Controversially, let me tell you why Frank Lampard was the last hope.

The England National Team should have been built entirely around Frank Lampard.

There, I said it. So here is the agenda for this blog, April 2015:

a) An update of the valiant ‘U10 Grey West Ham United’ Indoor Rec Team
b) A short summary of 93 minutes of England v Italy today
c) Why Frank Lampard could and should have been the cornerstone of a vastly superior national team.

U10 Grey West Ham

The Gang - No Tanner though - he was sick this week.

What a fabulous group of kids. Last game – lost 10-1. Not quite sure why the opponent coach felt it necessary to field his stronger players in the last quarter of the game. Might have been a ‘Champions League Goal Difference’ thing. I’m sure he has a reason. Thank you to the venue – Off the Wall, Carmel, for replacing the referee following our communication. The new lad was great – fair, talked to the kids and interacted really well. Interestingly, our players asked if we would play again next year…..haha! Another year under our belt….revenge is a dish best served cold? No. I’d rather coach / play with those kids in a gym without a weekly rendezvous with a psycho opponent coach. He’s the classic evidence of a coach who has no idea what soccer is all about….so, 10 secs to go and they have possession….


Fancy a Curry after the game..?

“shoot, come on shoot, 6, 5, 4, 3…..”  (Opponent coach)
“scream / general scream / shoot / kick” (Random parents on the bleachers)
“You’re winning 10-1 – this ain't March Madness” (me)
Wow. What an goat.

Italy v England

I’m getting old, really old. I have to admit to only knowing 6 or so of the players for England today, and have even less knowledge of the teams they play for.


Marco.....Polo......

Who are you?
 Known
Rooney (sadly)
Walcott (although he’s been AWOL for ages)
Hart
Jones (just)
Berkley (slightly more than Jones)
Smalling (known but thought he was no good enough according to the Mail)
Townsend (confused with Walcott)


James Mason - Actor

Ryan Mason - Spurs

Kane (Spurs player so I am allowed to deny his existence)
Unknown
Bertrand Delph                                                                 
Mason
The right back           
Others playing wearing white.

Italy, without trying, looked superior. England had little width and lacked real quality in the final third. Phil Jones looked like he was going to have a heart attack. We let a Southampton player score against us. Harry Kane looked like a slightly younger Dean Ashton, and average. At least we were spared Steven Gerrard. It wasn’t very entertaining but I understand the process of sizing up the developing talent. Best to keep our hopes low key and look forward to Qatar 2022 (assuming the World Cup will actually be there and also that ISIS are not running the country by then).

 And Finally…..Fat Frank

 

One of the most successful products of 'The Academy of Football'

When you grab an early seat at the 116^th Street Chatham’s Tap, in Carmel IN, you can order a ‘Fat Frank’s’ Breakfast. There isn’t a “Steven Gerrard’s Marmite on Toast’ on the menu. You get where I am coming from. Frank rocks.

Recently, there has been an orgy of ‘Steven Gerrard is moving on’ type of stuff from the media. Great patron to Liverpool, of course, but in my opinion, one reason England have failed to win anything. It was always Gerrard v Lampard – you just can’t play them both. Gerrard wore his heart on his sleeve – Frank is quietly scoring a record number of goals for Chelsea as a midfielder. Frank moves over to Man City and everyone is concerned, because he is dangerous. Gerrard scores a goal against a Mickey Mouse team in the FA Cup and he is all glory again. Of course, so wonderful he stamps on a player and gets sent off in less than 2 minutes. Passion? Who needs it?

Quality – that’s how you beat the best in the world.  Frank always had that – but sadly we got caught up in the ‘You’ll never walk alone’ passion and pride and assumed if we really cared about it all we would win something. Thanks Frank – like many others before you, your contribution to the game is overshadowed by our national love for chest beating. Captain of England right now? Exactly….