Winchester Red Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 (edited) The way I see it we have great competition for places throughout the team. Maybe left back is a bit weak, Fox is no close competition for Shaw and at GK Gazza is as yet not worthy to fill an on-form Borucs boots, but what about right up top? Ricky Lambert is awesome at everything that's asked of him. Under NA I thought he could only play 60 minutes but I'm starting to think that was the case only because Nigel treated him that way, and only expected 60 minutes of him (and put him on the bench when he thought higher energy was required). MP expects 90 (95!) minutes out of him and he gets it. So what happens when he's injured, or just gets a bit older? I think we are hugely reliant on him and the SD interview backed that up. At 31 I don't think we can expect more than another season or maybe two at the most if we are going to play a high pressure game. JRod is coming on in leaps and bounds and I thought he was being brought in as the new SRL but now I'm not so sure if that's his best position. Is there a new Ricky out there....... anywhere? Edited 10 February, 2013 by Winchester Red Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 in the longer term planning...there already is a " new Rickie "...who we signed in the summer.....his name is Jay Rodriguez. Didn't you hear about it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Red Posted 10 February, 2013 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Absolutely. I mentioned him above. I thought he was going to be trained up as a one for one replacement. I'm just not so sure that's where his strengths lie now. I can't see him picking the passes that Ricky does and I'm not sure he will ever have the composure. He'll be a damn fine player but I'm not sure he'll be a Ricky. (Sure hope I'm wrong!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 One thing's for sure RL's replacement (if he doesn't come through the ranks) is going to cost a damn-sight more than RL did himself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Red Posted 10 February, 2013 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Has to be the best value signing ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertySFC Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Why worry about it - whats the point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 If it were 2009 again there's no way we'd be trying to buy Richard Lambart off Bristol Rovers. Fat league 1 clogger! Edit: If u know what i mean? We wouldn't be interested in Lambarts now, we like overpriced vunderkids from Italian league! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olallana Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 There IS another Rickie/Ricky out there waiting.... Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Sporting CP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Red Posted 10 February, 2013 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Why worry about it - whats the point Just a very important cog in the mechanism.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 If it were 2009 again there's no way we'd be trying to buy Richard Lambart off Bristol Rovers. Fat league 1 clogger! Edit: If u know what i mean? We wouldn't be interested in Lambarts now, we like overpriced vunderkids from Italian league! There were people saying the £1Million was overpriced back then. I think he might just have justified by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simondo Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 does anyone else think Ricky could do a job in mid field once he loses his fantastic pace up front..? I actually think he'd be pretty good... good in the air, great ball control, picks the sweetest passes and being a big unit should be able to handle the more physical stuff... as well as the goals... i think he'll be an asset for a few more years yet in both positions... thoughts...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Red Posted 10 February, 2013 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2013 (edited) does anyone else think Ricky could do a job in mid field once he loses his fantastic pace up front..? I actually think he'd be pretty good... good in the air, great ball control, picks the sweetest passes and being a big unit should be able to handle the more physical stuff... as well as the goals... i think he'll be an asset for a few more years yet in both positions... thoughts...? Was going to say he tackles better than Scoles but I think it's more wrestling than tackling! Edited 10 February, 2013 by Winchester Red Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 For our second goal I'm sure he does Clichy down the outside for a bit of pace lol Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olallana Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 does anyone else think Ricky could do a job in mid field once he loses his fantastic pace up front..? I actually think he'd be pretty good... good in the air, great ball control, picks the sweetest passes and being a big unit should be able to handle the more physical stuff... as well as the goals... i think he'll be an asset for a few more years yet in both positions... thoughts...? I dont think he needs to switch position to have a few more years in him. Players that usually need to switch position is because their play has been relaing on the pace, like Giggs as a winger and players like him. Rickie has never had pace as a main attribute so he can keep playing in the same position... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSaint Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 I think Sheringham was still playing in his late-thirties or perhaps even early-forties. The reading, the touch, the vision are lasting qualities - for those who have them in the first place. It's the legs that go. I don't think Rickie will last as long as Sheringham, different body and all that, but I think there are 6-8 decent years left in him - 3-5 at PL level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 He can play deeper, in other words midfield, no problem. His touch, vision and range of passing is incredible. He is so much more than a big bruising centre forward. You watch Andy Carroll today and watch the video of Rickie last night. Its as different as night and day yet Carroll has played for England. Crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 TBH I'm more worried about the midfield where they need too many chances to score a goal, either