It would be very easy for Frank Lampard to pull out of this week’s England
international with Germany. He, too, has a broken toe. He displays it,
protruding through the end of his sandals, purple and swollen like an angry
chipolata. The tendon is ruptured and, by rights, needs reconstructive
surgery, but the club are reluctant as the lay-off would then be measured in
weeks, maybe months. He bends the toes on his left foot to show the problem
and the fourth one (the one that had no roast beef, if you recall the
nursery rhyme) does not move. If a tendon stays unconnected after several
weeks, the condition becomes irreparable; in time, the swelling and
discomfort will ease, but the lack of movement will be permanent.
“I’ll be stuck with it, yeah,” Lampard says. “I don’t mind. The physio and the
doctor have warned me that if I don’t rest, it will take three or four
months to get better and I’ll have pain, and they said it would be better if
I didn’t go with England. I thought about that. But, number one, I want to
play for England, and number two, what is the point of resting it for a few
days? It needs weeks and I won’t get that, so get on with it. That has
always been my attitude. It comes from my dad [Frank Sr].
“When I was young, if I said to him: ‘My leg hurts’, his response would always
be: ‘Get on with it.’ I’ve gone through life with that voice in my head.
‘Dad, I’ve broken my leg.’ ‘Get on with it.’ It’s an old-fashioned attitude,
I know, but we could do with more of it these days. That is how I would be
if I had a boy. Toughen him up. You watch, I’ll end up with a fanny
merchant, driving me mad, always rolling about on the floor.” He mentions
the name of a teammate, and laughs.
The irony is that a section of England fans would be only too happy if Lampard
ducked it on Wednesday. Voted England player of the year by supporters in
2004 and 2005, the withdrawal of public affection has been swift and
spectacular. At Wembley last May, while the announcement of David Beckham’s
recall was cheered to the rafters, Lampard was booed and excellent,
unselfish performances against Brazil and Estonia have done little to
consolidate opinion in his favour. He remains the most divisive player in
English football, provoking a dichotomy of extremes: either first on the
teamsheet or not in the squad. There seems no third way at all.
“Playing for England can be tough,” he muses. “I’ve worked bloody hard to get
here, so of course criticism hurts, but you can’t be weak enough to let it
bother you. I could pull out of this game if I wanted. Say I’ve got a dodgy
toe. But I will never hide. I can suffer getting booed. I’m not stupid. If
we play crap, I don’t go around asking: ‘Why are they booing us?’ But
putting myself in the position of the level-headed fan, it makes no sense to
turn so quickly on one player. I take strength from the fact there have
always been bad times with England and other players came through it.
“John Barnes got booed. John Barnes! Every player I’ve met who knew him says
he was the best they ever played with. Alan Shearer had it before Euro 96, I
remember. That is when you need big personalities. Maybe there will be a day
when I say, ‘No more, because I need to focus my energy on my club’, but not
soon, and certainly not because of a few boos.”
This disparity has followed him since his days at Upton Park, where half the
crowd wanted him elevated to the England team and the other half would not
have had him in the West Ham team (although it is the latter half that has
scarred his memory.) “Look, everyone has a player that is not their
favourite,” Lampard adds. “but I don’t know why it is particularly me. Maybe
when I retire people will say: ‘He was a good player after all.’ Maybe when
the goals aren’t there.
“In the street, people are always really nice to me, but I am aware of the
other side. Perhaps the ones I think are nice walk away and say to their
mates: ‘What a c***.’ He’s getting it now, John Terry. Every day he shows me
a letter about his new contract: ‘F***ing 130 grand a week, I’m a builder, I
hope you lose 10-0, you and your mate Lampard. . .’ They say horrible
things, some of them. I wonder why people are like it. Who takes the time to
write a letter like that? I got one last year from a Spurs fan, he said I
took a corner – and I do remember it because I was getting slated by their
lot – and I looked at them and smiled and he said it was antiSemitic, the
way I looked at them. Incredible. I felt like writing back and saying: ‘I’m
not antiSemitic – if I was, I’m hardly likely to announce it in front of
30,000 at White Hart Lane, of all places.’
“Things have changed. There is this phone-in culture now which encourages
people to say strong things and I’ve probably picked up some enemies on the
way. I play at Chelsea, which is a club that it is fashionable to dislike. I
left West Ham in a bad way. The ‘Fat Frank’ thing started at West Ham and
now it is everywhere. I did the fat test the other day. Mine is 8 per cent,
which puts me among the three lowest players at the club. Then I go away and
it’s ‘Fat Frank’.”
