Ricky Lambert corners and free kicks

[Matthew Le Tissier]

Why on earth is the leagues top scorer taking every corner and free kick? He was even taking them from the half way line and then the ball was cleared and he was our last man defending, what a joke.

 

He is one the best headers of the ball we have so why not get on the ****ing box???

 

The one time he did was when we went 1:0 down and he thought I'll get in there and try score, and what dies he do?? He scores?

 

This has to stop, we have plenty of players who can take a corner and a free kick (cross not shot at goal)

 

Is it the manager or is it the player trying to take everything!

 

Shocking

 

we missed at least 7 chances first half today and not one was ricky, if it was it would have been in the back of the net!

 

Get it sorted

[Legod Third Coming]

Er, who set up those first half chances... oh yeah, Rickie Lambert with his brilliant delivery...

[S-Clarke]

I can understand why he does take the set-pieces, it's an interesting ploy and our corners have been much better since he's been taking them. (last 2 games anyway)

 

but then you're right in a way, you have the situation where the ball falls to players like Jaidi, Papa in the box...and not Lambert. (which is what we saw today)

 

Id' mix it up a bit personally, i wouldn't have him on the set-pieces all the time - but he is an interesting option to use as he's got such quality on his delivery.

[St Landrew]

Fact is, Ricky is also by far the best stirker of the ball in the team. I agree, it seems the wrong way round, but if the guys can't get the ball to him, it's probably better that he try to get the ball to them. The corner he took, in the 1st half, where James couldn't hold the ball, and so much pace and swing on it, that only he in the team could deliver it.

 

The trick is... get several other guys [like Harding..?] practising dead ball kicks until they can stop over and under hitting the ball regularly.

[Al de Man]

Given the choice of Ricky providing decent delivery or Ricky fruitlessly waiting for a ball which fails to clear the first defender, I know which I'd prefer.

[loughborough_saint]

Thats what happens with Lloyd James out of the side. I don't like Ricky taking them either but theres no point him being in the middle if theres no one to deliver a decent ball. I think Thomas the right decision at RB today just because we needed someone physical to get into their pretty boys a bit, but over all i would personally much rather see James on the pitch. he has set up loads of great chances for Ricky this season!

[Mark Mywords]

Why on earth is the leagues top scorer taking every corner and free kick? He was even taking them from the half way line and then the ball was cleared and he was our last man defending, what a joke.

 

He is one the best headers of the ball we have so why not get on the ****ing box???

 

The one time he did was when we went 1:0 down and he thought I'll get in there and try score, and what dies he do?? He scores?

 

This has to stop, we have plenty of players who can take a corner and a free kick (cross not shot at goal)

 

Is it the manager or is it the player trying to take everything!

 

Shocking

 

we missed at least 7 chances first half today and not one was ricky, if it was it would have been in the back of the net!

 

Get it sorted

 

I agree with you entirely. Previously Lloyd James took free kicks,etc. He doesn't play and the only player we can find is our best player in the box? The only set-piece he didn't take today and he scored. There have to be other players who can take free kicks and corners. Dan Harding proved today that he is one of them.

[Thedelldays]

we looked very dangerous from set plays with his deliveries...he is the best we have it we caused some real problems today from them

[70's Mike]

lambert every corner and free kick bar one taken by Harding , lambert scores

nuff said

[saintjay77]

Fact is, Ricky is also by far the best stirker of the ball in the team. I agree, it seems the wrong way round, but if the guys can't get the ball to him, it's probably better that he try to get the ball to them. The corner he took, in the 1st half, where James couldn't hold the ball, and so much pace and swing on it, that only he in the team could deliver it.

 

The trick is... get several other guys [like Harding..?] practising dead ball kicks until they can stop over and under hitting the ball regularly.

 

Thing your last sentance is a must. We need Ricky on the end of some good deliveries but we dont have anyone in the team that can put the ball into the right places. Morgan can pass from long range so I dont know why he is not the man for the set peices. He doesnt get enough time to put the ball about in general play but you would think from corners and long free kicks he would be ruthless. specially with Ricky on the other end of them.

 

So many changes in the team this year i suppose its hard for the team to practice 1 set way of doing everything. Think we need a run of games where everything stays the same.

[alpine_saint]

I find this also bizarre. Our CF should be in the penalty box to turn them or deflections / half-saves into the net. He's supposed to have the sharpest eye for doing so.

 

If we really do not have a decent corner or free-kick taker apart from him in the first 11, then Pardew has come up short in the transfer market.

[Singeon Sears]

Lambert is the best in the club at dead ball delivery, cross or shot, so it makes sense that he takes them.

 

As soon as someone emerges who is better than Lambert he can go back in the box.

