Lambert, still underperforming

[Chez]

Class is permanent, form is temporary, so they say, but how long do we have to wait till Lambert starts shoving the negative comments, such as those muttered by my mouth last night, right back down our throats?

 

Yes things are rosey, we played well last night and we are getting the right results, but if automatic promotion is the required outcome for the season we are going to have to do even better - as Adkins said today. It's OK having one or two leave their best form in the changing room against D&R, but we won't be able to carry Lambert in the next three league games or beyond if we are to get out of this league. And that's what we all want at all costs isn't it?

 

For me, last night was yet another very average display from Lambert and I'm starting to worrry when we will see the man that set SMS alight week after week last season. He was certainly not woeful (as he has been at times this season) nor without some positive aspects such as slightly improved link up play, but it was far from the type of commanding, game running performance he put in against the poorer sides last season.

 

Looking at specific parts of his game, Ricky is simply not winning headers against anyone. When he does get head on ball it is almost never finding a Saints shirt - in contrast to last season when pretty much every header found a Saints player. I think his first touch is still not quite there, although this area of his game was much better last night than at some previous games. He still wasn't what I'd call sharp though and he still miscontrolled now and then, whereas you could count on one hand the poor touches last season. For me he is also not working hard enough to get in the box (several times he stood and watched Chaplow do his work for him) and that has been the case all season. He is moving into space, dropping short to collect - so is not a statue a such, but he's hardly busting a gut either. There has been lots if talk about weight, fitness and preseason training, but does he just have a groin strain or suchlike that he is nursing through?

 

Last season perhaps all these things (potential injury apart) were there in his game, but they were easily glossed over because he had just bagged a goal or three,. but now with goals in short supply, they come to the fore. He had one decent chance that he scuffed wide last night, but would anyone have bet their house on him scoring? Goalscoring is all about confidence and this is clearly still not there yet. We need its fast return, then perhaps the rest of his game will come too. It has to, doesn't it?

 

Against that type of opposition, I actually think Guly would have offered us another Tranmere-esque flat track bullying display and even more goals than we got. Anyone else think perhaps our figurehead could or should be dropped? It certainly won't help his confidence and as I said, form is temporary, but 16 games in and I've yet to see one game where I'd generously give him over 6 out of 10. This situation reminds me very much of the lad Parry at Cardiff a couple of seasons ago who scored goals for fun in his first season and then struggled the next before Jones eventually lost patience, dropped him and upgraded his strike force with Chopra's return.

 

So he'll come good eventually, won't he? What do we think?

[hypochondriac]

He looks really chunky to me and moves like a snail. I'm not sure what it is but it is as if he has been replaced by a different player in pre season. It's very odd but it can't continue much longer. We may have to think about dropping him for a while soon.

[The Kraken]

I think you're over emphasising how below par he is. He's not the player he was last season, certainly, but I don't think your critical analysis of his game last night is fair.

 

I very much disagree with your statement that his headers almost never find a Saints shirt. One of his headers led directly to the cross for Barnard's goal last night. On two or three other occasions his headers and touches off very nearly led to goals scoring chances. Yes, sometimes he was also a bit wayward but in general terms I think using him as a fulcrum in that way worked well.

 

I think when Guly came on he was nowhere near as dominant as Lambert was; with Ricky I often felt that the ball would stick with him, and the balls into his feet allowed Chaplow to push forward from midfield very well.

 

I said all this on the match thread; IMO the difference between this year and last with RL was summed up with his miss in the second half. A great burst through from Hammond down the right and a cross that was put on a plate for RL. Last year I think we would have seen him smash it in the top corner, but he tried to side foot it and scuffed it wide.

 

While clearly not at his best, RL is still a very good outlet for us, and I think he and Barnard are creating a real understanding with each other. The rest of the side are starting to also chipin with goals which takes the burden off the main man.

 

Even out of form, I don't think we currently have a player who can do the job that Lambert does for us. Hopefully he just needs another goal or two to get him kick started and firing on all cylinders again.

[silversaint]

Chez, I'd agree with parts of what you have said there. However, the headers comment? He won the header which set up Lallana to cross for Barnard to score the third last night. He set up a goal on Saturday and has scored 6 goals this season, albeit 4 from the spot. If he keeps his current record up he should score around 18-20 goals this season which obviously isn't going to match last seasons efforts, but I honestly believe we have enough with him and Barnard to get us out of this division this season.

[saintscottofthenortham]

Couldn't be arsed to read the last two paragraphs. Couldn't make last night, but he had made a considerable improvement since beginning of the season. He does alot of good work that often goes unoticed, and his first touch last week was impeccable. Just because he isn't banging goals left right and centre, doesn't mean he doesn't warrant a place in the team. He is a quality player and still causes defenders problems. If you asked any centre half who they would rather face, Guly or Lambo, I would net my last pound that they would choose Guly.

