Chelsea Football Club today announced that Midfielder Frank Lampard , 34 , will after all be granted the 12 month contract extension at which he has continually hinted , and indeed merited this past season .
The Phase-Out of The Chelsea Pensioners began and stalled under AVB , though had not been jettisoned completely and in September the likelihood was that Lampard would depart – possibly as soon as January , and probably to the MLS . However , that was whilst Chelsea were still legitimate Title contenders , in all Domestic Cup Competitions and of course , defending the Champions League . By the end of last January’s window , in which Chelsea brought in Demba Ba , and had replaced their Manager , they had Pulled-Up in the Title Race and surrendered meekly the C.L. Crown that their Chairman had so coveted . Through all of this , Frank Lampard – with , in fairness , Juan Mata , remained the West Londoner’s Go-To-Man .
Last Saturday , in the 2-1 victory at Aston Villa , in bagging both of Chelsea’s goals Frank first equalled , then surpassed Club All-Time Record Scorer , Bobby Tambling total of 202 . Chelsea’s rise to European prominence is without doubt a Nouveaux Riche , quite literally , phenomenon , nevertheless , for a midfielder – particularly one whom took a while to get going -scoring only 5 in 37 games in his debut Chelsea Campaign ; that is a very impressive total in 12 seasons .
Whilst Frank Lampard’s England Record also stands up to scrutiny , he has been , in my opinion , unfairly compared to that Media Darling , Steven Gerrard , whom has never replicated his Club form for Country whilst Lampard’s goal record at International level states otherwise .
Frank Lampard’s extension also hints even further at the imminent return to Chelsea of erstwhile Special One and someone whom loves Lampard as a person – which Frank reciprocates ; Jose Mourinho .
The Premier League 2013-14 will be anticipated like few others have been . It is right and fitting that Frank Lampard should begin it as Chelsea Record Scorer and current Employee .
Written In Britain .
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