Chelsea FC Transfer Rumours: Could Frank Lampard Go?
by Graham MacAree on Jan 8, 2012 4:12 AM GMT
in Chelsea FC: Transfer Rumours & News
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We've had a few days of amusing rumours regarding Frank Lampard heading to Manchester United*, and now they're generalising into 'Frank Lampard could leave Chelsea'. Fun! On the face of it, the idea that Lampard could leave Chelsea seems like lunacy. He's made more than 500 appearances for the club, scoring about three hundred billion goals in the process, and the idea that both he and the club would be totally cool with him leaving is a pretty painful one to contemplate.
*It was never going to happen, mostly because United are broke, but man was I tempted to try starting a Lampard and cash for Wayne Rooney transfer rumour. That would have been hilarious.
On the other hand, a Lampard transfer would make perfect sense for both parties. Turn off the emotion filter and you have a 33-year-old player who's been incapable of playing at his best for sustained periods (although it still shows up more than his biggest detractors would admit), and one who probably won't be part of the next great Chelsea team. Lampard deserves to be playing more than he has been for someone, if not Chelsea, and like any true professional he wants to be out on the pitch rather than riding the bench.
So Lampard's a player who should want to leave but at the same time not someone the club would really miss. The financial stuff that's getting thrown around right now is more or less irrelevant - the Blues signed him to his current deal before the close of the Financial Fair Play grace period, so his £150,000 per week wages mean roughly nothing to the club save being a minor annoyance to Roman Abramovich - which is a pretty compelling argument for him to stay, but if the rift between Villas-Boas and the senior players is as deep as is sometimes claimed, and Lampard wants out... well, the club probably doesn't need to try that hard to stop him.
It's obviously impossible to understand what's really going on behind the scenes here, but no matter what we're going to be getting a lot of rumours about the senior players departing this window. Nicolas Anelka's already out, and it looks like Alex, Lampard, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba are potential departures. Realistically, the chances of any of the latter three going anywhere appears slim, but it's not completely impossible to see even the Mourinho-era legends making way now.
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Sell Lampard??!
Marriage is clearly messing with your mind!! :P
There is no rift. I’d like for him to see out his contract, a sentiment that he himself has echoed multiple times previously. It’s not like we’d get a substantial transfer fee out of him anyway. (That being said, if he WANTS to leave or whatever, well…then…on your way, son.)
Definitely agree here
We have no reason to shift him, but if he gets an opportunity to be playing regularly somewhere else and wants to take it then I think we owe him that after all that he’s given us over the years.
On another note: Why the hell am I still awake at 4.30am. It’s not even like Lions vs Saints was worth staying up for!
We have wildly different opinions of a what "true professional" is, Graham.
If I had to name a true professional, it would be Paulo Ferreira. He doesn’t complain when he doesn’t play and he does his job whenever called upon without a hint of dissent. You’ll get no fuss about playing or riding the bench from Paulo (Ray “My Word” Wilkins would agree).
Anyways, I really doubt Frank wants to leave. He just needs to accept that his role is a diminished one now. If he can’t do that and insists on playing time, well….. it was nice having you at the club, Frank.
Here is what I said:
‘like any true professional he wants to be out on the pitch rather than riding the bench.’
Nothing about whether it’s ok to complain about it.
by Graham MacAree on Jan 8, 2012 4:35 AM GMT up reply actions
It was sort of implied he isn't happy IF he's willing to leave over it.
Unlike Ferreira, who’s happy regardless therefore being a true pro in my eyes.
Agreed that Ferreira is a pro
I would say that’s less a bad reflection on Lampard than it is on what a good egg Paulo is.
LIke a Fine Wine, or Is He?
It hurts my heart to see him on the bench almost as much as it hurts his to be there. He’s still a critical component of this team – who else was going to score that last minute goal Monday to snatch victory from the jaws of another point-losing draw? – yet he is getting older. Lamps has never been the fastest man on the pitch and his age has further exposed this weakness. His extensive time spent nursing injuries last season proved he’s no longer the resilient player who broke the league record for the most consecutive appearances in his younger days. The reality is the team around him, including the manager, is getting younger and Frank is aging. Gracefully mind you, but aging nonetheless. Is it time to say goodbye? The always anti-Chelsea tabloids continue their chatter and those of us who have been following Chelsea for longer than a minute have heard it all before. He’s too old, out of favor with the manager, wants to move . . . blah, blah, blah. If he must go, let it be his decision. Let legends like Frank leave on their own terms. Chelsea owe him that, and he owes Chelsea a graceful, painless exit (looking at you MLS).
You'd probably have better luck getting tickets in the stands! : P
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
by Kevin Kostka on Jan 8, 2012 7:10 AM GMT up reply actions 1 recs
[Sorry for that horrible joke.]
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
Maybe it's what FC Dallas really need to you know, actually get fans to come out to Pizza Hut Park. heh
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I think justifying Lampard's place on the team with goals is a bit off
He’s the first-choice penalty taker.
by Graham MacAree on Jan 8, 2012 4:45 AM GMT up reply actions
That's Frank's game, IMO.
Anonymous 80% of the time, then shows up and scores an important goal or makes a crucial assist.
Was it Wenger that said of Drogba
“He didn’t do very much in the game except score two goals”?
Kinda sounds similar to your sentiment there :p
I think the Rooney for Lampard and cash rumour was begging to be started.
