Lambert hasn't scored from open play for 8 games!

[Roger]

His biggest fan but that's not good enough at this stage of season. He isn't getting into the right areas and is for me the biggest cause for concern. A lot of our players(not today) but last 3 matches showed a big degree if complacency. Second half vs swansea was awful for effort as was last week.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

His biggest fan but that's not good enough at this stage of season. He isn't getting into the right areas and is for me the biggest cause for concern. A lot of our players(not today) but last 3 matches showed a big degree if complacency. Second half vs swansea was awful for effort as was last week.

 

Sell him in the summer.................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gr00031]

Seems to just drop deep these days, playing the crosses instead of being in a position to head them in. His ball to Clyne today was brilliant, but still would like to see him in the box at least causing some sort of carnage in the box

[Sheaf Saint]

For the last half an hour today I didn't even realise he was on the pitch. I thought he had gone off for Puncheon. That's how anonymous he was.

[skintsaint]

He lacks the pace to get into the box after starting a move a bit deeper infield or wide which doesnt help.

 

Maybe would be suited to play a bit deeper next year in this fabled 'no10' role?

[The Kraken]

Also, rather worryingly, SFC as a whole have scored just 1 goal in the last 4 games, and none in the last three.

 

This barren spell coincided with me putting Lambert and Rodriguez in my fantasy league team, so I share some of the culpability. Although I redressed the matter before kick off today and it seemed to have little effect.

[Chez]

I'm gonna have to take Lambert out of my fahtasy team too. I jinx every striker.

[shurlock]

At least, he was winning balls and holding up play, however deep. Much better than Swansea and WBA.

Jrod was anonymous today -like he has been for the last few games. Lallana was marginally more effective but he is miles away from being able to take a game by the scruff of the neck and change it.

Again, a defender was our most dangerous player. That's saying a lot.

[WealdSaint]

I think the "fizz" has gone out of playing Rickie deep and JRod further up.

 

Wish I knew what to change (maybe MP does!)

[ART]

It's not just Ricky, but Rodriquez too. They are being instructed wrongly and don't get the service they did earlier. Very worrying.

 

Has all the playing for England gone to their heads or is Adam's style of running everywhere, taking everything on, interfering with their natural play?

[MOSaint]

If we stay up, or perhaps even if we don't I would not be shocked if there is a bit of an overhaul regarding our attacking options.

 

Despite scoring more goals than every other side in the bottom half, you could certainly argue that with all the possession we have in a lot of games, especially since MP came in and implemented the pressing style that we should have scored more. The players we have at the moment can pen teams in their own half but their inability to create and finish chances from this territorial dominance has been made more apparent.

 

Everton at home

QPR at home

Norwich Away

West Ham at Home

Swansea Away

Spurs today

 

We should have scored more than one against West Ham and QPR and had periods in the other four games that we should have resulted in goals.

[DuncanRG]

It's not just Ricky, but Rodriquez too. They are being instructed wrongly and don't get the service they did earlier. Very worrying.

 

Has all the playing for England gone to their heads or is Adam's style of running everywhere, taking everything on, interfering with their natural play?

 

Probably neither.

[sammysaint]

We need a 3rd choice striker whos prem ready, Mayuka needs a season or 6 months loan spell in the championship maybe to adapt to the English game.

 

Lambo played some world class balls this season and did one today for NC, hes more then good enough at this level and il back him to score in our last 2 games, and get more then 10 again next season with a few assts.

[Appy]

It's not just Ricky, but Rodriquez too. They are being instructed wrongly and don't get the service they did earlier. Very worrying.

 

Has all the playing for England gone to their heads or is Adam's style of running everywhere, taking everything on, interfering with their natural play?

 

The biggest concern is you spell Rodriguez with a Q.

[stockbridge_saint]

I had a box ticket today and he came through reception after the game. I spoke to him and he seemed really down, not happy at all.

[Appy]

I had a box ticket today and he came through reception after the game. I spoke to him and he seemed really down, not happy at all.

 

I wouldn't expect him to be, losing so late, what were you expecting?

[stockbridge_saint]

Well some of the others were a bit more cheery, signing lots of autographs and stuff

[Smirking_Saint]

Wrote this on the match thread;

 

I was talking about him the other day and that, for me we miss someone like Benteke, Lukaku or Michu. If you really want Lambert to sit as deep as he does then play him in midfield and play someone else upfront to get on the end of things. What exactly is the point of a striker who is rarely in the box ?

