Fat Frank

[Rich]

People are so bitter about Lampard I find it hilarious. Yes, he is over-rated but he is a very, very good player. He is also one of the few England players concerned with keeping possession in the middle of the park (I admit he is shat happy when he gets into the final third). He is in the side on merit, Gerrard is given a free-role effectively and that suits him more than being asked to be more disciplined in the middle.

But, what makes him a very, very good player? What are his outstanding attributes?

Maybe I'm being daft, but take away his propensity to shoot on site, and hogging virtually all penalties/direct free-kicks, and what is left?

[dww]

He has good close control and awareness, exceptional short passing. He keeps possession well and in the middle of the pitch is a vital cog in chelseas machine, moves the ball from defence to attack very quickly, he is a great foil for Makelele as he always makes himself available for a pass. Hopefully for England he can develop a similar understanding with Hargreaves.

He is also a very accurate shooter from the edge of the area. He has had problems in recent times but in general his shots all start on target and are hard. The number of deflections he has that go in is really a reflection of the pace of his shooting and accuracy. I say this because mostly the don't seem to deviate a great deal, with the deflection usually helping to beat the keeper but not really affecting the fact that the ball is on target.

[Rich]

He has good close control and awareness, exceptional short passing. He keeps possession well and in the middle of the pitch is a vital cog in chelseas machine, moves the ball from defence to attack very quickly, he is a great foil for Makelele as he always makes himself available for a pass. Hopefully for England he can develop a similar understanding with Hargreaves.

He is also a very accurate shooter from the edge of the area. He has had problems in recent times but in general his shots all start on target and are hard. The number of deflections he has that go in is really a reflection of the pace of his shooting and accuracy. I say this because mostly the don't seem to deviate a great deal, with the deflection usually helping to beat the keeper but not really affecting the fact that the ball is on target.

To counter your argument, I'd describe Lampard as:

• slow
• hesitant on the ball in advanced areas.
• Plays an easy sideways/backwards pass too many times.
• Poor tackler
• Very selfish player
• Cannot beat a man
• Often when in trouble will make a pass to a team-mate in an even worse position.
• Often goes missing in games

I will admit that striking the ball is his stength and you can't argue with the number of goals he's scored - but as a footballer he is severely limited.

[dirty_sanchez]

I agree with everything Cacodemon has said, even though his is big, round, red, and shoots purple fireballs from his mouth. Lampard is very very overrated.

[Rich]

I agree with everything Cacodemon has said, even though his is big, round, red, and shoots purple fireballs from his mouth. Lampard is very very overrated.

How do you know what I look like?

[dirty_sanchez]

I played Doom a lot. Sorry about all those times I shot you. It was nothing personal man. That Cyberdemon was a bit of a **** bag though. Tell him to go easy next time.

[Rich]

Did you know I get a loyalty cheque everytime I get killed in that? Nice little earner.

[Red_hot]

[dirty_sanchez]

Did you know I get a loyalty cheque everytime I get killed in that? Nice little earner.

Wow. In that case, I'll carry on whupping your ass and won't feel so guilty any more.

[Sprouty]

Good article about this on 365.

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8742_1474480,00.html

Challenge Macca: The Lamps Question

Despite the BBC's most concerted propaganda effort since World War Two, I will not buy this 'Brave New World under Steve McClaren' nonsense until I see him make a truly brave, yet entirely justified and long-overdue, decision.

While switching to 3-5-2 against an Andorran side playing 5-5-0 might be enough to make John Motson scream in a disturbingly excited manner, and while actually mouthing the words to 'God Save The Queen' is enough to make Ian Wrong, Wrong, Wrong cream his pants, Steve McClaren's testicle count will be in question until he addresses one glaring problem.

The challenge to McClaren is simple: If Frank Lampard is as ineffective against Macedonia as he has been in an England shirt (barring deflected goals and the odd penalty) for approximately two years, take him off the pitch. It's not a wacky idea, is it?

While the BBC are busy slapping Super Steve McClaren on the back for 'solving the Gerrard-Lampard problem', the rest of us are looking confused and asking exactly how the Gerrard-Lampard problem has been solved when one of them is still utterly anonymous in an England shirt. Even against Andorra.