True story. Footballer of the Year dinner, Lancaster Gate, 2004. Lampard has
been crowned the player of the season and has given, by overwhelming
consent, the finest acceptance speech of any recipient in history, sincere
and eloquent, for what must have been 20 minutes. Chelsea are champions –
“we pissed the league that year,” he recalls, less eloquently, it must be
said — and his goals have put them there. It is, unquestionably, his
night and he is milking it to the last drop, staying up late for a
well-earned celebration. Walking through the now half-empty hall, still
clutching his trophy, he passes a group of men talking. All offer
congratulations. Among the number is the comedian Alan Davies, a top bloke,
and then a sports columnist for The Times. On seeing him, Lampard stops.
“You,” he says, sounding not unlike a young Michael Caine, “called me a fat,
Cockney twat.” All attempts to explain the nature of comedy prove useless. A
small, one-sided argument ensues, the element of surprise being all in these
cases. Even on his night of triumph, Lampard would not let it lie. You’ve
got to like a guy who cares that much.
“I remember it,” he says. “If someone writes I played crap, I’m not going to
go looking for them, but what he said was different. I remember reading it
and thinking: ‘F***ing Jonathan Creek, who does he f***ing think he is?’
That’s how I am, and maybe it is a fault because I’d be better off keeping
my nut down and keeping out of it. But I’ll say that to Alan Davies and then
we’ll either get on or we won’t. A guy wrote that I spent more time shopping
than training. I’ll react to that because I take pride in my training. I
used to get very bitter about the treatment I received at West Ham, but I’m
over that now. My first question after Chelsea games was: ‘How did West Ham
get on?’ and not for the right reasons. It was a poxy feeling to have. It
doesn’t help anyone. I love playing at West Ham now. I love the challenge.
I’ve gone away, kicked on massively and now I can go back, hold my head up
high and say: ‘Bollocks.’ ” Injuries and absenteeism in England’s midfield
have postponed the decision, but when everybody is fit, Steve McClaren, the
England head coach, has a tough call to make if he sees Lampard, Steven
Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves competing for two places.
Against Andorra, when Lampard was left out because of injury according to
McClaren, the grapevine buzzed with talk that he had been dropped and had
reacted badly, demanding to leave the camp. He denies this, saying that
Chelsea wanted him home for treatment, McClaren wished him to stay and the
matter was resolved, manager to manager, by text. Even so, the suspicion
remains that Gerrard’s international star is on the ascendant and McClaren
may prefer Hargreaves as the workhorse; were that the case, what would
Lampard do?
“I want to play and I believe I should play,” he says. “But if I don’t get
picked, I’m not going to act the superstar. I’ve heard all the
crap about wanting to get a private plane home before Andorra, but it was
Chelsea that wanted me back. I respect the manager has to make the decision
and if it gets to the stage where I’m not playing, I might ask about it, but
I won’t cause a problem.
“People say England players don’t care — believe me, we care. We hate the fact
that we look around the dressing-room and see all these great players —
Steven Gerrard, John Terry, Wayne Rooney and we’re not winning or playing
as fluently as we— should. But with England there is always light at
the end of the tunnel because if you win something, that is you for life —
part of history. That is what drives you on.”
It may never happen. But if it does, if this maligned England team does kick
on massively, to coin a phrase, its most maligned player will have every
right to go back to Wembley, take his seat in the Royal Box, hold his head
up high and say . . .
Bollocks.
Lampard is an over rated, over hyped, over paid, over sensitive average footballer.
We get it thrust down our throats how the premier league is the best in the world, by over excited satellite TV marketers. If this is true how come we still lag behind Spanish and Italian teams in Champions league wins? How come the worlds best players still play overseas?
Lampard should keep his mouth closed and just keep claiming his ridiculous wages and smile that he is getting away with daylight robbery!
And 2 more over paid over rated Chelsea defenders trying to get the crowds to sop booing Frank should just count their blessing it is not them being booed.
Its about respect Frank!!
