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Sit and run!

Comment: 0 September 30th, 2011 by: admin
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ONE look at Frank Lampard’s face as he appears to be begging Andre Vilas-Boas to send him into the fray tells how disgusted the veteran midfielder is over the way he is getting lesser playing time with Chelsea nowadays.

There was Villas-Boas yelling and giving instructions to those on the field. There was Lampard as an unused substitute, helpless and could only ponder of what’s going on around the Portuguese coach’s head.

Why is he not being fielded in was the question clearly depicted in those pictures showing him looking at the coach as if begging for mercy to let him loose for action. Is there something wrong with his present form that he does not even merit even a brief stint on that particular day?

It could have been one of those adjustments or tactics employed by Villas-Boas but the scrutinizing eyes of fans would not escape what was really going on.

BYPASSED

The final straw came for Lampard when instead of him a younger Josh MacEachran was tapped to come in during the waning moments of their game against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge the past weekend.

As if to show enough is enough, Lampard bucketed along the tunnel exit and into the dressing room in protest perhaps over the way he was ignored and treated like a non-entity.

Rumours swirled anew as he’ll be leaving the west London club soon. The papers had another field day speculating that his stint with the Blues may soon be over.

Villas-Boas said there was nothing to speculate about Lampard future with the Blues. But for the latter, his being left out of the starting eleven which he has been a customary member, was something that requires deep explanation.

The rookie Chelsea tactician stressed that Lampard remains an “icon’’ and a “fantastic player’’ who will soon be back for the team sooner than expected.

WAITING GAME

If that’s the case, why then  was Villas-Boas not making  concrete statements that he is using Lampard in their coming matches? Will he be reinstated as a permanent starter or will he be on the substitutes’ list once more?

If Lampard is turning out to be a pain in the neck for the coach, benching him is not the proper way to illustrate his discontent. Giving Lampard the chance to show he is still a vital component for the Blues should be more like it. Villas-Boas may turn down Lampard if he does not perform well in their coming games. And he may bring him back to the top of the pecking order if he turns back the clock of his glory days as one of the league’s finest playmakers.

Had Villas-Boas allowed Lampard to play against Swansea, the latter could have notched his 350th league outing for the Blues since he joined them in 2011. Why deny him that opportunity? A player like Lampard who has already established a record 164 consecutive appearances for Chelsea should not be discarded like that.

Frankly, we can’t find fault in Lampard’ decision to storm off the pitch. Frustration and disappointment have set in and it was the only way he can show Villas-Boas that he was wrong.

THE OTHER ‘VILLAIN’

Villas-Boas is not the only villain in this latest Lampard incident. England coach Fabio Capello also deserve the hoots of all Chelsea and England faithful for it was him who first “snubbed’’ the playmaker when he benched him for almost their entire European Championship qualifying game against Bulgaria recently and giving him sort of consolation by using him as a late substitute. This raised more assumptions that Lampard’s international career is also nearing its end.

Perhaps to avoid getting more flak, Villas-Boas decided to recall Lampard to the starting roster when they faced hosts Valencia in a Champions League fixture on Wednesday night.

He did not err in his judgment as Lampard gave him an in-the-face answer that he is not yet over the hill. He rose to the occasion by producing the Blues’ lone goal in the match that saw the Spanish side convert a late penalty to force a 1-1 stalemate.

Now that Lampard has shown he can still run and rough it up with the rest despite his age, Villas-Boas sang another tune, more defensive than what he earlier stated that Lampard remains a “fantastic’’ player for Chelsea. “A good display  from a top player. His abilities are never in doubt. We trust him 100 percent,’’ he said.

NO END IN SIGHT

By making that lone goal that saved the day for Chelsea and Villas-Boas, Lampard has clearly stamped that this it is not yet the end of the road for him. He is still an impact player, and Capello should also take note of this, seriously. The Three Lions need Lampard and he may yet have one break out game that could spell a big difference in the future, say during the Euro 2012.

Leaving him to the bench on a long spell could only put more rust on his ageing legs which need to be battle-ready all the time. It might also diminish his confidence which of course should not be the case as Lampard is widely regarded as among the leaders being looked up to by the youngsters at Chelsea and the national squad.

Lampard at this point of his chequered career should be treated with honour, respect and trust. And those are probably the best gifts Villas-Boas and Capello could give . if they provide him the chance to show that he is still as indispensable as before.

 

 

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