 

---- personally itll be a position that we need to strengthen next year, a real all round striker with quality is needed

[Bearsy]

is Adam's style of running everywhere, taking everything on, interfering with their natural play?

 

I had a feeling it would be Adam's fault

[shurlock]

Wrote this on the match thread;

 

I was talking about him the other day and that, for me we miss someone like Benteke, Lukaku or Michu. If you really want Lambert to sit as deep as he does then play him in midfield and play someone else upfront to get on the end of things. What exactly is the point of a striker who is rarely in the box ?

 

 

---- personally itll be a position that we need to strengthen next year, a real all round striker with quality is needed

 

Not necessarily - its about the ability of runners from deep going past Lambert like Clyne did yesterday. Or Lallana's chance where he was narrowly offside. Morgan has begun to do it; Davis does occasionally (recall Lambert's through ball to him at Reading), though defending is their priority. Lambert was decent yesterday - Jrod and Lallana aren't doing enough, too lightweight.

If we stay up and we stick with Lambert, powerful runners are a must.

[Smirking_Saint]

Personally if we stay up I want a striker that actually plays as a striker, as I said, if Poch insists we are better with Rickie deeper than play him deeper and invest on a proper front man. Personally I dont really like that option as I have a feeling that Gaston will be V effective there next year, plus Gaston tries to help out with the high pressing that we do whereas Rickie hasnt got the legs

[RobM]

It could well be other teams realising the game he plays and specifically focusing on defending against him. Anybody who has watched us will know how important he is to our attacking play and how much of our game plan relies on him. If you cut off Lambert you cut off through balls, goals and assists for others, so it's no wonder that JRod also has a dip in goalscoring at the same time.

 

We did the same against Bale yesterday and he looked very quiet. Bale scored a typical Bale 'out of nothing' goal. Lambert almost scored an excellent freekick. But from open play the opposition removed their threat.

 

What I want to see is a more open setup that doesn't rely on the strengths of any one player. As much as we all love Lambert, ever since he has been with us and performing so well, we've based our approach around him - even when he isn't there we try and find somebody to play like him.

[melmacian_saint]

For them to be effective we need to make sure they are the ones in the finishing positions.

 

Meaning we can't play both Ramirez and Lallana at the same time as they run into everyone else's position in attack, which confuses our strikers.

[FreemantleSaint]

Rickie is a club legend and still has a big role to play in our future but I totally agree with the previous poster who said we need a Lukaku or Benteke type striker, someone fast and powerful who can get us 20 goals. I also think Shaun Maloney from Wigan would create more chances from the left, and score more goals, than Lallana has.

[ART]

The biggest concern is you spell Rodriguez with a Q.

I'd like to see you type posts using a French keyboard, suffering chronic neuropathy in my fingers, not to mention poor eyesight due to cataracts, without the occasional error. Why not have a go at the lazy s*ds who use JRod because they can't spell Rodiguez.

 

And by the way smart ar*e

Rodriguez early origins

 

Spelling variations of this name which originated from the German Hrodizc, From the 5th -8th century the German Visigoth tribe ruled Spain where the name is nowadays found.

 

Variations include Rodiguez, Rodriquez, Rhodiguez, Rhodiquez,Rodriz,Rodriquiz, Rodriguiz, Rodrigo, Roderiz,Ruderiz, Roiz and many more.

Edited 5 May, 2013 by ART

[Appy]

I'd like to see you type posts using a French keyboard, suffering chronic neuropathy in my fingers, not to mention poor eyesight due to cataracts, without the occasional error. Why not have a go at the lazy s*ds who use JRod because they can't spell Rodiguez.

 

Apart from that you're fine

[ottery st mary]

Rikeee will do the biz in these last two games..

 

For me....Puncheon to play pleeeeeese.

[Legod Third Coming]

People told me - some idiots still do - we would be better off with TORRES. Torres?? FFS

 

Lambert is a class act and set up our best chance yesterday. Class act. CLASS. C.L.A.S.S

 

Torres? Pah.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I am Lambert's biggest fan but at WHL yesterday I thouyght we had Mork and Mindy up front playing for us so ineffectual were he and Jay Rod. And lallana was worse. Very worrying.

