Oh dear. I hear Andy Carroll has injured his foot in training again. Rickie's leading a charmed life, or The Don is playing an absolute blinder..!
That was practically glowing support. Well done Roy. If anything, it vindicates us lot here, and a few at Bristol Rovers. We're not the idiots a lot of people took us to be.
Roy Hodgson: People misjudged Rickie Lambert, and that includes me - http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...rickie-lambert--that-includes-me-8805845.html
Good endorsement from the manager...especially liked it when he says Rickie looks like he's never been outside the England set up in his life and also says that he will be involved with England even if he doesn't score on Tuesday. He correctly says that Rickie hasn't suddenly become a skilled footballer, he's been overlooked.
Darren Lewis just reviewed a good piece by Martin Samuel on Rickie. He finished by saying he hopes Lambert succeeds as there could be no better poster boy for the England football team.
Here is that Martin Samuel piece: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...t-Rickie-Lambert--Martin-Samuel.html?ITO=1490
I've got to say, I am seriously proud and excited about Rickie's journey so far with the national team, and have no doubt that he is good enough to mix it with the Ukraine side tonight. I don't feel vindicated, though, as no one called me an idiot when I suggested SRL for England. A lot of people agreed he should be in the squad. Were there even loads of us calling for him to make the England side? I definitely remember it being a muted call if anything - people not wanting him to get injured etc. I personally felt he was good enough no problem; but also that if England were to build a team for the next decade, we had to look for those players who would still be playing in ten years. There certainly was no mass call for him to be included on this board, though doubt that anyone's reasons were due to doubting his talent.
I've been saying he should be given a chance since we were in the championship. If Jay Bothroyd can get a go, why not? That suggestion raised a few eyebrows at the time though, perhaps understandably. I don't think there are many now who would question his inclusion though.
My stance was a bit middle ground. I felt that Rickie deserved a chance when you consider players who were getting call ups, like Carroll, but I also felt that England should have a richer choice of players than they have. Where are the Michael Owens, Alan Shearers etc. So I was thrilled when Rickie was called up and prayed he would get the cap he deserved, but he has exceeded even my Saints-coloured hopes. I now know he can mix it at international level, whereas before I only hoped he could.
Part of the reason why I had mixed feelings about whether or not I wanted him to be called up is because of the pressure that we are all now feeling on his behalf, and the fact that the media is really waiting for a non-scoring game where they can denounce him as not up to scratch, and then everyone's expectations will deflate, and we will be - especially if we lose or fail to score tonight - facing a public that can't help blaming him, or at least think he shouldn't really be playing beyond friendlies and easy opposition, and revert back to thir view of him as an agricultural sort of aeriel target. I sort of feel that he probably isn't feeling it, but when he walks out on the pitch tonight, I can't believe it's not going to suddenly dawn in him. I get that feeling when I walk out to play a 5-a-side league game, and have had it since playing competitively for my school team.
Quite looking forward to the game. A goal would be lovely but I'm just hoping for a good contribution and some clever play. Even an assist would be great. Rickie has been under the pressure of Southampton relying on him for years, he has delivered with frightening regularity. I have every confidence in him. This is what he's wanted and fought for, for so long. Now is the time. RLSGM!
Here's Rickie on his Macclesfield debut: [video=youtube;jDiVQLfI9Lo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDiVQLfI9Lo[/video]
I think he will get a goal tonight. Such a great guy with the perfect attitude for England. Hodgson and the Journos are waiting for him to fail, so they can say "it was good while it lasted but it's just too much a step up for him". I so hope he plays like he can tonight.
