So the top 2 strikers (stastically)in the league go at it tomorrow. Anybody else put money on Rickie as top scorer at the start of the season? I got 26-1 so despertaley hoping Rickie outshoots him tomorrow. If he does I can't see anybody catching him with him already being 4 clear. Anyway be interested on Leeds' fans views on McCormack as it seems to me he hasn't always been first choice despite his goalscoring exploits. Does he bring anythinng else to the table except goals?
Mccormack is a very good all round player. Has quite a few assists to go with the goals. Drops deep into the midfield at times to get hold of the ball and create things. If he took asmany pens as lambert this year he'd be well clear at the top . Only problem with ross is hes a confidence player. So if he goes a few games without scoring you can see it affects him abit
You know what..? I have no idea whether Rickie is a confidence player or not. His confidence always seems to be sky high, and with his technique to fall back upon, even if he goes through a dry period, it'll not be long. Besides, he has so much more to give than just goals.
I don't know why people seem to think penalties shouldn't count towards a strikers tally. It takes skill and nerve to score them and are arguably more difficult than some chances you get from open play. Should we discount tap ins and open goals from counting towards a strikers total?
I'm sorry but if I took your penalties I'd probably get a few goals. Not that they shouldn't count, but I always take Lambert's goal tally with a pinch of salt because of them. Funnily enough, when Rosco came Cardiff fans were saying he only had a great season because he scored loads of pens and free-kicks, and so far I think he's only scored 1 fee-kick for us.
Agreed. And it's not just Rickie scoring the penalties, it's how he scores them. He gives the keeper next to no chance, every time he strikes one. He deserves credit for that (Suarez for example is a great attacking player, but my god can he not take a penalty). The amount of penalties that Shearer scored in his career doesn't stop me from being totally convinved that he's the best out and out striker, leader of an attack, that the Premiership has ever seen.
I reckon that Lambert is a fantastic player but the amount of pens he does score makes his tally slightly decieving. Not to say though that I wouldn't like him up front playing with Rosco though, that'd be a great partnership. I can't see Ross being top scorer though come the end of the season but he does give more to the team than just goals, some of his best performances this season has been in games where he hasn't scored
The frightening thing about Lambert is that, if he didn't play all over the pitch and act as a playmaker for others, he'd have scored even more.
I did wonder if he gives more than just goals, so good to hear that he does (although obviously not good for this evening!!). But so does Rickie. Nine assists so far in the Championship, which is just one behind Whittingham, Burke and your very own Snodgrass - who with ten assists, all currently top the table. I think he proves he gives more than just goals to us. If he doesn't beat Lallana and Whittingham to player of the season, then I'd be amazed. (On a side note, directly behind Lambert in the assists chart are both of our full-backs. Both Richardson and Fox currently sit on 8 assists. Teams really need to be careful of Richardson from open play, and Fox from set-pieces).
Lambert is also good at attracting players to him. Looking back at a few goals the striker that scored was in acres of space whilst everyone was crowding Lambert with the ball...a deft pass and Connolly (or whoever) had an easy goal.
I thinking Liverpool are showing this season just how important having someone capable of taking penalties can be. Ever since the opening day of the season, they've been missing penalties right the way through their team.
This is the reason I liked keogh in the team. But I won't go on anymore about that (i get in trouble everytime I mention him now). He is a very good striker and I didn't realise how many assists he had you know. I also am glad to see Richardson doing well, I could never really understand why we let him go
This goal was as good as his second in the last game. He is hitting top form just in time for the run out. On a side note, Forte has scored again...sadly for him too many ahead of him at Saints.
Fans moaning about players scoring penalties do my head in. Its a footballing skill that our national side have overlooked the importance if over the years. Goals apart, Lambert is simply a magnificent fulcrum to our well oils machine. We play through him, off him and via him. His touch is sublime, his vision is awesome, his strength all conquering and his finishing impeccable He and Whittingham have been by far the best and most consistent players I have seen this year.
Fair goal yesterday. 1 attept, one goal. Pity that O'Dea again went to sleep to give him the space to make that shot.
I have always liked Lambert, McCormack is a busy striker, he puts in a good shift. Lambert is just a pure and lethal goal scorer, personally I would take Lambert any day.