Lampard - Doesn't get the credit he deserves?

[Twix]

http://www.soundoffcolumn.com/images/Chelsea-Frank-Lampard.jpg

Well, I used to have a passionate and intense dislike for Frank Lampard. Thought he was another product of the English hype machine who was just another opportunistic, overrated midfielder who could run like a headless chicken and scored 20+ deflections a season.

After time, I've watched him more and more and I have to say I was wrong. I think it was when Chelsea banged Man City 6-0, and Lampard gave in a astonishing MOTM performance. This was impressive, mind, seeing as he didn't get on his scoresheet but he was orchestrating play, making 50-60 yard passes look easy and was involved in every good thing Chelsea created.

Now, that performance rocked my world so I decided to revise my evaluation of Lampard, and there's a substantial amount of evidence to suggest I was being a... bit harsh.

He has netted 10+ league goals consecutively for the past 6 seasons, how many other midfield players boast that?

He has shown up against Manchester United (CL final goal, assist in the FA cup final while scoring against them in other games), Barcelona (05 CL 2nd round), Liverpool last season, and has been one of Chelsea's most crucial performers in the League and the CL.

He's scored a considerable amount of impressive goals, and has also shown himself to be a clutch player for Chelsea as well, as reinforced with his last minute winner against Stoke last week.

His fitness and consistency is incredible - in 6 out of 7 years at Chelsea, he's only played less than 45 games a season once. Also 121 goals in 386 games is nothing to be sniffed at. And he's only turning 31 in June.

So, the question I'm asking is how come you rarely hear him come into BPINTW debates or being on the cusp of becoming a modern legend? Am I giving Lampard too much credit? :confused:

[KumarsS]

No, you're not. Lampard was 2nd for 2005 WPOY which shows that he has occasionally gotten the credit he deserves but ultimately several factors have contributed to Supah Frank getting the shaft when it comes to superlatives outside of Chelsea circles:

1. Anti-Chelsea bias. This is simple enough. Maybe even moreso than Terry, Lampard is the face of Chelsea and those who resent the club resent Lamps as well.

2. The English media's Gerrardophilia. The question of Gerrard versus Lampard has been a big one especially since the press brilliantly reached the conclusion that the two couldn't play together. No one likes a tie, and the media gets off on Stevie G, so when the comparison is made (especially between their performances for England), Gerrard's superiority is easily fabricated.

3. Goals. Yes, he scores so many damn goals that the factors above have led inattentive fans to the conclusion that Lamps is good for goals and not much else when in fact he's as close to a complete midfielder as you can get.

[jpick]

yeah, he doesn't get the credit he deserves, very good player. the way some people talk, he has less technical ability on the ball than zeljko kalac.

http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00194/milan_goalkeeper_194906t.jpg

probably is because he is from england and some on this board assume all english players are all hustle, bustle and brick feet

[Grinners89]

Well, I used to have a passionate and intense dislike for Frank Lampard. Thought he was another product of the English hype machine who was just another opportunistic, overrated midfielder who could run like a headless chicken and scored 20+ deflections a season.


After time, I've watched him more and more and I have to say I was wrong. I think it was when Chelsea banged Man City 6-0, and Lampard gave in a astonishing MOTM performance. This was impressive, mind, seeing as he didn't get on his scoresheet but he was orchestrating play, making 50-60 yard passes look easy and was involved in every good thing Chelsea created.



Now, that performance rocked my world so I decided to revise my evaluation of Lampard, and there's a substantial amount of evidence to suggest I was being a... bit harsh.



He has netted 10+ league goals consecutively for the past 6 seasons, how many other midfield players boast that?



He has shown up against Manchester United (CL final goal, assist in the FA cup final while scoring against them in other games), Barcelona (05 CL 2nd round), Liverpool last season, and has been one of Chelsea's most crucial performers in the League and the CL.



