Obviously you can't predict the future but players with pace as one of their main strengths tend to crash and burn career wise(see Owen). When you've never really had it, you can't lose it. As long as his bones hold up from the bruising battles he'll still be an important player for the full term of the deal.
The day he leaves us/retires is the day I'll sob like a baby, so it's nice to know that day has been put off for a bit
Great news. The core of the team looks to be intact for the near future. Lambert has shown he is not to be underestimated. Each step up he has proven he is a player. Sounds like MP has him working more on his fitness and that can only be good. Seems like he can play the full 90 now with all the extra running and not look gassed. At the start of the season that was not true. He may not be the goal leader in a few years but even if he falls to #2 in goals that will still be good for us.
Same here. If he was truly like the bustling Grant Holt centre forward type, as one or two lazy twerp pundits say he is, he wouldn't be getting an extended contract. But we all know he isn't. He's a much more capable footballer all round.
Fantastic news for all Saints supporters - a well deserved contract for Rickie Lambert, already a club legend in a few short years. Its all been said in the posts above and they are all spot on. Way better than than an expensive signing of some supposed superstar from elsewhere.
Excellent news; is Southampton a well run club or what?! As many others have said, this is a very astute move as RL is such a clever footballer that perceived lack of pace will not be a problem for him as his position and distribution iare so good. Also got a penalty taker sorted for the forseeable as well...
Feeling very content with our first team squad the youngsters and the players that look like leaving in the summer, Chappers, Barnard etc. Only thing that puzzles me is Mayuka? Was that African tournament a fluke or have we just not seen the best of him?
I've been very busy this week, without a moment online or near a television, but upon turning my car radio on at Heathrow airport at 9pm plast night and hearing the words "Rickie Lambert signs new Contract for Saints", a vry satisifeid grin cam over my face. What a player Waht a man What a legend Not many players I can think of get Legend status after three seasons. He deserves his.
Only Luis Suarez and David Silva have created more chances in open play in the Premier League this season than Rickie Lambert http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/fa13j...er-Focus-Questionable-International-Omissions 'Rickie Lambert As the top scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season with 13 goals, Lambert is particularly unlucky to find his form overlooked by Roy Hodgson for his latest squad. The fact that he plays for lowly Southampton should not be reason to omit him, but rather be more impressed with his goal haul, particularly given that he is not surrounded by the quality that the likes of Jermain Defoe and Danny Welbeck are. Those two, incidentally, have just 11 Premier League goals between them in 2012/13. Furthermore, Lambert's all-round game means he creates as well. In fact, only Luis Suarez and David Silva have laid on more goalscoring chances for teammates in open play this season than Lambert (62). His average rating of 7.12 ranks him higher than Defoe, Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge, and the Liverpudlian striker certainly deserves a chance on the international stage.'
Honestly I have the feeling that Mayuka might have slacked off a bit. I was so impressed with him in the AFCON 2011, and there was no doubt in my mind that he was capable of making the step up at that point. There's a good chance, now he's got his dream move to the PL, that he's just stopped trying. He wasn't at all impressive for Zambia this time around.
Mayuka is a tough one for me. Personally I think he was always a bit of a 'project' buy, 21 years old, been playing in sub-standard leagues, but a lot of talent, if that were the case then I'd be perfectly happy with what he'd done for us so far. The problem for me is that he's just not getting any football, so you can't expect him to progress, you'd think if we weren't planning on using him much for the first team this year that he'd just have been put in the U21s, but as it is he just seems to be stuck in limbo. I'd be very happy to see him loaned out next year personally, as I do think he's got a lot of ability but he needs to be getting game time.
Can't be easy to maintain your form when you never play though. I wonder if confirmation that he'll playing at a high level for at least the next three years might make any difference to Hodgson's thinking.
Certainly seems a strange signing. Can't really use the "for the future" excuse as he doesnt even get on the bench anymore. One of the stranger signings I've seen, especially as he came on against Villa & Spurs and looked a handful.
Adkins didn't want to play him...one manager's opinion. However, Mauricio doesn't want to play him either. That does make you think. Perhaps he just needs more work or perhaps he is not suitable for our style.
