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da blaze casino： Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has had another fantastic season for the Blues by winning a Premier League and FA Cup double, a first for the west London football club. But why is his value continuously understated? What more can the England man do to sway negative opinions in this country?
Lampard is probably one of the most underappreciated footballers playing the game today by fans, pundits and sometimes even his fellow professionals. Many were slightly surprised when the 31-year-old was omitted from the four man list of nominees to win the PFA player’s player of the year, but nobody would deny that Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Carlos Tevez and Cesc Fabregas deserved to be on that list. However, when the PFA’s XI was announced eyebrows were raised when Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher was named ahead of Lampard.
The Chelsea midfielder scored an impressive 27 goals from midfield in the 2009-10 season, 22 of which came in the league. Lampard also unselfishly laid on more goals for team-mates than any other player in the Premier League this season, not bad for a supposed off-form and aged fat bloke.
It isn’t just this season that Lampard has been underappreciated, but it has been for his whole career and he really ought to be considered as a Premier League great.
According to facts and figures specialist Opta the Romford born player has statistically been the best player in the Premier League over the last decade. He is the only midfielder in the top ten all time scorers list in the Premier League with 130 goals. Lampard has also written his name in Chelsea’s folklore by overtaking club legends Peter Osgood and Roy Bentley in a list of the Blues’ all-time scorers list, he currently stands in third place with 157 goals.
At times this season the west Londoners have had some bad press, particularly following revelations about the private lives of club captain John Terry and Chelsea’s ever endearing left-back Ashley Cole. Whether by coincidence or the stories actually affected the Chelsea players a team that had looked almost a sure thing to win the title suffered a winter wobble and failed to maintain their gap over title rivals Manchester United and Arsenal. The Chelsea vice-captain remained a level head, a leader during the times Terry was struggling (his frustration displayed by his sending off at White Hart Lane). Lampard’s goals, assists and performances proved to be vital in winning the title.
The midfielder’s achievements have always been understated because he has been ‘surrounded by better players at Chelsea,’ but the best players generally play at the best clubs, which coincidentally boast the most talent. It could have been so easy for Lampard to fade away during Roman Abramovich’s Blue Revolution, but he didn’t, he stepped up and remains one of the most accomplished players at the club.
Another criticism thrown at Lampard is his habit for going missing in the big games. Whilst he may have had poor performances against quality opposition he is a big game player and has scored in a Champions League and FA Cup final. This season he has scored goals against Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham and has played a big part in Chelsea’s 100% record against last season’s top four, hardly just a flat-track bully.
Contrary to common belief Lampard’s international form has also been a lot better than made out. The veteran midfielder has scored 20 times for his country earning 77 caps, and was voted England Player of the Year by fans in 2004 and 2005. But the player was made a scapegoat following a poor performance by England at the 2006 World Cup in Germany because he failed to meet his own high standards. Subsequently he was booed by his own fans during international fixtures.
As a Chelsea fan Frank Lampard is a legend in my eyes already after firmly entrenching himself into club and Premier League history, but I feel as though he will never truly be appreciated for what he is until he has retired. He’s a Premier League great who deserves to have his name mentioned in the same list with the like of Ryan Giggs, Alan Shearer, Steven Gerrard and Thierry Henry.
But don’t just take my word for it, his manager Carlo Ancelotti knows the value of such a player and has even said that Lampard is as important to Chelsea as Kaka was for his AC Milan side. It is also no secret of Jose Mourinho regarded him highly and wanted him at Inter Milan, he’s even been re-linked with him as the Portuguese manager is expected to arrive at Real Madrid this summer.
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