Where can you find another Lamps
PAUL JIGGINS
HARRY REDKNAPP has told Chelsea that getting rid of Frank Lampard would be a huge mistake.
The QPR boss is stunned the Blues are planning to ditch his nephew.
Redknapp takes his rock-bottom Rangers to Stamford Bridge for tonights white-hot West London derby.
And he said: I personally think it would be a big mistake to let Frank go.
We saw the other day when he scored two terrific goals at Everton that hes still a top player.
Where can you get a goalscoring midfielder like Frank these days There are not many around.
Lampards double at Goodison took his total to 192 goals for Chelsea.
The star, 34, is just one goal behind second-placed Kerry Dixon in the Blues all-time goalscoring charts.
Yet despite leading them to victory in last seasons Champions League final and his recent good form, he still looks to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge.
Lamps is out of contract in the summer and he says there is currently no sign of a new deal.
Redknapp said: I am surprised. I dont think they can upgrade from Frank.
I dont think youll find anywhere a better attacking midfield player who will score more goals in the Premier League.
Where are you going to find someone like him, a box-to-box player who can defend and then get forward and score
He has that knack of arriving in the box at the right time in the right place.
Thats such a gift he has got and I dont think you can replace that.
Where are you going to find someone as good as him
Chelsea are unbeaten in all 11 Premier League matches Lampard has started for them this season. Despite being frozen out earlier in the season, the midfielder looks to be on course to reach double figures for goals again this term.
His brace against the Toffees took his top-flight tally to six in another match-winning performance for the Blues.
Lampard played under his uncle Arry and dad Frank when starting out at West Ham. Redknapps wife Sandra is the sister of Lampards late mother Pat.
Redknapp declared: Ive said many times he is the best trainer I have ever seen in football, without a doubt. Ive never seen anyone even come close to him.
The hours he puts in on the training ground are second to none. He is out there morning and afternoon.
And when he was a 17-year-old kid, he used to go home and train of a night.
Practise, practise, practise. Left-foot shooting, right-foot shooting. Running on to the ball and shooting.
When Frank felt he wasnt quick enough, he went and got himself a pair of running spikes and did his sprints.
His dad did the same when he was young. His dad was the best trainer Id ever seen until young Frank came along.The two of them are without doubt the best I have ever come across.
Young Frank was unbelievable. When all the other kids had gone home, he would be practising every day.
Mourinho said it too, that he couldnt get him off the training ground.
Thats when he was a top player and hes still the same.
Every club needs players like that, but you cant put it into people, they have to want to do it.
I always tell players Get yourself some spikes, youll make yourself a bit quicker. They go Yeah, yeah, Ill do that. Then they do it for one day and dont do it again.
Its like saying, Im going to go to the gym every day to get fit and then doing it once.
Redknapp scoffed at claims Lampard is over the hill.
He added: Hes still in great shape and has still got that desire. Frank just gets on with it. He just says, I keep playing my football, whatever will be, will be. It will take shape.
Lampard insists he is just concentrating on producing in the next game.
He said: I need to play to go on a scoring run. There is a squad and you must respect that, but Im the same as anyone when I get on a run in the team I get more confidence and I score goals.
The manager has played me generally since I have been fit to be fair to him. If I can contribute to games and keep fit Ill be more than happy.
Chelsea go into tonights showdown having won their last four matches under interim manager Rafa Benitez. And struggling Rangers have won just one Premier League game all season.
Redknapp admitted: Mine and Benitezs situations are a bit different. He has walked into a squad of players there who are Champions League winners.
Youve got a chance, havent you Youd have to be a real dope to mess it up with that group of players: Hazard, Mata, Lampard...
Hes a clever guy. Even in the West Ham game they lost, they could have been out of sight at half-time.
Rangers were trounced 3-0 at home by Liverpool on Sunday and Redknapp is determined to avoid another thumping tonight.
He said: Its so difficult. If you open yourselves up you can get ripped up, cant you, like Aston Villa did
We have to go and get a little pride back whatever else we do. Weve got to make sure were in the game and tough to beat, thats the key.
They have got so much ability in the forward positions Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Torres, Lampard.
They are full of ability arent they Youve got to make sure you set yourselves up to be difficult to beat.
You dont get off to an horrendous start like Aston Villa did.
I spoke to Paul Lambert the other day and he said he turned to his coach and said, We could be in for a real doing here today.
