38 replies to this topic

[dkw]

Wolfy, on 03 September 2011 - 08:38 PM, said:

Before hosting the 2006 world cup the German Government stopped the press from reporting anything negative about any of the German players apparently. Would be nice if ours would do the same. I'd like to see if it made a difference to performance

Yeah thats possibly the thing I can remember. Shows the difference between the 2 countries, well pretty much every country and England to be honest. Basically our press are scum.

[Zeta Orionis]

Just can't bring myself to care about England while Cappello is the manager. Man is a twat.

[Fido Dido]

Lamps is never going to retire. He is a fighter all the way through and running away would be the last thing in his mind.

[Maverick]

Nibs, on 03 September 2011 - 01:33 PM, said:

But Lamps got left out and fair enough - his form has been poor and he's on the verge of being left out of our starting 11. But if his form picks up and the likes of Barry and Parker start to struggle, then I'm sure he'll be back in the frame and that's exactly the way it should be.

Just adding to what Nibs has said, could this be a trigger to regain his form? To prove the world that he can still cut it for national colours? If Lampard hasn't changed (which I believe he hasn't), that would be exactly the thought running through his mind and it can only auger well for Chelsea FC and its fans. As far as "Fat Frank Brigade" are concerned I look forward to their next scapegoat once Frank retires.

[ethicalstrategy]

There is no way Frank will turn his back on England.  If Capello wants him in the squad, on the bench or in the team he'll be there and he won't be complaining about it.

Laughed to see the sunday headlines all proclaiming his England career was over and now on Monday they are saying he'll start against Wales.

He's nowhere near his best form and the setup we played on Friday would have required him to play a fairly conservative holding role which is not designed to get the best out of him anyway.

Hopefully he will get back nearer to his best during the season but it will be hard for him.

[Hutch]

Alan "you won't win anything with kids" Hansen writes very sensibly in this article from the Telegraph :

Quote

Alan Hansen: it's totally premature to write off Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand

As promising as England were in defeating Bulgaria, the performance in Sofia should not be viewed as the moment that time ran out on the international stage for Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand.

It was undoubtedly an encouraging display by Fabio Capello’s team, but the positives of the performance must be tempered by the quality of the opposition. Bulgaria were as bad as I have seen in a long time — they even made Arsenal look good!

Similarly, if England put four past Wales at Wembley on Tuesday night to secure another emphatic victory, the reality will be that they are facing a team ranked 117th in the world rankings.

Until the team that played in Sofia comes up against an opponent of genuine international pedigree, the quiet optimism generated by Friday’s victory cannot be truly tested and quantified.

Which is why it is totally premature to suggest it is all over for Lampard, Gerrard and Ferdinand with England.

It is all well and good to say that Capello should now be ruthless and turn instead to the likes of Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill and Stewart Downing, who all did well against Bulgaria. You also have Jack Wilshere, who is a fabulous player, and the likes of Phil Jones coming through to challenge for selection.

But what if Gerrard and Ferdinand come back from injury and return to their best form with Liverpool and Manchester United respectively? The same goes with Lampard at Chelsea.

Once you get past 30 as a footballer, you are on a downward trend, but certainly not finished by any means.

Those players cannot run like they did as 25 year-olds, but they learn to adapt and adjust their game and their experience ensures that they still have lots to contribute.

You don’t ditch players halfway through a qualifying campaign simply because some younger players have done well against a team of no-marks. That is nothing more than sweeping everything under the carpet.

Capello knows that a manager can only be ruthless with that type of player when he is no longer of any use and I don’t see that applying to Lampard, Gerrard or Ferdinand.

Their circumstances have changed, however. In the past, they would have been in that group of players who had to play if they were playing for their clubs.

That situation has evolved now, though, to the point whereby they have to be playing and also 100 per cent fit to be selected.

Eighteen months ago, if Ferdinand was able to stand up, he had to play, but now he has to prove his reliability to Capello by playing on a regular basis with United. But when he is fit and performing, Ferdinand is a player who cannot be overlooked.

None of the players who stepped in for Ferdinand, Lampard and Gerrard in Bulgaria can be classed as certainties to start games at Euro 2012 if England go on to qualify.

Take Smalling. He has been brilliant for United and he was great against Bulgaria, but can we say he will be in the England team next summer? No.

Cahill? Yes, he was promising in Sofia, but he is still at Bolton, so he is another ‘maybe.’ Ashley Young and Downing have also started the season well for new clubs, but again, you would not say at this stage that they are guaranteed starters next summer.

Scott Parker has done extremely well in his last two internationals, but Scott is no youngster. He is in his early-30s, so proves that age and experience is not necessarily a bad thing.

The only outfield players I would suggest are in that category are Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole and neither of those can be classed as emerging youngsters.

Suggesting that Capello should copy Germany’s lead in the build-up to the last World Cup by promoting youth at the expense of the old guard is too simplistic.

For a start, you have to remember that Germany did not go on to win the World Cup. They did better than England, but we cannot forget how bad England were in South Africa.

And if the major factor behind England’s poor tournament was because players were tired after a long, hard season, then the only certainty is that Capello’s squad will travel to Poland and Ukraine having had another long, hard season.

That is English football. The big clubs will once again challenge on four fronts and the physically effects of that will tell on the players involved.

But there were positives out of the Bulgaria that offer signs of encouragement.

The system deployed by Capello, of two holding midfielders behind four attack-minded players, worked well and offered tremendous balance, especially with the pace and movement of the front players.

When the likes of Wilshere are fit for selection, then Capello has a problem in terms of accommodating him, but that is a good thing because you are having to think about finding room for a top-class player.

But one thing for certain is that nobody should use games against Bulgaria or Wales as a reliable gauge to assess whether the younger players are ready for top-level international football.

