Oh dear! The Independent resorting to controversy for the sake of getting people talking. And I thought you were better than that.

Mr Deedes
I detest all professional sport as it truly is the opium of the people and everything you have said has completely vindicated my view. Please try and get some perspective on life.

I think that you should hang your head in shame for even suggesting such a thing.To expect Frank to even think about playing at a time like this is just downright inhuman if you ask me!

Excuse me, d'u have a mother at all?

Its Lampard's choice whether he plays or not and he perhaps has rights to compassionate leave, but what's with the shared grief? Mrs Lampard's death is for the Lampard family to deal with, not to be shared as a choreographed part of a goal celebration. For a team so obviously playing together despite each other (eg Ballack and Drogba's stupid squabble) it had the air of a team demonstrating 'togetherness' for their own ends rather than any thought for the deceased herself. All looked rather odd and manufactured to me.

Last week Mr. Grant went way up in my estimation, not because he has helped claw Chelsea back into contention, but when he said that some things, such as family crises were more important than football. Note also that Rafa benched Torres (of all people) for a champions league match, so that he could attend the birth of his child. Good to see that there is a modicum of soul left in the otherwise shamefully money grubbing ways of the EPL and ECL.
And shame on you Mr. Deedes for being as crass as many (most?) EPL supporters.

This article says more about Mr Deedes than it does about Lampard, who I happen to strongly dislike, have no respect for, and think is an average, overrated footballer. But still, get some perspective Deedes...

Mr Henry Deedes, are you some form of moron?

The guys mum died and he's expected to play football 2 days later?

Family comes miles before any job or even football.....and I'm a Chelsea season ticket holder.

You think because it's your job to write about football you somehow see it as being the most important thing in the world.........well here's news for you pal, it's not!

I wonder if a member of your family died if you would be at the match writing an article a few days later?

Expect a letter of complaint!!

I'm also no fan of Frank Lampard or Chelsea for that matter. Can't stand them to be perfectly honest. However, he deserves to grieve in private and you have no right to expect otherwise. If this is the standard of Independent sports journalism, I think I may appy for a job myself!

A person's mother dies and you call him unprofessional for his grieving. Is the Independent so desperate is has to resort to such tawdry methods to whip up some controversy. It's not risque or radical, it's just totally inappropriate and ill-judged. Shame on you.

I say Frank Lampard is dying to play in this match. He won't be able to resist it and it will be a tribute to his mother. Totally agree with you Henry. The only question is how well will he play. I think the real issue here is the manager. He may not want it. If his head is not right, the manager might prefer the slimmer (and more in form?) Ballack. But it would be tricky wouldn't it if Frank publically stated he wanted to play then the manager denied it? I say that this all needs to happen behind closed doors and if Lampard is not in the eleven he be told to stay home with his family.

I hate Frank Lampard, he is an arrogant, overrated and just plain annoying. But this article is sick. With all of the millions spent by Chelsea, if they cannot accomodate an unfortunate tragedy like this then they have to look at themselves. You can't helphow you feel, and whether or not his losing of the ball last week can be blamed on his personal situation, it can't have helped. As Petr Cech stated a while back after recovering from his head injury, there are somethings in life that show you that football isn't the most important thing in life. Any person who had any feelings, emotions, or a little thing called EMPAPHY would realise this. I can only assume that either you are a robot or you live a very sad and lonely life. We should be really asking Sorry for Chelsea, but Frank is needed of the pitch, by his family and for himself. A pathetic piece if I ever read one. For once Lampard, you have the nation's full support.

You really should sit down and think before revealing your total lack of perspective and respect for this mans sudden loss.This, "just get your arse on the pitch" nonesense speaks volumes about your disfunctional view on the way this man should grieve the sudden death of his mother.To even mention the word unprofessionalism regarding this persons situation says an awful lot about your own need to get on a couch and recieve some much needed emotional counciling.In future please keep this type of drivel to yourself.

I am a true fans of Frank Lampard and love the blues.Sorry about your mother may her soul rest in peace.Lampard is needed in this match but all i can say is that everything lies in lampards hand if he think he can cope with the situation at hand,then let he come back to pitch becos we needed him most for this crucial match.

R.I.P PAT

Up Blues

Mr Deedes. Words fail me. Shame they didn't you.

Mr Deeds - what a revolting individual you are. What you have written is both hateful and crass.

Frank Lampard as well as being a footballer, is first and formost a human being, and as a fellow member of the human race most of us will empathise with him in his time of mourning....then there are people like you - shame on you.

What a sorry, pathetic human being you must be Mr Deedes. I just hope you don't get this drivel aimed at you when you lose a loved one.

At the end of the day its only a game!! Sad for Mr Deedes if you don't have anymore in life than that! what do you do when the season is over........i dread to think!

If I was Lampard, i wouldn't give up my mother for the world cup, let alone a bit of silverware. Give the poor lad a brake.