The redemption of Frank Lampard

I used to hate Frank Lampard. There, I said it. I thought he was a smarmy bastard and that he was thoroughly over-rated. I thought his attitude stank, and I just flat out didn't like the guy. But the more my view on the guy softens, the more I think he's just been caught up in the reflection of my hatred for John Terry. And Harry Redknapp. That, you'll be pleased to know, remains intact.

A few years ago Lampard put paid to any idea that he was over-rated, and I like to think I've not suggested it for a long time. In my opinion, he's developed into one of the very best midfielders in the world, if not the best. He's a very clever passer of the ball and a fantastic goalscorer. And you know what - he doesn't seem like half the tosser I thought he was.

Being a football fan, I've never felt the need to retract my previous views on this particular player (which were that he exists only to irritate me and wax John Terry's chest). But Lampard's had a hard time in the last couple of weeks and I'd like to speak out in his support.

Frank Lampard's exclusion from the PFA Player of the Year shortlist of six is nothing short of laughable, even disgraceful. He's been good enough this season to make a shortlist of two with Steven Gerrard, probably good enough to edge Gerrard out of the prize. Instead, Ryan Giggs won the award ahead of four Manchester United colleagues, despite having started just 12 Premier League matches this season.

He's also suffered off the field. Now I'm not one to buy into footballers' sob stories generally, because they're paid enough to bloody well suck it up. But Lampard seems like a decent enough guy, and I wouldn't wish his worries on anyone, no matter how rich they are. Apart from John Terry and the entire Birmingham City squad - but you get the point.

As you'll know, Lampard's mother Pat passed away this time last year, sparking an emotional celebration when he scored a penalty in the Champions League. And regardless of the circumstances surrounding the break-up of his young family, he should be allowed to go about the healing process in peace.

At this point, I'd like to draw a distinction between football supporters and broadcasters. Fans are likely to be abusive, and to a certain extent that's to be expected because of the chasm between 'us' and 'them'. But broadcasters, journalists and even two-bit piss-pot bloggers like myself need to be bloody careful what we say.

The difference is that when we say things, we're not talking about an untouchable superstar. We're talking about a person who just might hear us.

And believe it or not, footballers have feelings too.

Radio station LBC seems to have developed a habit of pissing people off of late, and presenter James O'Brien thought it wise to slag Lampard off on his show. Lampard heard it and called in. O'Brien's pathetic backtracking does little to hide the fact that he thought he was talking about a faceless entity, but in reality he upset a guy.

And it was Lampard's reaction to this which finally moved him into my good books (yes, I know he wouldn't care - and rightly so). The more I hear about him or from him, the more Lampard seems like a good guy. He and Terry are day and night, to my mind.

Yes, Lampard has an arrogant streak, but that's only to be expected in this day and age. But he seems to have cut down on the posturing, dropped the attitude, got his head down and worked bloody hard at getting even better than he was.

I suppose the fact that he's going through a 'real life' difficulty is something with which supporters can emphasise, but I'll tell you something: I'd never have gone for a pint with Lampard two years a go. Now I'd even consider buying it for him, and not out of pity.