---
title: "Chelsea: Fans fume at Frank Lampard over bringing on Ross Barkley against Newcastle"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-fans-fume-at-frank-lampard-over-bringing-on-ross-barkley-against-newcastle/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Chelsea Football Club"
published: "2020-01-18T20:10:55Z"
modified: "2020-01-18T20:10:55Z"
---

# Chelsea: Fans fume at Frank Lampard over bringing on Ross Barkley against Newcastle

**A number of Chelsea fans questioned Frank Lampard’s decision to bring on Ross Barkley in the Blues’ defeat this evening.**

As noted by [@ChelseaFC](https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/1218608866017075202) on Twitter, the manager’s first substitution in the [0-1 loss at Newcastle](https://www.skysports.com/football/newcastle-vs-chelsea/408206) saw him introduce the 26-year-old in place of Mason Mount midway through the second half when the teams were level.

> Our first change of the evening…
>
> ⚫️ 0-0 🔵 \[68'\] [#NEWCHE](https://x.com/hashtag/NEWCHE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/fM5AWRbf2d](https://t.co/fM5AWRbf2d)
>
> — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) [January 18, 2020](https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status/1218608866017075202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Mount completed [four key passes](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376144/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Newcastle-United-Chelsea) and had a passing success rate of [88.6%](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376144/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Newcastle-United-Chelsea) during his 68 minutes on the pitch at St James’ Park, although only two players in the Blues’ starting line-up had fewer than his 50 touches (as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376144/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Newcastle-United-Chelsea)). While Barkley had [30 touches](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376144/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Newcastle-United-Chelsea) despite playing just 22 minutes, the substitute [didn’t manage to get a shot off](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376144/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Newcastle-United-Chelsea) against the Magpies and has [yet to contribute to a goal in the Premier League this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978).

Lampard’s decision to introduce Barkley met with opposition from these Chelsea fans on Twitter, with some believing that he should have instead brought on Mateo Kovacic, who despite having [a goal and three assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mateo-kovacic/leistungsdaten/spieler/51471) in the league in 2019/20 was [left on the bench for the entire game](https://www.skysports.com/football/newcastle-vs-chelsea/teams/408206), [as had been the case against Burnley](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mateo-kovacic/leistungsdaten/spieler/51471) last week:

> Lampard is a joke, how do you bring on Barkley when we need a goal
>
> — Magatshana Dingilizwe Ntuli (@Magatshana) [January 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/Magatshana/status/1218609513286242306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Looks like Lampard is following in Sarris foot steps by bringing on Barkley for no apparent reason at all
>
> — .😠 (@funboySupreme) [January 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/funboySupreme/status/1218609252165660673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Lampard again is favouring his Englishmen, kovacic was the best sub for mount.
>
> — Nicholas Muita (@nicholas\_muita) [January 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/nicholas_muita/status/1218609712079474688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> I didn’t like this sub either. Kovacic would’ve been better
>
> — ya Robert (@tristanislas) [January 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/tristanislas/status/1218612287801450496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> What did Kova did to lampard? Tell us
>
> — Florent JAY-B 🌎 (@FlorentJAYB) [January 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/FlorentJAYB/status/1218609130857996291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> What a boring game introduction of Barkley is not going to improve it
>
> — Christopher Holwill (@CHolwill) [January 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/CHolwill/status/1218609349028958208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Even our subs are uninspiring 🤦🏽‍♂️
>
> — Mr. Phiri (@MrPhiri12) [January 18, 2020](https://twitter.com/MrPhiri12/status/1218609089254699008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Do you think Lampard made a poor decision in bringing on Barkley for Mount? Have your say by commenting below!***