 

He has said himself that he is a slow starter each season, and looking back on last season, he got better and better. The goals will come. In the meantime we have to get behind him. It could be worse, we could have Wayne Rooney on our hands!

[Sour Mash]

Just a suggestion, but if you take Lambert's career as a whole, could it be that the last couple of seasons he was at his absolut peak and this is the more "normal" Lambert? He didn't exactly set the lower leagues on fire in his early 20s.

 

For what its worth, I still think he's an excellent player and is lacking confidence and a bit of motivation. I wouldn't be surprised if we knocked back a few approaches for him in the summer to play at a higher level and he feels a bit like he's missed his chance now, who knows.

[derry]

Lambert is definitely off the pace and lacks confidence. However I wouldn't leave him out at the moment for a number of reasons. Firstly he can pick out a killer pass as at Notts County for the second goal. Secondly he is deadly from the penalty spot and dangerous with free kicks.

[fanimal]

He was still key to two goals last night, popping up on both wings and coming off the defenders. Hit a superb cross field pass to AL. Was not passed to by our MOM when in acres of space. But, most telling for me was last season he would have barged AL out of the way to bury that header in the first half, I think its purely a yard of pace/fitness and he needs games thats all. We need him more! (Cant believe the stick hes getting now JP got dropped, leave off moaning minnies)

[Thedelldays]

how many goals does he have so far this season..?

[Sour Mash]

He was still key to two goals last night, popping up on both wings and coming off the defenders. Hit a superb cross field pass to AL. Was not passed to by our MOM when in acres of space. But, most telling for me was last season he would have barged AL out of the way to bury that header in the first half, I think its purely a yard of pace/fitness and he needs games thats all. We need him more! (Cant believe the stick hes getting now JP got dropped, leave off moaning minnies)

 

He needs games? How many games exactly does he need? Few goals from open play would certainly help him, but he's played plenty of football now this season, can't see how it could be a match-fitness issue.

[once_bitterne]

He's beginning to look a lot like Beattie in in last few months here (and career at other clubs after us) where injuries really do seem to have caught up with him.

[Chez]

Chez, I'd agree with parts of what you have said there. However, the headers comment?

I stand by that. I'm not just talking abotu last night, I'm talking all season. He simply is not winning many contested headers and the vast majority (not all as you have pointed out) have not found a Saints shirt. I guess that would not be unusual for a normal striker, but for a big lad that compensates for having no pace by winning stuff in the air, it has not been good enough.

[saint_stevo]

that flick on for Lallana to then set up Barnard's goal was pure class

[Chez]

how many goals does he have so far this season..?

 

as has been said previously 6, with 4 from the spot.

[Chez]

(Cant believe the stick hes getting now JP got dropped, leave off moaning minnies)

 

It's not stick, its a discussion about his lack of form over a third of the way through the League season. Fans are so precious when it comes to strikers who have scored goals in the past. I found Saganowski to be untouchable on here...

[Whitey Grandad]

Worth his place, although not yet up to last season's standards. Perhaps we expect too much from him, but I'm sure that as the games progress he will get back more to the Rickie we know and love.

Edited 3 November, 2010 by Whitey Grandad
Awful spelling

[Viking Warrior]

We win a game and still the wolves are out baying for a players Head. some sick minded people about. I bet MLT is chuffed to bits hes

retired . he wouldnt have stood a chance with our modern day fickle fan base.

 

At least the usual baying mob are not calling for the head of puncheon today Unless they took exception to his warming up on the touchline during the match

[Smirking_Saint]

He's beginning to look a lot like Beattie in in last few months here (and career at other clubs after us) where injuries really do seem to have caught up with him.

 

I hope not, Beattie was sh*te and had one lucky season or so, with most of his goals made by Ormarods industry.

[beatlesaint]

He's beginning to look a lot like Beattie in in last few months here (and career at other clubs after us) where injuries really do seem to have caught up with him.

 

I think thats a bit harsh.

 

I thought he had a good game last night, some of his lay offs were excellent.

[bpsaint]

I hope not, Beattie was sh*te and had one lucky season or so, with most of his goals made by Ormarods industry.

 

Don't be silly, Beattie was also a class above in the 00-01 season, and particulary the 98-99 season where he was voted player of the season. Whilst him and Ormerod formed a fantastic partnership to call the guy ****e is laughable.

[Saint_clark]

Under performing and yet still playing well.

[LGTL]

Under performing and yet still playing well.

 

Exactly. His under performing is him playing average, which is why I think we can afford to keep him in the team until he regains his form.

[Mr Saints]

To be honest, I don't think any League One player is going to have a season at the level Lambo was at last season for a long time. He was unplayable.

