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Sunday, 23 January 2011

West Ham Striker Dismissal Divides Opinion: Following Orders But Not Common Sense?

3 comments by Anthony Eastwood on January 24th, 2011

Time for a rule change?

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Monday, 6 September 2010

Opinion: Criticism of Lampard and Terry is absurd

By: Jack | September 5th, 2010

Does anyone read Caught Offside? Yeah, me neither. Still, when I came across this little nugget, which popped up on my NewsNow feed earlier today, I just couldn’t overlook it.

Should Chelsea Pair Be Punished for their ‘Injury’ Inspired England Absence?

Questioning my commitment?

Really. This is what it has come to?

Not only are internationals being criticized when they do play for the country, they are being verbally assaulted when they do not. No wonder England continues to fail in light of massive expectations. How can any of these players feel an affection for the country they represent when those that occupy said country fail to support them?

I can’t blame the likes of Paul Scholes and Alan Shearer for choosing to walk away early this madness. I’ll even give Jamie Carragher some kudos – gross – though he eventually caved. Moving on to our boys.

Questioning John Terry’s commitment to England is downright blasphemy. Attack his personal life all you want, but to say the man is not a soldier for the Three Lions? Nonsense. How many injuries has he played through during his career? How much has he contributed to the cause in spite of mediocre results? Exactly.

I think it was pretty clear to all who watched the Stroke City match that he was carrying an injury – no question. It has also been fairly clear that he’s been dealing with some sort of a problem since the Premier League started, despite Terry putting in some excellent shifts. So he needed work on his hamstring, what’s the big deal?

Lampard, meanwhile, was a shell of himself against Stoke. Case in point being his appallingly taken penalty. Caught Offside finds the timing of the problem – a hernia injury – perplexing. I don’t care. If he’s injured, let’s get it fixed rather than prolonging a procedure and allowing the potential for further damage to grow. The Daily Star story, from which Caught Offside pulls its information, is even wrong in its factoid, stating that Lampard had surgery two weeks ago. How in the hell is that possible? He played against Stoke last weekend.

If I’m correct, I believe Frankie had surgery six days ago. King Carlo revealed in the Star article that Lampard will be fit for the game against West Ham in the coming week, heightening question marks about his absence for England. OK? Do you not remember The Mighty Drogba’s hernia procedure? He was ready to go in no time. This surgery is minor these days.

“For sure, Frank will be fit for the West Ham game,” Ancelotti is quoted as saying.

“No, we didn’t decide at the start of the season to do this now. After the Stoke game, Frank was in a lot of pain. So he decided, after talking to the club doctor, to resolve and remove the problem immediately.”

Makes sense to me. Then again, I’m a Chelsea supporter and I’m blinded to the facts by an unmitigated bias, right? Whatever.

And even if one of Lampard and Terry wasn’t as injured as led on – which is hardly a possibility – I don’t seem to remember reading anything like this when Michael Carrick missed the Hungary friendly with an ankle injury, but then popped up in the Community Shield despite Manchester United – namely Sir Alex Ferguson – saying prior to the international that the midfielder would likely be out for a fortnight. Oh, but I guess that’s only a friendly so it’s cool to “manipulate” Capello and company. Whatever.

Conclusion: If you’re going to criticize our players, at least add some substance to it. Or humor. Either way, you’re missing, bro. Come on, you’re better than that.

Some Related Chelsea Posts:Video: Terry, trophy presentation and moreFashion Police: Frank Lampard & PepsiLampard left off PFA team of the year. Wait, what?John Terry: Seriously, WTFBrave John Terry takes aim at UEFA

