Another player who could soon be making his way to America is Frank Lampard who has only got 12 months left on his current contract with Chelsea. At 34, Lampard is definitely not the dynamic midfielder he once was and watching him in the latter stages of the Champions League last season you could see a player who has adapted to a new role further back on the pitch. In a recent interview, when pushed about a move to the MLS he responded “Not at the moment, no, because I have a contract with Chelsea. Beyond that I don’t know. With Chelsea spending mega bucks again to try get back in the title race and defend the Champions League, he may find himself soon surplus to requirements.
The problem with the MLS it would seem, is that it isn’t just top players looking for the move, which is why the standard will never be up there with the top leagues and why questions are asked when the players go. Take for example, Donovan Ricketts, a Jamaican International goalkeeper, who when playing in a friendly against England at Wembley conceded 6 goals and was totally outclassed. At the time, he was plying his trade with Bradford City in League One from where they were eventually relegated. After being released by Bradford, he found himself looking for a new club…where did he end up? He moved to L.A. to play alongside Beckham, where he won the Western Division Title and MVP goalkeeper of the season.
It would seem the MLS needs to do more than just make marquee signings. Each club is allowed three designated players who can have contracts outside the salary cap. If they want to seriously challenge as one of the top leagues in the world, investment is needed at all levels to increase the standard of play and genuinely attract players at the top of their game. Although, this doesn’t look it will be happening any time soon, as other leagues are starting to get in on the idea too as commercialism becomes increasingly more important. Nicolas Anelka joined Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League, slowly followed by former Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba who is reportedly earning £270,000 a week. Whilst 3 time Champions League winner, Samuel Eto’o left Europe too and now plays for Anzhi Makhachkala and reportedly earns £350,000 a week!
In this day and age, once a player knows their career is on the decline, as age starts to kick in, they can have one of the biggest pay days of their life, move to warmer climates and drop to a less competitive level – if only that was the case in all jobs!
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