DuncanRG Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 (edited) There's been some talk about Rickie possibly moving down the pecking order if we bring in a big money striker this summer, but I wonder if he might be able to perform a number 10 or (very) offensive midfield role for us. Last season he struggled to be the hub of our play and act as a number 9 at the same time because most Premier League defences will nullify one or the other of those functions. Do we think he - as a great hold-up player with awareness, vision, and the best crossing ability in the team - could play a little further back and allow a new striker to lead the line? What would that mean for players like Jay Rodriguez? [Disclaimer: I don't think we'll sign Leandro Damiao, but that's the type of player that would have to displace Lambert as no. 9] Edited 2 July, 2013 by DuncanRG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berkshiresaint Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 Would like to see him playing alongside Loic Remy, I think that would be an awesome pairing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 Yeah agreed Dunc, he isnt what we need any more as a main striker, he just has not got the legs. We are definately looking for a replacement aswell. I have always thought that he could carve a role out of the no 10 or atleast the advanced midfielder of the forward 3. And may still do that next year, he will be competing with Gaston though, who is the better player if he actually finds his form. Rickie will still get a fair share of game time but will not be the main act IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 There's been some talk about Rickie possibly moving down the pecking order if we bring in a big money striker this summer, but I wonder if he might be able to perform a number 10 or (very) offensive midfield role for us. Last season he struggled to be the hub of our play and act as a number 9 at the same time because most Premier League defences will nullify one or the other of those functions. Do we think he - as a great hold-up player with awareness, vision, and the best crossing ability in the team - could play a little further back and allow a new striker to lead the line? What would that mean for players like Jay Rodriguez? [Disclaimer: I don't think we'll sign Leandro Damiao, but that's the type of player that would have to displace Lambert as no. 9] I think he'd be great in that role, only thing would let him down is being involved in the pressing of defenders and general defensive work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 No chance. Maybe under a different manager as RL has the skillset. But not under MP who expects his no.10s to bust a gut and get up and down the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasoneuelllfanclub Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 As great as lambert has been for us his lack of mobility does make us very one dimensional. This is particularly a problem at home when onus is on us to take game to away team esp mid table and below teams. We came unstuck against WBA, Sunderland, QPR etc because we lacked pace and guile to get beyond a rigid defensive line. Not just lamberts lack of pace but the 3 behind him lack pace to get beyond defenders. JRod no slouch but unless upfront his pace doesn't count for much cus he is not a winger. Although it was proven fact Jrod gave us something extra hence we played our best with him in the team. However to win the winnable games on paper we do need pace and variety going forward ie winger and a rickie like striker but with pace. We was lucky with injuries last season and cannot expect lambert to play as many games given his age as well. Niggling injuries will start to creep in. Still think lambert will be key player but not a shoe in for selection every week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_disco123 Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 As far as I'm concerned, we still need someone to fill the number 11 shirt number but whoever it may be lambert will play less this season with jay rod making his way up and seagar, McQueen showing good promise still think we will sign Damiao, hes defo the sort of player we would want! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 I see Rickie Lambert playing in the "Sherringham" role over the next couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabrone Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 If we get a pacy CF to play with JRod then I'd like to see RL dropped back into a Sherringham type role as he's too slow to be a spearhead CF. He's got the ability and the brain and would be great in that position IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 I don't think we'll see too much of Ricky in the 9 position next season. He just hasn't got the pace. I think that part of the reason that GR looked average for large chunks of last season was RL's inability to play off the shoulder of the last man. JR, Mayuka or AN Other will play up top imo. I think that RL does still have a role though and I think he'll feature in the hole - kind of a Sheringham type role where I'll think he'll do well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 If we get a pacy CF to play with JRod then I'd like to see RL dropped back into a Sherringham type role as he's too slow to be a spearhead CF. He's got the ability and the brain and would