As City fans, we’re tuned to dislike the legends of other clubs. So when ex-Chelsea midfielder (and club hero) Frank Lampard signed on loan for The Blues from his New York-based parent club, it will have been met with surprise and confuse by some. In the two months since that, he’s grown into an important option in midfield for his new club, winning the Player of the Month award for September after some important performances and goals.
On the face of it, the loan deal just looked like a short-term loan to keep Lampard fit ahead of New York City FC’s first ever season next year. A similar deal happened with David Villa (who moved to Melbourne City on a ten-game contract in a bid to keep his fitness, before moving back to the USA next spring). Indeed Lampard will move back to the States at the same time as Villa, but few expected him to have the impact that he has had.
Whilst the former Chelsea midfielder made his debut against Arsenal (before being substituted for Samir Nasri on a strange day for City) it was against his old club the following week that he made the real impact. He came on as a second-half substitute against José Mourinho’s team with City already 1-0 down and down to ten men as well. Within minutes, he’d got himself on the scoresheet, putting the ball past Thibaut Courtois. He didn’t celebrate, but the damage was done and he could have had a second with an effort from distance minutes later.
The following mid-week, Lampard played an influential role in City’s 7-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday; not only did he score the opening and closing roles, but he controlled the midfield for long periods and played ninety minutes. He’s since scored against Hull, sealing the win with the fourth goal after a serious scare earlier in the game, and won more and more City fans over.
The last month or so hasn’t exactly been the most stable of periods for City. International breaks have interrupted what flow The Blues did have, as have injuries to Fernando. James Milner has stepped up during this period, reminding City fans why his versatility and workrate is so vital to the club, but Lampard has also been called upon due to his experience and ability on the pitch.
This is the reason why Lampard has made three appearances off the bench in the league this season, compared to just one start. He’s 36 now – by no means a young man, and probably doesn’t have the legs to play a full game a week and have the same impact as if he just made appearances from the bench. But what he does still have is his ability to calm the game down, control the midfield and occasionally find the net.
That ability to control the midfield is a vital factor in tight games near the end, and whilst we’ve only seen it a bit so far I’m sure we’ll see it again before he heads across the Atlantic to go back to New York.
His experience over the next few months is hopefully something some of the younger players can benefit from. As brilliant as the first-team stars are, Lampard probably seems more relatable to them than someone like Agüero or Silva. The future stars could learn a lot from a brain like his, and hopefully they will.
There’s no doubting Lampard’s legendary status both at club and at international level. He’s already sealed himself as an important player around the club, and whilst the fans won’t hold him as close to their hearts as Chelsea fans still do, he’ll be fondly remembered when he eventually goes to ply his trade in the MLS. Before then though, maybe he can move himself even higher in the hypothetical list of the Premier League’s best ever midfielders.
