Debating Frank Lampard's importance at Chelsea

Now this one has been brewing for a while so I thought I would get people talking and discussing their opinions.

Let me start by saying that Frank Lampard is a LEGEND at this club and in football in general and it’s important that isn’t underestimated.

When he eventually hangs up his boots and retires from playing, only then will people realise just how outstanding he has been for our club.

As we all know Frank made his name by making his late run into the box and scoring goals for fun. He has a goal scoring record from middle that is second to none, and you will be hard pushed to find someone else who is his equal.

Here is Lampard’s career stats:

Now we all know that Lampard scored 20+ goals per season for an incredible 5 seasons running! After that time he has suffered with injuries in 2010-11 and was out for three months but still scored 13 goals and considering AVB benched him and RDM played him in a more withdrawn position in midfield, last season he scored 16 goals in all competitions.

Having won what he has at this club, I find it incredible that people are slagging him off and speaking of him the way they do.

OK, he has been asked to play in a different role under RDM and has had to adapt his game. For the most part it has been a success as his distribution of the ball is first rate and his work rate in front of our back four seems to go un-noticed (Look at the Camp Nou for example).

Now people keep banging on about our “Double pivot” position in the middle of the pitch and have claimed that the combination of Lampard and Mikel do not work together. In fact, people are blaming Lampard for the Atletico Madrid defeat but as per my tactical analysis post, I disagree.

Lampard is 34 now and is keen to negotiate an extension to his Chelsea contract. Do you think he deserves it? Would you like to see Lampard stay on at Chelsea? Who’s to say he wouldn’t be able to fit into a Andrea Pirlo role here?

I posted another question this morning asking whether or not Chelsea should go with the old 4-3-3- formation to provide cover in wide areas or stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation?

No matter what, in both areas I believe Lampard has an important part to play. The thing is with Lampard and he has said it himself in pre season, no ones position in the team is safe if they do not perform.

You simply cannot buy experience and along with JT, Cole and Cech it’s vital to have in the team. You have to remember that Lampard hasn’t played a full season in the last two years and still has plenty of life left in him.

I make no apologies at all for being a Frank Lampard fan and I never will. If you asked me to pick a first eleven week in, week out in the Premier League/ Champions League, I will always have Lampard in there because of everything about his game.

His ability on the ball, to score goals, to pick a pass and his defensive attributes that have got better and better as he has got older.

So for me he starts. What about you people? What do YOU the Chelsea fan reading this think about Lampard and his role at Chelsea now?

Am I living in the past or do you believe like me, that is should still be an important part of this season?

KTBFFH