WhoScored (stats group online) data shows Saints should have two England regulars, using data the following English XI based on season form and performances was compiled: Ruddy; Johnson, Williamson, Mancienne, Baines; Osman, Gerrard, Noble, Lallana; Rooney, Lambert. Not sure what this says, or doesn't say. Stats can be funny things. Anyway, there you go. DTLW
If Hodgson played that lineup in a competitive match he would be slaughtered by the media. It's not a bad line up though, except for the CB's.
Gets his head on plenty of crosses. That he tends to direct them to the opposition, frequently within the penalty area, is something of a strike against, I guess.
You bloody well should at least have Rickie wearing the three lions. Best player I've ever seen in the blue and white quarters of Bristol Rovers, a class act and a great professional. There aren't many players who have come up through the divisions like Rickie has and have shone at each level. Great point for you Saints at Chelski tonight and you will quite clearly stay up with the astuteness of Adkins, the class of Lambert, Lallana and Ramirez. If only we'd sensibly reinvested the million we got for Rickie, we wouldn't be in 92nd place right now. Having said that, John Ward will keep us in the football league and we start building our new 21,700 capacity stadium in a couple of months, now that the enabling development was approved earlier this evening. All the best to Saints, great club and nice city
Best £1mill Saints have ever spent. I will be ever grateful to Bristol Rovers for selling him to us. What a bargain that turned out to be! He has been nothing short of sensational for us in the last couple of seasons. He has been transformed from a very good football league player to one of the top English centre forwards. He has become a Saints legend in next to no time. By the way, what was his penalty record like with you?
Deadly - although I suspect not as deadly he's been from the spot for you! 100% would take some beating! An absolute legend and a great guy - always had time to chat to me and my boys. I've got an 8 year old who still asks me if we'll ever sign him back!!!
As you say Bluebaldee Rickie was an absolute legend both for Rovers and now for Saints + as you say a real decent guy - after our game at Anfield he took the time to come over and says 'thanks guys ' to me and my son when we were waiting for friends outside the gates, even though he was in a hurry to go and meet his family and friends in his home city. When you watch Rickie play regularly you get to see what the friggin media dont seem to - that he is an awesome footballer with great skill in his feet, his head and his brain. He is far more than an out and out centre forward. He is revered here and rightly so - he is up there with Channon & Le Tiss etc.
I echo everything Bb says....it was a privilege to watch Lambert play. A complete footballer..left foot, right foot, headers, spatial awareness, holding the ball, lay-offs, penalties, free kicks, closing down.... Sod the (alleged) lack of speed...his footballing brain is faster than most. Seldom injured too. Well worth an England shirt.
I'm sure that if we had a player who was out and out the best in his position he would be picked for England. The problem is that if all things are equal the players in top 6 teams will always be picked.
And even if all things aren't equal (for example the players in the top 6 players are in rubbish form or just generally overrated) they'll still always be picked.
Removing my red-and-white-tinted specs for a moment, I still believe Lambert deserves a call up. I honestly can't name three English forwards in better form than Sir Rickie atm - maybe an argument for Defoe and Rooney will always get picked but I think Lambert deserves it more than Sturridge, Crouch, Bent, Carroll. Frazier ****ing Campbell got a call up last year so if Rickie doesn't get one then I will be shocked.
Isn't Rickie the joint top English scorer in the PL with Defoe? I wouldn't be surprised to see Lambert outscore Rooney this season, especially if Rooney keeps missing his penalties!