Dave Parting, Eastbourne., East Sussex
You lot are correct, runner up in World Player of the Year and European player of the year to Ronaldinho, one of the greatest players ever, top scoring midfielder year in and year out, Fifa Pro World XI, Football writers player of the year, England player of the year twice, and fired Chelsea to two titles! A very poor over-rated player, shame its the rest of Europe that see's Frank as one of the worlds best and not the Fickle England fans! Look at Lampards goal record for England, important goals in important games while Gerrard score un-important goals against poo teams when it doesn't matter and the games won! Play Lampard for the big games and Gerrard for the games against the teams outside the top 40 in the world!
Russell Haman, Fleet,
To mr Taylor
Since when its your or other peoples business,what he doing with hes wife???Maybe we all should ask did you very honest with your wife?I dont think so.
So Lampard should kiss liverkoll badge?hahaha
And chelsea players is right to chasing ref,because all pressure comes from liverkol and they so called supporters at anhield.Many teams got wrong desisions only because there is anhield.
Fit Lampard much better than gerrard,and these is no better captain than Terry,forget about gerrard.Terry at least have proof,that he is good captain,driving Chelsea in 2 championship wins and this season be 3.What gerrard win in last few years?A,yes,CL.With goal who never crosses the line.
Lampard should be first choice,and only then gerrard,these no question,who should be England captain-most succesive teams captain-Terry
Mario, Livpool,
I admire the man... having met a few footballers, he's the only one that came across as eloquent, smart, and self-effacing at the same time.
He could, of course, do a Carragher. Everyone seems to think that Carragher has made some sort of working-class statement by refusing to play for England. I'd imagine Frank would be nailed to the wall for trying the same thing.
Best of luck to Lampard. Great player and a gent.
Rob, London,
I'm glad there is a journalist out there prepared to write something positive about our Super Frank. It says a lot for his character that he will play for England with such an injured toe. I wish Gerrard would do the same. Here's wishing Frank all the best for Wednesday's game. His penalty today took guts up at Anfield after his miss in the CS.
Susan Kelly, Metairie, Louisiana USA
Frank Lampard epitomizes (among other qualities) good old fashion "British grit" - something lacking in many of the million pound footballer these days. He belongs to a special breed of elite footballers and would be a great asset in any topflight team anywhere in the world. I cannot understand why a player of his proven capability and stature can become a target for boo-boys. Surely we should drown out this infantile chorus with roaring applause each time they boo; as if to send a message to them: "Frank's alright, he's one of our own."
S K LIN, Guangzhou, China
An average player, who has the team set up for him at Chelsea, which allows him to shoot, get a few goals and people think he is half as good as Gerrad. He comes of the pitch with clean shorts, has Essien and Mikel do all the running, tracking back, and tackling, and he has the nerve to call himself a midfielder! The simple truth is that he is a run of the mill player, no better than Parker, Reo-coker or Barton. Who would Chelsea fans rather have, Him or Essien?
Kam Rai, London, UK
A very good article, I sincerley hope that people lay off Lampard and start giving him the respect he obviously deserves. And I'm not even a Chelsea fan!
Eric , Camberley, Surrey
If Martin Samuel is married, which would frankly surprise me, his wife should begin to get worried of his increasing adoration of Frank Lampard. It's gone well beyond simple respect and is now firmly in the homoerotic stage.
Embarrasing. The editor must be getting worried, Martin Samual is little more than a tabloid journalist offering very little more insight, although with perhaps more linguistic flair.
Jonathan Jones, Southend, Essex
Lampards scoring rate at club level is phenomenal. He has a natural ability to be in the right place at the right time. This is rare for an attacker - Lineker and Van Nielstroy had/have the knack. This is even rarer for a midfielder - many go through purple patches like Sidwell at Reading and Jimmy Bullard when at Wigan, but very few have the consistency that Lampard has.
Gerrard tends to score less frequently but in a more dramatic fashion which is why his contribution often overshadows Franks. Both are class players.
Hargreaves had an excellent world cup but competes in an area of the filed that is full of combative players and so as yet is still unproven.
Normal Blunt, Los Gatos, California, USA
If a huge number of misplaced passes and shots in the stand constitute a great player, then gerrard is the finest i have ever seen. no amount of enthusiasm makes up for these faults (in fact it causes another flaw-too many needless bookings). In all competitions lampard beats gerrard on every stat; minutes played, bookings, goals scored(by a huge margin), pass completion etc...unfortunately hype seems all important in player selection. were scholes available, gerrard gerrard ought to be third choice for the attacking central midfield role. even on the right wing he is less effective than lennon or beckham.
nicolas, lyon, france
In Frank's first season, he struggled whilst playing for Chelsea. His second and the successive seasons that have followed, we have seen him rise to the status of a 'world-class player' - whatever that means nowadays as it seems like every player is 'world-class' in his own right.
