We always knew Frank Lampard wasn’t exactly a favourite in the England side but bugger me, he misses a couple of games and the world and his wife climb aboard the ‘get Frank out’ campaign.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to sit here and say he’s great in the England side – as a Chelsea supporter, I’d be perfectly happy to see him have a rest during every international break, not just from the football but all the bullshit we have to listen to as well – I just think some of the stuff that’s been written since the games he missed is ridiculous.
Yes, it was good to see changes made with younger players brought in and yes, Gerrard looked in better form playing centrally alongside Barry, but we weren’t exactly up against Spain were we? And yet once again, Stevie Me is hailed as England’s hero with his ‘wonderful performances’. And off the back of a couple of acceptable results against inferior opposition, I’m even reading Rio Ferdinand should be ousted as captain so saint Stevie can claim his ‘rightful’ crown – well, the United defender has had the audacity to be injured as well after all.
As for the injured Lampard, well his absence has only served to ‘prove’ what everyone outside of Chelsea has been insisting for years anyway – it’s all his fault him and Gerrard can’t play together. I mean, it’s obvious isn’t it? Lampard misses a couple of games and Gerrard plays well. Nothing to do with the opposition, nothing to do with Gerrard either hitting some form anyway or possibly even pushing himself just a little harder because he’s motivated by personal glory – it’s simply down the ‘Fat Frank’.
Ok, so I’m being facetious but you get the drift. Of course Gerrard plays better when he ain’t stuck out on the wing and I’d be more than happy to see the younger Milner and Johnson establish themselves but does any of this equate to Frank Lampard suddenly being some over-the-hill, overrated has-been? Of course it bloody doesn’t, so why is that what’s being written?
He’s one of the Premier League’s top midfielders, he’s been one of Chelsea’s most influential players for years – scoring and creating a damn site more from his position than any other player in the country can lay claim to – so this nonsense about him being no use to England anymore is a complete crock.
Personally, I’d rather he jumped before he’s pushed though. Frank Lampard is too good to be sat on a bench – and that isn’t being elitist or precious – it’s just fact. Maybe Capello will decide things work better without him and if they can play as well against better quality opposition, then I’d even be inclined to agree with him. But if that’s the case, then Frank shouldn’t be wasting his time or energy travelling halfway round the world and back to sit on benches, when that energy would be better conserved just concentrating on the club and the supporters who do want him.
Blue is the colour
