Minty Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 I don't just want to gush here, but having just watched the excellent All Angles Covered on Saints Player, I was left once again thinking something that crept into my mind some weeks ago. We've all seen how Lambert's game has improved markedly this season and his involvement in and linking of so much of our play reminds me slightly of another intelligent player who revelled 'in the hole': Teddy Sheringham. To be honest I actually think Lambert has better physical attributes, but his awareness, touch, control and passing ability, as well as the obvious shooting ability (power AND placement) remind me of Sheringham at his best. Do others see it? Or perhaps there are better comparisons? Rickie obviously has yet to make it at the top level, and he may not do so, but he's certainly showing many of the qualities that you need at the top level other than just putting the ball in the back of the net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 I think he's a footballing god, which is pretty sad as I'm 45 Seriously though, when he plays like he did yesterday he's unplayable! Touch, vision, power etc. The only thing is though is that I wish he was in the middle getting on the end of the excellent crosses he puts in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSaint Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 I think it's a very fair comparison Minty, and I'll go a little farther. Sherringham played at the top level until he was 41, I believe. He did that because he just seemed to get smarter and better with age, so the development/expansion of Rickie's game this year may just be a preview of improvement still to come. And if that's the case we still have another ten years of Rickie to look forward to, as long as we take care of him and he takes care of himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Saints Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 His all round game has stepped up a gear this season IMO, he's a more complete forward now which may be because of a slightly different role than he was used in the early days under Pardew. Such an unselfish player, which seems to reflect his personality (from what I've heard in interviews). Class act. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 For a striker that's not a tap in merchant, he's done amazingly well to be top nPC scorer. Saints legend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsacar saint Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 If Grant Holt who lets be honest is just a big lump,has scored 11 goals in the premier league,how many would Rickie [ a far,far better footballer score,with us hopefully]. Rickie gets better every game and his close control is absolutely top drawer. I am really excited what Rickie and Billy Sharp,can achieve for the rest of this season. The with us proviso with Rickie,is because he will be in great demand,if we are not promoted this season .[ 50/50 I would say]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSaint Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 If Grant Holt who lets be honest is just a big lump,has scored 11 goals in the premier league,how many would Rickie [ a far,far better footballer score,with us hopefully]. Rickie gets better every game and his close control is absolutely top drawer. I am really excited what Rickie and Billy Sharp,can achieve for the rest of this season. The with us proviso with Rickie,is because he will be in great demand,if we are not promoted this season .[ 50/50 I would say]. Very true, and I think Rickie is evolving into (if he isn't already) a player who will set up far more than he scores - all the more so now he has Sharp there. He's ahead of Holt on just about every measure in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 With Rickie's career starting off in midfield, it's allowed his creative game to develop with us under Nigel instead of just being the target man he was under Pardew. He drops off into space, links up with the midfield and can play pinpoint passes in the final third which is an invaluable attribute to have in your game. Like corsacar saint said, if Holt can score 11 goals in the Prem and if Rickie continues his form into the Prem (should we be promoted) I can see him ending up on at least 15/16. He's an absolutely indispensable member of our team and I hope he's with us for much longer! What amazing vision to get him for £1m when stupid prices are paid for much worse strikers... phenomenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwichsaint Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 When I watch the PL I find Dzeko the most direct comparison; he can play short and long, holds it up well, plays others in, and can finish when he gets the chance. How good would RL be playing with Da Silva etc? LOL Watching Liverpool at ManU yesterday couldn't help but think how much better they would be with Lallana for Downing and MS for Henderson! LOL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSaint Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 Watching Liverpool at ManU yesterday couldn't help but think how much better they would be with Lallana for Downing and MS for Henderson! LOL!! Shhhhhhhhhhh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwichsaint Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 Shhhhhhhhhhh! Indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 12 February, 2012 Share Posted 12 February, 2012 Is a mix of teddy sheringham, le tiss and niall quinn. Seriously tho Burnley's defence was a shower of sh*te - as well as Lambo played, he's not going to have many easier days at the office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericb Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I've been saying for a while Lambert reminds me of Sheringham. This season his game has changed to be about bringing other players in as much as scoring, and his ability to create space for himself is superb. I just hope it means he can keep going as long as Sheringham did since i'm coming more and more of the opinion he'll be good for 10-15 goals if we make the prem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 Had to laugh at the game Saturday - right in front of us central Kingsland, Rickie trapped a long ball and held it right on the line. You could quite clearly see the surprised look about him - he didn't quite believe he'd just done that quite as well as he did! Funnily enough, he then went on to do it several more times - almost as if he had found