Chelsea Reject Inter Approach For Frank

[Jon 18]

http://theshedend.org/?p=14

The Frank Lampard saga at Chelsea is one that just will not seem to come to an end. The two sides claim to want the same thing, and yet for two years now this story has persisted. Chelsea wants Frank to stay. Frank “wants” to stay. Inter would like Frank to leave, and have offered a £7.95million bid in hopes of landing him. Am I tired of this situation? Absolutely, but while that may be the case, my thoughts on this are the same as they’ve been since murmors of Frank leaving first popped up.

Before I go any further, allow me to make one thing crystal clear: I love Frank Lampard. The amazing moments he’s produced for Chelsea over the years will live in my memory forever. For the past 6-7 years, along with John Terry, has been the face of the club. But the situation lends itself for me to be impartial to the player and look at it more from being a supporter of Chelsea Football Club.

The key question is obviously: Do I think Chelsea should sell Frank Lampard to Internazionale?

Answer: Yes, for the following reasons:

1. 1978: That makes Frank Lampard 30 years old. And while he is by no means done, I don’t see him having more than one more outstanding seasons in him. Thankfully, Chelsea have gotten the best years of the career, and there is nothing wrong with getting as much as you can get for a player before it’s clear he’s on the decline.
2. Ballack, Deco, Essien, Lampard: That is a lot of big players (and big egos), and I don’t think Scolari can keep all of them happy. And out of those four, I would have to say I’d take the first three on that list. Yes I know Deco is older than Frank, but I’ve always rated him higher than Frank.
3. Get the money: I personally believe that this move IS going to happen. If not now, Frank will move on a free transfer and Chelsea will be left holding their collective junk. If it is inevitable, as I believe it is, then get what you can for Frank now which isn’t much due to his remaining contract. Get what you can for him now.

I know many people can only see Frank Lampard as the Chelsea legend and someone who is untouchable when it comes to transfer rumors. And all I can say to them is that I understand where you are all coming from. But for me, sorry, but I support Chelsea Football Club. Not the players, not the manager, but the badge on their kits. I’ll thank Frank for everything he’s done for Chelsea if he should leave and wish him good luck but that’s about it. Same for when Jose went to Inter. I’ll always love Jose for his Chelsea years, but I’ll never care what happens during his Inter career.

It’ll be interesting to see what Chelsea’s attitude is towards a transfer if Inter bumps it’s offer up to £8-£10million, which would be hard to see due to his 1 year left on the contract. But who knows what José has up his sleaves.

[True_Blue 469]

http://theshedend.org/?p=14

The Frank Lampard saga at Chelsea is one that just will not seem to come to an end. The two sides claim to want the same thing, and yet for two years now this story has persisted. Chelsea wants Frank to stay. Frank “wants” to stay. Inter would like Frank to leave, and have offered a £7.95million bid in hopes of landing him. Am I tired of this situation? Absolutely, but while that may be the case, my thoughts on this are the same as they’ve been since murmors of Frank leaving first popped up.

Before I go any further, allow me to make one thing crystal clear: I love Frank Lampard. The amazing moments he’s produced for Chelsea over the years will live in my memory forever. For the past 6-7 years, along with John Terry, has been the face of the club. But the situation lends itself for me to be impartial to the player and look at it more from being a supporter of Chelsea Football Club.

The key question is obviously: Do I think Chelsea should sell Frank Lampard to Internazionale?

Answer: Yes, for the following reasons:

1. 1978: That makes Frank Lampard 30 years old. And while he is by no means done, I don’t see him having more than one more outstanding seasons in him. Thankfully, Chelsea have gotten the best years of the career, and there is nothing wrong with getting as much as you can get for a player before it’s clear he’s on the decline.
2. Ballack, Deco, Essien, Lampard: That is a lot of big players (and big egos), and I don’t think Scolari can keep all of them happy. And out of those four, I would have to say I’d take the first three on that list. Yes I know Deco is older than Frank, but I’ve always rated him higher than Frank.
3. Get the money: I personally believe that this move IS going to happen. If not now, Frank will move on a free transfer and Chelsea will be left holding their collective junk. If it is inevitable, as I believe it is, then get what you can for Frank now which isn’t much due to his remaining contract. Get what you can for him now.

I know many people can only see Frank Lampard as the Chelsea legend and someone who is untouchable when it comes to transfer rumors. And all I can say to them is that I understand where you are all coming from. But for me, sorry, but I support Chelsea Football Club. Not the players, not the manager, but the badge on their kits. I’ll thank Frank for everything he’s done for Chelsea if he should leave and wish him good luck but that’s about it. Same for when Jose went to Inter. I’ll always love Jose for his Chelsea years, but I’ll never care what happens during his Inter career.

