Leaving aside the slightly dubious ideas that Lampard would join us, or be any use to us, there is another lesson to be learned here.

18 months ago Chelsea decided their previously successful playing staff had reached the end of the road. Out went their dogmatic, stubborn manager who everyone had had enough of, to be replaced by their hearts desire: A fresh faced young manager, idolised by the fans, with a commitment to youth and good football.

At first their (richly deserved) transfer ban meant the existing core of the team was supplemented by a sprinkling of good youth players. The football was better to watch and all the pundits lapped it up, but in fact their league position didn't improve at all, and where Sarri had won the Europa League, Lampard won nothing.

Then, this year the entire squad was overhauled by a raft of expensive new signings, all arriving at once into a team, club, league and country they have no experience of. The existing core of senior players who might have helped them integrate were replaced en masse, so the new players were starting from scratch on and off the pitch.

End result: Failed. Sacked.

For me this is less about the quality of any one individual player, or even of the manager, and more to do with the rate of change. A classic case of revolution failing when evolution might well have worked.

Something to think about with so many so keen for a mass cull at Palace this summer. Having a dozen players and the management team all out of contract at the same time is far more of a risk than an opportunity. Even top class players are unlikely to form into a team unit straight away, and two steps backwards is likely before any forward steps. For Chelsea that means missing the Champions League, for us it means goodbye premier league.

Posted on the other thread but relevant here, from The Athletic today. Certainly seems to be about more than just results.

• Lampard’s relationship with influential director Marina Granovskaia deteriorated
• Ralf Rangnick was offered interim job last week for four months but turned it down
• Calls were made in recent weeks to sound out Leipzig’s Julian • Nagelsmann before deal was struck with Thomas Tuchel
• Leicester game was tipping point and morning after spent trying to finalise successor
• Lampard shook players hands and thanked them for efforts under him after Leicester match
• Petr Cech involved in talking to new stars’ agents as form dipped
• Some players complained about lack of tactical instruction and not being spoken to for months
• Desire to re-sign Declan Rice annoyed his bosses
• The dressing room felt manager showed no empathy and were hurt by his public criticism
• Lampard would have walked out had he been working for any club other than Chelsea

"The problem was, the manager didn’t talk to the players — well only the ones he liked,” one such source explains. “I know of players who weren’t in the team that didn’t hear from him for many months. That’s very frustrating for a player because you don’t know what you have to do to do better, what the manager is thinking. It’s crazy."

"There was also a feeling that as form started to dip that the regular changes to the starting line-up prevented players from building a system and confidence. The squad, for example, could all see how talented Werner is but were horrified to see the confidence drain out of him as he was put in and out of the starting XI."

"Lampard was accused in some quarters of working players too hard, dating back to the preparations in June, ahead of last season getting back under way following the three-month postponement. Indeed, despite Chelsea’s fixture list this season regularly involving matches in midweek as well as the weekend, the 42-year-old was spotted still putting on intense drills. As one individual remarked: “There was a worry that not only were Chelsea players getting exhausted but it would take a toll with people getting more injuries.”

“From what I can tell, he felt it was like pissing against the wind. He experienced difficult relationships with a lot of people and wasn’t always sure who he could trust. He would have a conversation with one person but wasn’t sure what they’d be saying about him afterwards. He found the politics hard, a constant battle.”

“When things are going wrong at Chelsea, you will also find there are many people that will be happy to blame anything but their own area. It is something Lampard was trying to change, but it was going to take time. It is a deeply sat problem that has been there for many years."

"A facet against Lampard was the defensive record last season — they conceded 54 times, which was the worst record in the top half of the Premier League. Only three teams conceded more from set pieces (15). The additions of Chilwell, Silva and Mendy have seen an improvement in both departments despite the recent downturn."

More Royball crabbing side to side it is then. I have a worry Garth will be pitching up at Palace after failing miserably at the Euros in the summer. I do hope not.

Gareth Boregate - please never in a million years and whilst we are at it the other no hopers namely Mark Hughes and Chris Coleman.