Lampard to Inter

[Southbank Old Boy]

More freedom than Lampard had under Mourinho? The manager who basically just let Lampard free of any defensive role in the team and just let him play as a second centre forward. Fair enough...you know best.

Lampard has excelled in that role. The timing of his runs and his ability to read the way a balls going to beak and to sniff out a shooting opportunity is second to none (I've not seen a British midfielder come close to it and that includes Bryan Robson and David Platt who were outstanding in this area).

[Apocalypse Now]

I'm talking about freedom in terms of the way their respective sides play. Mourinho doesn't let his players express themselves in a way that Ferguson does. That makes it harder for players to change because they have to fit into a specific system and can't try new things.

[Seal]

I can admit to never having been a fan of Frank Lampard really. You can't dispute his goals per game ratio, but I always felt there was something missing from his all round game, that didn't make him a team player, most clearly illustrated by the discrepancies in his club v country form.

However, I have to say he has gone up in my estimation this season. On a personal level, I think deserves respect for the way he's come back from a lot of setbacks, be they poor performances, injuries or personal loss. I've also met the guy and he is actually a pretty genuine, decent enough bloke. Not particularly interesting or over friendly, but polite and pleasant.

Secondly, you just cannot deny that he does just score big goals when Chelsea need them, and this season he proved that again and again. You can debate the individual merits of the goals, but the bottom line is he scored in the Champs League semi and final at crucial times.

If he does move on I wish him all the best; and hope he proves he can cut it in another team in a different league. It will be very interesting to watch anyway.

[Southbank Old Boy]

I'm talking about freedom in terms of the way their respective sides play. Mourinho doesn't let his players express themselves in a way that Ferguson does. That makes it harder for players to change because they have to fit into a specific system and can't try new things.

Mourinho did have a pretty structured team pattern yes, but if you look at the likes of Diarra, Essien, Lampard (to a lesser extent admitedly) and Mikel, they've all been given different roles to operate in within that team.

Ironically, Scholes and Giggs both seemed to develop into the new parts to their game when Fergie tied them down to more disciplined midfeild roles. Utd also only really give that extra freedom to the attacking three or four players. The difference being that Mourinho only gives thaty freedom to 1 or 2 really.