[paulwantsapint]

As has been said before on here trouble is with rickie we need another rickie to recieve the passes he makes & to get on the end of the crosses

[farawaysaint]

He's looked rubbish for a while, not his fault though, a combination of fatigue and being singled out by opposing managers in their tactics I think.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

This thread would not exist if we had won..

[ART]

Maybe Ricky has decided he wants to go to Reading to join Nigel. If I were in his place I would be sick of how Lallana runs in a grabs nearly every ball and takes corners when both Ricky and Davies are far better at placing the ball where it matters. If Lallana as Captain is in Pochettino's plans I have no faith in our long term success.

[DuncanRG]

Maybe Ricky has decided he wants to go to Reading to join Nigel. If I were in his place I would be sick of how Lallana runs in a grabs nearly every ball and takes corners when both Ricky and Davies are far better at placing the ball where it matters. If Lallana as Captain is in Pochettino's plans I have no faith in our long term success.

 

Thanks for confirming that you're trolling with all this Lallana guff.

 

He's just too central to our play. We're always looking for him so when the opposition do a job on him we're not quite quick enough to find a way through someone else. He's still had a fantastic season

[Lord Duckhunter]

Thanks for confirming that you're trolling with all this Lallana guff.

 

He's just too central to our play. We're always looking for him so when the opposition do a job on him we're not quite quick enough to find a way through someone else. He's still had a fantastic season

 

Well I'm certainly not trolling and totally disagree with you. He has not been fantastic and if he's central to our play then I begin to worry. Defensively he's been poor, his shouting is poor , 80% of the time he appears to be using a medicine ball to shoot with. Corners are pretty average, and he dives a lot. He has some good touches and when we're on top can look good, but he ain't as good as some on here believe . I realise this is an hanging offense on here, but in my opinion he's an average premiership player who may get better with experience. Nothing more,nothing less.

 

Our lack of goals lately is a worry. How many have the centre halves got , when was the last time we looked like heading a corner towards goal, let alone scoring from one. Its no good blaming Lambert, others need to chip in.

[DrunkenSaint]

He wont be our main striker next season, if we are to move on and upwards we need a much better striker, sad but true. I wouldn't sell him but have him on the bench. I'm sure NC and MP have already planned targets, Victor Ruiz is also a target to strengthen our defence.

[RobM]

Maybe Ricky has decided he wants to go to Reading to join Nigel. If I were in his place I would be sick of how Lallana runs in a grabs nearly every ball and takes corners when both Ricky and Davies are far better at placing the ball where it matters. If Lallana as Captain is in Pochettino's plans I have no faith in our long term success.

 

I'm surprised you can see this happening if you can't even see the screen in front of you, as you implied above. Give it a rest.

[redder freak]

Van Persie went 10 games without a goal for Manchester United before 12 April. Maybe the service to strikers isn't as good at United as at Saints, but it does go to show that all strikers have dry patches. Some people rate Van Persie quite highly, despite that. He must be doing something right, because United have won the Premier League this season. I for one would welcome him at Saints, if United wanted to get rid of him.

[RobM]

Van Persie went 10 games without a goal for Manchester United before 12 April. Maybe the service to strikers isn't as good at United as at Saints, but it does go to show that all strikers have dry patches. Some people rate Van Persie quite highly, despite that. He must be doing something right, because United have won the Premier League this season. I for one would welcome him at Saints, if United wanted to get rid of him.

 

I'm sure that was Lallanas fault too.

[Saint Garrett]

Van Persie went 10 games without a goal for Manchester United before 12 April. Maybe the service to strikers isn't as good at United as at Saints, but it does go to show that all strikers have dry patches. Some people rate Van Persie quite highly, despite that. He must be doing something right, because United have won the Premier League this season. I for one would welcome him at Saints, if United wanted to get rid of him.

 

Difference is, that when RVP wasn't scoring, others were. With us, if Rickie isn't scoring, then we struggle to score. Whats the answer? I'm not sure, but personally I would get the Clyne/Puncheon partnership back.

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

The over reliance on Rickie is worrying, we have hopefully got away with it this season due to his excellent fitness record. However the guy is getting no younger therefore I expect him to start picking up those niggling injuries next season and beyond.

 

We are crying out for pace and power upfront like a Lakaku or Benteke type player. Our forwards rarely get behind oppo defenses which makes our play very predictable at times especially at st marys when oppo have a well drilled defensive line and let us come at them.