This is not a knee-jerk reaction from those evil anti-Chelski folk at Football365, it's a question being asked by every football fan who has enough brain cells not to blindly believe the hype on a player who has only been consistent in his recent failure to deliver for England.

It's not like we don't have other options. The emergence of Aaron Lennon (funny how Sven gets no credit for taking a chance on that particular unproven player) means that a midfield quartet of Lennon, Hargreaves, Gerrard and Downing/Cole is the one screaming 'pick me' to everyone but McClaren.

Yes, Gerrard has shown his undoubted quality on that right-hand side but anyone who thinks he would be any less impressive playing as the attacking central midfielder in a partnership with Owen Hargreaves is a fool. And anyone who thinks he won't be more effective than Lampard is Frank Lampard.

A player so underwhelming in an England shirt should not be guaranteed that shirt. If he does nothing for an hour against Macedonia, he should be taken off. Just as Downing or Defoe would. And for the next game, he should start on the bench and be made to impress from there, just as Downing or Defoe would. To earn untouchable status, a footballer needs to be untouchable as a player. That's untouchable, not unnoticeable.

So will a man who was brave enough to drop a player who had already voluntarily given up the captaincy be brave enough to instruct the fourth official to hold up the number '8' when everyone's forgotten the number 8 is on the pitch? We can only hope...

[red g]

Good article about this on 365.

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8742_1474480,00.html

Challenge Macca: The Lamps Question

Despite the BBC's most concerted propaganda effort since World War Two, I will not buy this 'Brave New World under Steve McClaren' nonsense until I see him make a truly brave, yet entirely justified and long-overdue, decision.

While switching to 3-5-2 against an Andorran side playing 5-5-0 might be enough to make John Motson scream in a disturbingly excited manner, and while actually mouthing the words to 'God Save The Queen' is enough to make Ian Wrong, Wrong, Wrong cream his pants, Steve McClaren's testicle count will be in question until he addresses one glaring problem.

The challenge to McClaren is simple: If Frank Lampard is as ineffective against Macedonia as he has been in an England shirt (barring deflected goals and the odd penalty) for approximately two years, take him off the pitch. It's not a wacky idea, is it?

While the BBC are busy slapping Super Steve McClaren on the back for 'solving the Gerrard-Lampard problem', the rest of us are looking confused and asking exactly how the Gerrard-Lampard problem has been solved when one of them is still utterly anonymous in an England shirt. Even against Andorra.

This is not a knee-jerk reaction from those evil anti-Chelski folk at Football365, it's a question being asked by every football fan who has enough brain cells not to blindly believe the hype on a player who has only been consistent in his recent failure to deliver for England.

It's not like we don't have other options. The emergence of Aaron Lennon (funny how Sven gets no credit for taking a chance on that particular unproven player) means that a midfield quartet of Lennon, Hargreaves, Gerrard and Downing/Cole is the one screaming 'pick me' to everyone but McClaren.

Yes, Gerrard has shown his undoubted quality on that right-hand side but anyone who thinks he would be any less impressive playing as the attacking central midfielder in a partnership with Owen Hargreaves is a fool. And anyone who thinks he won't be more effective than Lampard is Frank Lampard.

A player so underwhelming in an England shirt should not be guaranteed that shirt. If he does nothing for an hour against Macedonia, he should be taken off. Just as Downing or Defoe would. And for the next game, he should start on the bench and be made to impress from there, just as Downing or Defoe would. To earn untouchable status, a footballer needs to be untouchable as a player. That's untouchable, not unnoticeable.

So will a man who was brave enough to drop a player who had already voluntarily given up the captaincy be brave enough to instruct the fourth official to hold up the number '8' when everyone's forgotten the number 8 is on the pitch? We can only hope...

greatpost

[GordonGecko]

That article is quality.

[Rich]

Spot on assessment of Lampard.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Shame it'll go unnoticed.

Lampard was nowhere again tonight.

[paulcooper4]

hes a big fat cockney **** and shouldnt be in the side. he does **** all.