He's scored a considerable amount of impressive goals, and has also shown himself to be a clutch player for Chelsea as well, as reinforced with his last minute winner against Stoke last week.



His fitness and consistency is incredible - in 6 out of 7 years at Chelsea, he's only played less than 45 games a season once. Also 121 goals in 386 games is nothing to be sniffed at. And he's only turning 31 in June.



So, the question I'm asking is how come you rarely hear him come into BPINTW debates or being on the cusp of becoming a modern legend? Am I giving Lampard too much credit? :confused:




No. Lampard has shown over many seasons that he is a world class player and i think it is this consistency that makes him so great. Other players such as Ronaldinho have had maybe 2 or 3 good seasons whereas he has probably been in Chelsea's top 3 players every season for the past 5.

He hasnt performed consistently well in most matches against the bigger clubs and this may have diminished his standing. One example is that i havent seen him dominate a Chelsea-Liverpool match.

As well as his very accurate passing, his awareness and anticipation of where he needs to be to either create goal-scoring opportunities or finish them himself is probably his key strength.

Also, i wouldnt use a match against Man City as a good example of his ability. Man City's midfield and defence arent of good quality.

[vancity eagle]

I agree , he should be mentioned alongside the likes of Maradona, Pele, Cruyff etc. He's just that good !!!

[KumarsS]

"If Lampard were African..."

[comme]

So, the question I'm asking is how come you rarely hear him come into BPINTW debates or being on the cusp of becoming a modern legend? Am I giving Lampard too much credit? :confused:


I don't think you are at all. He is an absolutely brilliant player, and so far this season I think as good as anyone. Earlier in the season I thought he was definitely the best player in the world.

Who was the last midfielder to score 10 goals in the league for 6 years in a row in a top league?

Platini? Can anyone think of anyone more recent?

His consistency is incredible, and if he can put in a few more good years, then his stock will only continue to rise.

[Grinners89]

I don't think you are at all. He is an absolutely brilliant player, and so far this season I think as good as anyone. Earlier in the season I thought he was definitely the best player in the world.

Who was the last midfielder to score 10 goals in the league for 6 years in a row in a top league?

Platini? Can anyone think of anyone more recent?

His consistency is incredible, and if he can put in a few more good years, then his stock will only continue to rise.

The World Cup (if England make it) might be his chance to establish himself as a true great of the game if he performs really well in that tournament.

If he doesnt perform, he might just be considered a great player of the 00's.

[comme]

The World Cup (if England make it) might be his chance to establish himself as a true great of the game if he performs really well in that tournament.

If he doesnt perform, he might just be considered a great player of the 00's.

Agreed. The thing with Lampard is that he has a tendency to score in bursts. So like in Euro 2004 he got 3 in 4 games, but at WC 2006 he got none.

If he has one of his bursts at the WC 2010 then he can make himself a great.

[leg_breaker]

The World Cup (if England make it) might be his chance to establish himself as a true great of the game if he performs really well in that tournament.

If he doesnt perform, he might just be considered a great player of the 00's.

Lampard has a very hit and miss record in an English shirt, culminating in missing a crucial penalty in a shootout. But then so did Gerrard...

[vancity eagle]

"If Lampard were African..."

He is already considered one of the best CM's in the game, he is considered the face of Chelsea who have had one of the best Champions league records in the last decade, yet he doesn't get the credit he deserves ? What do you want him to get ? A handjob from every sports journalist, please you fanboys are pathetic.

[vancity eagle]

"If Lampard were African..."

since you want to play this game and accuse me of bias, I will let you know that there is a Nigerian striker who has one of the top scoring records in the EPL over the last 4 or 5 seasons. His scoring record is truly something of great consistency (since this seems to be what leads to Lampard's gross overhyping) I will tell you that I have little regard for this Nigerian striker despite his incredible scoring rate in the EPL, and want him nowhere near the national side. In fact I get incredibly angry anytime I see him wear the national colours.