In an interview in his second season, I vividly remember him saying something on the lines that being surrounded by such talented players such as Zola and Hasselbaink it makes his life a lot easier and for him to get the ball he can just pass it and let the 'talented' players do the rest. For England, we crave his individuality and his niche which makes him so important for Chelsea. Whether the same class is present in the English national team is a cause for debate, but Lampard clearly is inept in his English role. Some players don't make good internationals but remain wonderful domestic players: Andy Cole, Le Tissier, Di Canio and Cantona to a certain degree. For the sake of England, he should be dropped.
Ali, Kent, England
You are becoming obsessed with Frank , save your breath and move on ... there are many more worthwhile players that deserve the praise you seem to reserve for this over-rated , over-hyped , one dimensional player .
Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,
Why do we give this man, Frank Lampard, a forum to spout his petty woes? It actually angers me that these footballers feel they are in some way hard done by. Frank Lampard has nothing to complain about. Sadly we live in a celebrity culture where people like Lampard's opinions are actually noted but his issues have no semblence to the real world & the lives of the average man. I can just hear these footballers conversations regarding the price of swimming pool cleaners. I'm sorry Frank but you will get no sympathy from me I only hope you get more abuse I'm afraid. Footballers should be seen & not heard & at the very least I should not have to endure anything they say that doesn't relate to the ninety minutes they spend on the football pitch. Lampard failed for England, fact, I know it's rapidly becoming a swear word in England but thats the reason we continue to under achieve. Take your sob story elsewhere Frank, I'm sick of you.
Daniel Baguley, Watford, England
Is this the Same player who went Missing in the last 3 Liverpool Chelsea games?
Murphy, DERRY,
I fancy Mr Samuel had to clean his keyboard after writing this love letter.
Jon Harvey, London,
Lampard is a good player. That much ought not be disputed. But currently he isn't worth his place in the England team. Gerrard is playing much better and it's clear he and Lampard can't play together whilst Hargreaves' holding abilities are considered the best of the other English midfielders. Lampard doesn't have a divine right to be selected for England because he was voted England Player of the Year twice. McLaren has to pick his best side with or without Lampard.
I like Martin Samuel's columns but he does hark on about Lampard too much! Why? Who is he trying to convince?
Paul James, Tianjin, China
People tend to remember you breaking Xabi Alonso's leg, then goading the Liverpool fans by kissing the chelsea badge. Short memory Mr Lampard. As for respect look at your teammates on Sunday chasing the referee at every opportunity forcing him into a decision that was never on the cards. As for cheating on your wife....
Mr Taylor , wigan, lancashire
Typical England fans looking for a scapegoat for the poor performances. Atleast Lampard has perfomed for England and won us important games against big teams. Players like Gerrard, Ronney and Ferdinand continue to be picked for their club form (which isn't great) when there form for their Country is poor!
It was Rooney (bulldog chasing a balloon) who got sent of in the World Cup not Lampard, he should shoulder the blame, who was it taking the fight to Portugal, Hargeaves, not the over-rated Gerrard, who continues to give the ball away time after time then scoring a goal against part-timers then he is the best player on the pitch! Rio and his long hoofs up the pitch to give the ball away time and time again and Robinson who just kicks it to the other keeper. Atleast Lampard doesn't waste the ball everytime, just because he has lost his scoring touch (6 to qualify for the world cup) doesn't mean he doesn't play for the team!
Get behind Frank and the only winners will be England!
Russ, Fleet,
Tim Radcliffe, the difference is Gerrard when fit is probably Englands best player and drives the side on more than our supposed Captain. If Lampard is fit he's not half the player Gerrard is so he should take the game off like Gerrard to rest up and should probably go and get some medical treatment.
Lampard has been picked for the last 3 seasons for England on rep alone cause his form has been shambolic, we need a manager with bottle who'll drop him till he proves he should have a starting place back and then we'll see a proper performance in the centre of Englands midfield with Hargreaves and Gerrard there.
All in all the answers for England are clear, sack McClaren, Appoint Allardyce and drop Lampard. But number 1 should be dropping Rio in favor of Carragher.
jonty, Cardiff, UK
Frank Lampard epitomises everything we love but also hate about our English footballers.