[S-Clarke]

He has been complete dross in the last few games, not even involved in an attacking way. Touch is poor, movement is static, he's not holding it up that well. But all strikers - all players - go through spells like this, I think he's done enough for us in the last few years to be awarded a little damp spell, although it's frustrating it's come when it has!

 

But as they say, cream always rises to the top. He'll get an important goal for us in the next 2 games, I can feel it.

[The9]

Oh I see... NOW you all want to have a pop at Lambert ? At least I'm consistent.

[Matthew Le God]

Lambert hasn't scored from open play for 8 games!

 

In those last 8 games Southampton are 9th in the Premier League form table...

 

http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/PR/oform.html

 

Some people also continue to think he spearpoint of our team, which isn't the case, it is often Rodriguez playing on the last man and Lambert drops into the number 10 role or wide on the left.

Edited 7 May, 2013 by Matthew Le God

[Saint Garrett]

Oh I see... NOW you all want to have a pop at Lambert ? At least I'm consistent.

 

No, because he was very good in the first half of the season, and still so important to us. However the last few games he hasn't been great. If someone isn't playing very well then I'm happy to say it, rather than just moan about him for the last 4 seasons.

[The9]

In those last 8 games Southampton are 9th in the Premier League form table...

 

http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/PR/oform.html

 

Some people also continue to think he spearpoint of our team, which isn't the case it is often Rodriguez playing on the last man and Lambert drops into the number 10 role or wide on the left.

 

Which he's also been doing all season long, though early when Rodriguez wasn't in the side as often it was Puncheon going past him.

 

FWIW I don't think anything much has changed, teams will have worked out what we do within 2 weeks of us doing it (and then again when Pochettino changed it).

 

With sides tending not to get pressed into turning the ball over now they know we're going to do it, (they can switch play, they can use their keeper, they can knock it long, anything but give it away in their own half), we've been winning the ball high up the park a lot less often and that means Lambert's starting position is as link man 30 yards from goal rather than target man in the box with 5 teammates supporting.

 

I mentioned after Arsenal away that if he gets left isolated without supporting midfielders he's not the kind of player that can create his own goals by beating players, and Pochettino's tactic of winning the ball as high up the pitch as possible supports that.

 

It does of course leave us open to counter-attack and long balls, but we've shown since Pochettino came in that if we press for 90 minutes we get results, and if we don't, we concede goals and don't create enough. I don't think it's Lambert per se, it's the system which normally suits him not being used to it's full potential.

 

Or he could be knackered cos he's a bit old.

[The9]

No, because he was very good in the first half of the season, and still so important to us. However the last few games he hasn't been great. If someone isn't playing very well then I'm happy to say it, rather than just moan about him for the last 4 seasons.

 

If you can find anything from me suggesting anything other than "his skillset is limited at this level" from prior to 2012 I'd be very surprised. You'll also notice I don't think he's any worse now than some of his games in the first half of the season when he DID score.

 

Unlike everyone else though, I accept that as a limitation of his abilities in the Prem and have done all along.

Edited 7 May, 2013 by The9

[Chez]

Difference is, that when RVP wasn't scoring, others were. With us, if Rickie isn't scoring, then we struggle to score. Whats the answer? I'm not sure, but personally I would get the Clyne/Puncheon partnership back.

 

me too. They have been good together in a lot of games. They make there way down the line in such a simple way and moe often than not create an overlap whioch creates a a crossing chance. Very Bridge/Marsden.

[The9]

The answer is to sign a more mobile, faster, more suited to the Prem striker and then use Ramirez in the position he's best at, with someone who can get on the end of his passes. This occasionally works at the moment with Rodriguez, but instead of picking out a breaking midfielder, he'd be picking out someone on the shoulder of the last defender - which would also create more space in the midfield for him to work in due to the defence's reluctance to play a high line if there was a pacy striker able to get in behind.

 

It's the same discussion as last pre-season, and will be the same discussion next, if Lambert's still our key player. Players with his touch and vision are useful at the top level, but you shouldn't have to build the entire system around his weaknesses to compensate for them, and at the moment because we do that we're not flexible enough to take advantage against all teams. That's also why we lose to some less good teams and beat some of the top ones - because the system is suited to beating skilful short passing sides, but not so much hoof merchants.

[Saint Garrett]

Find it very odd that Puncheon has gone from probably our first choice in the 'attacking 3' positions, to the 6th. J-Rod, Davis, Lallana, Gaston, Guly, Punch, Mayuka seems to be the pecking order for those 3 positions.