In reality, though, I honestly don’t care if he leaves. That’s not a slight against him, or a diminishing of what he’s done for us. He doesn’t deserve be riding the bench, but we really need to be looking to the future, and can’t have him playing all the time any more. It’s going to suck to watch him go, but if it’s a choice between him having a few more good years and riding the bench into early retirement, I’m okay with him leaving.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
I was hoping
he’d see out his contract, accepting that he would see less playing time, but still show up for the matches. It doesnt seem he is at all ready to accept that he isn’t at his best anymore and that he is seemingly coming into his last couple of years (he could prove me wrong here). I don’t necessarily blame him, as I think this transition came sooner than he thought it would, given the position the team is in and the plans and players they have to move forward. Bummer of timing, in that the change is taking place maybe a year or so before he had expected it to.
I'm mostly interested in when all of our players learned martial arts.
by Eyeball Kid on Jan 8, 2012 6:56 AM GMT via Android app reply actions
I don't wanna see him leave
Football is about emotions its not about practical thinking.If it was about practical thinking we would all be following barca.I just can’t stand Lamps leaving for man ure,it will kill me.If he ever leaves hope its for another league,something likeMLS.
by Archit Arya on Jan 8, 2012 7:21 AM GMT via mobile reply actions
I've heard we're okay with him leaving, but not to a PL club.
Carlo and PSG seems most likely, if it happens.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
i hope he stays
in a ryan giggs kinda way, he stays until he’s like 37, doesnt play every game, but still makes an impact when he does play
by blue_is_the_colour on Jan 8, 2012 9:20 AM GMT reply actions
A la Ryan Giggs
is what I was thinking. I really hope he finishes his career with Chelsea, but as mentioned above let that be his decision.
As for this window, though, I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
by dodgerboy03 on Jan 8, 2012 9:34 AM GMT via Android app up reply actions
Welcome back Graham!
Or could I even say Mr. WAGNH with all due respect to the others on here? ;)
Congrats!
by dodgerboy03 on Jan 8, 2012 9:37 AM GMT via Android app up reply actions
For a Giggs thing to happen
it is really up to Lampard to accept that type of role. Lampard doesn’t seem quite ready for that yet… but we’ll see if he changes his thoughts on that over the remainder of the season, unless he hands in his papers this month. I think most fans would like this option, but it is really dependent on the player’s feelings about it. It’s definitely a tough thing to accept when you still believe you’re performing really strongly (despite what the reviews may support or not).
Lamps should stay
He might be getting older,lost a little more of what pace he had. But he still brings a lot to the table for the club…I guess only this year,because he’s worried about his place in the England squad for Euro 2012 :) its probably his last international tournament,so he wants to go out with a bang,understandable really. From next season he should be more willing to be like an impact sub/or to slow the game down and pass it around for us. Or even help us to break down some defences. He’s still a fantastic player. Aaaand,I’m a fanboy…can’t take it if he leaves. :(
When it comes to finances
Emotions should be put aside. If the (possible) bid we get is at least reasonable for a 32, 33 years old player who is definitely experiencing the downside of his career, I could see him leave with no problem. And best of all, we could see a spot opening for McEachran!
He’s been a good servant to Chelsea for a really long time, and due to that, even though he’s at an advanced age for a footballer, his value isn’t that low. We could get good millions from his (possible) transfer, which AVB could use to bring on other youngsters, hot prospects and wonderkids.
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If his wages don't count against us
I don’t even want to contemplate seeing him go unless it’s in a deal for an up and coming star and Lampard wants to go. I really am not buying the rift talk with Lampard. He’s probably a bit frustrated, and I do not understand why Miereles plays ahead of him quite a lot but I doubt he’s running around causing dissent like some Great Train Robbers villain in a silent movie.
I remember a few days ago seeing an apparent quote from him
Something like “I’m at my best when I consistently play 90 minutes”. No, Frank, you’re not.
[Not sure what source it was or how reliable it would have been]
If he wants to go, sell him. He probably doesn’t though. If you ignore emotion, then of course selling him makes perfect sense. But emotion is part of being a fan, and I’d be sad to see him go. Unlike the rest of our Old Guard, I don’t have any bad memories of him. He didn’t get sent off like Drogba. He didn’t miss like Terry or Anelka. He’s a legend.
And he tore into James O'Brien like a prizefighter
He’s the one that it’ll hurt the most to see go/retire.
I believe he did say that in his post-match interview
And that is precisely what sort of got me to cringe and feel almost embarrassed. He just isn’t ready to accept that he is not at his best the full 90 minutes. Sure, he got the late goal at Wolves and I am grateful for it (and apparently another today), but he almost got sent off as well, and he was mostly anonymous for other parts of the match. Now, I can certainly go with that every so often.. it happens, not every game is a top game, but off-games seem to be happening more consistently for him these days, and the club is sort of between a rock and a hard place with this transition, being that the whole team is also not performing as well.
I really hope he either turns up most every match and proves he should be out there for 90 mins or until he scores in each game… or that he spends some time reflecting and realizes he needs to be okay with stepping down some, and allowing the club to bring someone new or from the youth program in. Would be awesome if he wanted to mentor them as well.
To be fair, I think any/every player is better when playing consistent full 90s.
You know, the whole rhythm/etc of it all. I don’t think that comment deserves that much scrutiny. I consider it a GOOD thing in any player, the desire to play as much as possible.
Except Torres ;)
when he was on his run of benchings and sub appearances.
I get what Lampard is getting at… I agree that it does help for keeping form and yes- the desire to play is nothing but good, but I tend to think when a player is getting older, they can’t always expect to play a full 90, or play in every match. Rotation and resting may help a bit on their part. And actually, he has at times proven that statement wrong by coming on and playing super sub, this season. I find him capable of being an impact player, but still being rested and transitioning the spot over to someone younger.
(This is coming from a Favre fan, if you recall… one thing I’d have been alright with him doing was letting go of playing the whole game so often, late in his career, and giving way for the backups and youngsters… didn’t happen as often as it probably should have.)
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