The way I phrased it - "it is my opinion that..." was a nod to the moderators rather than dismissing his opinion (though I do dismiss his opinion because it's ill-informed). Anyway. On the original subject matter. How long do people think Lambert has left in our first team? If people only think he'll be a regular first teamer for this season then would we turn down 5/6m for the sake of one more year?
He will stay on then retire here, were he will take up coaching, teaching others how to shoot and take a good pen.
I am hoping for another year as our talisman but with the type of players that we are bringing in it may be longer. Mayuka is fast and strong and has reportedly got a good crossing ability. with his willingness to cut in and shoot as well the defenders could at times be forced to leave Rickie less well monitored which would be a possible source of gold. Something we don't seem to see now a days is the type of through ball that the likes of Chivers and Channon used to get to run on to before smashing the ball goalwards.
I am hoping to see Lambert on the end of a few rather than the other way around. With our new and prospective purchases I hope we will have the talent to perform such passes on a regular basis. Quickness of mind can still give a certain amount of space at times.
If he struggles , I can see him going in January , if he does well , I can see us keeping him and clubs coming in with big money in the Summer ( Pardew springs to mind ) , but he will stay . The latter is the more likely in my opinion . On another subject ,seems a few heads need banging together . PLEASE sort it out , or at least don't feed the mosnter ........ This IS a good forum , I am confident it will remain so . I am not the most prolific poster but I do read a lot . Please EVERYONE take a deep breath and relax . # 1 J
A major factor is the fact we have only played two Premiership games, I know the results have been disappointing, but surely it is far too soon to write everyone off as not good enough, it is a steep learning curve and very little time to be educated, a couple of quality signings could see us turn the corner, but there is no guarantee that everything is going to gel quickly. We have everything going for us but there is no telling what fate might provide. I would start Lambert and Sharp, but I am not paid to make decisions.
One good thing is that even if teams approach us to try and take our better players, we do not have to say yes anymore, we can pick and chose any deals and won't be taken for a ride any more.
I think another problem is that now we're back, we (as fans) feel we have never been away. I have said before, we have earned the right to compete at this level, but not to assume we will beat the 'lesser teams' (btw, we are one of those....)
Good debate, and some good points made. Personally, I think that no player did more to get us from League One to the Prem than Rickie, and he is a talisman and a true Saints legend. We would be mad to sell him, even if someone offered us £10 million. The City game showed he can score goals in the Prem just as long as he gets the chances, and with the midfield that is being assembled, chances he will most certainly get. He knows that he may only have a couple of seasons left at the peak of his career, and by the looks of it he wants to spend them with Southampton.
Exactly. Getting us here is worth more than the £10 million we may get. I think Nigel and Nicola will see that too. Long live St Rickie!
Hopefully Mayuka and Ramirez have the legs and the movement to get ahead of Lambert. He's not the quickest and his movement is a bit predictable, so I can see us using his ability on the ball more than his ability off it. We have other stirkers who are more likely to poach goals, but none of them offer the influence or the physical threat. With pace out wide, we should have goalscorers running ahead of Lambert. Against Carrick in defence and flappy De Gea in goal, Rickie might be able to bully his way through on Sunday. Will be interesting for sure.
Just popped back on here after eight months, I see nothing has changed, it's still the old recycled debate with the forced being nice to your much hated neighbours Shame this could of been the answer to the much missed real 606
Just because we ask for a semblance of respect for each other does not mean we have to agree with everything that is posted. Just because we ask for a semblance of respect when posting does not mean we are unable to debate with a hint of earnestness.
And it has just got a whole lot better matey. Billy Sharp may have gone but Iâm back having been suitably admonished for my whisky fuelled diatribe against certain of our fellow posters. Many years ago when I had my first job as a manager my boss, who was an advocate of the sunshine school of management, said to me ânever apologise and never explainâ and I have always followed her advice so this is quite a new experience for me. So if you are all ready here goes:- If my last post truly offended any poster then I apologise. When one is provoked and becomes very angry then that is not the right time to post on an internet thread. Well that is enough apologising and grovelling to last several lifetimes. Who said you canât teach an old dog new tricks?
Well it takes a decent man to stand up and say sorry in the face of such things, so hats off to you for that.
