however, changes little for Burnley. Just like Fulham, they have other things on their mind, namely finding a way to avoid relegation. As such, we might see several key players rested on both sides, which leaves the shape of this contest partly in the dark.
Whatever the result, neither will be dreaming of glorious trips to Wembley.
