Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard must turn other cheek and ignore bile of West Ham fans

19 December 2009 18:33
Chelsea visit Upton Park on Sunday afternoon and Lampard knows that an assault on his eardrums and character awaits. [LNB]In this sad story, fault can be found on both sides of the hoardings. [LNB] Related ArticlesZola has a lot on his mindBeckham pays price for leaving UnitedChelsea target Dzeko and AgueroWest Ham v Chelsea: previewManchester City make approach for Guus HiddinkMourinho and Beckham returnSo can contradictions. The Brentwood-educated Lampard is an intelligent individual who does not seem to understand that by excessively celebrating Chelsea successes at Upton Park he further enrages the locals, so perpetuating the problem. [LNB]West Ham supporters are known for their patriotism, for their pride in the club's immense contribution to England's 1966 World Cup triumph, yet they vilify one of the players who could follow in the footsteps of Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst and end 44 years of hurt next summer. [LNB]The chants of "Judas'', the allegations about weight and greed spilling down from the terraces, and the broader critique that he used West Ham as a stepping stone will slow only when Lampard stops reacting to them, choosing instead to rise above the fans' ire, so blunting their barbs. It's difficult but it's the only solution. [LNB]Yet, however distressing the personal abuse may be, it is legitimate to argue that it has transformed Lampard into the hungry, high-class force he is today, turning him into a multi-faceted midfielder on whom Fabio Capello will rely heavily in South Africa. Upton Park was the furnace in which Lampard's mettle was forged. [LNB]Rather than seeking to reduce the temperature, the Romford-born midfielder chronicled the enmity at length in his autobiography, stirring the pot more. [LNB]"The fans who booed me can take credit for helping to drive me on to achieve greater things,'' he wrote. "To a certain extent, they still do. I know that even if I won the World Cup single-handedly for England there would still be West Ham fans who would say that I missed an easy chance or misplaced a pass.'' [LNB]Both rancorous parties seem obsessed with each other. They both seem equally slighted, complaining the other should show more respect. As today will confirm, the passing of eight years since Lampard's controversial flit to Stamford Bridge has not eased the friction. Each game between the sides sees this cycle of name-calling and badge-kissing. When John Terry scored Chelsea's winner at Upton Park in an FA Cup replay, Lampard's celebrations were unrestrained, eliciting more derision. When Chelsea destroyed West Ham 5-1 at the Bridge in the League, Lampard kept smiling at the away fans, who responded angrily. [LNB]The genesis of this unappealing tale lies in the mid-Nineties. Lampard never felt he was given a chance by the fans when making West Ham's first team because he was "daddy's boy'', the son of the assistant manager, Frank Lampard Snr. Lampard apparently even heard West Ham fans cheering when he broke his leg at Villa Park in 1998. He was livid that his mother, sitting in the Upton Park directors' box, had to listen to the abuse on match-day. [LNB]In a painful story recalled in Lampard's book, his grandfather was waiting in a Chelmsford butcher's one day, listening to a couple of women queuing in front discussing their plans for the weekend. One remarked she was attending West Ham's home fixture with Chelsea. "The only reason I am going is to give that Frank Lampard some stick,'' she cackled. [LNB]Lampard's grandfather asked why she was behaving like Essex's answer to Madame Defarge. She replied that Lampard deserved to be insulted for "walking out'' on West Ham. On explaining his connection, Lampard's grandfather added: "And before you go slagging him off you should think for a minute what he was put through when he was at West Ham doing his best for the likes of you.'' She scarpered. [LNB]People shouldn't live their lives with so much bile in them. [LNB]Lampard, a likeable soul and assiduous patron of children's cancer charities, should not be subjected to such despicable comments. If Lampard genuinely wants the taunts to end, he must learn Jackie Onassis' mantra of "never complain''. West Ham fans accuse Lampard of lacking respect for the club, contrasting his behaviour with the decorum shown by returning players like Carlos Tévez, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick. Almost as a pointer to Lampard, West Ham fans will salute Cole warmly today. [LNB]Lampard should disregard his detractors, remembering that he has done pretty well since leaving. He has won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups. In 2005, he was voted Footballer of the Year and runner-up in the Ballon d'Or. Lampard should also remember that John Barnes suffered far worse yet he ignored it. [LNB]

Source: Telegraph