Frankly Speaking

In the latest blast in this other-worldly season; Frank Lampard has been shockingly sacked by Chelsea; the team where he shone so brightly as a player and is widely considered as one of the true legends of Stamford Bridge.

I just feel this is a little premature (kind of like Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs); noting how Chelsea have done reasonably well overall this season; they were touted as Premiership contenders not so long ago and even topped the league a while back. Lampard also did well a season ago with the transfer embargo on; taking the club to the Champions League and successfully blooding in a whole host of fine youngsters such as the rangy Tammy Abraham; the precocious Mason Mount and the energetic Reece James.

But what can you do in today's football world; results need to be nearly instant; and when you have a kingpin like Roman Abramovich calling the shots; things tend to get even worse; as can be seen in his history of hiring & firing Chelsea managers. It did not help that Lampard has spent a huge amount of money in the close season; bringing in highly coveted players such as Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz; the talented hotshot Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and Leicester City's highly-rated left-back Ben Chilwell. Some of these players have not quite proven their pedigree; some may still be acclimatising to the Premier League; which is markedly in a different style from the Bundesliga; and recently the club has seen their run of results nose-dive; to fall into the middle reaches of the Premier League table.

Overall; you can sense that recently the club seems to have fallen short of confidence in Lampard; and he seems to be a little nervous in his general demeanour; almost taking a Claudio Ranieri-like 'Dead Man Walking' kind of style. The club obviously feels that they better make a change before it is too late; with the club in danger of falling into mid-table obscurity and not challenging for the league as promised; or even the Champions League places.

It is a sad downfall for Lampard; perhaps the greatest player in Chelsea's history; and at the peak of his powers; one would dare say he was the best midfielder in the world. Powering his way during Chelsea's greatest era; he scored goals from midfield; fading into the box like no other in history; as Chelsea; behind other stars such as Marcel Desailly and Claude Makelele; powered their way to be the best team in England and Europe. His greatest game will always be that epic Champions League contest against Barcelona; a game regarded by some as 'The Greatest Game'; with tension at an all-time high and John Terry heading in the winning goal in epic fashion. Lampard was unplayable on that day; running the roost in midfield; leading to manager Jose Mourinho hugging him after the game in true 'father & son' style; and epitomising that moment in football history.