Frank Lampard

[The only place to be 11,313]

Frank is doing a job for the team because we really don't have anyone else who can do it. He's learning a new position at the age of 35 and needs time like other players learning this new system. He's also got to build that rapport with Ramires so they can get used to managing their responsibilities better. Rami doesn't have Lamps range of passing from deep and Lamps doesn't have Rami's defensive workrate.

The one thing he never does is duck out or disappear and that is massively important for the other players on the pitch and the fans in the ground. Of course we need reinforcements in that area but that's not going to be solved any time soon.

[The only place to be 11,313]

90% pass completion yesterday as well (coming off 92% against Steaua) shows just how important he is in retaining the ball too, despite some misguided fans talking shit about him losing the ball yesterday.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

90% pass completion yesterday as well (coming off 92% against Steaua) shows just how important he is in retaining the ball too, despite some misguided fans talking shit about him losing the ball yesterday.

Except that 6 of the 7 passes he misplaced yesterday were easy short passes: http://www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone/8-2013/matches/694966/player-stats/2051/1_PASS_13#tabs-wrapper-anchor

Which is why a lot of people were complaining about his passing yesterday.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Completed 61 out of 68 passes, including the one that set up the first goal and some fans moan about him missing 5 short passes.

The guy's a legend doing a job he's not really been asked to do for most of his career and he's stepping up to the challenge like he always has. Keep it up legend.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Completed 61 out of 68 passes, including the one that set up the first goal and some 'fans' moan about him missing short passes.

The guy's a legend doing a job he's not really been asked to do for most of his career and he's stepping up to the challenge like he always has. Keep it up legend.

Yes, he's a legend and so is Drogba and Zola and Osgood. But that's not really the point. The point was that his short passing was off yesterday and that has nothing to do with the role he's playing as he's expected to make those short passes regardless of where he plays on the pitch, unless you think his previous role was a being a goal keeper..

I actually think he was doing better than the start of the season in the games against Tottenham and Steaua, but yesterday he was pretty poor apart from the goal.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Yes, he's a legend and so is Drogba and Zola and Osgood. But that's not really the point. The point was that his short passing was off yesterday and that has nothing to do with the role he's playing as he's expected to make those short passes regardless of where he plays on the pitch, unless you think his previous role was a being a goal keeper..

I actually think he was doing better than the start of the season in the games against Tottenham and Steaua, but yesterday he was pretty poor apart from the goal.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

You should be in a good mood considering both of the teams you keep an eye on are third in their tables.

[Phil Driver 503]

Yes but you thought Mikel was superb against Fulham,he wasn't.

Lampard set the tone yesterday his early passes to Demba not only created the goal,but they put Norwich on the back foot and made them play deeper. He controlled the midfield especially first half when we should have scored more.

[OneMoSalah 8,810]

jesus christ the Lampard thread and the only thing people care about is Mikel. 'Mikel was good against X, Mikel did this against Y, Mikel sucked vs Z" loool

Anyway Lampard wasn't too bad vs Norwich, first half good, second half they got into it more. Still room for improvement defensively.

[Phil Driver 503]

And you can't misplace passes that are short and backwards some behind our full backs as. Mikel does,in a million years Mikel does not see those early passes for Demba,he would have rolled 90% of his passes sideways/backwards and that is why he has been dropped.

[Phil Driver 503]

Why don't the fanboys stay off the Lampard thread after all we are winning and playing well since Spurs in the second half and Lamps has been a very big part of that go on the Mikel thread and try to work out why he was not even on the bench.

Lamps is class and is playing very well and we are winning.

[The only place to be 11,313]

jesus christ the Lampard thread and the only thing people care about is Mikel. 'Mikel was good against X, Mikel did this against Y, Mikel sucked vs Z" loool

Anyway Lampard wasn't too bad vs Norwich, first half good, second half they got into it more. Still room for improvement defensively.

It's because there are some people who can't be objective - pass completion is the go to stat for certain people, but when Lampard gets a very respectable 90% then they decide to moan about FIVE short passes going astray. It's comical.

The fact is that Lamps early passes turned the Norwich defence and forced them to play deeper. He made the opposition defence THINK, which is something Mikel doesn't do. He can do it, but people say he's just supposed to retain possession and that's not true - he should be moving the ball on quicker and forcing the opposition defensive lines to readjust and he doesn't do that enough. At least Lamps forces the opposition lines to move, which creates spaces for the players ahead of him.

He's not perfect and him and Ramires need to work out their defensive duties better but that will come with time and familiarity, and I expect him to start in the next game too.

[OneMoSalah 8,810]

It's because there are some people who can't be objective - pass completion is the go to stat for certain people, but when Lampard gets a very respectable 90% then they decide to moan about FIVE short passes going astray. It's comical.

The fact is that Lamps early passes turned the Norwich defence and forced them to play deeper. He made the opposition defence THINK, which is something Mikel doesn't do. He can do it, but people say he's just supposed to retain possession and that's not true - he should be moving the ball on quicker and forcing the opposition defensive lines to readjust and he doesn't do that enough. At least Lamps forces the opposition lines to move, which creates spaces for the players ahead of him.

He's not perfect and him and Ramires need to work out their defensive duties better but that will come with time and familiarity, and I expect him to start in the next game too.

True but sometimes its better to retain possession as opposed to trying a hollywood pass or whatever. Charlie Adam at Liverpool was guilty of this at times before Rodgers sold him and even under Dalglish. Looks good when it comes off, bad when it does not. I'm not going to get into this though lol, some people prefer Lampard and some people prefer Mikel in the pivot. I'll just leave it at that because there will be about 40 members wanting to get their say on this and it will eventually end up in some shitty argument.

[Phil Driver 503]

Charlie Adam?

What has he got to do with Lampard?

That is like comparing Mikel with Malelele.

Ridiculous.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Lamps is class and is playing very well and we are winning.

No, Lampard is not playing very well, that's a ridiculous thing to say. He's been okay this season given he is still adapting his game to a more deeper player but to say he's played "very well" is astonishing.

As I said he's been okay and has done well for the team but he's had to sacrifice his main game thus he's obviously not playing to his full ability. Lampard has in general been average this season and so has Mikel (before you bring him in). Ramires has been our stand out player in the pivot by far and he's the only player out of those three that you could say has played "very well".

[Phil Driver 503]

Rubbish i can say Lampard has played very well,he is in the team and the team is winning and Rammy and Lampard is our first choice midfield.

You are right he has adapted his game and will not score as much.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

As he is at Wembley tonight, I hope Jose is watching Lampard's performance closely.

[Phil Driver 503]

I am sure he is,that is why he is a football manager and you are a ?.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

A Chelsea fan who wants the best for the club, especially performance wise.