I expect us to have a Suarez if we want to compete for the title. Maybe not now, but in two years. Why is that so odd? Given Lambert's age and our goals, it's almost a certainty that in two years he won't be good enough. It's the same thing with Lambert as it is with Lallana, only Lallana can improve but Lambert won't. And again, not that I think or want either of them to go but this mentality of "We don't sell good players" is utterly perplexing to me. Good players are the precisely the ones you do sell because they are worth something. The whole point is to have good, possibly even great players and sell them because you already have or will then use the money to buy even better ones. No one wants terrible players, you won't get much money for them, and you shouldn't have any terrible players in the team to begin with, or else you messed up.
I'm so not surprised by that. It would never happen. Rickie would tell West Ham to **** off even if we accepted a bid.
I didn't think anyone would pay that price. For all we know, it's tittle-tattle, but that's a crazy offer if true.
8 Million may be a lot to pay for a player of Lambert's age, but a bargain if West Ham stay up. What I don't understand is how 3 strikers are considered too many.
Carroll is due back from injury soon isnt he, so cant see West ham playing with Carroll and Rickie up front.
Don't want to sell him; definitely don't want to sell him to West Ham. But all of that said, 8m up-front would be a more than fair offer.
3 strikers is not too many, but we can buy (or perhaps already plan to buy) one in January. But it's less about the number of strikers but the role they will play at the club. Because in reality, we have a zillion strikers: Gallagher, Osvaldo, Lambert, Rodriguez, Do Prado, Gallagher, Barnard, Lee, Sharp and Forte, and you could possibly throw Mayuka in there as well. Realistically, one or two players will see the vast majority of the playing time. The third will be used a sub or in the occasional game, or perhaps see a run of 2-3 games in case of injury. That third striker role may be better handed to a youngster like Gallagher who can gain from it and is a bigger part of our future. But if you think Gallagher isn't going to make it, then Lambert's veteran presence and "intangibles" give him extra value even when he's not playing. Similar situation with Davis/Gaazaniga last year. Davis was the player I felt was better as a sub because of his experience. But Gazzaniga had a role to play at the club by being part of our future so it was fine to have 4 GK temporarily. But Boruc was a guy I think either he's the starter or there's no point having him because of the baggage he carries around.
Barnard forte sharpe. What about lee?! Realistically we have 3 strikers and need more competition for that top spot. We need someone better than osvaldo/lambo/rod to push on. Maybe gallagjer is one for the future but the others Will sit out their contract and go. Lambert Will not be sold its too bigger risk to let him go for that money.
If we want more competition for the top spot, then you have to bring someone in. Then you will have new striker guy who we probably played a lot of money for and for whom we have high long-term ambitions, Rodriguez who is playing well now and who is also a future star, Osvaldo who we just paid a ton for and MP obviously likes and Lambert. And Gallagher still on the fringe. That's a lot of players to try and find time for. We're not playing in Europe, and we're already out of one cup competition. There's not much point in Lambert competing for a position at his age. He's either good enough now and we keep him for that reason, or we start looking for the future. And if we're bringing someone in, that means there's some doubt as to whether Lambert still has it. So why not let him go on loan or sell him if that is his wish rather than keeping him at the club? IMO, he's earned the right to cash in a last big paycheck and/or try and cement a spot on the World Cup side as this is his last go-round. We've already got enough strikers hanging around in limbo. I don't get why everyone talks about loyalty like it's some big thing, then are quite happy to screw Lambert over because we might need a fourth striker in an emergency. ACCEPTING A BID IS NOT THE SAME AS GETTING RID OF A PLAYER. He can go or he can stay. If we refuse a bid, then he has no choice. He's earned the right to go if he wishes, so long as we can somewhat spare him. And in that situation, we can. Three strikers plus Gallagher in a pinch is all you really need. Which is what we have now, so there's no reason to get rid of Lambert. Right now he's playing quite a bit and playing fairly well. But if we bring in another guy, it changes. We lack depth at defense at GK quite clearly, and yet we're going to carry like 500 strikers on the books? It makes no sense. 8 million is a good deal. Take it and buy a young GK with it as we don't appear to have an internal replacement for Boruc if he gets hurt or if he gets old which could happen in a hurry since he doesn't exactly have a history of keeping himself in top shape.
£8M for lambert yes! Hes looked off all season hes not getting any younger and probably wont go to the world cup. Adrian lopez sign him up.
The Cortese regime has never gambled with the squad. Financially we've not had to and although the long term vision is sustainability I can't see that approach changing. Now you could argue that this approach is costing us money. (Barnard, Sharp & Forte are still here) and selling a player who is playing in the 1st team will maximise revenue, but I just don't see Saints accepting £8m and being left with a giant sized striker hole in the squad or 6 goals and 5 assist to find. I expect the club thought that signing Osvaldo would be the 1st step for life without Rickie, but for one reason or another that's not happened yet. If Osvaldo had hit the ground running and Lambert had spent most games starting from the bench then that West Ham offer would be very tempting, but unless we bring in another Striker or playmaker I can't see us selling him.
Well they're already making up songs to sing for him on the KUMB forum! Amazing though they still see him as a Grant Holt type CF, never have realised how subtle and skilled he is compared to Holt (or Carroll). Three weeks with the West ham medical team should see Rickie's career done and dusted.
I know all fans see their club with a certain enhanced perspective but WH are possibly the most, er, affected. They really believe players are attracted by the "Big Name" club that is West Ham. Rickie will apparently jump at the chance to join a club of their stature. He will go ONLY if two conditions are met - 1) Mauricio says he's not in his plans/wanted here 2) 8 million squids are indeed paid. My Portsmouth supporting chum is gloating about this proposed move for some reason. Can't see the irony in my response - bought for 1m, sold for 8m and the best 5yrs of his career in a Saints shirt. Ho humm.
Firstly, I shall scweem until I'm sick if they sell our Rickie. I think Rickie will be very upset if he thinks saints want shot of him...he won't see West Ham as a good move because he is leaving here (fingers crossed it is all a lie). Secondly, West Ham fans are not the most deluded fans as long as Saints fans exist. I am happily in deluded dreamland and hope it continues.
We play West Ham in February....I couldn't bear it. Please Nicola...break a habit of a life time...get a minion to deny it unequivocally (with no weasel words).
