Boodleheimer
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Location: working undercover for the Man
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 Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject: Why do *you* boo Frank Lampard? |
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http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article340046.ece
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In a match memorable only for Tavi Rahn�s own goal, a large proportion of the Wembley crowd still bothered to abuse Lamps� introduction as a 70th-minute replacement for Michael Owen.
They were not voicing their disapproval at the change of tactics nor concerned that a three-goal lead might not be enough to see off mighty Estonia. They were simply abusing a player they have decided they don�t like.
Yet even his loudest critics struggle to explain why they have singled-out Lampard.
When I put that question to one of the few England fans left at the final whistle, his eloquent response was �because he�s a Chelsea w*****.�
But they do not boo John Terry, Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips or Ashley Cole. So there is clearly more to their disapproval than club rivalry.
As Steve McClaren pointed out, it was not so long ago that Lampard was voted the England supporters� Player of the Year for two seasons in succession.
The first signs of animosity emerged after going out of the World Cup on penalties to Portugal last year.
True, Lampard did not have a great World Cup and failed to live up to his previous high standards. But he was certainly not alone on that one.
And don�t forget that Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher also missed from the spot in Gelsenkirchen.
Maybe Lampard was more sensitive than others to the criticism which followed England�s departure from a tournament they had promised to win. Maybe he didn�t shed enough crocodile tears at the final whistle. Who knows?
But things really got out of hand in Barcelona�s Olympic Stadium in March as England laboured to a turgid 3-0 win over Andorra.
Lampard, sitting in the stands nursing a fractured wrist, was hounded back to the sanctuary of the dressing room by the Neanderthal bile of England�s travelling fans.
By the time he returned to international action for the Wembley opener against Brazil, his fate had been sealed. Lampard was officially Public Enemy No 1 and that is the way it has been ever since.
The player himself might shrug his shoulders and claim he does not care. But of course he does.
Yet short of taking lessons in robotic dancing from Peter Crouch, it is difficult to see how he will turn public opinion back in his favour.
Even scoring against Germany at the start of the season was not enough. The reception he received on Saturday was proof of that. Boss McClaren knows the more he asks the fans not to abuse Lampard, the more they are likely to ignore him.
�I have absolutely no idea whey they are booing Frank,� McClaren admitted as he analysed his fifth successive 3-0 victory in competitive matches. �It�s a complete mystery.
�We�ve talked about this and come up with no answers. Frank just shrugs but no one likes being booed and criticised.
�If you look at his last three performances � against Brazil, Estonia away and Germany � Frank was one of our best players. We�ve already expressed our disappointment to the fans because no one wants that kind of thing at club or international football.
�But I don�t think it needs to become an issue. Frank just has to get on with it � and that�s what he has been doing.
�I don�t think it has affected his game in any way and he�s shown in his last three games that it has not been a problem for him at home or away.
�All I am concerned about are his performances, not who is criticising or booing him.� In the past it was claimed that McClaren and Sven Goran Eriksson were afraid to choose between Lampard and Gerrard so selected both in the middle of the park.
But McClaren grasped that particular nettle on Saturday when he stuck with Gareth Barry alongside Gerrard after last month�s encouraging wins over Israel and Russia.
Lamps had to settle for a place on the bench and a mere 20 minutes of abuse as England experimented with the 4-3-3 formation they will use in Moscow on Wednesday.
His anxiety to impress was clear for all too see when his ambitious crossfield pass to Joleon Lescott missed its intended target by yards and sailed into touch.
Yet it will be a different story in a cold, hostile Luzhniki Stadium � when England will need all the character they can draw on.
Say what you like about Lampard � but no one can question his bottle or big-match temperament.
Look at his superhuman efforts for Chelsea over the past three years. And look at how much they missed him during his recent absence with a thigh strain.
Wednesday is an occasion crying out for him to step forward and stare his critics in the eye.
�Frank Lampard is exactly the type of character we might need in Russia,� McClaren predicted. �We will need all the experience we can get.�
Victory on Wednesday and England will guarantee their place at the Euro 2008 finals.
Perhaps playing a major role in securing that win will get the public back on Lampard�s side.
Sadly, he will not be holding his breath.
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personally, i thought he was absolute crap at the world cup. |
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