I wish Frank could have one more 10+ goals season in the Premier League. He would stretch the record for consecutive 10+ goals seasons BUT if he could score eleven league goals next season, he would overtake Thierry Henry on the Premier League all time top scorers list.

 

 

Steven who?

 

Has anyone mentioned Frank's international goalscoring record yet? Last night's goal was his 29th for England, ahead of the likes of Geoff Hurst and Bryan Robson - 10 more than Stevie you-know-who, and only one less than Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse and Alan Shearer.

 

Incredible.

Brazilian Chelsea fan named baby son Lampard, known as 'Lampardinho'

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/thetoepoke/id/3311?cc=5739

I knew he would get the record and it couldn't belong to a more worthy player. My favourite Chelsea player of all time and my absolute idol. Now that he has signed on for another year and Mourinho is back perhaps he can chase the premier league scoring record? Dare I dream???

Brazilian Chelsea fan named baby son Lampard, known as 'Lampardinho'

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/thetoepoke/id/3311?cc=5739

 

What a legend that fella is! The club should do a Portuguese version of the official site and put him in charge!

I found this just earlier today, all 203 of Lampard's goals for Chelsea.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD5vvGK5NjE

 

A similar video was posted on the previous page but it seems to have been deleted, only hoping that this one doesn't go the same way.

Just heard big Frank will be on "Sunday Brunch" next Sunday on channel 4, 12pm. 

 

Thought I'd share in case anyone else is having Chelsea post-season withdrawal symptoms and need a bit of Frank in there lives... 

35 today. Happy birthday Super Frank

Happy birthday Frank have a good one!

Speaking of records, if Jose gives Frank the start against Hull he has a chance to beat Alan Shearers record of most goals scored in opening day of the season. Frank has 7, Shearer has 8.

 

Thread revival!

 

It will be fascinating to see how Jose uses Frank this season, hopefully we get a stellar DM in to free him up for what he does best.

 

Thread revival!

 

It will be fascinating to see how Jose uses Frank this season, hopefully we get a stellar DM in to free him up for what he does best.

 

He'll most likely be used sparingly, at home against lower level opposition and in games where we need an extra goal threat. I love him as much as anyone else but IMO he shouldn't be starting the tougher games anymore.

Edited July 15, 201313 yr by Teritus

He'll definitely feature a lot less with De Bruyne and Van Ginkel jostling for minutes, but I still think Jose will trust him in the big games from time to time.

I expect him to start at the start of the season and then would imagine van Ginkel will slowly be introduce into the side. 

 

I still think we might go back to 4-3-3 and it might mean Frank's form improves as a result. 

I think he should be playing the tougher games. I think MVG is one for the future but playing a team like United away needs Frank! Frank wont be afraid to get stuck in and wont be bullied. Im not saying our other younger kids will but we know what we can expect from the legend that is Mr Frank Lampard!

The greatest man to have worn the famous Blue: bigger than Zola, bigger than Terry. 

Everyone is bigger than Zola (height wise)

Reckon he ll get a dozen this season to add to his tally...Theres only one Frankie Lampard

You couldnt ask for a better man to have the record at our club. May it live on forever and he always be remembered as the greatest player to put on a Chelsea shirt.

Looks like Frank could still have an important role as a player http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/416003/Jose-Mourinho-out-to-protect-Frank-Lampard-at-Chelsea

 

Great to hear. Frank has never been pacey so I don't see why his performance levels would drop too much. He's still as deadly as ever. He got 15 goals last season (I think?)

 

I still back him for his 10 pl goals this season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnIWxeYPxz8

I have seen many people putting him in their projected first XI for next season. Whilst I think he has a role to play, I think we should pick and choose the games, I don't think he should be an automatic starter as he just doesn't fit into the system.

 

Imo the problem is that he's too direct and impatient, always going for the spectacular. As such he doesn't dictate play, which is what we need to control games effectively. Same problem as Gerrard really, as well as many many English players - they all just want to go straight for goal and the 60 yard passes to the 5'6" forward instead of keeping it simple. Scholes and Carrick seem to be the exceptions to this

I have seen many people putting him in their projected first XI for next season. Whilst I think he has a role to play, I think we should pick and choose the games, I don't think he should be an automatic starter as he just doesn't fit into the system.

