It seems like Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard are only going to be offered 1 year contracts http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2210719/Frank-Lampard-Ashley-Cole-offered-year-deals.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

I know it's the DM but it would explain why contract negotiations are stalling. In my eyes, both players deserve at least 2 year contracts, especially Ashley Cole who is only 31. Roman only wants to offer 1 year contracts to those over 30 which is stupid in my opinion. All these "old" players were instrumental in winning us trophies in the last season. It seems to me that he's let the media influence his decisions on Chelsea full of older players and now is making sure we're packed to the rim with younger players but will eventually lack experience and leadership.

Ashley Cole who is still one of the best fullbacks around should no way be let out on a free. That would be a massive mistake. I can understand the one year contract with Frank a lot more, but still think he should be given the opportunity to retire with Chelsea.

Opinions and thoughts?

Cole DEFINITELY deserves 2, the guy hardly plays a bad game & has only played a dozen in his career with us, still I think the best LB in the world on his day, also a great leader.

Letting him go on a free would be disgraceful.

Ashley Cole , i would definately offer a 2-3 year deal. Frank is 34 now and is starting to play less , i don't think Frank will personally want to sign a 2 year deal if he is sitting on a bench every other week, he's the sort of player who likes to be playing every week so it wouldn't surprise if Frank walks and goes to America.

I think that 30 is probably too young to bring in the 1 year rule. IMO players should be given contracts to 33 and then 1 year thereafter.

I also don't think it should be a precedent for EVERYONE when they hit a certain age, you've gotta judge it on performance, fitness etc - Cole's still got both of those & can play Tuesday/Wednesday - Saturday easily.

Edited September 30, 201213 yr by jc_cfc

Cole should be given a 3 year deal Lampard should really only be given a 1 year

Many clubs don't want to offer 30+ players more than a year, but I think they need to look at what level the player is. Some might be getting a lot worse at that age, but others don't.

Cole is still a great player and still has speed in him. So he'll probably wont become extremely mediocre in one year.

Cole is still the world's best LB, and if we rest him enough (giving Bertrand games in the progress), he should be in top form for several more years.

Lampard won't even be offered a 1 year deal.

34 years old and on very big money.

Shame this will probably be Lampards last season. Testimonial match maybe? :)

Ash should get a 2 year contract,he still has what it takes to be our left back

Cole will be 33 in 14 months so can sort of understand why the club have stalled, but he definitely deserves another 2 years.

On their day, Marcelo and Coentrao are absolutely unbeatable, but they aren't able to do that week in week out like Ash. Still the best LB on the planet.

On their day, Marcelo... unbeatable

That depends what you're looking for in a full back. If you want gung-ho, then Marcelo and Alba are both great and the best in the world. If you want a full back that doesn't leave an autobahn behind themselves, then they're absolutely rubbish.

A full back is after all a defender.

That depends what you're looking for in a full back. If you want gung-ho, then Marcelo and Alba are both great and the best in the world. If you want a full back that doesn't leave an autobahn behind themselves, then they're absolutely rubbish.

A full back is after all a defender.

Then you have Gael Clichy...

Football is a fickle game...Doesnt matter what you did as a player the year before. Weve seen over the years how a player can be vogue, then out..I think the powers that be will cave in and give 2 years to cole, but they are probably thinking give him 1 yr and then he doesnt go anywhere on a free..Sell him next summer and bring in Bertrand and save millions on wages per year as well as a fee for cole

Shame this will probably be Lampards last season. Testimonial match maybe? :)

I hate to say it but I think you're right. On the one hand, players can't carry on forever and Frank is beginning to slow down, that's clear (though at his own admittance he's never been the fastest out there anyway!), and we have to accept that football is a business and can't carry passengers. On the other... Jesus, this is Frank we're talking of, this hurts!

Cole definitely still has more to give. I agree with jc, that contracts should be decided on a player by player basis and not that of one size fits all.

I think the main issue for both of them are the wages they are on or the wages they're asking for. I believe we could keep Cole for another 2 years and slowy start phasing him out, but for Lamps two years is too much considering his form and age.

Lampard 1 year rolling deal like Scholes seems fair to me.

Cole should receive a 2 or 3 year deal imo.

Lampard 1 year rolling deal like Scholes seems fair to me.

Scholes won't even be on half the wages of Lampard and I doubt Lampard would be willing to take a severe pay cut

Lampard 1 year rolling deal like Scholes seems fair to me.

Cole should receive a 2 or 3 year deal imo.

Scholes isn't up against as much competition as Lampard though. Utd don't really have an alternative for him, we do for Lampard and on his wages, for hte role he's playing as much as it hurts to say it I don't think he should be given another contract. It's better to assess the situation later on in the season as we see what part he plays but I fell his wages could be distributed better elsewhere. He's also blocking the way of players like Josh. But like I said, assess it later on.

Ash on the other story bring another 'problem'. Normally you would say without a doubt get him on another contract, but we still have Bertrand. If Ash is seen as the LB for another 2 years, where does that leave Bertrand? Getting the odd game at LB/LM for 2 more years? He'll be 25, and should be getting regular games by then, and more than likely better then a 33/34 year old Cole. And on his wages again, Cole is too expensive of a back-up, we still have Van Aanholt out on loan as well, who should be more than suffice as a back-up. A 1 year rolling contract is the best option imo. He may be the most consistent LB in the world at 31, but can he continue that for another 2 years? Will he still be better than Bertrand? And if he's not, why keep someone on 110,000 or more a week as a bk-up, when you have even more youth coming through?

Both have been amazing players for us over the past few years, but we are 'evolving' and moving forward, as much as it will hurt to see them move on, it's going to happen sooner or later. I just hope Lampard isn't kept on just because he's close to beating Tamblings record, because we have better options, and he's more than capable of causing a stir within the dressing room. Cole on the other hand is more than capable of playing on for another year or two. Just remember Bertrand when making the contract decision.

Good post, although i will be very, very sad the day Lamps (and to a degree Ash) hang up their Chelsea boots.

Alan

The saddest day for me will be when Terry and Lampard are no longer playing as the first team I can really remember being a 90's baby was like Cudicini, Babayaro, Gudjonsen, Zola, Gronkjaer and co and it's going to be emotional when all of that team has moved on.

Ashley Cole deserves a two year contract the guy keeps himself in great shape. Also if he were to change form next season having him on a two year contract is better anyway cause surely someone would want to buy him.

As for Frank I think he'll be off to the MLS next season, hope not though I still think he has something to offer even if its more on the training ground. The guy could teach some youngsters alot.

The big worry for me though is Daniel Sturridge's contract, why we've let his contract get down to a final year is beyond me. He's one of the most promising young English players in the league yet we don't seem to be in a rush to sort his contract out.

The prospect of Lampard leaving Chelsea makes me feel old. Been in the team as long as I can remember (born in '89). Mental.

The prospect of Lampard leaving Chelsea makes me feel old. Been in the team as long as I can remember (born in '89). Mental.

Same here (also born 1989) i think i only just started to truly get into football when Lamps signed.