the magic touch! He has really improved his overall game remarkably quickly under Saints coaches and turned into an even better player than the one we bought in league one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West End Saint Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I think he's a footballing god, which is pretty sad as I'm 45 Seriously though, when he plays like he did yesterday he's unplayable! Touch, vision, power etc. The only thing is though is that I wish he was in the middle getting on the end of the excellent crosses he puts in! I said the same thing to my Dad & Brother, Lambo is God I am 44 must be something about our age. He was so good his touch vision & passing has improved so much there were some very good signs of a potent partnership between him & Sharp looking forward to watching them at Upton Park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooney Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 Cannot disagree with all the previous comments. He has become such a great player since he has been with us. Simply compare him with Emile Heskey who played in the world cup. There is just no comparison. Perhaps Stuart Pearce was taking a look at him in his caretaker England Manager role or Olympic Manager role, at St Mary's last Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 Is this the 4th season in a row where Lambert has scored 20+ goals (I'm sure his goal against Millwall was his 20th this season all comps)? I can't believe no one else took a chance on him before us. The guy is amazing his all round game is fantastic he has got to be one of the best bits of business saints have ever done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_Tel49 Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 (edited) If Grant Holt who lets be honest is just a big lump,has scored 11 goals in the premier league,how many would Rickie [ a far,far better footballer score,with us hopefully]. Rickie gets better every game and his close control is absolutely top drawer. I am really excited what Rickie and Billy Sharp,can achieve for the rest of this season. The with us proviso with Rickie,is because he will be in great demand,if we are not promoted this season .[ 50/50 I would say]. I think that you're are being a bit disrespectful to Holt. Anyone who can score 11 goals at this stage of the premiership season must have something about him. We don't watch him every week like we do Rickie. That said, I agree absolutely with the OP. BTW, unlikely as it is, I would love it, just love it if Pearce did include RL in the England squad in the Sherringham role. It would give me a reason to watch England Edited 13 February, 2012 by St_Tel49 punctuation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pip Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I feel that we bought so many strikers in the window because Rickie's role is evolving and he could end up being the player in the hole or at the tip of the diamond which would enable us to play with 2 strikers, Rickie, Lallana and possibly a goal scoring winger/midfielder on the pitch. Fantastic for us but terrifying for the opposition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulletsaint Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 But Lambert isn't just a good striker, he's a fantastic footballer, and I really don't think anyone outside Southampton realises. Even Rovers fans. Claridge and whoever the bloke commentating on the cup replay were gushing about what a good player he is and how there's much more to his game than scoring goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Gotsmanov Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 Rovers fans loved him. I think there is a you tube clip made by them. I think he will score goals in the premier leagure. Hopefully with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopkins Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 Holt is much more than just a lump upfront btw. He's pretty good with his feet too. Our opinions of him are just as lazy as most other fans of Lambert. Having not seen enough of Holt to be able to say who is better its hard to compare but only natural for us to side with our striker just as Norwich will side with Holt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronskisaint Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I think that you're are being a bit disrespectful to Holt. Anyone who can score 11 goals at this stage of the premiership season must have something about him. We don't watch him every week like we do Rickie. That said, I agree absolutely with the OP. BTW, unlikely as it is, I would love it, just love it if Pearce did include RL in the England squad in the Sherringham role. It would give me a reason to watch England Living up here I get to see and hear a fair bit about Holt and I agree that he's done well to get 11 goals (and I don't like him one bit after his pansy histrionics in the last minute of the JP Trophy tie when Waigo scored) but Norwich get the ball to him as a big lump who scores. Ricky has far more skill, finesse and makes, links and creates far more than Holt is capable of doing and this makes him 'different class'..Sheringham is a good comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dellman Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I am surprised by Lambert, he is a different and much better player than when he joined. Credit goes to the coaching staff as well as to Ricky, they've seen the potential and exploited it. In Pardew's day he was just a goalscorer who always looked a bit lazy...not now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildgoose Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 Had to laugh at the game Saturday - right in front of us central Kingsland, Rickie trapped a long ball and held it right on the line. You could quite clearly see the surprised look about him - he didn't quite believe he'd just done that quite as well as he did! Funnily enough, he then went on to do it several more times - almost as if he had found the magic touch! He has really improved his overall game remarkably quickly under Saints coaches and turned into an even better player than the one we bought in league one. That was a stand out piece of action for me too. It was pure class and, like you said, he went on to do that sort of thing again and again. The ball seemed drawn to him like a magnet except when he let fly! Really impressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I am surprised by Lambert, he is a different