🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Frank Lampard

[BlueLion. 21,491]

It would be good for him to leave on the high of being our all-time top scorer, the same as Drogba left a Champions League-winning hero. It just means even fonder memories. Let's be fair, with Frank, he doesn't offer as much to the team as he once did and he is never going to be back at that level again, so let's just enjoy this legend's last few months here and celebrate as he becomes our greatest-ever player.

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

It would be good for him to leave on the high of being our all-time top scorer, the same as Drogba left a Champions League-winning hero. It just means even fonder memories. Let's be fair, with Frank, he doesn't offer as much to the team as he once did and he is never going to be back at that level again, so let's just enjoy this legend's last few months here and celebrate as he becomes our greatest-ever player.

He's still better than some other players.... and still has a place here. even from the bench.

[Leif 6,006]

Not trying to cause anything, but - Aside from his goal-scoring, I think he's been pretty poor in general this season, with just a few properly good, solid games. I don't think he'll ever be happy with just a bench role, but he can't be starting every game for us - both from a physical and tactical point of view.

So what he's offering us is goals at the moment. But perhaps these goals are out of motivation for breaking the record? Once he breaks that record, it's not going to be broken (unless we sign Messi maybe). Will he still have the motivation to at least keep scoring as much as he does? This is probably what goes through the mind of the board.

[English Freak 456]

Anybody think Lamps could've transferred in january but chose to stay on to have a crack at the record? Disgrace that he's not getting a new contract.

It's not a disgrace.

It'll be good for Lamps to leave on a high.

[zolayes 14,489]

It's not a disgrace.

It'll be good for Lamps to leave on a high.

Id be happy if it was his decision to leave not the decision taken by some suit the Russian has listened to.

[samzilla 517]

It's not a disgrace.

It'll be good for Lamps to leave on a high.

He'll only leave on a high if he breaks the record. If he doesn't, and the club doesn't extend his contract so he can, then that would be a pretty sad day in football.

[manpe 10,861]

I love how he always smiles when talking about the record. You can see he tries to stay serious and professional, but he can't help himself to a smile or two thinking about that. It would obviously make him very happy.

I also love his hair. Best hair ever.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Dear Frank, PLEASE score your 200th goal on Thursday! I was there when we beat Levski Sofia 3-0 in 2001 when he scored his first goal for the club, I saw his 100th against Huddersfield and it would be an honour to see his 200th as well!

[Milan 17,956]

Dear Frank, PLEASE score your 200th goal on Thursday! I was there when we beat Levski Sofia 3-0 in 2001 when he scored his first goal for the club, I saw his 100th against Huddersfield and it would be an honour to see his 200th as well!

Wow! Written in the stars then! Lucky you really! He should turn to you, give you his shirt or whatever! He should appreciate you!

[bushman 2,043]

Yes, all well said & justified.

Frank is one fine individual, a role model for young footballers to follow.

May God be with him, so we all see him scoring 206 goals this season.

If Chelsea won´t sign him, at least he can walk out of there with his head up.

It has been nothing but an immense pleasure to witness this classy footballer.

[Styles 9,790]

Food for thought:

The problem with Lampard is that, this season at least, he offers not a great deal other than his goals. That might sound like a stupid statement, because as long as he's scoring he is contributing to the team, but Lampard is a central midfielder - he should be doing more than simply scoring. While stats don't prove everything, a look at Lampard's this season is revealing - he is yet to provide an assist, his 81.6% pass completion rate is worse than every regular outfield first-teamer apart from Fernando Torres, has made only 20 'key passes' (i.e. created a chance) and makes fewer than half as many tackles as Oscar. He does take more shots per game than any other Chelsea player, which might explain why he scores so many goals, and why he doesn't tend to lay too many chances on.

He's a striker playing in central midfield.

[manpe 10,861]

Food for thought:

He's a striker playing in central midfield.

He doesn't have any assists? Interesting. And his passing percentage is overshadowed only by Torres? Worrying.

