On The Frank Lampard Controversy

by Graham MacAree on Sep 25, 2011 5:58 PM BST in Fire Paul Hayward

I'm not really sure what do make of the Frank Lampard stories that are floating around the internet today. Apparently, Lampard left the bench after Josh McEachran was introduced for Raul Meireles in the 83rd minute of the Swansea City match - the Mail have photos of him going down the tunnel - and, naturally, the media are having a field day with that knowledge.

If you wanted to take the most apocalyptic view possible, you could say that Frank Lampard is really angry at being benched so often and that his Chelsea days are numbered. Of course, you would only take said view if you had a strong agenda and happened to be looking to stir up the plot. Lampard hasn't shown any signs of discontent, has played the vast majority of Chelsea's time this season.. and, well, he was forced to play more than an hour of football in midweek as the centrepiece of a two-man midfield against Fulham. I would have rested him too.

At the end of the day, it seems to me that turning a man getting up the bench and walking off the pitch into 'Frank Lampard's future at Chelsea could be in doubt' (ESPN Soccernet) is journalistic irresponsibility of the highest order. We don't know why he left the bench, we don't know what he or Andre Villas-Boas is thinking. We know nothing except that he was a substitute and that he didn't stick around once all three subs were deployed.

So until we hear anything definitive from Lampard or Chelsea, can we stop the stupid speculation? Please? I know it's the media's job to essentially peddle utter crap, but this seems even sillier than their usual nonsense.

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Frankly, playing Josh over Lamps in that situation was the smartest move we could have made anyway

Why play Lampard in games we’ve already wrapped up? That’s a perfect opportunity to give the youngster some minutes, we might as well take advantage while we can. I wish the media would stop looking to create drama over Lampards “benching” where there really isn’t one.

by Stephen Schmidt on Sep 25, 2011 6:04 PM BST reply actions

Players leave the bench early all the time.

Especiialy after all the subs are used. I’m sure it was just that, but even it wasn’t, who cares? If he wants to throw his toys out the pram and leave, fuck him. No player, no matter how good or legendary, is bigger than the club. I said it all the times Drogba was allegedly on his way out. To be honest, though, I don’t think we’re done with him yet, but if we were, I think we have capable replacements. Capable enough to mean he should be playing quite a few fewer matches.

Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!

by Kevin Kostka on Sep 25, 2011 6:23 PM BST reply actions

i hadn't known that

perhaps b/c i’m in the USA and haven’t been able to attend a match live. i never realized that players leave the bench early all the time; honestly there’s something about that that doesn’t sit well with me.

by dojothecat on Sep 25, 2011 7:08 PM BST up reply actions

I've never been to a mtach either... : )

Even on TV, if you watch, and toward the end of a match especially, players go into the dressing room fairly often. I’m not sure why, if it’s to use the toilet or something, but they do. Toward the end of the match, when there’s no chance of them being used, as was the case yesterday, they tend not to come back out.

Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!

by Kevin Kostka on Sep 25, 2011 7:20 PM BST up reply actions

I have went to tons of matches and I have never seen a player stand up and leave midgame

"Kareem — verb: to be so horrible in coverage that the camera man is forced to zoom out in order to find the defender responsible for whoever just waltzed into the end zone." -Nashmeister

by RocketsAstros on Sep 25, 2011 10:27 PM BST up reply actions

Really? I have seen it several times.

Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!

by Kevin Kostka on Sep 25, 2011 11:52 PM BST up reply actions

Yeah? Must be because I rarely look at the benches, never saw a reason why would I

Actually, the only time I look at the benches is to see the reaction after a miss or a goal.

"Kareem — verb: to be so horrible in coverage that the camera man is forced to zoom out in order to find the defender responsible for whoever just waltzed into the end zone." -Nashmeister

by RocketsAstros on Sep 26, 2011 12:20 PM BST up reply actions

agreed

that this might just be yellow journalism but i am somewhat interested in how Lampard adjusts to his new role. it’s pretty clear that the Chelsea midfield and attack have been faster and more fluid w/o him and that’s got to be hard for someone who has been such a big part of Chelsea to take. it’s also clear that AVB will not take sht, and has a clear plan. hopefully Lampard can see his new role as good for the team and as an opportunity to come up big in more limited time, like Giggs. hopefully he does not emulate Giggs in any other way though!

apologies if this is not the proper article to post this on, but just read AVB’s post match statement and what he had to say about Drogba really struck me. really impressed w/ this cat and glad he’s our manager:
‘The most important moment for me today was seeing Didier back on the pitch and the way he challenged for the first ball,’ said the manager. ‘It shows the commitment and the drive of the player and the team because after missing so many days through concussion maybe a different player wouldn’t have challenged for that ball with that commitment and drive. I think this represents Didier as a person and a player.’

by dojothecat on Sep 25, 2011 7:05 PM BST reply actions

Sadly, nothing lasts forever, even good things...

Lampard had spectacular career at Chelsea but he always played a very special and unconventional role of the 3rd, “in the hole”, striker, which seems to be not needed in the AVB grand scheme of things. The way Lamps plays the role of the attacking midfielder right behind the two main strikers is rarely used by other teams just because it is so difficult to find someone who could score from the edge of the box on a regular basis and at the same time have enough stamina to run back and defend when needed. When playing for England he has never been used in that role and thus never really shines there. Unfortunately this unique set of skills comes at a price – Lamps prefers quick but short sideways or backward passes, which do not speed things up or open spaces for strikers (being a clever guy he is very capable of excellent forward passes but, for whatever reason, uses them quite rarely). Thus I can see why AVB would more and more use older and slower Lampard mainly for the cup games or as a substitute. Sadly, nothing lasts forever, even good things.

by The Bystander on Sep 25, 2011 10:54 PM BST reply actions

spot on write up

by Jimm Bmore on Sep 26, 2011 12:50 AM BST via mobile reply actions

That half-time pie just didn't sit well

When you have to go, you have to go.

Seriously though, more sensationalist conjecture from the media is really just par for the course. Let’s put this one in the French/Ivorian Mafia v. Spanish Contingent conspiracy pile.

And in the tiny chance there’s something actual truth behind these stories…well, AVB seems very much like the take-no-shit type and no player is bigger than the club.

I love SuperFrank and I want to believe he’s better than this, than what the media makes him out to be. I believe he’s got enough class to see out the rest of his career as Chelsea legend in a dignified manner befitting his potentially reduced role.

by DPeezy on Sep 26, 2011 3:04 AM BST reply actions