through poor shot selection, timing or accuracy. Increase that and the team wouldn't be so dependent on Ricky for goals. Otherwise, Ricky contributes with his great ball control, touch, runs off the ball and his set up play which should not fade over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerBadger Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 There can be only one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appy Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 The best saints player of this century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Ricky was our first signing with a YouTube clip - for me anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 11 February, 2013 Share Posted 11 February, 2013 The best saints player of this century. I guess I know what you mean, at least number-wise, his (present) 99 goals is very impressive.......but most of them were in lower divisions - weren't they? However, James Beattie (not my favourite player - by a long way) had some good seasons culminating with his 23 Prem. goals in 35 starts in 2002-03. (The whole team only managed 43 goals) He was the leading English scorer that season, and only beaten to the Golden Boot by Thierry Henry, and whilst Arsenal finished 2nd, Saints had to be content with 8th place. However, I have much admiration for Rickie and (if his form/fitness) holds out, he may yet gain greater glory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 11 February, 2013 Share Posted 11 February, 2013 Absolutely. I mentioned him above. I thought he was going to be trained up as a one for one replacement. I'm just not so sure that's where his strengths lie now. I can't see him picking the passes that Ricky does and I'm not sure he will ever have the composure. He'll be a damn fine player but I'm not sure he'll be a Ricky. (Sure hope I'm wrong!) yes well I'm sure Rickie didn't think he'd become a "Rickie".... when he was 23 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appy Posted 11 February, 2013 Share Posted 11 February, 2013 I guess I know what you mean, at least number-wise, his (present) 99 goals is very impressive.......but most of them were in lower divisions - weren't they? However, James Beattie (not my favourite player - by a long way) had some good seasons culminating with his 23 Prem. goals in 35 starts in 2002-03. (The whole team only managed 43 goals) He was the leading English scorer that season, and only beaten to the Golden Boot by Thierry Henry, and whilst Arsenal finished 2nd, Saints had to be content with 8th place. However, I have much admiration for Rickie and (if his form/fitness) holds out, he may yet gain greater glory. Lambert is a better player than Beattie was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 11 February, 2013 Share Posted 11 February, 2013 yes well I'm sure Rickie didn't think he'd become a "Rickie".... when he was 23 . A perfect Swedish Dave post - well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 11 February, 2013 Share Posted 11 February, 2013 Lambert is a better player than Beattie was. I'm not denegrating Rickie in any way, but life is tougher in the Prem. and Beattie scored all his goals with us at Prem.level. Things are looking up now, but in Beattie's day... we had other outstanding players in the side who also contributed ....A.Svensson, Fernandes, Marsden and Ormerod. Just recently....we are playing more exciting football than many of us have seen ..in decades..and until now Rickie has (almost) been a one-man band, if we are still playing like this in May ......we can re-evaluate the history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 11 February, 2013 Share Posted 11 February, 2013 Davis is the keeper cover, but I expect Gazza to step up next season. As for ricky, it is not easy to get cover for an all round player like him. I think we will get by on what we have ok though. Overall I think our squad is pretty well covered. At the moment a club like Southampton like many others are going to miss players. Take Rvp out of Man U, Whiltshire out of Arsenal, Suarez out of Liverpool, and you have the same problem with Ricky out of Southampton. Not many have like for like, when it comes to your stars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 11 February, 2013 Share Posted 11 February, 2013 (edited) Davis is the keeper cover, but I expect Gazza to step up next season. As for ricky, it is not easy to get cover for an all round player like him. I think we will get by on what we have ok though. Overall I think our squad is pretty well covered. At the moment a club like Southampton like many others are going to miss players. whilst I would agree that the first team " starters " looked very good on Saturday....the bench was bereft of almost any experience. Lallana?... OK - he's on his way back.... but we had two other " bit-part " subs... and two more who have yet to start a Prem.game. with the inevitable clear-out of the original squad names (Sharp, Seaborne, Forte, De Ridder, Barnard,) that we had in August, we need more strength in the squad after the season ends. ...another injury crisis just now could make life very difficult. Don't know if there's still a place for sentiment at SFC, but KD has done his share, but I don't see Gazzaniga as an immediate replacement....(even if he is Argentine !) We need to permanently sign Boruc..and get another keeper with international experience. Good YOUNG keepers come once in a generation ...Gazzaniga isn't the deal YET ..and even Joe Hart hasn't been without blame in recent months, even though he's England's first choice - by a mile. Edited 11 February, 2013 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 11 February, 2013 Share Posted 11 February, 2013 Davis is the keeper cover, but I expect Gazza to step up next season. As for ricky, it is not easy to get cover for an all round player like him. I think we will get by on what we have ok though. Overall I think our squad is pretty well covered. At the moment a club like Southampton like many others are going to miss players. Take Rvp out of Man U, Whiltshire out of Arsenal, Suarez out of Liverpool, and you have the same problem with Ricky out of Southampton. Not many have like for like, when it comes to your stars. What makes you think gazza is going to be amazingly better in a space of a few months...? He isn't and he won't be our number 1 I suspect he never will unless he goes out on loan to the NPC and stars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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