Category: Chelsea Team News, Injury News, Opinion

Tags: Carlo Ancelotti, Caught Offside, Chelsea Team News, Fabio Capello, Frank Lampard, Injury News, John Terry, Opinion
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YidsA passing mention might be given to John Terry's conduct at the World Cup and his performance against Germany, one of the worst I've ever seen.FrogmouthLike I said at the time of Terry's assult from the media and all in sundry over his apparent affair....JT and Frankie SHOULD WALK AWAY from the National TEAM prior to the World Cup and SAVE face. It's obvious JT and Frank can't do anything RIGHT in all their eyes unless they played for their teams! I say again....WALK AWAY from a NATIONAL Team with bucklies chances of ever winning anything significant.... Shearer & Scholes did and I bet they feel better for it knowing they weren't part of the failures!!! For that's what HISTORY WILL SHOW. England only seem to do well against the mino's..let's see how they go against Switzerland!!! I'm watching from afar and believe you me, I'm ashamed to wear my ENGLAND shirt these days for the constant ridicule I receive for backing a losing nation!Vranchyno1There have been several occasions over the years where players have turned out for there clubs one week, missed an international or two and then suddenly appear fit again ready for there club. Did anybody care? No not really. Suddenly it's Chelsea players involved and the anti-Chelsea brigade are out in full swing. Lampard came off against Stoke and was visibly in distress whilst Terry limped around for some time as well. I've heard plenty of calls for them to be dropped anyway, but as soon as they're missing through injury everybody moans as to why they aren't available. Make your mind up.EliHang on people have made plenty of complaints about other clubs. Carrick got it in the neck, other players have got complaints for doing so, if you think they haven't then you are deluded.SeanComments have been made in the past about other clubs players I will agree. But not to the level that Lampard and Terry have been criticised this time in my opinion. I haven't heard people call for players to be banned in the past.NathanNot that its particularly relevant, more people read CaughtOffside than The Offside. Not that relevant, but just did a check on Alexa. I don't visit either site that much but was interested in this debate anyway.ApolloTheWisestHonestly I've never heard of CaughtOffside until I read this story.MillsIs this spam plugging Alexa or just a poorly executed dig at The Offside? Because either way, you fail, and it's not just because you start two sentences in a row with "Not that relevant..." Mix in a thesaurus.TerryThere is nothing odd about the timing of Frank Lampard's hernia op, it was timed to occur exactly when Chelsea weren't playing. Pretty clear cut, no? Also, John Terry has said he has played through injury for three months, but only now it has become too much for him, coincidence? I think not.EliHang on surely you are missing the point, if part of your defence of Lampard and Terry is that Carrick did the same thing against Hungary, then you are being a hypocrite. Yes Man United do this all the time and on this occasion the Chelsea pair have done likewise. You can see that, right? Your not blinded by your Chelsea allegiance, are you?JackDo you read or just chose to ignore certain portions of statements? What part of "which is hardly a possibility" do you not understand? My Carrick analogy was inserted into the article to ask why, if people are accusing Chelsea of doing this, was United not?EliYes clearly Carrick did the same thing and I accused him of doing so at the time. Lamps and Terry have now done likewise, so guess what, I am accusing them as well.JackIf they've done it, then back up the claim. I'm interested in seeing how you can do so, other than just simply saying it.EliWell you stated that Carrick 'manipulated' Capello, can you prove that? Didn't think so. I am interested to see you back up THAT claim. Terry and Lampard have played every Chelsea game this season 'despite' their injuries. They are both out of England duty but will both be fit for the West Ham. Do you believe that is a coincidence? Why not try to be impartial, just for a moment. I am a fan who is far more a fan of my club than country, I have no problem when players 'cry off' but why not say as it is?JackOnce again, you read only what you want to read. Never did I accuse Carrick of manipulating the England hierarchy. If you get that by reading this - "Oh, but I guess that’s only a friendly so it’s cool to 'manipulate' Capello and company. Whatever." - then apologies, I should have been clearer. The analogy, again, was to assert the fact that the media did not run with that story, but are running with THIS one. I don't remember reading much about the Carrick ordeal. At all. I certainly didn't see any outlet calling for him to be omitted permanently.

With regard to your coincidence claim, yeah I damn well do. Have you watched any of Chelsea from the preseason forward? If you had, you would have noticed Terry has been less than himself not for a majority, but for periods of that time. Lampard, less than himself as well. I guess Lampard is to have surgery when England is not playing and Chelsea is, right? It is England after all who pay his salary. If that's a snub, after all he's given to England, good and bad, then my word, why play at all?

And I'm not impartial? I guess you weren't around when I was ripping Terry and Ashley Cole for a lack of competence in their personal lives. Move on, man.Sean76I don't get what you are trying to say. Clearly Lampard and Terry have deliberately missed these England games. Its clear for anyone to see.JackClearly? You do realize you need to have some evidence to back that claim up, right?brentonwaltersWhat about if we just think they're a couple of dicks?JackThat's fine, of course. Typical, but fine.brentonwaltersTrue to type (Mourinho-groomed) you mean? Good point; they're dicks.JackRiiiiiiiiight.silvioWhy Terry and Lampard play always in Premier League and almost never with England in friendly or qualifications?!
It's curious, isn't it?Nickhow many freindlies has giggs played for wales....next to none....jog onblog comments powered by Disqus

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