 

It's pointless having Lambert in the box if the corner taker crosses it into the crowd

[sadoldgit]

I find this also bizarre. Our CF should be in the penalty box to turn them or deflections / half-saves into the net. He's supposed to have the sharpest eye for doing so.

 

If we really do not have a decent corner or free-kick taker apart from him in the first 11, then Pardew has come up short in the transfer market.

 

Didn't take you long to start having a pop at our manager again did it? Change the record Alps for goodness sakes.

[alpine_saint]

Didn't take you long to start having a pop at our manager again did it? Change the record Alps for goodness sakes.

 

Here we go again. Exhibit A - playing the man and not the ball.

 

This bloke is a lunatic.

[alpine_saint]

Lambert is the best in the club at dead ball delivery, cross or shot, so it makes sense that he takes them.

 

As soon as someone emerges who is better than Lambert he can go back in the box.

 

It's pointless having Lambert in the box if the corner taker crosses it into the crowd

 

Imagine how effective we will be with both; but I still find it strange that dead-ball delivery wasnt a criteria on APs January shopping list.

[Singeon Sears]

Imagine how effective we will be with both; but I still find it strange that dead-ball delivery wasnt a criteria on APs January shopping list.

 

Well if we could have persuaded Beckham to sign I'd agree with you. I haven't seen many yet in League One (or for that matter the championship) who can cross the thing with the sort of accuracy a fan craves.

 

I would suggest Lambert is a class above the rest in this league with his delivery, so lets use it.

[alpine_saint]

Well if we could have persuaded Beckham to sign I'd agree with you. I haven't seen many yet in League One (or for that matter the championship) who can cross the thing with the sort of accuracy a fan craves.

 

I would suggest Lambert is a class above the rest in this league with his delivery, so lets use it.

 

If we had someone of Connollys quality available, I'd agree. But it sadly seems we havent.

[Kingsland Red]

I totally agree with the OP.

No criticism of Papa and Lallana but Ricky was given one chance today and scored. He has to be in the mixer with the others creating chances for him. I am sure we have others who can take the free kicks and corners picking out our goal machine.

 

PS. As this is my only post match post , I was disappointed but still very proud today that for 70 minutes our team kept an expensively assembled ( way beyond Pompey's budget anyway) group of full internationals at bay.

It all seems a bit unjust really.

[TopGun]

I certainly think it is a waste having RL take freekicks from deep, wide positions as he did today. Fine, if he can hit the target from deep and there is a case for his tricky corners too.

[SFC Forever]

I can understand why he does take the set-pieces, it's an interesting ploy and our corners have been much better since he's been taking them. (last 2 games anyway)

 

but then you're right in a way, you have the situation where the ball falls to players like Jaidi, Papa in the box...and not Lambert. (which is what we saw today)

 

Id' mix it up a bit personally, i wouldn't have him on the set-pieces all the time - but he is an interesting option to use as he's got such quality on his delivery.

 

Exactly the same problem as with Antonio. Time and time again our RB was left without cover when Antonio went to the left corner area for a throwin. We have to learn to mix up corners and free kicks. Every corner should not be the same in the same way as throwins so someone sort it out please.

[shurlock]

Let him continue taking freekicks and corners, especially away from home -James, Mills and Lallana have failed to produce. We have some big boys whose presence has been criminally wasted. Today we were as threatening from setpieces as any match this season. Ultimately I'd rather have some guarantee that the delivery is going to be good than an extra body in the box, even somebody like RL.

[SFC Forever]

Let him continue taking freekicks and corners, especially away from home -James, Mills and Lallana have failed to produce. We have some big boys whose presence has been criminally wasted. Today we were as threatening from setpieces as any match this season. Ultimately I'd rather have some guarantee that the delivery is going to be good than an extra body in the box, even somebody like RL.

 

 

If he is going to keep taking them then perhaps Barnard has to be starting in all the games. We need someone who can put the ball into the net on a regular basis.

[shurlock]

And apart from his goal at Huddersfield, RL hasnt got to the end of a corner/setpiece. I don't actually think he's that mobile around the box. He's certainly not a David Connolly or Kevin Phillips who can find space, get to knock-ons and fire shots away.

[Ponty]

I said today, as a joke, that Ricky needed to loft the ball up high from free kicks so that he could make a run to get on the other end of it and nod it in. It was quite sharply pointed out to me that some free kicks are indirect so they wouldn't count. Well that told me.

[shurlock]

If he is going to keep taking them then perhaps Barnard has to be starting in all the games. We need someone who can put the ball into the net on a regular basis.

 

Agree we're missing a fox in the box (which RL isn't really). Whether that's alone enough to justify Barnard's place in the team, I'm not so sure. I'd be more happy with Connolly. That means losing somebody like Papa whose pace did stretch Pompey -some of the press reports say he was a bigger threat than RL, notwithstanding his miss(es).

