There were a lot of dismissive sneers in the direction of Chelsea during the opening months of the 2019/20 campaign when a group of academy players broke through into the first team.
The accusation towards Frank Lampard, who had been appointed in July of 2019, was that young players were only being given a chance because of the transfer ban FIFA had handed the club. The assumption was that once that ban passed, any Cobham influence in the first team would instantly evaporate.
Three years later, it is tough to argue that the club has reverted to type, or that academy talent has faded into the loan cycle.