 

Playing 50 odd games Saturday, Tuesday and then Saturday and taking alot of 'hits' from big centre halfs probably has taken its toll on the bloke (especially with his build).

 

Keep the faith, he is getting there and will bang in over 20 goals this season IMO.

[Smirking_Saint]

Don't be silly, Beattie was also a class above in the 00-01 season, and particulary the 98-99 season where he was voted player of the season. Whilst him and Ormerod formed a fantastic partnership to call the guy ****e is laughable.

 

Two good seasons, he was on top form, hardly sh*te ok, was a bit harsh however i think he was so so overated as in godlike by some of our fans, he has terrible control and isn't a great footballer, the fact that he has done absolutely nothing other than two decent seasons sort of only goes to prove my point.

[dune]

Exactly. His under performing is him playing average, which is why I think we can afford to keep him in the team until he regains his form.

 

Precisely. He'll come good again - he's a quality player.

[Toadhall Saint]

Lambert is definitely off the pace and lacks confidence. However I wouldn't leave him out at the moment for a number of reasons. Firstly he can pick out a killer pass as at Notts County for the second goal. Secondly he is deadly from the penalty spot and dangerous with free kicks.

 

This for me but he needs to get a couple from open play then his confidence will return. At least he is starting to look like he is enjoying himself - his demeanour for the first few games I saw was very down in the mouth looking - it was like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

 

Good OP Chez.

[Village Saint]

It's not stick, its a discussion about his lack of form over a third of the way through the League season. Fans are so precious when it comes to strikers who have scored goals in the past. I found Saganowski to be untouchable on here...

 

No not in the past. He has scored 6 this season - instrumental in putting us where we are. He was the class player on the park on Saturday and he will undoubtedly be amongst the top 3 or 4 scorers in the division at the end of the season but heh why don't we just drop him for the hell of it and make winning this league that much harder. Absolute madness.

[dubai_phil]

Lambert is no longer playing up front. That is the reason he isn't scoring so much from free play.

 

Having watched tow games and spoken to my mates who've been to more and reading posters who have been at games, we are NOT playing 4-4-fecking-2.

 

We are playing 4-4-bigish gap-1-smallish gap-1.

 

Yes of course he is still techinally playing up front, but it is Barnard who is pushed up onto the "shoulders" of the CB's with Rickie playing a yard or two behind. (ie instead of the two forwards playing "alongside" eash other, they play in a 1-1 shape. The effect is to pull the defence around and again creates spaces for the MF to exploit.

 

The net effect is that Rickie is always a half a yard behind the play IF the ball has gone straigh through to Barnard, BUT as I saw, it means that he is also in more space when he does get the ball played to him and his hold up play means it is an easier shorter lay off to the supporting MF.

 

His touch and effort did seem down the first game I saw but a few weeks later he was back to what I would say was 75% of the Rickie I saw at Wembley.

 

he is no longer the main "target" man, but I can see what they are trying to do and why. I think the space it leaves to Barnard allows him to be a far greater pain in the ass to the CB's. It may cut down his goals for a while as he isn't likely to get into the 6 yard box quite as offten as before, BUT I think it gives the team a better shape and stopps a lot of the rubbish aimless passing the ball square near the opposition box that I seemed to see last season when I got back or saw it on telly.

 

He isn't 100% and I think something happened or a lifestyle moment came to him during the Close Season, but he has a role to play now and will as others have said get into the 20+goal range

[dubai_phil]

Jeez, must get the lighting in the office sorted out so I can actually read the letters on the keyboard.

 

Oh and forgot to add IMHO to the above

[SuperMikey]

Agree about the headers. Last season he was dominant in the air, but this season i've only seen him win about 3 or 4 headers. He was getting raped in the air by the D&R centre back last night, who was about 4 inches shorter than him.

Personally, I think it's down to fitness. We need to give him a rest. Give him 2 weeks off, play Guly up front with Barnard. He was carrying an injury and we rushed him back too quickly, that's the logical explanation.

[Chez]

some sick minded people about.

thank you Dr.

[ulstersaint]

that flick on for Lallana to then set up Barnard's goal was pure class

 

and the header on to Oxo for his second goal

[NickG]

thought Lallana lost possession more than normal, and Lambert not at his best - but we are top of the current form so makes me more excited about Lallana playing even better and Lambert being on top of his game.

[st alex]

Thought last night was probably his best performance (at home) this season, although still not as good as he was last season, the main thing being that he was a target man for Kelvin's goal kicks, but he seems unable to win those this season and we've reverted to short goal kicks. Although he did play quite poorly at times last season as well, whilst still scoring, anyone remember his hatrick against mk dons, because his performance that day wasn't great.