ALL players have a shelf life — even Frank Lampard

There is talk of a lack of respect towards a man who has played 88 times for his country and made more than 700 appearances for Chelsea and West Ham.

A lot of this is down to the fact Lampard is one of the brightest and most engaging footballers of his generation, not simply one of the best. 

He is courteous, approachable, uncontroversial and unconfrontational, though still extremely tough mentally.  So there is an obvious sadness at the inescapable demise of a popular figure. Yet time waits for no man.

A few weeks ago, an England team without Lampard produced a lively and impressive 3-0 win in Bulgaria.

Four days later, with Lampard restored, they laboured to a 1-0 victory over Wales at Wembley. It seemed Fabio Capello's team had taken one of its customary steps backwards.

That Lampard was no worse than James Milner or Gareth Barry is not the point.

As for Lampard's Chelsea career, though he may no longer be an untouchable, it is far from over.

But Andre Villas-Boas was not appointed by Roman Abramovich to maintain the status quo. And no manager is more powerful than in his first few months. There were always going to be high-profile casualties and Villas Boas has to be applauded for the brave decision in replacing Lampard at half-time against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Having lost the first half 3-0, they won the second 1-0.

With Meireles, Ramires and Mata in the side, there is more pace and fluidity in the team and a far better service to Fernando Torres.

Lampard was left on the bench for the 4-1 win over Swansea where 18-year-old starlet Josh McEachran rather than he came on as the third and final sub. The Mail on Sunday reports that Lampard then got up and walked down the tunnel without speaking to his manager. He then departed to prepare for a 60-minute warm-down rather than, as suggested, "storming off" to the dressing room.

Lampard, the arch professional, doesn't do "storming off".

With Torres now suspended for three league matches, both he and Didier Drogba could well start those games.

But the days of the Lampard-Drogba-JT axis of power are over. It wasn't bad while it lasted, though.

source: Thesun.co.uk