Lampard can still play a huge role in seasons to come for Chelsea

Smashing goal-scoring records from midfield is world-class, which brings me to the sad and probable news that he may leave the Bridge. Frank Lampard is a legend and hero at Stamford Bridge. As a Chelsea fan, he is adored. ‘Super Frank’ we call him and he’s nothing short of super. 

In the 1998/99 season, Lampard carried West Ham United to 5th place in the Premier League, their highest placing of all time. That was enough to tempt former owner, Ken Bates, and former manager Claudio Ranieri to bring the youngster to Stamford Bridge. Lampard came, controversially, from West Ham in 2001 for £11 million and he hasn’t looked back since. He has become a formidable force as a player and as a fans’ player, in the Chelsea squad for 12 consecutive years and is still going. Lampard is a player Chelsea fans can be proud of, to the despise of West Ham, scoring 10 goals or more in 9 successive Premier League seasons and all from midfield; the only ever player to do so.

Frank is a natural and a dying bread of box-to-box midfielder. His work-rate and desire is second to none. But as he grows older and his legs start to fail him he has taking responsibility by adapting himself as a deep-lying midfielder. Last season, Andre Villas Boas wanted to get rid of him and how dearly it cost him. As Lampard has adapted his game, he has maintained being a pivotal player for Chelsea, having played a huge role in securing the Champions League crown last season. Two assists over two legs against Barcelona and a solid penalty in the final has carved his name further into Chelsea’s history. Not only has he helped Chelsea to the greatest crown in club football but he was also key to them breaking their duck of 50 years without a Championship. His two goals at Bolton in April 2005 secured us the title of Champions of England. Every time Lampard has delivered at Chelsea success hasn’t been far off. Coincidence? No. Chelsea’s Premier League and FA Cup double in 2010 under Ancelotti was one of Frank’s best seasons at Chelsea with 22 goals, 18 goals and 17 assists in the Premier League; many strikers and midfielder struggle at that feat respectively. He was Chelsea’s top goal-scorer in 4 seasons: 2004-05, 05-06, 07-08, 11-12. Chelsea’s Player of the Year in 2004, 2005, 2009, Premier League leader in assists in 2004-05 (16) and 2009-10 (17). This is a player that has never been awarded with the PFA Player of the Year gong. He is only one good full season away from breaking Bobby Tambling’s goal scoring record (202) at Chelsea with Frank only being 13 goals away. All these statistics have proved how much of a vital player he is at Stamford Bridge.

Not only at club level has this wonderfully talented player achieved but also at international level. Frank has 93 caps and 26 goals with England and being England’s most prolific penalty taker with 8 goals from the spot. Sadly, when Frank is on England duty he is one the least cherished players in the squad with many of the English faithful favouring Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney. It seems to many that fans across the globe cherish Lampard more than the English themselves, albeit Chelsea fans. The reception he got in Yokohama yesterday was exceptional, and that was when he was warming up let alone get subbed on. The old cliche of ‘not knowing what you have until it’s gone’ applies for many of the English supporters around the country.

With all the talk of Lampard’s future destinations, LA Galaxy and the MLS being the main one he will be surely missed at Chelsea. Not only as a player but as a team mate with many team mates speaking of him in such high regard. If Roman Abramovic wants to keep Chelsea roaring he will need to keep Lampard for however long he can hold out. Lampard, along with John Terry, are such crucial players to Chelsea. They are our engine and our heart of the team. So much so that our yearly mid-season slump suspiciously comes when John or Frank are out of the squad. Not only is he an exceptional midfielder but he is also an even better leader. Frank’s vice-captaincy is not taken lightly at Chelsea, with him being given the armband by Petr Cech, when he came on off the bench, in yesterday’s game in Japan. What I do know as a Chelsea fan is that if he does leave it will be a very sad day for Chelsea Football Club. No matter what happens in the summer, whether he gets a contract extension or leaves, he will always be Chelsea’s no. 8 and our ‘Super Frank’.