Frank Lampard

[yogic]

Whats the Kudos on Lamps?

Is he part of Chelsea' plans next season? Is he moving to Juve for 10M? Anyone have any info?

[The Moos]

All I know is that Gazetta Dello Sport (who doesn't strike me as a paper that prints loads of false rumours. But I don't know that much about them really) have reported that Alessio Secco (sports director of Juventus) has been or is in London meeting with Chelsea about Lampard. And unless I'm mistaking this isn't the first time he's there.

If Chelsea isn't thinking of selling Lampard then I don't see why he (Secco) would visit them twice.

[Luis Enrique]

I'm not inclined to believe any press rumors about Juve right now. Goal.com has Ballack going in January on a 6 month loan (like Chelsea would give him up at ACN time) and a separate article claims that Werder Bremen's Tim Borowski is heading to Juve next season. Does Juve need Borowski and Lampard at the same time?

[BLUENUT]

Can we really afford to let him go? Where or how do you replace a 20+ goal a season creative midfielder, who is vice- captain?

We are half the side without Lampard and Drogba - this seasons results back that up.

[The Moos]

Can we really afford to let him go? Where or how do you replace a 20+ goal a season creative midfielder, who is vice- captain?

We are half the side without Lampard and Drogba - this seasons results back that up.

Agree. It looks as if it'll be really hard to replace him. As for being vice-captain that doesn't really bother me. He's not a very good leader (which many here have stated before).

As for the goals he score and set up, now that's the problem. Can anyone provide the same numbers as him? Doubt it. However there is a few that might be able to get good numbers anyway. Diego?

A few seasons ago one of our strengths was that there were so many in the team who scored goals. Duff, Cole, Robben etc.

We had quite a few who scored 10 goals or more and that meant that we didn't have to rely on a Drogba scoring 30+ goals every season or Lampard scored 20+ (together over 50 goals which is probably the majority of our goals).

If we can get there again then I think we actually could afford losing Lampard. If we can have two strikers scoring 15-20 goals and wingers scoring around 10 and then add some goals from a central midfielder and a few from defenders, then that would be better than having to rely on two players scoring all our goals.

And with our new attacking football, that might actually become reality.

[Gem]

Agree. It looks as if it'll be really hard to replace him. As for being vice-captain that doesn't really bother me. He's not a very good leader (which many here have stated before).

Agreed. The way he led the team on Saturday was woeful. All he was doing was running the game and dictate every positive thing we did.

[Barn]

Lampard could well be the most unappreciated footballer of all time. West ham fans used to slate him, but were then gutted after a handfull of games without him. England fans boo him, then when he's out Stevie Mee is no better than he ever was and suddenly they want him back in the team. Even Chelsea fans have talked about how we could do without him. When Lamps is on song he makes us tick. How many games have we looked good in when Frank has either not been there or not played well?

It'll be a massively blow if Frank doesn't sign a new contract and we'd be much worse off for it as a result.

[Gem]

Lampard could well be the most unappreciated footballer of all time. West ham fans used to slate him, but were then gutted after a handfull of games without him. England fans boo him, then when he's out Stevie Mee is no better than he ever was and suddenly they want him back in the team. Even Chelsea fans have talked about how we could do without him. When Lamps is on song he makes us tick. How many games have we looked good in when Frank has either not been there or not played well?

It'll be a massively blow if Frank doesn't sign a new contract and we'd be much worse off for it as a result.

[The Moos]

Agree. It looks as if it'll be really hard to replace him. As for being vice-captain that doesn't really bother me. He's not a very good leader (which many here have stated before).

Agreed. The way he led the team on Saturday was woeful. All he was doing was running the game and dictate every positive thing we did.

One game doesn't make a career...

[BLUENUT]

*note* I mentioned the vice-captain bit for the off-field role he performs alongside JT. He is a big personality within our club. Player/club relationships like this don't come along often.

[Jack]

If you can, catch Frank's post-match interview on Chelsea TV - for someone who just had the game of his life, he looks incredibly pissed off! Not a hint of a smile crosses his lips and at one point seems to take offence to it being pointed out that his attacking game (ie, no goals scored) was all that was missing from the performance.

Frank had a brilliant game on Saturday but I still think he'd rather take his chances elsewhere next season. We'll see.

[Gem]

Agree. It looks as if it'll be really hard to replace him. As for being vice-captain that doesn't really bother me. He's not a very good leader (which many here have stated before).

Agreed. The way he led the team on Saturday was woeful. All he was doing was running the game and dictate every positive thing we did.

One game doesn't make a career...

You are kidding me right?

Look bacl throughout the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 season. Not to mention his important role in the 2005-2006 campaign and his contribution during last season. Oh, I'll also add this season too. He has led through example EVERY time.

5 solid years makes goes a long way to make a career.

