Jump to content

Frank Lampard retires from playing football

ForeverCarefree

By ForeverCarefree
in General Chelsea FC

 Share
Eton Blue at the Chelsea Megastore

Recommended Posts

TJB

TJB

Posted
Posted

Forget about idiots at the BBC attempting the restart the Lampard/Gerrard debate. Forget about stupid tweets or whether West Ham have any sense of decency (ha). All any of that sh*t shows is how small minded and petty they are and, above all else, how irrelevant they are. f**k em. We're better than that. Frank Lampard was, is, and will always be, better than that.

What can I say about Lampard that hasn't already been said? Words like "world class" and "legend" get thrown around so easily but Lampard epitomises both.

Lampard's goalscoring record has already been well documented, but there are a few things I'd like to add to it. First off, his record is that of a striker, and a good striker at that. For a midfielder to do it, and do it consistently, is phenomenal. 10 consecutive seasons scoring at least 10 PL goals. Contrary to the "joke" about deflected shots and penalties, he scored all kinds of goals. We can all remember goals where he ghosted into the box to get on the end of a cross, the 20+ yarder into the top or bottom corner (41 PL goals outside the box), and then the wonder goals like at the Nou Camp or the volley v Bayern. Even when he was supposedly past it he still banged them in.

But the most impressive aspect is he paired his goalscoring with workrate off the ball. He did his part in getting back, winning the ball back. Think back to the semi final with Barca in 2012. In both legs he wins the ball back in midfield and sends Ramires away and we score.

I'm gonna wrap up now by simply saying thank you Frank for 13 incredible, emotional and joyous years. Enjoy your retirement!

Link to comment
Share on other sites


soldiergirl84

soldiergirl84

Posted
Posted

The first Chelsea-related thing I ever had was a Lampard T-shirt, which I wore every match of the 2012-13 season. League, FL, FA, and Europa League. It smelled so bad by the end that I was looking for a fumigate setting on the washer[emoji23]It sucked when he left. Good luck, Frank, I hope to see you and JT lead CFC to victory from the touch line one day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
undertow

undertow

Posted
Posted
51 minutes ago, soldiergirl84 said:

Then the two play rock-paper-scissors over who's gaffer and who's assistant?

I'm fairly certain that out of the two Lamps will clearly have the more distinguished managerial career, I see JT more as a coach.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Boyne

Boyne

Posted
Posted

http://chelseasupporterstrust.com/1444-tribute-lampard/

On the retirement of, for many, Chelsea’s greatest player, David Johnstone, Chelsea Supporters Trust board member and cfcuk fanzine impresario, has penned the following heart felt words that reflect the thoughts of many:

During my years supporting Chelsea, I’ve had many favourite players but, with no disrespect intended to any other who has worn the shirt for my club, Frank Lampard is my all-time favourite and, in my opinion at least, the greatest player the club has ever had.

I’ve known Frank Lampard since 2001 when he joined Chelsea FC from West Ham Utd. He’s always struck me a really nice guy with no illusions of grandeur although he had every right to hold some. Through Frank, I also met his father Frank and mother Pat and there is no doubt that ‘young’ Frank kept his sense of reality and his feet on the ground because of their influence.

His generosity toward the Chelsea supporters has known no bounds and, despite his always busy schedule, whilst at the club, he always tried to find time for those who wanted an autograph, a photo with him or just a few words.

His contribution to Chelsea has been immense. He won every honour that the domestic English game could offer and, of course, was team captain on what some describe as Chelsea’s greatest night when, due to the fact that John Terry was suspended, he lifted the European Cup in Munich.

That night, I was fortunate enough to have been invited to the celebratory party at the team’s hotel by Frank, one of the best moments I’ve experienced in all the years I’ve supported the club. I told him that and his reply was, “I wish I could take every Chelsea supporter for a drink!” He spoke from the heart and it was something I know he meant.

He also captained Chelsea to victory in the Europa League final (this time because john Terry was injured), the winners medals going in his trophy cabinet along with the 3 Premiership/Premier League, 4 FA Cup and 2 League Cup he’d already accumulated. As well as the 106 senior caps he won during his international career during which he scored 29 goals for England, in 2005 he was voted FWA Footballer of the Year and was runner-up in both the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or. As well as many other individual honours he was awarded during his time at Stamford Bridge, in 2010 he received the FWA Tribute Award.

However, as far as the Chelsea supporters are concerned, it was the club honours and the 211 goals he scored whilst playing for the Blues that really count. He played a record 164 times consecutively in top flight matches for Chelsea, a run that came to an end due to a bout of flu with, coincidentally, the first game he missed being the Blues’ visit to the Etihad to play Manchester City. It was little wonder that he was voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year on no less than three occasions.
Lampard was a player that always gave 100% when playing for Chelsea and his rapport with those following the club made him a firm favourite. His parents once told me how proud they were when, after one of his first few Chelsea matches at Stamford Bridge, they walked away from the ground and down the Fulham Rd alongside supporters who were singing “Super Frank Lampard”.

Although he once said he didn’t want to play for another English side, the circumstances changed. Up until his retirement, Lampard was a professional footballer. It’s what he did for a living. Professionals don’t have a ‘one-club only’ clause like supporters. He’d told me plenty of times that he wanted to end his playing career at Stamford Bridge and, when it became clear that he and the club were poles apart as far as his Stamford Bridge future was concerned and his contract wasn’t renewed, he was broken hearted.

It was a great pity for Frank and the Chelsea supporters that both José Mourinho and the club allowed him to leave. Even though he left in 2014, I feel he still could have done a job for the team now although, in truth, if he was still with Chelsea, he would probably be a bit part player.

Nevertheless, his influence and experience would have been priceless and assets that current manager Antonio Conte would have used to their fullest extent. He was a role model for many of the young and up-and-coming players at Chelsea, his attitude and work ethic both on the pitch and at the training ground an example to all.

Although he’s often spoken about his desire to one day manage Chelsea, in a way, I hope he never realises that ambition. Although a part of me would like to see him become the ‘gaffer’, I’d always fear that any spell in charge would end in the ignominy of him being sacked. It’s a fear that I have expressed to him personally and something I have also said to two other of my Chelsea heroes in John Terry and Joe Cole.
However, in losing Lampard, the club let slip a player who was not only a credit to Chelsea Football Club, the England national team but also to football in general.

If it were down to me, I’d offer him a job for life at Chelsea, either as a coach or in an ambassadorial role, something he was made for and something in which he’d be simply fantastic. Anyway and to my mind, even leaving the football aside, Frank Lampard is simply just a fantastic human being.

Super Frank Lampard – Chelsea’s greatest!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...










moi

moi

Posted
Posted
5 minutes ago, charierre said:

Anybody see Frank and JT on play to the whistle tonight? Good rapport between the pair of them.

Wasn't it wonderful when they had to stand staring into each other's eyes without grinning, while a variety of love songs were played. Frank just kept cracking up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites



Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...
Please Sign In or Sign Up

Well, this is awkward!

Happy Sunny Days GIF by Atlassian

The Shed End Forum relies on revenue to pay for hosting and upgrades. While we try to keep adverts as unobtrusive as possible, we need to show these to make sure we can stay online and continue to keep the forum running. Over the years costs have become very high.

Could you please allow adverts on this domain by switching it off and whitelisting the website? Some of the advert banners can actually be closed to avoid interference with your experience on The Shed End.

If you don't want to view any adverts while logged in and using your account, consider using the Ad-Free Subscription which is renewable every year. To buy a subscription, log in to your account and click the link under the Newbies forum on the home page.

Cheers now!

Sure, let me in!