Rather than confirm concerns about Rickie, what this article has done has highlighted just what he brings to the team. For_heaven's_saint's post above is an excellent analysis why no-one should be worried about RL. More to the point, it shows why we should all be delighted about how well he is playing his part in what is becoming a very good team. If the first two games are anything to go by, Rickie can look forward to a season of being constantly fouled without much protection from the referees. Yesterday there were many occasions when the Barnsley CH had his hand on Rickie's head as they challenged for the ball and it was the same against Leeds. I think it's a great testament to him that he keeps his composure with the attention he gets. For all our dominance yesterday, I can only remember him having one chance in the whole game.
I've touched on this in another thread, and I'll say a little more here. Apart from the last two weeks, Rickie Lambert has spent his entire career in the lowest two professional divisions. He's 29 and when you look back on his career you can see moments where if he'd been properly coached he'd have been able to progress much more. When he eventually moved to Bristol Rovers he started to properly improve, and since then people in the know have realised this bloke has certainly got some skill, both in his head and in his feet. All he needed was the attitude. He's shown he can score goals for fun, in the past, and he can literally dominate a game, he has that much influence. To me, it's a sporting crime this guy hasn't played in the top division yet. If he'd been properly guided much earlier, he'd have had half of his career there by now, that I'm certain. The upside to all this delay is that Rickie plies his trade with us. Listening to his post match interviews, you couldn't imagine a nicer, more modest guy, than Rickie. Saints may be trying to achieve promotion for Markus, but I think they ought to be trying just as hard for Rickie, so he can show people, in the Premiership, what they've been missing.
I don't see how this is a pointless thread. I know how well he played against Leeds, maybe I didn't communicate my point very well. My only concern is that if he doesn't score soon he may develop a mental block about scoring at this level. I am not on his back, I rate him highly, if you read my opening statement I said he should be our main striker! It seems slot of you don't read properly or jump to conclusions and don't bother reading the rest of the thread, I had even stated in my second reply that it was more concern than anything... FFS. I don't think it was a stupid thing to write and I won't apologise for it. But some of your responses are a bit needlessly aggressive when a simple "I can see what you are saying but RL will be fine".
Not worried yet, I have been pointing out for quite a while that Lambo is no longer playing the classic Centre Forward role, although I think he would if asked, but he is more involved in creating and is no slouch at that, but that means he won't get as many chances himself.
If he doesn't start scoring soon? We've played TWO league games, sandwiched between a League Cup game in which he scored. You've talked about him having a 'mental block' - WTF? He had chances yesterday, but the way you talk it's as if he has no confidence in his ability to score.
I noticed a change in Rickie's style quite soon after Adkins joined us. He was no longer a centre forward waiting to receive the ball and score (though he does that as well). Nigel develops players and turns them into a team. The man is a football genius (with apologies to Marsden).
Haha. This is getting silly. And childish. Although, I really want to respond in a similar fashion, I'm just going to let you have it. I probably was over reacting... I'm also going to put £5 on Rickie to score on Tuesday. If he doesnt you owe me a fiver.
I do understand what Leon86 meant..early goal gets the monkey of your back, but I think his free kick did that. He was so angry when he missed during the Leeds game, but the confidence must be high now.
Don't worry Leon..reckon you're on a winner. Come on guys..we don't want to make people afraid to post.