[Tractor_Saint]

I said today, as a joke, that Ricky needed to loft the ball up high from free kicks so that he could make a run to get on the other end of it and nod it in. It was quite sharply pointed out to me that some free kicks are indirect so they wouldn't count. Well that told me.

 

But that's OK isn't it? Cos if he crossed it then headed it it wouldn't be indirect?

 

:smt119

[slickmick]

Agree, with op, everyone around me was saying the same thing.

[brightspark]

I'd imagine Puncheon could be a half decent delivery man? And Lloyd is coming along too, so although at times frustrating i'm not too bothered.

[Matthew Le Tissier]

its a sad state of afairs when a profesional footballer hasnt got the ability to take a corner? even more so when you have 9 outfield players in one team whocant do it.

 

correct rickys deliverys were good. however he would have put most them chances away.

 

i totaly disagree we had no other players who can take corners or free kicks today. if that is the case the manager should be held responsible for not bringing someone in who can do it.

 

plus the free kick ricky took from our left back possition didnt beat the first man and they had a counter and ricky was last man and they almost scored. so his kicks are not all perfect.

 

he will be taking throws and goal kicks next.

[chivvy1664]

i thought scnederlin was a dead ball specialist when we bought him. Just like Idiakez

[Master Bates]

I was peed off on Tues and the start of yesterday when Lambert was taking the corners, but you know, we should have had 2 maybe 3 easy goals from them, keep em coming Lamby.

[Greedyfly]

You people who say that he should continue taking freekicks genuinely believe that there isn't a single professional footballer in our squad that can't deliver a decent dead ball. Granted from the limited times Ive watched Saints on TV this season it's abundantly clear that Lambo is the best but I am sure whoever is 'second' can deliver at least a half decent cross or corner. If this isn't the case then I think I can see why we won't be making the playoffs this year because that is a pathetic statistic.

 

One delivery from Harding (who I though people were raving about at the start of the season) onto one Rickie Lamberts head = one goal. It's a fairly startling statistic.

[John B]

I was peed off on Tues and the start of yesterday when Lambert was taking the corners, but you know, we should have had 2 maybe 3 easy goals from them, keep em coming Lamby.

 

Me too but did Thierry Henry not take corners for Arsenal

 

Not having a footballer at RB does not help either

Edited 14 February, 2010 by John B

[JustMike]

Thats what happens with Lloyd James out of the side. I don't like Ricky taking them either but theres no point him being in the middle if theres no one to deliver a decent ball. I think Thomas the right decision at RB today just because we needed someone physical to get into their pretty boys a bit, but over all i would personally much rather see James on the pitch. he has set up loads of great chances for Ricky this season!

 

but his deliverys are crap! Maybe when Puncheon returns he will take some

[Gordon Mockles]

Why on earth is the leagues top scorer taking every corner and free kick? He was even taking them from the half way line and then the ball was cleared and he was our last man defending, what a joke.

 

He is one the best headers of the ball we have so why not get on the ****ing box???

 

The one time he did was when we went 1:0 down and he thought I'll get in there and try score, and what dies he do?? He scores?

 

This has to stop, we have plenty of players who can take a corner and a free kick (cross not shot at goal)

 

Is it the manager or is it the player trying to take everything!

 

 

Shocking

 

we missed at least 7 chances first half today and not one was ricky, if it was it would have been in the back of the net!

 

Get it sorted

 

Totally agree & mentioned the same thing on other threads. Yes, let him take goal scoring opportunity free kicks but not free kicks delivered for players attacking the ball and defintely not corners. He's too important in the box! It's no coincidence that Harding's free kick was intercepted & stuck in the net by Lambert. I hope Pardew wrote that down in capitals & underlined it on his note pad!

[alpine_saint]

i thought scnederlin was a dead ball specialist when we bought him. Just like Idiakez

 

Indeed. Just like Idiakez. As in, sh*t.

[Gordon Mockles]

Indeed. Just like Idiakez. As in, sh*t.

 

If you thought Idiakez was sh*t, that proves how little you know. Did you watch Idiakez in many games at St Mary's?

[Andy_Porter]

If you thought Idiakez was sh*t, that proves how little you know. Did you watch Idiakez in many games at St Mary's?

 

Are you defending Idiakez? He was one of the worst footballers I've seen in a saints shirt. No bottle, no heart, no desire. That penalty miss just summed him up as a player.

[markr27]

I think Puncheon will be the main man for corners when he returns to the team. Unless Lallana gets some decent practice in this week

[St Landrew]

One of the thoughts that struck me about Lambert yesterday, after he'd done yet another piece of stand out football, was how much his value has risen in the last 6 months. Rickie was signed for £800K rising to £1M subject to appearances, and let's face it, he'll make the total whatever it is, even if he hasn't yet. IMO, he's been quite an astonishing bargain, so far.

