Well Lambert was always scoring, albeit at a lower level. Castro spent 6 years trying to get into the Deportivo team but being outshone by the likes of Tristan, Pandiani, Luque, Arizmendi, etc. Got loaned out to lower clubs a few times and was largely unimpressive there as well. Now suddenly he's gone to Betis and is on fire. No idea where that came from, though FM always rated him.
On top of this Lambert has twice as many key passes per game as all of them other than Zlatan. And he's 0.3 above Zlatan (2.1 vs 1.8).
And the other guy. Lambert had chances his whole life to shine, he just didn't until he went to Brovers and transferred to us. While he was playing for Stockport, Rochdale and Bristol, Zlatan was at Inter, AC, Barcelona. You couldn't argue who has had a better career, and who is a better player. Lambert is having a great year, but he isn't one of the top 6 strikers over 30, because before he was 30, he ate far too many pies to be at the top of his game and consequently he never realised his true potential.
What a strange comment. He is realizing his true potential, by proving himself to be more than at home in the PL.
He is one of the top 6 strikers over 30 in terms of goals scored this season, which is what the chart indicates. Can't really argue with facts. It's not a measure of technical ability, but that's something that can't really be measured anyway. Having seen Inter play the other day, with Cassano and Palacio (both over 30) up front, you have to consider that Lambert might actually be as good as those players, considering neither of them has reached double figures this season.
I never once said he wasn't in the top 6 over 30 this season, he has been awesome for us, bar a few games. I'm simply saying it took him too long to apply himself for his job properly and consequently is not as good as he could have been. There is a reason this is his first year in the Premier League. This season he probably is better than Palacio. Disagree with Cassano, the man is a self centred nut case, but he has so much technical ability its insane! Reminds me a bit of Gaston.
just sick of the unbelieveable bias on here.. If he is so good, why hasnt he been in the prem his whole life? this league has had players like Rory Delap being praised week in week out for his anti football ways, yet Lmabert one of the worlds top strikers played in league 1/2 his whole career. There are reasons for that.
Ah statistics.. you can find one to back almost any argument. not sure how much you can read into it other than the goals. i.e do extra touches make for better shot accuracy. His conversion rate though works out at 1 in 6 (ibra 1 in 5) yet he only average's 2.5 shots every game. Therefore he needs to double (and a bit) the number of shots he has to make sure he scores......... Not sure we need stats to work that out. Shoot more score more!!! ha ha
can't really say that he isn't as good because he hasn't played at the top level for most of his career. Is a band or solo artist not as good if they only made the big time on their 9th album whereas another hits the big time with their debut? Football is much like the music industry (or at least was) where you sometimes only get noticed in later life. Difference being with music the back catalogue can then start selliing well whereas in sport you can't improve the years that have gone by. Similar IMO. HAS gone un-noticed at lower leagues. One club shells out for last season's scorer. Gets the break he needed and everyone asks 'Why did no-one notice this guy before?' Eva Cassidy must have been absolutely garbage. Forget she sold millions because she died before the sales happened!!! Akin to Lambert. One big name hears her record, plays it to a bigger audience and everyone says 'How did she not make it earlier in her career?' Right place right time etc. Pulp, Ocean Colour Scene..minor acts. Brit Pop 'happens' and all of a sudden their 'sound' fits and they get their break. Ian Wright? There are many others.
That reason is partially type-casting. When a PL side starts looking for new acquisitions, they are naturally going to be looking for players who fit one of two molds...those who have played at the highest level, either in England or abroad, and those who are young and have the potential to excel in the future. Rickie was a late-bloomer in some respects, but I suspect that he could have been a very useful contributor in the PL some time ago, but he was never going to get the opportunity because he failed to meet either of the above criteria. His lack of early-career discipline probably prevented him from reaching this level earlier, but I'm not sure that it prevented him from reaching his peak as a player.
With the form he is showing at the moment in the PL if he had been doing it consistently at this level in his mid-20's he would have had a very good chance of playing for a top4 club and getting champions league football with or before that would have come an opportunity at international level. In my mind he absolutely hasn't reached the peak he could/should have done.
