Chelsea haven’t exactly lamented the absence of Frank Lampard who has missed Chelsea’s last 12 matches, out of these games Chelsea have won nine, drawn one and lost two. This record would be a favourable one even with Lampard in the starting line-up, but without him, it goes to show how capable Chelsea are of continuing winning ways even if they do miss Lampard’s influence. The likes of Florent Malouda, Michael Essien and new arrival Ramires have filled the void left by Lampard without any signs of longing for his return. Having scored 27 goals in the Premiership and sitting commandingly at the head to the pack by five points, it seems as though Lampard might have been watching the games at home with a slight doubt over his starting prominence when he returns.
Do Chelsea need Lampard within their ranks at present or should they continue as they are, not wishing to disrupt the team? This question strikes as a non sequiter due to the fact that just because Chelsea are progressing without Lampard, it doesn’t follow that upon his return from fitness that they’ll be reluctant to play him. It should be self-evident what an exceptionally consistent and gifted player Lampard is after having scored 22 goals last season and having scored twenty or more goals for five consecutive seasons in all competitions. In the 2007-08 season when Lampard played a mere twenty-four games, as opposed to the regular thirty-five plus in all other seasons, Chelsea missed him in their bid for the Premiership and finished second.
Carlo Ancelotti confirms how auspicious it is to have Lampard in the squad by having said that Chelsea aren’t at full strength without him, when speaking he said: “The team has been doing very well without him, but when he comes back we will have a stronger team.” With the incessant amount of games a successful club has, the return of a star player such as Lampard is welcomed with arms opened so far wide you’d be reminiscent of a certain Stretch Armstrong.
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However, the thirty-two year old could be worth cashing in on and investing the money in a replacement. This imposed experiment has shown that Chelsea can survive without him and not only survive but flourish also, I ask then, would it be a worthwhile thought to entertain?
He has won every major trophy with Chelsea apart from that elusive Champions League title that is lusted after more than any at present by The Blues. He has three years left on his contract, which rises to a peak of £140,000 before being reduced in the final two years. Does this suggest that during those two final years of his contract, he may start learning a foreign language? If Chelsea win the Champions League this year and there is every possibility of that, Lampard will have won all there is and may be motivated to seek new experiences abroad.
Life after Lampard will have to be addressed in the coming years and possibly even sooner if my musings come to fruition. He is without question, when fit, one of the first names on the team sheet and will be in the coming weeks a massive boost for Ancelotti.
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