Rival fans should recognise just how good he really is
A FEW days ago, one newspaper carried a great photograph of a car surrounded by a dozen lions in Knowsley Safari Park.
And it reminded me of the time when planning permission was being sought for the park, which remains one of Liverpool's finest tourist attractions.
There were obvious concerns from local councillors. "What will happen if the lions escape?" asked one. "Well," came the reply. "I guess they'll just have to take their chances like everyone else."
Humour once coloured every facet of Merseyside life. Nowhere was that more evident than on the steepling terraces of the Kop.
So amusing was the rendition of Des O'Connor's Careless Hands after Gary Sprake had thrown the ball into his own net that the Leeds keeper used it as the title of his autobiography.
Creativity and humour still flourish at Anfield but, in keeping with every other Premier League stadium, so does witless abuse. It has become a speciality of a widening section of the modern football fan.
You've seen them. Faces screwed in completely inexplicable rage, spitting venom for no other reason than they can. And then turning to their 10-year-old and encouraging him to do the same.
Jeering a player, even taunting him, is the unqualified right of every ticket-holder. It's natural. Hostility towards the opposition might unsettle them. But there is an increasing fondness for foul-mouthed filth delivered purely for the sake of it.
You can almost excuse it in some instances. The antics of El Hadji Diouf, for example, would make a saint swear. Cristiano Ronaldo's histrionics would rile even the most mild-mannered. Ashley Cole's unfortunate comments about cash were always going to elicit anger amongst the paying masses.
But in most cases, the reasoning is unfathomable. And none more so than in the case of Frank Lampard.
I watched Lampard twice last week - once at St James' Park, where he excelled, and once at Anfield, where he was effective without being outstanding.
But at both grounds, he was villified by certain sections of the crowd. People will no doubt tell me the reasons why. Maybe at Newcastle, his goal celebration was provocative.
Certainly at Anfield, they will point to his challenge on Xabi Alonso on the first day of 2005 that left the Spaniard with a broken leg.
But if there's anyone who believes Lampard is the type of player who goes out to deliberately injure someone, they don't know the game.
No, the Liverpool supporters' abuse of Lampard is a sub-conscious acknowledgement of his continuing excellence - excellence that continues to be undervalued.
Occasionally, he has been given deserved recognition, not least when the Football Writers' Association voted him the Footballer of the Year in 2005. But only occasionally.
When discussion turns to this season's individual accolades, Lampard is an afterthought. And that is a mystery. Including internationals, Lampard has already made 54 appearances this season and I would defy anyone to name a genuinely poor one.
He has scored 17 goals and has been directly responsible for creating eight. He was Chelsea's best player under Luiz Felipe Scolari, he is Chelsea's best player under Guus Hiddink.
He was Chelsea's best player under Jose Mourinho, he was Chelsea's best player under Avram Grant.
Cement
And under Fabio Capello, he has adapted to a slightly unnatural role in a manner which demostrates a quality so often lacking in English players - tactical discipline.
Maybe it is because he is so predictable in his effectiveness, so metronomic in his contribution that he is under-rated. Disliked even.
The debate about why Lampard has never truly captured the public imagination has been going on for years. Born with a footballing silver spoon in his mouth, perhaps. Not as swashbucking as Stevie G, maybe. Or even somewhat over-sensitive to jibes that should really be laughed off.
But if a season which has showcased his durability and continuing development as a player should do one thing, it is to cement his position as one of the finest - if not the finest - English players of his generation.
It should earn him respect - even from the foaming-at-the-mouth brigade who seem to be taking over our football grounds. But will it? Fat chance.