[The Moos]

Agree. It looks as if it'll be really hard to replace him. As for being vice-captain that doesn't really bother me. He's not a very good leader (which many here have stated before).

Agreed. The way he led the team on Saturday was woeful. All he was doing was running the game and dictate every positive thing we did.

One game doesn't make a career...

You are kidding me right?

Look bacl throughout the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 season. Not to mention his important role in the 2005-2006 campaign and his contribution during last season. Oh, I'll also add this season too. He has led through example EVERY time.

5 solid years makes goes a long way to make a career.

I disagree. Last season he failed to lead us the way we had hoped. I don't know how many times people came on here and complained about it.

[Chippy]

Frank has been brilliant for us and the only reason people have ever complained about him is because his standards are so high, he can play at 70% and is still as good as most midfielders in the Prem.

I dont think he has made up his mind what he wants to do yet and I really dont think Mourinho going is anything to do with it,

Spanish football has been something he has toyed with for a while now and his wife probobly still thinks of spain as home and that must be a big draw to him, that said I still think

it would take a good offer from one of the big clubs in Spain coupled with a dissapointing season for us to prize him away.

I would put my money on him signing a new contract here if we really start to progress but thats only my opinion.

I would hate for him to go.

[loz]

I think we need to differentiate bewteen the argument of Frank the player and Frank the vice captain.

For me Frank the player is intrinsic to just about every thing we do well and his loss would leave a massive hole in the team that would take considerable filling.

Frank as a vice captain is another thing. Some players are good captains and some aren't - that is just a the law of nature doing its work and is not something that a player should be criticised for, just something that has to be accepted. Personally I don't think Frank makes a good captain and if it wasn't for the fact that he would feel massively snubbed I would give the vice captaincy to someone else.

[g3.7]

even off form he still gives goals and assists and his workrate- he's our most influential midfielder regardless of form. we can deal without any other much better than we can without him.

[ethicalstrategy]

if it wasn't for the fact that he would feel massively snubbed I would give the vice captaincy to someone else.

Drogba.

He and JT are the real leaders in the team

[Butch]

As I've said before, he doesn't look like he's enjoying his football. Having said that, he does look like he wants to prove to everyone what a great professional he is and that he can still do well without being happy.

I cannot bear to think of Chelsea without him. Drogba? He's said he wants to move more than just about anyone else on this current squad. Lamps has NEVER said he wants to move. He has always remained committed.

JT and Lamps are the heart and soul of this Chelsea. Sure, one day they will be replaced, but I hope Abramovich does EVERYTHING in his power to keep Lamps here. Grant's job of "rebuilding/retouching" Chelsea would be that much easier.

I've kept note of Chelsea over recent years and Lampard seems to me to be the one we struggle most without. With him, our transition from defense to attacks is much smoother and we look much more threatening.

JT may be the undisputed leader of the team, but he plays in defense and cannot marshal us going forward. THAT role is Lampard's. And he does it with aplomb.

Cheers,

Butch

[SydneyChelsea]

As I've said before, he doesn't look like he's enjoying his football. Having said that, he does look like he wants to prove to everyone what a great professional he is and that he can still do well without being happy.

Sentimentality aside, I don't think he's enjoyed his football for the past couple of years, at least the past 18 months.

[BLUENUT]

Lamps has NEVER said he wants to move

I don't think it's his nature to mouth-off like some players, but by not signing a new contract it looks like the writing could be on the wall

[ethicalstrategy]

I firmly believe that had Mourinho been staying then Frank would have committed to a new contract. Because he knew that he would most likely be leaving he stalled and I'd be amazed if he didn't go abroad at the end of the season - quite likely to play for Jose.

[Enrico]

I hope Frank signs a new contract for about the same money as was reported, just to see what you'd say then. (if it were any more money you could just call Frank a mercenary)

[BLUENUT]

I think thats what ethical is saying, it's not about money at all.

It's about his happiness and I agree with Jack and ethical, he doesn't look happy when interviewed. He's professional enough to keep his opinions to himself so we'll have to wait and see. Not commiting himself to the club in anyway does look ominous though.

[JT26CFC]

i honestly don't see either Lampard or Drogba leaving this transfer window, maybe im just too optimistic. But really, Drogba knows he's our only striker and that he has a pretty high chance of being top scorer again and the fans appreciate him(when he scores). And Lampard has been at the club for several years and has scored some fantastic goals and is the main driving force in the midfield. Besides if either one was unhappy at Chelsea, would they even put effort into any of the games. Lampard was all over at City, passing, assisting in goals, and Drogba scored two goals. They didn't look like players who wanted an immediate transfer when January comes.

[Alan]

I can't see them leaving in January as they'll be cup-tied for the CL.

The summer is a different matter, I can see one or both leaving. Drogba is going to leave according to the ever-knowledgeable Star so I'm pessimistic about his chances of staying.