He said you could sense it once they scored one and got their tails up youre in trouble.
The QPR boss is stunned the Blues are planning to ditch his nephew.
Redknapp takes his rock-bottom Rangers to Stamford Bridge for tonights white-hot West London derby.
And he said: I personally think it would be a big mistake to let Frank go.
We saw the other day when he scored two terrific goals at Everton that hes still a top player.
Where can you get a goalscoring midfielder like Frank these days There are not many around.
Lampards double at Goodison took his total to 192 goals for Chelsea.
The star, 34, is just one goal behind second-placed Kerry Dixon in the Blues all-time goalscoring charts.
Yet despite leading them to victory in last seasons Champions League final and his recent good form, he still looks to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge.
Lamps is out of contract in the summer and he says there is currently no sign of a new deal.
Redknapp said: I am surprised. I dont think they can upgrade from Frank.
I dont think youll find anywhere a better attacking midfield player who will score more goals in the Premier League.
Where are you going to find someone like him, a box-to-box player who can defend and then get forward and score
He has that knack of arriving in the box at the right time in the right place.
Thats such a gift he has got and I dont think you can replace that.
Where are you going to find someone as good as him
Chelsea are unbeaten in all 11 Premier League matches Lampard has started for them this season. Despite being frozen out earlier in the season, the midfielder looks to be on course to reach double figures for goals again this term.
His brace against the Toffees took his top-flight tally to six in another match-winning performance for the Blues.
Lampard played under his uncle Arry and dad Frank when starting out at West Ham. Redknapps wife Sandra is the sister of Lampards late mother Pat.
Redknapp declared: Ive said many times he is the best trainer I have ever seen in football, without a doubt. Ive never seen anyone even come close to him.
The hours he puts in on the training ground are second to none. He is out there morning and afternoon.
And when he was a 17-year-old kid, he used to go home and train of a night.
Practise, practise, practise. Left-foot shooting, right-foot shooting. Running on to the ball and shooting.
When Frank felt he wasnt quick enough, he went and got himself a pair of running spikes and did his sprints.
His dad did the same when he was young. His dad was the best trainer Id ever seen until young Frank came along.The two of them are without doubt the best I have ever come across.
Young Frank was unbelievable. When all the other kids had gone home, he would be practising every day.
Mourinho said it too, that he couldnt get him off the training ground.
Thats when he was a top player and hes still the same.
Every club needs players like that, but you cant put it into people, they have to want to do it.
I always tell players Get yourself some spikes, youll make yourself a bit quicker. They go Yeah, yeah, Ill do that. Then they do it for one day and dont do it again.
Its like saying, Im going to go to the gym every day to get fit and then doing it once.
Redknapp scoffed at claims Lampard is over the hill.
He added: Hes still in great shape and has still got that desire. Frank just gets on with it. He just says, I keep playing my football, whatever will be, will be. It will take shape.
Lampard insists he is just concentrating on producing in the next game.
He said: I need to play to go on a scoring run. There is a squad and you must respect that, but Im the same as anyone when I get on a run in the team I get more confidence and I score goals.
The manager has played me generally since I have been fit to be fair to him. If I can contribute to games and keep fit Ill be more than happy.
Chelsea go into tonights showdown having won their last four matches under interim manager Rafa Benitez. And struggling Rangers have won just one Premier League game all season.
Redknapp admitted: Mine and Benitezs situations are a bit different. He has walked into a squad of players there who are Champions League winners.
Youve got a chance, havent you Youd have to be a real dope to mess it up with that group of players: Hazard, Mata, Lampard...
Hes a clever guy. Even in the West Ham game they lost, they could have been out of sight at half-time.
Rangers were trounced 3-0 at home by Liverpool on Sunday and Redknapp is determined to avoid another thumping tonight.
He said: Its so difficult. If you open yourselves up you can get ripped up, cant you, like Aston Villa did
We have to go and get a little pride back whatever else we do. Weve got to make sure were in the game and tough to beat, thats the key.
They have got so much ability in the forward positions Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Torres, Lampard.
They are full of ability arent they Youve got to make sure you set yourselves up to be difficult to beat.
You dont get off to an horrendous start like Aston Villa did.
I spoke to Paul Lambert the other day and he said he turned to his coach and said, We could be in for a real doing here today.
He said you could sense it once they scored one and got their tails up youre in trouble.