and much better player than when he joined. Credit goes to the coaching staff as well as to Ricky, they've seen the potential and exploited it. In Pardew's day he was just a goalscorer who always looked a bit lazy...not now! Bit harsh on Pardew there I think. He had the foresight to go and purchase him for £1m and got the best out of him that season. An astonishing amount of goals (almost 40 in all comps) and 26 assists too. He was way more than a goal scorer that year, and you could argue that Pardew used him to the maximum of his ability. He's much more technical these days though, as we now use him in a slightly different role - but he's still just as good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(not THE) Kevin Moore Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 People think you need pace to be a top prem striker... Not when you have a football brain like rickie. His touch, skill, awareness, movement and shooting are all top class, I think he'll do well in the prem... Hopefully with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I think it's a very fair comparison Minty, and I'll go a little farther. Sherringham played at the top level until he was 41, I believe. He did that because he just seemed to get smarter and better with age, so the development/expansion of Rickie's game this year may just be a preview of improvement still to come. And if that's the case we still have another ten years of Rickie to look forward to, as long as we take care of him and he takes care of himself. I'd go along with that Canada, but I think that perhaps Rickie has a bit more pace than Sheringham had for a lot of his career, though they share all the other atributes mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 Bit harsh on Pardew there I think. He had the foresight to go and purchase him for £1m and got the best out of him that season. An astonishing amount of goals (almost 40 in all comps) and 26 assists too. He was way more than a goal scorer that year, and you could argue that Pardew used him to the maximum of his ability. He's much more technical these days though, as we now use him in a slightly different role - but he's still just as good. Absolutely, but I think thats a good feature in itself. We saw the problems when RL was out in the Autumn, and at times it looked like we were a one-man band. With Lee and Sharp now available, we may see more assists from Rickie, but I still think he will end up as our top scorer in seasons to come - even though we aren't likely to see 40 goals again....this isn't L1 anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I am surprised by Lambert, he is a different and much better player than when he joined. Credit goes to the coaching staff as well as to Ricky, they've seen the potential and exploited it. In Pardew's day he was just a goalscorer who always looked a bit lazy...not now! Eeehhh really? Even under AP you could see he had class. His main problem wasn't laziness it was the fact that until he joined us he had had lower league coaching and been allowed to get away with poor diet and less than 100% fitness. As soon as he joined saints AP pointed out his fitness and diet problems. The boy already had class and skill he just needed better fitness and coaching to turn him from good to brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I don't just want to gush here, but having just watched the excellent All Angles Covered on Saints Player, I was left once again thinking something that crept into my mind some weeks ago. We've all seen how Lambert's game has improved markedly this season and his involvement in and linking of so much of our play reminds me slightly of another intelligent player who revelled 'in the hole': Teddy Sheringham. To be honest I actually think Lambert has better physical attributes, but his awareness, touch, control and passing ability, as well as the obvious shooting ability (power AND placement) remind me of Sheringham at his best. Do others see it? Or perhaps there are better comparisons? Rickie obviously has yet to make it at the top level, and he may not do so, but he's certainly showing many of the qualities that you need at the top level other than just putting the ball in the back of the net. When someone posted the same question last season, NO way because Ricky just never created the space or quality. A league higher and his game has improved so much that I no longer have those doubts, an impeccable #10. Subtlety pointed out to me a while back, all we really need is Ricky to get on the end of his own pass or cross. This is no reflection upon Ricky but the manner in which we set up to play the game and how much more effective I believe Ricky would be if playing with someone with effective pace or more natural #9. Sharp looks a very good addition to the team, but I don't see him elevating Ricky much beyond what we see at present. That does not mean that Sharp will not bag hatfulls or Ricky does not end the season as top scorer. I think we have missed a trick by having a different option alongside of Ricky, maybe why we are trying hard to fit Chung into that role. But to me that would give us the different option I feel we have been crying out for at times. Sharp is an excellent buy and Adkins has the brilliance to produce some of the best football seen at Saints, so maybe not such a bad step. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I think it's great to see the improvement, and, I'd say, the self-belief. I don't think he ever reckoned he'd play in the Premiership, but now I think he's beginning to believe. I know I am. The all round game has improved so much, and his touch, vision and passing are excellent and I for one would be very pleased for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 13 February, 2012 Share Posted 13 February, 2012 I wouldn't have any doubts about his Premier league ability, wouldn't dream of trying to replace him. Just sad his time is going to come too late in terms of international recognition, especially considering how few options up front England have. He'd still be a good age for 2014, but England seem to like players either past it or 'for the future', rarely for the NOW! And yes he is a bit like Sheringham I suppose. It would be a rare England manager who could understand Rickie's subtle play. If he were to be called up to an England squad I think he may not be utilised effectively. Even Hoddle didn't know what to do with MLT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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