i think its fair to say frankie boy hasnt had the same impact so far this season as last season (though thats not saying hes been playing poorly) and that must be because of the new role hes being asked to play. but is this is such a bad idea if it means we manage to get more out of our other players. look at last season, if lamps struggled then our midfield struggled simply because everything we did went through him. now, ballack, deco, essien, malouda, mikel and hopefully our two wide returnees will get more input and have more effect on the game. now im not saying we shouldnt be trying to use frank in the best way possible as his goal return from the last 5 seasons has been nothing short of incredible, but if we get more options and become more difficult to stifle by using him in a different way then would that be better for the team?

Edited September 3, 200915 yr by dkw

It MAY be because of the new role he's been asked to play (by which I mean not necessarily MUST be).

To use his talents in a different way is not the same as "devaluing" him. The title of this thread makes me fear for the state of ShedEnders hearts - if there is a spate of heart attacks, we will blame you, dickywuh! (originally I did a typo, and said we would EMBALM you! :D )

But in answer to your question, then YES, it might be better for the team if using his talents differently makes life more difficult for the oppposition.

its looked very difficult for lamps so far this season, simply because he's a marked man

every time he goes near the ball or the ball near him he has been closed down by 2 or 3 opposition players

it might be simply because apart from the charity shield the teams we have played have been very defensive

when lamps has had space he's done really well, but he has struggled to find the space, and he has been coming from a lot deeper than in the past under the new formation

the 2 or 3 players constantly going to lamps as created space for others though like dkw said

i'm sure lamps will find his goal scoring touch again soon, its something i dont think we should be worrying about though

It MAY be because of the new role he's been asked to play (by which I mean not necessarily MUST be).

To use his talents in a different way is not the same as "devaluing" him. The title of this thread makes me fear for the state of ShedEnders hearts - if there is a spate of heart attacks, we will blame you, dickywuh! (originally I did a typo, and said we would EMBALM you! :D )

But in answer to your question, then YES, it might be better for the team if using his talents differently makes life more difficult for the oppposition.

that was the aim, and it was a bit naughy of me. not sure its deserving of an embalming though.... :D

its not really something im worrying about mr chelsea, in fact if anything its something im fairly happy about. like you say, now lamps is a marked man others are getting space and time and if they can use that space then we will give teams massive problems. its never good to only have one player as a focus.

that was the aim, and it was a bit naughy of me. not sure its deserving of an embalming though.... :D

I promise to embalm you personally! :D

i think its fair to say frankie boy hasnt had the same impact so far this season as last season (though thats not saying hes been playing poorly) and that must be because of the new role hes being asked to play. but is this is such a bad idea if it means we manage to get more out of our other players. look at last season, if lamps struggled then our midfield struggled simply because everything we did went through him. now, ballack, deco, essien, malouda, mikel and hopefully our two wide returnees will get more input and have more effect on the game. now im not saying we shouldnt be trying to use frank in the best way possible as his goal return from the last 5 seasons has been nothing short of incredible, but if we get more options and become more difficult to stifle by using him in a different way then would that be better for the team?

I think you are spot on, altough I would say that traditionally, not so much last season but the seasons before that, Frank has taken til October/November to be in full flight.

Rest assured if our backs to the wall and we need him he will be there whatever role he plays.

He's only got three assists.

Terrible. :D

Think he'll get more

Although he hasnt looked his best, at times a bit rusty, its way to early in the season to make any judgement calls on how he fits in to the new system.

This season is going to be the biggest in his career, it will be a very, very long season, almost non-stop for the next 10 months, especially for Frank, he needs to pace himself this season, he will be trying to win 5 trophies on all fronts, all 5 are within realistic reach for him. Also playing in central midfield is the most exhausting position to play with no hiding place.

If Frank has 6 gears, he is in 3rd at the moment, just the right gear to start a long season.

It's also nice to have Ballack and Deco get on the score sheet, nominate this for obvious statement of the year but I'd rather see those 3 all score 10 goals this year then have Frank get 20 and the other two go silent.

bah it's only a couple of games- as long as he plays on the left (or right) of the diamond he'll be fine.

in any case, he played on the left of the diamond in the 05-06 season without problems.

bah it's only a couple of games- as long as he plays on the left (or right) of the diamond he'll be fine.

in any case, he played on the left of the diamond in the 05-06 season without problems.

i think i might not have made my point too well. it wasnt really a dig at lampard, more making a point that if we can spread the wealth so to speak we will be more difficult to contain. last season we were massively reliant on frank lampard in midfield, almost to the point of over reliance. this season though we seem to be able to play through more midfielders thus making us much more difficult to defend against. if this means lampard wont be quite as prolific as the last few seasons then in my opinion thats maybe not too big a problem.

I agree that it's nice to see others in the midfield really contribute. I wouldn't write Frank off though. He did struggle when Carlo played him at the tip of the diamond but I think he soon realised that was a waste. Now he has dropped back in to midfield he is influencing things more. He'll get his 20 goals no problem.

I don't think the others scoring more means lampard would get less as a consequence.

he might get less, but that wouldn't be down to others getting more.

Lampard is Lampard, we're less than a handful of games into the season and he's hardly put a foot wrong. He will score goals and vital goals at that, he will provide match winning goal opportunities, he will inspire others and he is a Chelsea man all the way. I don't theik he's devalued and I beleive he will be on fire in the face of the fifa persecution

Lampard is Lampard, we're less than a handful of games into the season and he's hardly put a foot wrong. He will score goals and vital goals at that, he will provide match winning goal opportunities, he will inspire others and he is a Chelsea man all the way. I don't theik he's devalued and I beleive he will be on fire in the face of the fifa persecution

i wasnt having a dig at lampard, i was trying to point out we seem much less reliant on lamps to win us games now with the other midfielders having more impact. what i was really getting at is would we be happy to see less goals and impact from lampard if it means other midfielders become more prominent and we win the big trophys.