Fulham Broadway

Morons must end sordid little campaign and hail Frank as an English hero Oliver Holt 8/10/2008 There's bound to be a lull at Wembley some time on Saturday evening and when there is, the boo-boys will make sure they fill it. They'll have a go at Frank Lampard, probably, because it's become part of the tradition at the grand new home of the game. It's a peculiar little English eccentricity that must be hard for outsiders to understand - watch while we get a laugh out of barracking one of the best players on the team. But it's only a variation on a familiar theme. At the old Wembley, it was the Manchester United players who used to get it in the neck. David Beckham, Nicky Butt, and, of course, the Nevilles, were the favoured targets for partisan fans of southern teams. It got to the point where the United players, who were the dominant force in the team at the time, got to hating the place. It could even be said their experiences were at the root of the modern players' ambivalence about representing their country. It certainly created the antipathy towards the national team among United fans, who were disgusted by the treatment of their players. But now it's Lampard. Now he's the go-to guy when it comes to booing. Whether he's playing well or not, he gets it. He's had his problems. He went through difficult times under Steve McClaren. But didn't we all. But he's emerged from those problems stronger and better. He helped to lead Chelsea to the Champions League Final even when he was mourning the death of his mother. Surely, now, even the morons who have booed him in the past can accept it's time to give the guy a break. Surely, it's time to cheer him, not boo him. Surely, it's time to acknowledge the player he is. I saw Lampard play for Chelsea against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon and it was one of the best individual performances I've seen for some time. Lampard was absolutely magnificent at the heart of the Chelsea midfield. He made a player as good as Gareth Barry look like a novice. He played him off the park. His passing was sublime. He played short, simple passes when he needed to. Perfectly weighted balls into the path of overlapping teammates. But when he saw the opportunity, he opened up the Villa defence with raking long passes and searing through-balls, too. He got back and tackled, he organised, he played in tandem beautifully with Michael Ballack. He played, in short, like the complete midfielder. He was a mainstay for Jose Mourinho. Now he's a mainstay for Luiz Felipe Scolari. Two of the best managers in the world have got him in their best XI. Which has got to be worth something. The way he's playing for Chelsea this season, he's got to be the first name on Fabio Capello's teamsheet for the World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan. His form and his class demand it. The rest have got to fit around him - and that includes Steven Gerrard. I hope Fabio Capello picks both and takes this opportunity to get the best out of them. They are both in the top rank. They're both world class. They both deserve to play. It's up to the manager to make it work. There may have been a period when Lampard was vulnerable, when he might have been sacrificed so that Gerrard could dominate central midfield. That time has passed now. Lampard has proved yet again that he's too good to leave out. Let's hope the hooters and the jeerers hear the message long enough to lift their knuckles off the floor because it's going to take more than a bit of booing to shift a bloke like Lampard. The way he's playing for Chelsea this year, he's got to be the first name on Fabio Capello's teamsheet

Not sure he's right about Liverpool being in the same boat as Tottenham had they not been spawny in time added on,...still a good piece. http://www.chelseafc.com/page/ColumnistsDe...1415735,00.html

Di Santo is , and will get some more run outs, as will Sinclair. The club has a habit and neccesity to buy proven players though, as have all top clubs and this will continue.

Unusual to get some positive journalism http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/col...icle4895063.ece

Sterling performance, one of the best I've seen. Midfield looking particularly strong, and Anelka has gone up a gear....

Definitely outshines Mourinho in terms of handling the press.

''Which ones Simon Bird ?'' ''Me.'' ''You're a cunt.'' http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oc...d.premierleague

I really dont take any notice of Townsends ramblings. Ok he played for us, but he seems bitter that he was trophyless or something, and never fails to cunt Chelsea off when on ITV.

Totally unable to break them down. All in all though a point, and qualification shouldnt be in jeopardy. Almost worse at the end, when that Trici? almost scored for Cluj. Cluj, is that one of Gervaises Flanimals ?

''Chance killer'' like it . The one last night was just a knock in at the post apparently. Not sure we can recall him just like that. Di Santo showed a few promising touches, thought he was going to score with his first touch last night......

Last night it was the sort of game where Crespo would have knocked in a couple. Quick -lets recall Pizarro ! He's knocking them away now ! Scored again last night and is a a local hero.

Hopefully wont be as long as anticipated. Amazing what they can do at Cobham with the hydrospa and ultrasound.

Good point. Sometimes Bosingwa looks the most attack minded player on the pitch. I can see a new attacker in January coming, and hopefully some of the injuries are very short term.

Cheers Linda http://www.wap.org/journal/emailrules/spam.jpg

Injury list as long as a very, very long thing now. Its a crisis . No two ways about it. Drogba , Deco, Carvalho, Joe Cole and, of course, Essien. Ashley Cole, has a back strain, and Scolari has said that both Terry and Alex played most of the game injured. Terry, once more, was feeling his back – a worrying recurrence for club and country – while Alex had an arse strain apparently. On the positive some of the reserves could get some action, but wouldnt be surprised to see some acquisitions in January

Lol the oldies are the best, and Tri Blu they leave 'em hungry for blood. Their crowd looked like extras from some Werewolf B movie. Frustrating against the Gypo Vampires, but most worrying of all was the injuries....

They've hungry players -always a danger -and will be physical if not going their way. Just hope we dont accrue any more injuries. That said, pikeys to be overturned 0-2

Funniest thing was seeing the Stewards trying to muster dignity as they retreated....

Its not as though Chelsea are the 'ChildCatchers'. The players have a choice, they're not kidnapped. Its not our fault if they're greedy. I like the ex-punk Pearce, but he will have to eat his words now hes at the richest club in the World.

Noticed a lot of old style skins about -is a BNP stronghold with quite a few BNP Councillors

Lol. Joe Kinnear has furiously denied that his is part of club owner Mike Ashley's so-called "Cockney Mafia". "How am I a cockney? I was born and reared in Ireland and played for Ireland," he said - in a strong London accent Also If the government are allowed to nationalise failing banks how about ailing football clubs ?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OLesFta6J4Q

This just gets funnier. Not only is Yid fan Mike Ashley rubbing their noses in it with more ''cockney mafia'', but the self confessed Hertfordshire ex market trader wide boy Yid fan, has appointed an ex Spud as manager...must be to piss of the fat Geordie boys http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ted/7637836.stm

Agree, and perhaps would have been good to give Stoch a run out. Good to see Malouda hitting something near to form, and ' Arry must be gutted -10 with no reply picked out the net in four days !

Incident that stood out for me was Alex, chucking himself in the way of that definite goal bound shot, being absolutely flattened yet getting straight back in the fray and heading away again seconds later.