Minty

Am I being a bit harsh if I think his 'assist' was somewhat lucky/hopeful rather than being a measured/intended pass?

Rickie has limitations in the same way every player has them - in that he plays best when used a certain way. England did not play to Rickie's strengths at all last night and whilst I (and I'm sure he) would be the first to admit he could've done better, England were poor overall and such scapegoating is unfair on SRL. Had they built on the way they were playing off him in the first half, Ukraine were there for the taking, but most of our play disintegrated long before it reached Rickie. The likes of Rooney and Sturridge would obviously give England more variety and greater skill set to choose from, no one can deny that, but when you know you only have Rickie Lambert to play upfront, and then play so utterly poorly and against his strengths, it is rather crass to then focus on what other players could bring to the party. Having said all that, the veiled criticisms are perhaps aimed more at the likes of Walcott and Milner... had we had Rooney and Sturridge instead of those two, playing off Lambert, that might've been interesting.

It would be rather pathetic if he was - as I said above, our build up play second half was non-existent. Rickie was worse second half, but there were worse players out there, players who played way below their level.

Poor overall by England - Lambert had a solid first half but second half ended up losing his touch, partly because he saw the ball so little and couldn't get into the game, but he was far from the worst on the pitch, and the primary criticism should be aimed at the poor possession we had in the first two thirds of the pitch before it got near to Rickie. The promise of the first half gave way to a pretty turgid and predictable display second half. Standard stuff for England really - little movement or inspiration and players who should be able to pass 8 yards to each other seemingly forget how to do so.

Rickie's done his job well so far - he's wasted a couple but most of the time he's brought others into play and linked play well. All the focus on him being able to cope etc, etc, whilst fair questions, are clearly misdirected... with Walcott and Milner waster possession far too much, Wilshere and Gerrard too inconsistent for players of their supposed class. Ukraine don't look particularly threatening except perhaps on the break down our right - Walker doesn't look all that to me, but we aren't in any real danger. If we get a bit more clinical with our passing and keep playing off Lamberts good forward play, we should win this.

Agreed - it seems your Lambert denier is simply looking for as many reasons as possible to criticise, rather than fairly assessing his game. The players who can create and score from nothing are few and far between.

The9 is right - Lambert is not known for creating something out of nothing for himself by bursting past a man or using a trick - but then neither were Gary Lineker or Alan Shearer or many other International strikers down the years...

No, I got about 30 seconds before it died. Someone posted it in Twitter and it probably couldn't cope.

Although it doesn't seem to be much kop for me...

http://www.viplivesports.eu/football/174378/1/finland-u21-vs-england-u21-live-stream-online.html

Surely EVERY day is a sad day on a mongboard?

I realised as I was typing it that it might draw that kind of reaction - but then I am talking about my specific friends, people I know, peoples whose opinion I have been privy to on many different subjects and so have a wide frame of reference, not just randoms commenting on SRL. And NO fan can really comment on the Billy Sharp situation, as NO ONE other than staff knows what goes on at the club or training. What we're talking about here is judging a players current on-the-field performances for an international team. Rather different. I know my friends and those whose opinion I value, and whom I've had many disagreements with in the past, but who always quantify and qualify their views, have ALL said, without exception, that they think Rickie has played well and deserves his place. I have friends who make blunt, unqualified statements with little or no reasoning, and I don't listen to them. Much the same as I treat people on here really.

That's fair comment, none of us will ever forget that, but it's a bit like relationships and many other things in life... if we simply live in fear of what might happen (again) then we'd never do anything, meet new people, do new things at all.

Lets put it this way - all of my mates whose footballing opinion I actually respect, think he played really well. The negative comments seem to have come from those with blinkered views.

Rickie's speed is in his brain - just like Teddy Sheringham - and I make no apologies for continuing the comparison. He is exactly the kind of person who can help unlock a better defence with his weight of pace and awareness of runners. I really do think he can do well.

Oh I completely agree with the first line... although if you know who to follow, then the second is possible, you just need to filter out the rest!

No offence alps, but I just find it a shame that everything you post about is always linked in some way to someone being disappointed, be it yourself or the team or a player... We just have different outlooks I guess, but here's how I would look at it: Rickie has contributed to England qualifying campaign already, he has a chance to do so yet further tomorrow night, and so when it does come to an end, I'm sure he will have no regrets, and is (already) pleased to have been able to make that contribution.

What, you mean be controversial for the sake of it, or say something just to provoke a reaction? Why? For what purpose? So you've got something to disagree with? What has 'passion' got to do with it? Bizarre. I call it how I see it... that's how I call it so posted accordingly. I'm quite comfortable with that. If you're not, ignore me.

It's pretty simple really IMO - the coaching staff see him in training every day and make their judgement accordingly. I personally though he would've had a chance, but for whatever reason he hasn't, and without evidence to the contrary, I'm not going to jump on some conspiratorial political bandwagon or try to make it a bigger issue than it is (for some).

I don't think he'll be drawing on 'untapped reserves', I think he'll just go out and do what he has done in the last two games, i.e. play well. What did you mean by 'I personally think he's had his fun' just out of interest?

Turks is spot on so little need for me to add anything. When I was covering the Academy for the Echo, I watched and interviewed numerous youngsters who got to the fringes of the first team or moved to other teams with some promise, but who then disappeared out of football altogether, far quicker than Forecast. It happens. It's not embarrassing, it's just football. You'd think some people would learn that after years watching the game, but it seems not... Couple that with an apparent need to lay blame and to have a scapegoat... well, it can be a bit silly can't it? You know what, as much as I've always thought that his 'mongboard' title was a bit OTT, it's subjects like this that actually make me wonder if he's been right all along. We do have some real mongs as fans, who revel in overreacting.

I still think his primary contribution will be with the ball at his feet, and I think he'll continue to surprise a few people. The Scotland and Moldova games have allowed him to settle in to the squad somewhat and to gain confidence in his own ability at that level. Now he has the chance to impress yet further. Once again, I have faith in him that, given the ball in the right areas and in the right way, he will produce. Thank god that those around him won't be saying 'Ah well Rickie, you've done well up to know, but we think you'll struggle tonight. Play anyway, see what happens, but at least you've got some great memories eh?'. He can produce the goods, and I for one am proud to believe in him. Isn't the game tomorrow night though?

Peter Rodrigues ran the cafe next to where my Mum worked in Hythe for many years, she got to know his really well. Lovely bloke.

And Marian Pahars' Latvia side beat Lithuania too...

Superb work by Rickie - Welbeck and he linked up well and as much as I thought Welbeck's play everywhere else on the pitch was pretty poor, you can't deny that he finished his chances well. But anyway, back to SRL... superb all round game, which showed exactly what we all knew about him - that his all round game is what makes him such a complete player, not just his goals. I said it years back, and I'll dig out where, just as was highlighted in the commentary tonight - he is like a modern Teddy Sheringham, and has plenty to offer England. He will only get better as he gets more settled into the line-up.