LINK

[Celery1989]

Back to the original subject of this topic, it would be great for us Chelsea fans to see Lampard retire from the International Set-up. I don't foresee happening though.

[just]

Maverick, on 05 September 2011 - 07:06 AM, said:

Just adding to what Nibs has said, could this be a trigger to regain his form? To prove the world that he can still cut it for national colours? If Lampard hasn't changed (which I believe he hasn't), that would be exactly the thought running through his mind and it can only auger well for Chelsea FC and its fans. As far as "Fat Frank Brigade" are concerned I look forward to their next scapegoat once Frank retires.

On the other hand it could also;

1. Trigger a crisis of confidence.
2. Add extra pressure on his shoulders, (in fact I'd guess with some certainty it is doing that already).

Anyone listen to the TalkSport "Frank Lampard" phone-in yesterday evening? Even that Ginger prat Durham, a fella who takes every opportunity he can to belittle Frank's abilities, ended up half-heartedly defending him against the avalanche of abusive texts and calls that came in from the "Fat Frank" brigade. "The most-overrated player ever" one idiot called him.

I repeat my plea Frank. You are 33 years old. You don't need this grief. Tell them to stick it, walk away now and concentrate solely on regaining your form for us.

[TheWestwayWonder]

dkw, on 03 September 2011 - 05:41 PM, said:

Just out of interest, is this something that only happens in England or is it fairly common, the way fans take their club allegiances into international games? The "Ingerland" fans really hold pathetic grudges and seem to take great delight in booing and abusing players who dare not be from their own beloved club, without realising just how stupid they are being by creating such a vitriolic atmosphere that has players scared to make a mistake.

Especially considering how chummy the players get when theyre together. Its obvious from when you see them in training and when someone scores that most of them are friends.

This doesnt extend to the members here, but the behavior of the England boo boys the last few years has been a pathetic joke. Rooney was right, the boo boys turn their backs on players in an instant despite a lifetime of good work, and they are every bit as spoiled and sad as the people who boo at the Bridge at halftime because we arent tonking Wolves by seven goals.

Those fans dont deserve a pro like Frank who just lets it all roll off his back. Sorry, but I dont think its capitulation at all to retire from England in your early 30s and possibly, extend your club career. Its not quitting, in my view, not at all.

LuisSuarez7, on 03 September 2011 - 05:41 PM, said:

I remember that age old debate. Can Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard play together?

England really missed a trick when Gerrard was moved out right for LFC and excelled there. Or when he was played behind the striker. Instead, Capello just went back to the same tired arrangement that never worked. Gerrard was more versatile, Frank was the better scoring midfielder. Yet their international careers will be remembered for being below par compared to their club careers.

After a few years of Capello, his awful man management, and his tactical organization that makes Sven look like the second coming of Brian Clough (no exagguration) I really have to wonder what all the fuss has been about and how he has been so successful. He was a near disaster at Madrid too, totally mishandled those players and yet by some miracle they won the league. Better than McClaren, obviously, but I think he has been a total failure for England.

Edited by TheWestwayWonder, 06 September 2011 - 02:22 PM.

[Myles_91]

Uh-Oh, Lampard is starting, the anti-Chelsea media won't be happy. Anything other than a 6-0 win and it'll be Lampards fault

[PloKoon13]

It's astounding that there are people in the world who literally think Scott Parker is a better footballer than Frank Lampard.

I'm so proud to be an Englishman...

[dkw]

PloKoon13, on 06 September 2011 - 06:00 PM, said:

It's astounding that there are people in the world who literally think Scott Parker is a better footballer than Frank Lampard.

I'm so proud to be an Englishman...

But he runs around loads, and kicks people loads. Thats the bestest thing in football.....
Its also amazing to see how many people are ignoring the fact Parker is on a yellow and could get a ban for the important game away to Montenegro, its pretty obvious thats the reason Lampard is in for a game that on paper is more straight forward.

Edited by dkw, 06 September 2011 - 06:07 PM.

[alan'82]

PloKoon13, on 06 September 2011 - 06:00 PM, said:

It's astounding that there are people in the world who literally think Scott Parker is a better footballer than Frank Lampard.

I'm so proud to be an Englishman...

Bollocks to what other people think,I'm proud to be an Englishman.

[Andreas]

rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand




Why does Lampard get so much stick? 20+goals a season for chelsea for years + you still get haters!! Will be top scorer in CFC history soon.





Cant hate him no more, at least not as much

[PloKoon13]

Comfortably our best midfielder last night, but that wasn't particularly hard considering the all-round uninspired performance.

Oh well... moving onto far, far more important matters with the Sunderland game.

[Nibs]

PloKoon13, on 06 September 2011 - 06:00 PM, said:

It's astounding that there are people in the world who literally think Scott Parker is a better footballer than Frank Lampard.

I'm so proud to be an Englishman...

Lamps will be able to look back on his career with plenty of medals and be rightly looked upon as a legend - at club level if not international.

Parker has always been a very decent player but no more than that.

Right now however, there is certainly an argument for picking Parker ahead of Lampard. He did not get made player of the season last season for nothing. He is in form and we all know Lamps isn't.

[Zeta Orionis]

Don't have a problem with Parker playing..but I do with Barry playing. He's not very good.

[andy]

Frank is a notoriously slow starter to a season, we all know that. Last season was an exception.
He is 33 not 63 and with his level of professionalism, fitness, and keen intellect I think he will know when to say enough.
Just my opinion, I think once again England and Chelsea will be saying thank god for Frank Lampard at the end of this season.

[WV2 Blue]

Frank is captain against Spain on Saturday....Blatter can shove it up arse where the poppy is concerned!!!