Anyone remember the debate as we were coming into the premier league? "Is Lambert capable of being another Grant Holt...."
Only 6 players have more combined goals and assists than Rickie; Suarez, Aguero, Sturridge, Rooney, Toure and Giroud whilst he is equal with Ramsey, Hazard and Lukaku. Not bad company to be keeping I would say.
[video=youtube_share;jDiVQLfI9Lo]http://youtu.be/jDiVQLfI9Lo[/video] Tried to find a video with all 100 goals that Saints player put up last season, but could only find this little Gem of Rickie as a teenager for Macclesfield. Great celebration for his 2nd goal
Rickie has had a lot of stick this season. Does anyone else think he has had a rough ride. How many other players have had to adjust from League 1 centre forward to Premier League mobile forward. A lot of other players have had great first seasons then faded , Holt, Benteke but Rickie just proves he is better than a flash 15 million 'star'. By this I mean better for the club not just for himself.
I was a bit concerned by his comment after the game about trying his hardest as long as he at the club. Did he come genuinely close to leaving?
So, so pleased for the big man, love Rickie and everything about him. I've heard several stories about him off the pitch, all good. Don't think he's had a great season thus far, but I always preferred him in the starting eleven than that other guy .....Dani something or other?
Again, it's the modestly of the man. He takes nothing for granted, even his place in the squad. It's easy to like Rickie. You only have to look at the reaction he gets from the England fans to his arrival or the players when he scored. It's because he is so unassuming. I know he is not from our Academy, be he seems like he could have been and is a natural fit with our "family" in a way that Osvaldo never was. I think that we may be too nice, you know...
Rickie is such a lovely guy. I think he raised interest generally in the England team at a time that it was flagging. Everyone remembers his first game...Scotland and all that....but he scored in his second game and provided two assists (which would have been three if Walcott (?) hadn't timed his run wrongly. Adam (on Player) was praising him saying that when he drops deeper the others know to run because he can find you on a sixpence. Also said how much our promotions are down to SRL. He did mention in an aside the speculation about Rickie leaving....didn't deny it so much as glad he is still here...may have been a bit of truth there. Purely selfishly....I accept that he will one day retire, but cannot bear the thought of him playing for someone else.
Just seen the goals against Fulham for the first time. What a ****ing pass that was to Rodriguez that was. Not a bad finish either!
You can take the man out of Liverpool but .... He sounds posh scouse now! Scousers love him, btw. They tend to admire scousers who do well while away from home as they think it enhances the image of Liverpool. Right or wrong, Rickie is a great ambassador for Liverpool as well as for Southampton FC. Could those who thought the club would have been right to sell him just watch those three goals again? The pass to Rodriguez ... had that been Rooney the press would have been drooling over it. Ditto, the weight on the pass to Lallana. When you've admired that, and the way he took his goal, watch Adam Lallana's interview on Player. Then come back and tell us we should have sold him. I might change my name to simply Lambert is God!
I've just watched the extended highlights on the Player. Rickie was definitely playing deeper in the second half and him, Schneiderlin and Cork made the difference. The long ball to Rodriguez was a thing of utter precision and beauty, and he crafted it with about half a second to decide what to do. The man's football brain is just incredible, and I'm just so pleased we are playing him more in a creative role now.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/10981734.Rickie_a_goalscoring_legend/ Does anyone believe what this article says?
All I know is that Lallana mentioned the speculation and was glad that Rickie stayed...he didn't deny the truth of it, just that he was glad he stayed. I suspect it must have been at least mooted. Rickie was certainly not himself, but is now back to his smiley best, If true, what was Nicola thinking...was he considering buying another striker, was there a need to balance the books? Can't believe that MP would want a player like Rickie to leave if he didn't have to. Could have been an unmitigated disaster.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26006853 Am I missing something here? Andy Carroll? How did he deserve to be ahead of Rickie, or even JRod if it comes to that!
I've not seen the highlights, and I've no intention of watching them!, but his pass on Saturday for the 3rd goal was as good as I've seen at the Cottage, Coutinho for Liverpool last season did something similar but I'd put Rickie's above it. Spirit crushingly fantastic. Was a good display from the reds for last 35 mins particularly. By that time we'd flopped on the bed completely spent, Bent's chances in the first half representing our best attacks in the match. You lot just soaked it up, pressurised the defence, used the ball smartly and killed it as a contest before 70mins. It must be great playing against us! Hope the fans that came down enjoyed the day, the large number combined with six nations made it near impossible to get a seat in any nearby pub. PS - not sure the video above can really be considered a hat-trick, the third one was screaming at the steward.
Nice one. For you and George Cohen I hope Fulham stay up. To show you how much this means, not even the Trinity of Moore, Peters and Hurst can make me want West Ham to stay up!
Just a little note to any doubters about his form. Rickie was rated as the best striker in the EPL this weekend: http://www.fantasyleague.com/Articl...rLeague/lambert_leads_the_way_with_seven.aspx
