07 Oct 2014 18:53:18
I was just reading something earlier about how all sorts of journalists are now saying that Chelsea let Lampard go too early. I was just wondering what is the general opinion on here? Does anyone here think Lampard was allowed to leave too soon?
Personally I think Jose has done exactly what Bob Paisley used to do, let him go at just the right time. Early enough that he can go and have a productive career elsewhere still. Plus he has also been clever enough to ensure he was replaced with a player more suited to the system he plays.
Mind it is difficult to criticise Jose's decisions, he gets so few wrong, so it is easy to assume he is right and the pundits are wrong! For me though Chelsea look a much better unit this season without him, that says it was the right choice, no matter how much of a club legend he is. Even the best of us have to know when to call it a day.
I think there was a place for him in the squad this season, but it should've been a very much reduced role in terms of playing time. I can only speculate as to what the club thought, but it probably isn't too far-fetched that the club offered him a new deal but that Lampard himself opted to sign for a club where he'd get more time on the pitch.
I fully support the club's decision. I love Lampard, but I don't really regret him leaving.
07 Oct 2014 19:57:16
It's tough. He wouldn't have gotten much time but taking his wages off payed for Fabregas'. Whenever he played last year he held the team back in my opinion so it was the right choice.
Letting lampard go was the correct decision for me, maybe even a year too late. There is no doubting his legendary status at Chelsea and he ranks in my top five all time players. I think his current goal scoring for city is because he's given a lot more freedom, where towards the end of his chelsea career he was holding midfield.
08 Oct 2014 11:24:52
Of course there was always a place for lampard in the team, the problem would be his willingness to play more than we can give him
Agree with you Ed001. Were a much better team without him in it, however, if we still had him as depth and only played him in his real position (Cam) it wouldn't have hurt us that much.
{Ed002's Note - At what?}