What to do with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard? The two marauding midfield legends left their respective MLS clubs this week, and as you’d expect, rumours are circulating widely as to where they might end up.
Speculation is swirling around Gerrard: return to Liverpool, head north and play in the Championship with Newcastle under former manager Rafa Benitez, or even further north to turn out for Celtic under another former boss in Brendan Rodgers.
These are all options being touted for the 36-year-old Scouser.
Lampard on the hand, is in the twilight of his twilight years, if you will. At 38, the Lamp hasn’t had too bad a run for a professional footballer and with the Englishman declining to announce his retirement from the game, the expectation is he will play on. But where?
BetVictor in the UK has Gerrard at 8/1 odds to head to Scotland and play for heavyweights Celtic, while Paddy Power has Lampard at 13/2 to return to former club West Ham.
Interestingly however, Paddy Power also has Frank Lampard at 7/1 odds to join Melbourne City and 13/1 odds to join the Central Coast Mariners, while Steven Gerrard has not ruled out a swansong in the A-League as late as January this year.
So, why not consider the A-League as a potential destination for the two, who between them amassed 220 caps for England?
If we cast our eyes back two seasons, our shores very nearly were graced by a Frank Lampard loan move to Melbourne City – stopped in its tracks only by the allure of six months with Melbourne City and New York City parent club Manchester City.
Of course, the naysayers can and will throw a number of reasons at why the pair shouldn’t come Down Under. Let me dismantle a few arguments you might see thrown around Facebook or Twitter.
Reason number one? Why should we sign washed up former internationals, and not give our own kids a go?
Gerrard and Lampard are both players with a wealth of footballing experience at their disposal – over 1000 games in the Premier League, two Champions League Titles between them, and cult heroes for two of the biggest clubs in England.
The football brains and the talent Gerrard and Lampard would bring to the A-League is undeniably special, and for our kids to play and train alongside legends of the game such as these two would benefit our game at home immensely. The Guardian even credited Lampard as an integral part in the emergence of young talent Jack Harrison for NYCFC.
Reason two? The costs of one final pay day for the pair don’t match the benefits.
Yes, it’s true both Gerrard and Lampard would attract massive salaries – even if signed as guest players or on six-month contracts for the back half of the A-League season.
Let’s look at the benefits though. The minds of some of the best footballers in the world alongside our kids and helping them along. And can you imagine how the press would go wild for a Cahill v Gerrard ‘English Down Under Derby’?
Not to mention the people that would flock to games to see their champions play – 96,000 turned out at the ‘G to watch Liverpool in 2014, and Steven Gerrard was cheered every time he touched the ball. Imagine him in Victory blue, helping to fill stadiums from AAMI Park to nib Stadium to the brim. Because it’d happen.
Reason three? They’re too old to cut the mustard in the A-League.
Both Gerrard and Lampard contributed to 19 goals in their stints in the US – not bad for a couple of 35-plus foreigners. Gerrard is renowned for his ability to switch the play and carve out opportunities with his trademark long switch from the base of the midfield – imagine youngsters in the A-League chasing after those?
And Lampard has shown his class this last season in the MLS, bagging 12 goals and NYCFC’s first ever hat-trick with his own trademark – late, storming runs into the box, looking under no threat from the unavoidable perils of age.
And besides, look at everyone’s favourite Italian Alessandro Del Piero. The diminutive striker lit up the A-League for two seasons at the ripe old age of 37, scoring in every second match he played, and a stunning free kick on debut against another marquee oldie in Emile Heskey, who with nine goals in his first season of two at the Newcastle Jets, didn’t do too badly himself.
So let’s say one of the two is to venture down under. Where do they go? Every club bar Melbourne City has a free marquee spot, so let’s rule them out and run through the rest of the candidates and see – if one of the legends was to come Down Under, where they’d go.
Adelaide turn out in their traditional red each week, and a spark in the form of a Liverpool cult hero could be exactly what they need to kick-start their season – plus an opening in the guest marquee department. Gerrard chance: 6/10
Liverpool visited Brisbane at the end of last season for a friendly, so surely Gerrard has heard good things about the sunshine state. A former Red may be exactly what they need to chase down the might of Sydney FC – but ownership troubles put a question mark on things. Gerrard chance: 3/10
The Central Coast Mariners actually welcomed former Liverpool great Luis Garcia for a stint at the backend of last season, and are 13/1 with Paddy Power to sign Frank Lampard. They’ve splashed the cash before – a chance, perhaps? Lampard chance: 4/10
Melbourne Victory. Slighted by new kids on the block City and the bling of Timmy Cahill, the guest marquee seat was being kept warm for Michael Essien, but the deal fell through. So, in his stead… Gerrard to Victory, anyone? Gerrard chance: 8/10
It’s a great time to be a Newcastle Jets supporter – if you love watching no more than 26 rounds of A-League a year. The club’s membership numbers are faltering, and after a good start, results are slipping too. No marquees, a new owner willing to throw some money around… and Frank Lampard on the market. Lampard chance: 4/10
Perth Glory is the Australian capital of Poms, as regular ‘the ref is a wanker’ chants would attest to. The perfect holiday home for an Englishman looking for a Down Under escape, and a reunion with old academy mate Richard Garcia, perhaps? Lampard chance: 6/10
Sydney FC are the high flyers of the competition right now – no one has been able to take points from them in six games, and the club have traditionally signed big names. As the saying goes, though… if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Gerrard chance: 4/10
Wellington Phoenix have been plagued with rumours of a revoked licence for many a year – how better to show the head honchos at the FFA there is a reason for the Phoenix to carry forward? Some cold weather would feel like home for Stevie G, who’s spent many a hot day in the LA sun. Gerrard chance: 5/10
And finally, the Western Sydney Wanderers. With just one marquee on the books and average crowd numbers since their move from Pirtek, a Frank Lampard type operator streaming through the middle of the park and showing Kerum Bulut how to score would be massive for the club. Lampard chance: 7/10
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