[Funkyflashman 187]

Don't care, he's still SUPER FRANKIE LAMPARD

[Styles 9,790]

Don't care, he's still SUPER FRANKIE LAMPARD

Yeah who cares about his affect on the team? As long as Super Duper Frankie gets his goals nothing else matters.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Yeah who cares about his affect on the team? As long as Super Duper Frankie gets his goals nothing else matters.

His affect on the team? Yeah because scoring doesn't have an affect on the team... Oh wait...

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Food for thought:

He's a striker playing in central midfield.

He's still class. but i wish he could move to his true position which is CM/AM bcos he still plays that way.

[AndersonBLUE 819]

He won't stop scoring though will he? 199 goals for Chelsea says it all, how many of those were vital to us winning

Like said before he needs to be in center midfield not holding but hey he still gives his all when he plays

[The only place to be 11,313]

Does anyone actually have him in their team for next season? Assuming we stick with the 4231, is there anyone here who isn't saying we need to buy someone to play in his position?

Personally, if we're playing Man United then I'm picking this new guy (for argument's sake, Modric) next to a holding midfielder. Lamps is on the bench in this game. If we're playing some random 4th seed in the Champions League, then I'd pick Lamps to start.

Now the problem in this scenario is whether that gets him in the England squad for Brazil.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Does anyone actually have him in their team for next season? Assuming we stick with the 4231, is there anyone here who isn't saying we need to buy someone to play in his position?

Personally, if we're playing Man United then I'm picking this new guy (for argument's sake, Modric) next to a holding midfielder. Lamps is on the bench in this game. If we're playing some random 4th seed in the Champions League, then I'd pick Lamps to start.

Now the problem in this scenario is whether that gets him in the England squad for Brazil.

He is definitely in my team. But not a guarenteed starter. He would still be a very useful bench player and rotation option. Lampard can still do it against the teams in the prem. And if i use your example of modric, in games where we will dominate, i.e. the lower league teams or the big boys at home then modric would be the man you would pick because of the fact that style would benefit us. Against a team where we may have our backs to the wall, he would be in my team. Just for his long range passing to give us an out ball, and his experience etc. Also against the likes of Wigan he can be a great player to bring on in search of a goal if needed, and would be able to make an impact in the last 30 mins of a game.

And i agree that you brought up the formation factor because it does depend, If moirinho comes back and opts to switch to a 4-3-3 then assuming we bring in another central midfielder he still wouldn't be an auto starter but may have a much bigger role.

[The only place to be 11,313]

He is definitely in my team. But not a guarenteed starter. He would still be a very useful bench player and rotation option. Lampard can still do it against the teams in the prem. And if i use your example of modric, in games where we will dominate, i.e. the lower league teams or the big boys at home then modric would be the man you would pick because of the fact that style would benefit us. Against a team where we may have our backs to the wall, he would be in my team. Just for his long range passing to give us an out ball, and his experience etc. Also against the likes of Wigan he can be a great player to bring on in search of a goal if needed, and would be able to make an impact in the last 30 mins of a game.

And i agree that you brought up the formation factor because it does depend, If moirinho comes back and opts to switch to a 4-3-3 then assuming we bring in another central midfielder he still wouldn't be an auto starter but may have a much bigger role.

See, why would we plan to have our backs to the wall? Why would we give up possession and allow teams to dominate us?

I think what you're saying (without wanting to explicitly say it) is that if we pick Lampard against a certain level of opponent then we simply won't be able to control the tempo of the game because that isn't, and never has been his strong suit.

I agree he'd be a useful bench option/rotation player when we're either chasing a game or simply looking to rest players, but if we actually used him as much as we've been using him this season then I don't think we can contend for a title. He's scored some great goals this season but in far too many games the midfield (i.e. him and Ramires) have been the weak link in our side, neither offering the defence enough protection or dominating and retaining possession effectively.