[Dr. Know]

Who was the last midfielder to score 10 goals in the league for 6 years in a row in a top league?


Luis Garcia from Espanyol has scored 10+ goals for 5 seasons in a row, this is his 6th now. But I don't know if he counts since he shifts and sometimes plays as a forward.

[Grinners89]

Luis Garcia from Espanyol has scored 10+ goals for 5 seasons in a row, this is his 6th now. But I don't know if he counts since he shifts and sometimes plays as a forward.

I think that he plays mostly as a forward so thats not a fair comparison.

[Dr. Know]

I think that he plays mostly as a forward so thats not a fair comparison.

Well it depends. They tend to play a 4-2-3-1, he plays behind the striker but he does spend a lot of time as a creative mid as well.

[Cool Rob]

FYI- Lampard is not considered one of the best CM's in the game. He's not even considered the best in England (Gerrard) or Chelsea (Essien) for that matter.

He is wonderfully consistent but doesn't get his due because he underperforms for England. He and Gerrard have never really been able to play together. Clutch for Chelsea though.

[comme]

FYI- Lampard is not considered one of the best CM's in the game. He's not even considered the best in England (Gerrard) or Chelsea (Essien) for that matter.

He is wonderfully consistent but doesn't get his due because he underperforms for England. He and Gerrard have never really been able to play together. Clutch for Chelsea though.

He actually doesn't under perform for England though. He had a bad WC 2006. Other than that he has been consistently good for England.

[Big Soccer Member]

I had the exact same opinion of Lampard. I used to look for faults in all of his performances in order to convince myself that he was an overrated deflectionist.

Over the past year he has changed my mind in the same way too, but it was really his form early on this year that made me truly realise just how good he is.

He gets plenty of credit though. UEFA midfielder of the year this year, many other awards in the past and generally considered one of the best around. Unlike most players, he is rated just about right,

[vancity eagle]

On his day Lampard can be one of the best, but my main beef with him is his consistency which is what many seem to be praising. By consistency I am not at all talking about goal scoring, I am talking about influencing the game and the ability to carry the team overall. I am sorry but in this regard Lampard is not consistent. This season alone I have seen Lampard been virtually invisible in the Chelsea midfield for over a month straight. A large part of Chelsea's poor form this year has to be put on Lampard's shoulders because of the position he plays. Chelsea has struggled to score goals and failed to beat any top side this year. They have struggled at home against relegation sides. Without Essien, and a Drogba in top form, Lampard has failed to carry Chelsea to any sort of glory this season. Chelsea have quite simply been woeful this season, and this is the wrong time to go on any sort of pro Lampard blitz.

[schafer]

On his day Lampard can be one of the best, but my main beef with him is his consistency which is what many seem to be praising. By consistency I am not at all talking about goal scoring, I am talking about influencing the game and the ability to carry the team overall. I am sorry but in this regard Lampard is not consistent. This season alone I have seen Lampard been virtually invisible in the Chelsea midfield for over a month straight. A large part of Chelsea's poor form this year has to be put on Lampard's shoulders because of the position he plays. Chelsea has struggled to score goals and failed to beat any top side this year. They have struggled at home against relegation sides. Without Essien, and a Drogba in top form, Lampard has failed to carry Chelsea to any sort of glory this season. Chelsea have quite simply been woeful this season, and this is the wrong time to go on any sort of pro Lampard blitz.

What? So in the absence of anything even approaching their best form from Drogba, Kalou, Ballack, Deco, Joe Cole, Malouda, hell even Terry and Alex, you're deciding to place the blame for Chelsea's poor form on Lampard's shoulders? Sorry but that's just absurd. If anything the fact that Chelsea are still in the title race has to do with Lampard and Mikel's superb form earlier in the season. Obviously they can't keep that up for the entire year, carrying the deadweight that is Ballack and Deco ATM.

And virtually invisible for a month straight? When was that?