MLS players snipe at Gerrard, Lampard all-star picks

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard’s selection for Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game against Tottenham has been given short shrift by rank and file players throughout the league.

Gerrard and Lampard were both named to the All-Star squad despite neither having yet kicked a ball in league competition for their respective clubs, the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York City FC.

But the selection of the former England stars as two “Commissioner’s picks” by MLS chief Don Garber drew a withering response from several players on social media.

“And now for my next trick I’ll pull these two names out of my ‘Commissioners Pick’ hat.. Drumroll please,” tweeted Seattle Sounders midfielder Brad Evans, citing the hashtag “#minutesdontmatter”.

Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin reacted by suggesting that league chiefs should have included New York City’s latest foreign acquisition, Italy midfield legend Andrea Pirlo. “No Pirlo??!!,” Irwin wrote.

Irwin’s team-mate Zac MacMath meanwhile suggested selectors should cast their net even wider: “I heard Neymar is in Vegas … Quick flight to Denver.”

Sporting Kansas City defender Ike Opara meanwhile snarked that perhaps Gerrard and Lampard had been selected on the basis of their performances in training.

“Hahahahahhahahahahha @thesoccerdon heard they are killing it in training,” Opara quipped, referring to Garber’s Twitter handle, @thesoccerdon.

Former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard is expected to make his Galaxy league debut later this week after playing 45 minutes of an exhibition game against Club America of Mexico on Saturday.

Chelsea legend Lampard was due to make his debut for New York on Sunday but withdrew after picking up an injury in training.