Frankly, He Should Just Chase The Sun

It's grim in England and it's even grimmer in the north of England so Pete Hall argues that Frank Lampard should forget lingering PL ambitions and head for Oz or the USA...

Last Updated: 24/01/13 at 10:09 Post Comment

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So let's say you're moving into the twilight years of a successful career that has brought you a Champions League, three Premier League, four FA Cup and two League Cup winners' medals...would you really stick around for one more year trying to add to this impressive collection?

Your beloved club has been pretty adamant that they will not be extending your contract beyond the end of the season. Is it worth waiting, in hope rather than anticipation, to see if your club's notoriously ruthless owner will change his mind?

You have been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, but know if you went to one of the so-called 'bigger teams', you aren't guaranteed a starting berth. Would you be happy sitting on the bench in your final season as a professional player?

The answer is simple: No. Get out of here, Frank. Don't look back. It's cold, horrible, you can't go anywhere without a camera being poked in your face, and it rains a lot. It's even grimmer up north.

A host of Premier League clubs have been linked with Frank Lampard after it was made pretty clear by the Chelsea hierarchy that he would not be offered a new contract. Sentiment cannot come into it and the club are well within their rights not to extend the 34-year-old's current deal.

With Ashley Cole penning a one-year extension, the Stamford Bridge faithful have had their hopes raised that Roman Abramovich will have an epiphany and put an offer on the table.

This simply isn't going to happen and the sooner they realise that the better.

The England midfielder is in an extremely enviable position, in that he can command a move to practically anywhere in the world as he still has the ability to cut it at the highest level.

If I was him, with my trophy-laden mantelpiece at home, I wouldn't even consider a move to Manchester United, with whom Lampard has been heavily linked, purely because I wouldn't fancy waiting around on the bench in the latter stages of my career.

I wouldn't want to go to another London Premier League club either, even if my uncle 'Arry promised me a king's ransom. Why battle away at a mid-table, or even relegation-threatened, side? It just isn't worth the hassle.

Europe may sound appealing, but it is likely to only be a short stay at a new club, so settling in another country with a new language would seem like a silly idea.

One more big payday in an oil-rich nation like Russia or Saudi Arabia is an option, but again, he is hardly short of cash.

Somewhere warm, easy-going, with no pressure, where football lives in the shadow of other local favourites, sounds much more the ticket.

The MLS and the Australian A-League are both up and coming in the 'soccer' stratosphere, and have already attracted a number of high-profile stars who are enjoying a new lease of life away from the spotlight.

Alessandro Del Piero, Shinji Ono, and even the much-maligned Emile Heskey, are revelling away from media scrutiny down under, and earning a healthy living while they're at it, despite a much lighter workload.

Following former Liverpool team-mate Robbie Fowler's lead, Heskey has excelled in the southern hemisphere, and has made it clear he wants to extend his stay at the Newcastle Jets beyond the end of the season.

Across the Atlantic, La Galaxy have been heavily linked with the in-demand star and are on the lookout for a new big-name signing following David Beckham's departure.

'Goldenballs' is yet to find a new club, but did much for raising the profile of Galaxy and the MLS as a whole, and leaves a gaping void that needs to be filled.

The Americans, who have always been unyielding in that soccer really isn't for them - sticking by their traditional sports such as the NFL and baseball - were willing to listen to the former England captain and learn more about this alien game.

With a celebrity wife-to-be in tow, the stage could be set for Lampard to showcase his talents, and live the Hollywood lifestyle the Beckhams enjoyed amidst the Californian foothills.

Away from pressure and expectation, with the ability that he possesses, Lampard can continue to do what he does best, whilst educating a nation willing to learn from those in the know.

If he was looking to go into coaching when he does eventually hang up his boots, what better place to start than teaching football novices such as Americans or Australians that sport with a round ball can be just as exhilarating?

England's green and pleasant (and wet) land will be waiting when he gets back to begin the next stage of his career, but instead of considering the Manchester Riviera, a little foray to a warm exciting adventure down under - or across the pond - could be just the ticket.

Pete Hall - he's on Twitter @Pistolpeteh86

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nd nothing of value was lost.

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anity1892 Yes I probably should... But everytime I go back and read Almunia for England I just lose bladder control.

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erfect replacement for Carragher. Slow, average when he was at his best, now well past it. Would just slot straight in! :)

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