 

Pardew has talked about his star players coming to the attention of other clubs, and that if a club comes waving the chequebook, they'll have to pay the proper value of those stars, because Saints certainly don't need the money. He was obviously referring to Lambert, Lallana, etc... Without trying to start up any transfer talk, I was thinking Ricky might be worth three, possibly four times as much as Saints paid for him.

[John B]

One of the thoughts that struck me about Lambert yesterday, after he'd done yet another piece of stand out football, was how much his value has risen in the last 6 months. Rickie was signed for £800K rising to £1M subject to appearances, and let's face it, he'll make the total whatever it is, even if he hasn't yet. IMO, he's been quite an astonishing bargain, so far.

 

Pardew has talked about his star players coming to the attention of other clubs, and that if a club comes waving the chequebook, they'll have to pay the proper value of those stars, because Saints certainly don't need the money. He was obviously referring to Lambert, Lallana, etc... Without trying to start up any transfer talk, I was thinking Ricky might be worth three, possibly four times as much as Saints paid for him.

 

Not sure who would pay £4m but I too think he has improved since his arrival

[Flyer]

Its the 1st time Ive seen him play, he won everything in the air and scored with the 1 set piece he didnt take.

 

Seems like a no brainer for someone else to take corners and set pieces that arent shots on goal.

 

I also think he will move on in the summer if Saints dont go up.

[Window Cleaner]

Its the 1st time Ive seen him play, he won everything in the air and scored with the 1 set piece he didnt take.

 

Seems like a no brainer for someone else to take corners and set pieces that arent shots on goal.

 

I also think he will move on in the summer if Saints dont go up.

 

plus if you have to move Jaidi,Thomas and Hammond into the box for every corner because your main striker is out wide taking the set pieces you're certainly going to get stung on the break sooner or later, these 3 not being

Usain Bolt replicas. Why Harding doesn't take them or Morgan (because he can, I've seen him do it) I've no idea? It's what AP wants but why beats me.Antonio put in a delicious cross yesterday, he must be able to take a corner of some sort.

Edited 14 February, 2010 by Window Cleaner

[St Landrew]

I also think he will move on in the summer if Saints dont go up.

 

Don't think so. Incredibly, Lambert has never played higher than League One, and Saints are far and away the biggest club he's played for. He's 27, and it is true he's playing more consistently than he ever has before, and so has probably come to the attention of a few more clubs. But none of those that will look at him, and possibly consider splashing proper amounts of money will be a step up. It's possible clubs WBA, Wolves, etc... might have the money, but I doubt it. Lambert is certainly worth £3M, but has any club got that spare..?

 

Except maybe Saints..?

[Window Cleaner]

Don't think so. Incredibly, Lambert has never played higher than League One, and Saints are far and away the biggest club he's played for. He's 27, and it is true he's playing more consistently than he ever has before, and so has probably come to the attention of a few more clubs. But none of those that will look at him, and possibly consider splashing proper amounts of money will be a step up. It's possible clubs WBA, Wolves, etc... might have the money, but I doubt it. Lambert is certainly worth £3M, but has any club got that spare..?

 

Except maybe Saints..?

 

 

 

I would think he may well interest one of the CCC sides promoted to the Premier League, scores goals and can no doubt provide others. We may have improved his fitness to a level he's never had before making him a totally different proposition to the one we bought.

[goodymatt]

If we clone Lambert he can put in the perfect cross and then actually finish it!

[Legod Third Coming]

We all think set-piece delivery is easy yet here I am watching Bolton and Spurs continually fail to beat the first man at corners and free kicks, to overhit passes and mistime crosses.

 

Perhaps we should just accept that sport is not a science and those people who can genuinely deliver an accurate ball every single time are few and far between.

 

I can name three: Beckham, Ronaldo and Le Tissier.

[alpine_saint]

Are you defending Idiakez? He was one of the worst footballers I've seen in a saints shirt. No bottle, no heart, no desire. That penalty miss just summed him up as a player.

 

+1.

 

I watched him take the title of Most Ineffectual Player on the Pitch on several occasions, most notably that match against Derby in the play off season at SMS when we could have gone top 3.

[Legod Third Coming]

+1.

 

I watched him take the title of Most Ineffectual Player on the Pitch on several occasions, most notably that match against Derby in the play off season at SMS when we could have gone top 3.

 

+1 with bells on!

 

Evidence of Burley's ludicrous player buying - one of 600 midfielders he purchased...

[alpine_saint]

+1 with bells on!

 

Evidence of Burley's ludicrous player buying - one of 600 midfielders he purchased...

 

Worst and most costly Saints signing in living memory imo, and that is saying something. Even eclipses Delgado, who at least scored a peach against Arsenal.