Frank Lampard a Hit on Monday Night Football
Frank Lampard is the latest big name to attempt to fill the shoes of Gary Neville on Monday Night Football, but how did the former England midfielder get on alongside Jamie Carragher when Leicester played host to Chelsea?
Press Association Sport assesses Lampard’s performance in front of the Sky Sports cameras and how he compared with last week’s guest pundit Craig Bellamy.
POPULARITY
Lampard may have spent 13 seasons with Chelsea, but the 37-year-old is considered one of football’s good guys and, in that sense, he could break down any lingering club loyalties.
Neville and Carragher were both one-club men and often rubbed opposition fans up the wrong way during their playing days.
Bellamy, too, was hardly a popular figure at away grounds so Lampard already appears to have the edge in the popularity stakes.
MANAGERIAL INFLUENCES
Even his uncle, Harry Redknapp, has to admit that Jose Mourinho holds a special place in Lampard’s heart and that was evident from the start of the show.
Chelsea’s record scorer spent more than four seasons working with Mourinho and he credits the Portuguese for turning him into a world-class midfielder.
He may lack some of Mourinho’s charisma in front of the camera, but Lampard gave some interesting insights on his former boss and the dying art of the midfield goalscorer.
PUNDITRY EXPERIENCE
Lampard is no stranger to the Sky Sports studio, having featured on their Champions League coverage and he appeared on Monday Night Football as recently as November 2 when Tottenham hosted Aston Villa.
He followed that up with an appearance alongside cousin, and long-time pundit, Jamie Redknapp for Chelsea’s clash with Stoke on November 7 and more than held his own.
Once his playing career with New York City comes to an end, few would bet against him being offered a permanent punditry deal after another impressive showing here.
RELATIONSHIP WITH CARRAGHER
Chelsea and Liverpool were at loggerheads for most of Lampard’s career, with Carragher a regular foe at the heart of the Reds’ defence.
However they did spend 11 years together, give or take, as England team-mates and any animosity seems to have long been forgotten.
The duo combined well during the debates about defensive positioning and Aaron Ramsey and even shared a joke or two – mainly at the expense of Carragher.
USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Lampard knew the limits of his ability during his playing days and he appears to be following suit as a pundit if his trepidation with technology is anything to go by.
Carragher spent a summer experimenting with the daunting Sky Sports replay system at home before his Monday Night Football debut in 2013 and he still took time to adjust.
Taking a back seat on this occasion may have saved Lampard some embarrassment, but if he wants a permanent gig he may have to brush up on his gadgets.
TWITTER REACTION
Judging by the reaction on social media Lampard seemed a big hit with the viewers.
His former Chelsea team-mate Steve Sidwell (@sjsidwell) was clearly impressed by what he saw, saying: “@SkySportsMNF great insight and analysis of the greatest goal scoring midfielder the prem has seen by the man himself #Lampard”.
Jack Gaughan (Jack_Gaughan), a journalist at MailOnline Sport, said: “Think #MNF will be having Frank Lampard back.”
