We're all so used to the best from Rickie, so it's hard to take when he isn't playing as well as he can, but it happens - no player can be amazing all the time. Apart from Ronaldinho.
Hodgson was on talkSPORT just earlier. He says Rickie has his start due to taking his chances when they come, and his superb attitude.
Rightly or wrongly I always get the impression from Defoe that football is a job and not a passion. It always seems a foreign concept to us football fans but some players don't love the game, they just happen to be very good at it. Defoe is talented and works hard but when he clocks off football is far from his mind. He won't live and breathe it like a Rickie Lambert. I think that's what has prevented Defoe from being a 1st choice striker in a champions league team
I haven't time really to read all 9 pages of this, but I'm guessing it goes something along the lines of 'Rickie Lambert hasn't been at all at his best this season' and I would agree vehemently. I have no doubts that he can turn it around and his place in the England team and chance of starting tonight can only help that. I'm absolutely delighted for him to have the chance and I always thought (and this is no discredit to Southampton over the last few seasons) that if he had a really top-class supply line in the form of Gerrard, Walcott, Wilshire, Johnson that we would see the best of him. I was standing on the chair in jubilation when he was subbed on against Scotland let-alone when he scored. What a magnificent journey it's been for him and the fans, I remember when our only international player was Marek! I'm not sure how it will go tonight for RL7 but I'm already buzzing
Lambert is a very similar player to how Holt was for us.Last season some people thought he had gone off a bit.But I think it was more that he didn't get the same scoring opportunities.I think given some chances Lambert will put away as many as anyone because he is a bit of a natural goalscorer but they do rely quite a lot on the team giving them the chances,always a worry with Enger-land.
Chap on Sky praising Lambert. Says he is better than Torres and would have been a 25-30 goals a season man if he played for Chelsea. I'm taking that as the compliment that Rickie deserves.
If anyone trots out the "Lambert would be good if he had pace" cliche they should be forced to watch the run he makes after scoring. Even Oxo couldn't catch him! I'm rather proud that my so far footy resistant son (yes I am a bad dad) is finally interested in this game. I think after seeing me jump up and down, weep and then sing when Sir R scored against Scotland.