It’ll be interesting to see what Chelsea’s attitude is towards a transfer if Inter bumps it’s offer up to £8-£10million, which would be hard to see due to his 1 year left on the contract. But who knows what José has up his sleaves.

Interesting read,but Lampard is better than Deco and Ballack,and thats a fact.I would like him to stay he can still give a lot to Chelsea,Jose can keep his hands away.

[Elliott 7]

Jon:

1. Disagree that Lampard only has one good year in him left. He has such good stamina, I'd say three minimum

2. Lampard is on par with those players and yet different in so many useful ways. And having all four is better than having only three. One on the bench each match isn't too much of a problem for Scolari.

3. We don't need the money, if the club do feel they can get Lampard to sign, then £8 million just ain't enough.

[EskWeston 696]

This speculation is getting incredibly silly now! Lampard obviously told Scolari that he wanted to stay (providing a contract can be agreed), Scolari wants Lampard to stay. Now if as is being reported Lampard is after 5 more years on a contract then in my opinion he is trying to force a way out without trying to look like a bad guy. He must surely know that there is no way that at 30 the club will give him a 5 year contract.

This one isn't going to go away any time soon.....

[chrismada9 1,948]

I still think Lampard's goin to leave

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Lampard, from 2004/05 through 2005/06, was easily the most consistent and arguably the best all-round midfield player in the world. Whilst in the past two years his confidence and skill has slightly declined - due to injuries throughout the previous two campaigns - he is the only midfield player who can score 20 goals a season without fail and easily contribute a further dozen with his passing and intelligence on the ball. Lampard still has three or four years to give at the top level. Whilst I believe Frank is past his peak, he is still one of the most consistent and reliable players in European football and it would be beneficial of Chelsea Football Club to keep him at Stamford Bridge. On the other hand, in Deco we have signed another player proven in the central midfield position, who can contribute with a handful of goals and excellent dribbling ability to the squad. Whilst he doesn't have the goalscoring instinct of Lampard, Deco has an intelligence on the ball I think very few players have, and he is capable of creating plenty of goalscoring opportunities for someone like Shevchenko or Drogba. If Lampard goes - he will be missed. 20 goals per season through the last four campaigns is something not easily replaced, but in the likes of Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and Deco, we have quality players who can fill the void. If Lampard is in demand so much that Inter are willing to offer bids in excess of, say, £10-12 million, then it would be well-worth cashing in. With every year that passes Frank's value will decline by a good two or three million due to his age. If it is in the interest of the player to go to Inter, then he should leave, and leave with the respect of Chelsea fans and go down in folklore as one of our greatest-ever players. As much as I want to keep Lampard at the club until he retires, if Lampard wants to go and the money offered is suitable, then the player should leave.

[Kez 2,727]

Well said BL i agree with that totally

[EskWeston 696]

Well Kenyon has made everything perfectly clear today. There is an offer on the table for Frank to sign (we don't know the details of that though), if Frank doesn't want to sign it for whatever reason he will see out the remainder of his contract while we hope he will sign that contract...

[BlueLion. 21,491]

There is every possibility that either party makes a comprimise and Frank signs next season. But if he decides to play out his contract, then all respect to him.

[EskWeston 696]

There is every possibility that either party makes a comprimise and Frank signs next season. But if he decides to play out his contract, then all respect to him.

As i have said in the other thread, it seems clear that Frank will run his contract down. Jose's comments about Frank definately joining him next season seem to indicate that Frank may have decided this some while ago...

I am not sure that anything other than a stupidly big contract offer will make him change his mind.

[zinctek 469]

what gets me is the radio has just said frank lampard is staying at Chelsea for another year to see his contract out weather he likes it or not?

i dont understand that because every contract that a footballer has will have a buy out fee on there last year. so if lampard is so pissed off that Chelsea wont let him leave as the radio/papers are saying o and agent is saying then why not just let inter pay his buy out fee?

[pippin 0]

i suspect what is happening is that frank wants to stay but club wants to cash in on him and make a few quid. the question is why buy decco if you have lampard and ballack.

[zinctek 469]

the club doesnt want to cash in on him thats the thing. if he does play out his contract for this year then he is a free man next year to go to any club totally free!

but you are right in saying why buy deco when we have frank, ballack, essien, maka, mikel, joe cole, SWP, Kaluo who can all play in his roll!

Edited July 9, 2008 by zinctek

[pippin 0]

well the best laid plans never ran smooth. the fact is if they are not going to agree terms he will be sold and if they really wanted to keep frank then the deal would be better they know he wants to stay but if they want to sell they why not offer him something crap then force his hand. the club would nt want to let him walk for free so i think they are trying to cash in on an asset

[zinctek 469]

So you are saying they are going to sell him this month?