Posted January 3, 200817 yr Frank Lampard has delivered a major boost to Chelsea by claiming he wants to finish his career with the club. Speculation on the England international's future has been rife this season after contract talks with The Blues were put on hold so he can concentrate on his football. However, despite being linked with the likes of Juventus and Barcelona, the 29-year-old loves Chelsea too much to contemplate leaving. Lampard has 18-months remaining on his existing contract although he has now stated he would happy to end his career at Stamford Bridge. Importance "On a scale of one to 10, Chelsea is a 10 for me in terms of importance and I'm not just saying that," he told the Daily Mail. "Everyone around me knows how much Chelsea mean to me. In my life my family comes first, but Chelsea come second. "I don't think I will receive the love I get from the Chelsea fans anywhere else. I feel strongly about it and I'd love to have another six or seven years of it. I'm at a club I love and living in an area I love." Lampard is currently out of action with a thigh strain picked up against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, but could make a comeback before the end of the month.
January 3, 200817 yr Nice to hear that but one thing scares me though. In my life my family comes first, but Chelsea come second. We're only second
January 3, 200817 yr If he really feels that way, doesn't it strike you as a bit strange that he's been stalling on signing a new contract for bleedin' ages?
January 3, 200817 yr If he really feels that way, doesn't it strike you as a bit strange that he's been stalling on signing a new contract for bleedin' ages? Like I said on the other thread, it's the money he loves not Chelsea
January 5, 200817 yr I'm not convinced it's money- I have a feeling he wants a longer term contract than the club wants to offer him.
January 5, 200817 yr I'm not convinced it's money- I have a feeling he wants a longer term contract than the club wants to offer him. Length of contract is surely a big part of it, but he's still not going to accept a 6 year contract at a paltry 40k a week is he?
January 6, 200817 yr no, no- my feeling is he wants the same sort of wage he's on, but until the end of his career, whereas the club may want to be able to reduce it if/ when he becomes more of a squad player.
January 6, 200817 yr until he signs a contract, I won't believe anything said......sorry Lamps Exactly. Subtext from Lamps is: "I love the club and will stay for the rest of my career, so long as the club gives me EXACTLY what I want and not a penny less".
January 6, 200817 yr he hasnt signed a new contract because it simply wasnt time to. the press usually pick up on contract renewals a year before expiry, but they started going on about "frank hasnt re-signed" well before that time.
January 6, 200817 yr no, no- my feeling is he wants the same sort of wage he's on, but until the end of his career, whereas the club may want to be able to reduce it if/ when he becomes more of a squad player. Exactly. Isn't the money the main issue then? If it's mainly length of contract it'd be like the Gus Poyet/Wisey situation where they wanted to stay for longer while not asking for more money.
January 7, 200817 yr Length of contract is surely a big part of it, but he's still not going to accept a 6 year contract at a paltry 40k a week is he? Should he ? He works harder for Chelsea than some of the other players here do who earn more than he does. He and JT should be the highest earners at the club so for him to expect to earn the same as the top earners, I feel, is understandable. What contract does not have money at its heart though; I mean why should Frank be painted as some sort of heartless mercenary when 99% of footballers are no different? Cheers, Butch
January 7, 200817 yr It's true. Even if he loves the club 40k a week is clearly difficult to live on. And to be fair to him he hasn't yet come out with "it's not about the money". (has he?) Unless the guy is considering leaving, it's always about the money.
January 7, 200817 yr Also, when somebody says it's not about the money, it's about principle, it's ALWAYS about the money...
January 7, 200817 yr Looking at some comments, I get the feeling I'm in an Arsenal, Liverpool or ManU forum.
January 7, 200817 yr Length of contract is surely a big part of it, but he's still not going to accept a 6 year contract at a paltry 40k a week is he? Should he ? He works harder for Chelsea than some of the other players here do who earn more than he does. He and JT should be the highest earners at the club so for him to expect to earn the same as the top earners, I feel, is understandable. What contract does not have money at its heart though; I mean why should Frank be painted as some sort of heartless mercenary when 99% of footballers are no different? Cheers, Butch I disagree Butch. I do believe that Lamps works hard for the club but on that basis alone you can't make him the highest earner. You do that on the basis of what each individual player produces for the team. Frank has done fantastic for the club but his recent form suggests he's not the same player anymore and he's almost 30. Ronaldinho of the Barca team circa 2005/06 didn't do any defending or tracking back. He was however by far the club's top earner. Would you say, it was wrong to pay him more than others since he obviously didn't put in as much effort as say, Puyol? I hope Lamps stays and signs a new deal at Chelsea but he needs to realize that his wages and role within the club may change in the future.
January 7, 200817 yr Author Looking at some comments, I get the feeling I'm in an Arsenal, Liverpool or ManU forum. how would you know?? Surely you have never! haha - I entertain myself
January 8, 200817 yr That recent interview according to Giam Balligue on The Times podcast was an old one from 6 months ago, rehashed as an exclusive now and he does not see Lampard being here come the summer.
January 9, 200817 yr I disagree Butch.I do believe that Lamps works hard for the club but on that basis alone you can't make him the highest earner. You do that on the basis of what each individual player produces for the team. Frank has done fantastic for the club but his recent form suggests he's not the same player anymore and he's almost 30. Ronaldinho of the Barca team circa 2005/06 didn't do any defending or tracking back. He was however by far the club's top earner. Would you say, it was wrong to pay him more than others since he obviously didn't put in as much effort as say, Puyol? I hope Lamps stays and signs a new deal at Chelsea but he needs to realize that his wages and role within the club may change in the future. My comments were not based purely on Lampard's work rate, although that is part of it. Lampard is worth much more than just his work rate. He is one of the current club leaders as well as one of the current faces of Chelsea. Also, even though he is going through a relatively "barren" patch in terms of goals, I do not for one second believe he is "over the hill". He will be back, and I have a feeling this "rest" period will do him the world of good. Thirty is not the end of the road, mate! It strikes me that he is one of the players who have been hit hard by Jose's departure. But I do expect him to get over that too. I do believe that he, JT, Ballack and Drogba should be the top earners at Chelsea, for varying reasons. Cheers, Butch
January 9, 200817 yr I remember him having a few excellent games under Grant where we all thought he was in great form (one of them was Man City if I am not mistaken). But I agree with Butch that Mourinho's departure affected him more than most.
January 9, 200817 yr Rehashed story from last August/September - Lampard will be gone come next summer
