At 33 years old, Lampard is in the twilight of his career. He is part of an axis of veterans that has run the Chelsea dressing room for the better part of the last decade. First-year manager Andre Villas-Boas is instilling a new ethos at the club, and there are serious doubts about Lampard's future role. He reportedly stormed off the bench into the locker room near the end of last Saturday's win over Swansea after learning that he would not play in the game. Lampard's reaction forced Villas-Boas into damage limitation mode as he has come out in support of the club stalwart. Lampard's Chelsea teammates, especially the new ones, cannot be impressed by the veteran's antics.
Tevez is 27 and at the height of powers. Until this season, he was captain, leading scorer and talisman at the money-pit that is Manchester City. After playing for Argentina at the Copa America and submitting yet another transfer request over the summer, he has only played a bit part in the club's fast start to the season. He reportedly refused to play as a substitute in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League loss at Bayern Munich. Manager Roberto Mancini vowed that the Argentine will never play for the club while he is manager, setting the Italian on a collision course with his bosses, colleagues and the rest of the squad.
The 31-year-old Kuyt has reached his peak and has another year or two before his physical ability begins to decline. A mainstay in the Liverpool team since arriving at Anfield in 2006, manager Kenny Dalglish has preferred new signings Andy Carroll, Stuart Downing and Jordan Henderson to the dependable Kuyt.
The Dutchman made his first comments on the matter to LiverpoolFC.tv.
"But it also makes me very determined, too," he said. "I need to continue to prove myself, train as hard as possible and, when I do play, make sure my performance is of a high standard."
"Competition is tough now, but it's brilliant for the club that there are so many players to choose from now, top-class international players. The players realize at the end of the day you need more than 11 good players to be successful."
Kuyt's reaction to a diminished role provides Lampard, Tevez and all of us with a few valuable lessons:
1. Versatility saves livelihoods.
Kuyt was nominally signed as a striker from Feyenoord Rotterdam, but it soon became clear that he is much more than that. His work rate and composure on the ball has seen him line up in nearly every attacking position under three managers for the Reds. He can retake his place in the team at any number of positions, while he goes about earning the trust of Dalglish. Lampard must reinvent his game -– a tall order at his age -– if he is to remain at Chelsea. Manchester City has world-class forwards and can make do just fine without Tevez.
2. Don't take your case to the court of public opinion.
Nobody knows what the three players have to say in private, but the paying public has no time for rebelling and sulking millionaires (especially in the current terrifying economic climate). Kuyt's humble response endeared him to Liverpool and neutral supporters. Lampards has generated speculation as to when he will leave Chelsea. It may be premature, but Villas-Boas is moving Chelsea into the post-Lampard period and Chelsea haters will delight in the England international's on-field demise. As for Tevez, he's become the butt of a trending twitter joke called “#tevezexcuses,” and there are some good ones.
3. You're only as good as your last game.
Kuyt scored the winner in his return to the lineup in last week's Carling Cup win over Brighton. His positive performance put him in line for a recall in this weekend's Merseyside derby at Everton. Lampard was dramatically substituted after an ineffective 45 minutes in a 3-1 loss at Manchester United on Sept., 18. He has only appeared as a substitute in Chelsea's Carling Cup win over Fulham since then. Tevez last played in City's 2-0 Carling Cup win over Birmingham. He was an unused substitute in the following two games and may never again appear in Manchester City colors.
In the end, the Flying Dutchman teaches us three fundamental lessons for star performers who, one day, find themselves on the outside look in: Be adaptable, do something for me lately, and –- most important -– be quiet.