A hard working, hard-running, 100% giving, top player in the domestic league, but just lacking that cutting-edge skill and control, change of pace acceleration, tactical know-how and creativity at International level. Not the first English player to be so, and certainly not the last. Also, has that arrogance and paranoia the modern footballer needs to make it in professional football. This doesn't endear him much, but probably fuels his determination.
Adam, Eastcote, middx, uk
I'm one of the few who like Gerrard,Lampard and Hargreaves in the same midfield.Hargreaves seems to be getting better and better I think he can hold deep and move those two very forward like the match against Greece last year.That to me was the best looking England midfield of recent memory.
Gareth Catheslam, Acton, UK
Yes we get it Michael, you love Frank. is their any chance on a weel going buy without having it shoved down our throats.
As for yesterday apart from the penalty didn't do much did he?
steve , sunshine Coast, australia
Fantastic article - fair and well written! Congrats. to the Times for printing it and to Samuels for writing it!!!
Beira, Lisbon, Portugal
Martin,
Didn't you write this last week?Yes we know you love Lampard, enough already! He is a good player you don't have to apologise for your fellow Hammers hating him, well. not every week anyway.
He is football royalty you know.
Adam, stafford, staffs.
So just to get this straight, Lampard likes being an international player and hates being slagged off does he?
Thanks for that.
What's in the paper tomorrow? "David Beckham: I don't like being in the papers so much but what can I do?"?
J.Wilkes, Gloucester,
im not really sure how people can criticise lamps. Yes, hes not the most prodigiously talented player in english history, and yes we know by now hes not steven gerrard. But given his supposed limitations in talent, hes undoubtebly worked harder than most to become a player who really is the finished article. The fact that he is the centre piece of a team that won back to back premierships, and was wanted (Still is?) by teams like Real and Barca shows that people that actually know about football realise what an asset he is. Not just some idiots with a grudge who go round saying hes fat and anti-semitic and all this. Not one of the most talented players in english history no, but one of the hardest workers, most improved players, biggest assets to any team worldwide. Im sure Man Utd, Liverpool, Barca, Real, Arsenal and even West Ham would jump at the chance to have a player of his quality.
bob, abctown,
The current generation of players could win 3 world cups and wouldn't be loved, because footballers now are disliked, some even despised, for being spoilt, arrogant and yobbish.
Lampard, though far from being the worst, should have taken criticism of his world cup performances on the chin, rather than the how dare you attitude he did display.
jo, york,
Frank isn't fat; that is clear. Oh hold on, his cranium does seem rather fat. Yes, he is a fathead!
SuMacGeary, London , ENGLAND
All power to Frank!
Clive Linturn, london,
England fans must have a hate figure within thier team. Its part of who they are. Just happens to be Lampard's time.
Brian, Dartford, Uk
Lampard only got slated for failing to live up to his own high standards of scoring a ridiculous number of goals from midfield. He practically dragged England to the Euro 2004 finals on his own and was their best player there along with Rooney. Where he was unfortunate was that his bad spell came at the World Cup finals and ever since then he's been a pariah. People should look at his workrate and often he keeps the ball compared to gerrard who always looks for the hollywood pass.
Hickey, Boston, USA
Somewhat one-sided and sycophantic article from a journalist who is normally never afraid to offer an opinion, is it not? From this it sounds like poor Frank has been hard-done by all through his career and never done a thing wrong. From dodgy holiday videos and abusing Americans in the wake of 9/11 to blaming Sven for England's World Cup performances despite the Swede's tactics getting Frank into position to shoot with more regularity (but alas less accuracy) than any other player at the tournament, Frank is hardly a martyr.
If he really is carrying an injury, it would be better for all concerned if he rested it instead of using it as an excuse. In the pub where I watched yesterday's game there was general amazement when he stepped up to take the "penalty" as nobody had realised he was on the pitch.
Paul F, Reading,
Frank lampard , has scored 20 + goals in each of the last 4 seasons, Gerrard has managed this only once , including goals scored against Total Network Solutions in champions league qualifying !
Some people want gerrard as captain of england! John Terry would never pull out of a game with something so trivial as a fractured toe, if lampard can play with a briken toe why can "Stevi G" not! If this was the other way round how the press, and so called loyal england fans would slate lampard!
double standards as ever towards the press's golden boy
Tim radcliffe, Chateauneuf-du-faou, France