FRANK LAMPARD is like one of those mums who can perform miracles in the kitchen.
Chelseas boss has a canny knack of using the same old ingredients to conjure up something tasty and different every week.
Lampard is the only Premier League manager banned at present from signing new players.
Yet with a little tinkering he is adding a different flavour to his team whenever it suits and the results are going down well with the fans.
In the 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace, Lampard took the bold decision to drop his captain Cesar Azpilicueta and hand a first Premier League start to right back Reece James.
It is a big move. Azpilicueta is a machine and despite having cemented his first team place over the past few years would be the last man on Earth to admit he needs a rest.
James full Premier League debut was reward for his heroics as a substitute and scoring the equaliser in Tuesdays breathless 4-4 Champions League game at home to Ajax.
It must have been a tough choice for Lampard to take his skipper to one side and tell him to make way for a much younger man who is ultimately after his place.
That is a sign that despite his closeness in age to his players he even played alongside Azpilicueta, he will not compromise results for reputations.
The decision to slot NGolo Kante into the heart of midfield in the hope the World Cup winning Frenchman has finally shrugged off injury was slightly enforced due to Jorginhos one game suspension.
Yet it added to the fresh feel about the Chelsea team which secured a sixth successive Premier League win over Crystal Palace with energy and enthusiasm ahead of the international break.
Lampard was seen to be cursed when he took this job in the summer under a two-window transfer ban. But he has turned it to his advantage to such an extent that no Chelsea fan wants to see it overturned.
That is actually an awkward prospect for owner Roman Abramovich who is used to spending millions to build the teams that have won him so many trophies.