 

Imo the problem is that he's too direct and impatient, always going for the spectacular. As such he doesn't dictate play, which is what we need to control games effectively. Same problem as Gerrard really, as well as many many English players - they all just want to go straight for goal and the 60 yard passes to the 5'6" forward instead of keeping it simple. Scholes and Carrick seem to be the exceptions to this

 

I agree with your first point, I think Mourinho will choose Lampard's games carefully, knowing he likely won't be capable of playing the majority of our games. I'd expect him to be in our first lineup, and the majority of bigger games, until one of the younger/newer players have made their mark on the team.

 

I think it's a little bit unfair towards Lampard to suggest he's 'too direct' a midfielder though. The direct nature of his passing won a lot of games for us last season, against opposition that our more technically gifted players couldn't find a way through. He showed last season he's capable of playing the central midfield role more conservatively when needed, and I think that's something he will continue to offer. The team's evolved in a way that arguably doesn't suit his favoured playing style in recent years, but I think he's adapted impressively, and he'll have a big role in Jose's team this season, both as a player and an off-the-pitch mentor.

I don't think he's too direct generally, but he's certainly too direct for the role he's supposed to play in our system, imo. His directness did help us in some games last season, and even more so the season before (he just loves Barca), but it did more to hamper our build up as, quite often, he'd be over-ambitious and lose the ball instead of passing it 10 yards and continuing the build-up. I remember being really frustrated with him at the start of the season in particular when he had 69% pass completion vs QPR - absolutely shocking for someone that's supposed to be dictating play.

 

 

Agree that he has a big role to play next season, but I don't think he should be starting in our "best XI".

I have seen many people putting him in their projected first XI for next season. Whilst I think he has a role to play, I think we should pick and choose the games, I don't think he should be an automatic starter as he just doesn't fit into the system.

 

Imo the problem is that he's too direct and impatient, always going for the spectacular. As such he doesn't dictate play, which is what we need to control games effectively. Same problem as Gerrard really, as well as many many English players - they all just want to go straight for goal and the 60 yard passes to the 5'6" forward instead of keeping it simple. Scholes and Carrick seem to be the exceptions to this

 

These types of discussions always benefit from some criteria being layed down. It's important to make the distinction between the shooting, passing, crossing excellence of Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney and Beckham, with the ball retention skills (short interplay and touch under pressure) possessed most notably by Xavi and Iniesta. This country (and culture) has always been quite good at producing the former, but rarely as consistent at producing the latter. And the midfield for the last 10-12 years has been based around that group of players above with the weaknesses often exacerbated through the 4-4-2 approach of Capello and Hodgson. Hence why the likes of Algeria in 2010, Germany in 2010, Ukraine in 2012 (twice) have ran rings around them.

 

 

Problems arise when you don't have a reasonable balance between the two elements, either manifesting as a Mexico - all tippy-tappy and no bite - or as an England - all bluster and no fluidity.

Yup, exactly. People wondered why English players were very good for their clubs but didn't produce at the WC and it's because we lacked the balance that their clubs had with the less direct players behind them.

I don't think he's too direct generally, but he's certainly too direct for the role he's supposed to play in our system, imo. His directness did help us in some games last season, and even more so the season before (he just loves Barca), but it did more to hamper our build up as, quite often, he'd be over-ambitious and lose the ball instead of passing it 10 yards and continuing the build-up. I remember being really frustrated with him at the start of the season in particular when he had 69% pass completion vs QPR - absolutely shocking for someone that's supposed to be dictating play.

 

 

Agree that he has a big role to play next season, but I don't think he should be starting in our "best XI".

 

That's a fair point, I'd agree that he can at times be guilty of attempting the elaborate through-ball when it's not needed.

 

I'm kind of split with the "best XI" point though. Until we've seen how Jose's midfield operates, I'm not sure any of us can comment too much, but I fancy Lampard to be one of the first choices in midfield when fully fit, at least until later in the season (possibly the next season) when some of the younger players have settled into the squad.