be great in that position IMO. Good minds and all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaMarlin Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 Why is there an assumption that SRL is not fit? He was carrying an injury in the last few games of the season, and as a result, did look a little jaded. Agreed, he may not be the quickest in the world, but he's no slouch. And apart from those games when he has been carrying an injury, in the games I've watched him in, I've seen no real evidence that he lacks latent fitness. Again, there is an assumption that he won't be able to take part in MP's pressing game, but why not? When you get older, you get smarter, and his spatial awareness will be much better. Besides, the pressing game is supposed to be all about doing as a unit, not as one poor sap running across the line chasing shadows as cultured Premier League defenders ping the ball about among themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 Nobody has said he isnt fit, he has very much worked on his overall fitness. He just doesnt have the pace to play up top in the prem IMO This whole he was injured thing always baffles me too, everytime he has poor games there is always some injury that he is playing with that nobody other than a few on SWF seem to know about ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 2 July, 2013 Author Share Posted 2 July, 2013 I'm not sure players get much smarter between the ages of 31 and 32. The question isn't his fitness generally, it's his ability to play in a more physically demanding role. He's fit enough to lead the line but couldn't play at full back, for example. Pochettino confirmed he had a back niggle that he carried for the last few games of last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 It was common knowledge I think. The reason he gets more margin for error is the lack of replacement, meaning a huge pressure on him, even when not fully fit. Plus in his poorer games he's still a threat from set pieces and will bury a penalty. I think the pace thing is nonsense, so long as there's pace elsewhere in the team he'll get goals. I think he can better his last tally by a long way, but we still need goals elsewhere. Ramirez, Lallana and JRod all need to look towards double figures really in those advanced postions. We certainly need better wingers and more pace, we play the build up game well enough but when GR is not on the pitch RL drops into those positions and then although is great on the ball it means we have nobody in the box. With GR on the pitch he seems not to have enough infront of him. A striker with a bit of pace will do us wonders. RL will get goals, but we wont really click untill we get someone up top who is more mobile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Perrin Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 Anyone who suggests we are going to bench our top scorer is barking. All that will happen if a big name comes in is more rotation which will suit Lambert. He's not the quickest but has the guile to unlock defences if he has willing runners working off him. MoPo's not going to change his style and Lambert is perfectly capable of playing a role in that. My biggest concern is if he's not on the pitch then who will take the penalties? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewildered Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 we need players in wide areas who know how to cross the sodding ball, if i we look at the stats from whoscored we see that our current shower or ****e managed: lallana 24 accurate crosses out of 146 total gashton 20/86 punchy 23/105 s davis 23/63 lshaw 18/82 RL 23/64 clyne 21/83 morgan 18/46 corky 7/31 j rod 4/41 looking at that it is a miracle RL got 15 imo, utterly dire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 2 July, 2013 Author Share Posted 2 July, 2013 we need players in wide areas who know how to cross the sodding ball, if i we look at the stats from whoscored we see that our current shower or ****e managed: lallana 24 accurate crosses out of 146 total gashton 20/86 punchy 23/105 s davis 23/63 lshaw 18/82 RL 23/64 clyne 21/83 morgan 18/46 corky 7/31 j rod 4/41 looking at that it is a miracle RL got 15 imo, utterly dire What's the average rate? EDIT: Hmm, Southampton have the 8th highest crossing accuracy in the Premier League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajjuk Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 (edited) Pace is overated, it's doing things well at pace that is real quality. Neymar isn't as quick as Walcott but he can do skills, tricks and run at people at top speed whilst retaining good control of the ball. Plus some defences in the league are very slow, Lambert darted in behind the Liverpool defence pretty easily. He's not going to jink though defence like say Suarez can but he can still easily lead the line, we just need better players out wide with better movement. Puncheon scored some good goals last year but was also terribly predictable in some games, Lallana never really hit form after his injury and Gaston isn't that comfortable on the wing. The period where Jay Rod was in form showed what Lambert can do in that sort of partnership, their link up play was excellent but it only lasted a 5 or 6 games. jay Rod lost form and Lambert played with a knock that clearly held him back. This is a guy who can easily bring long balls down and bring people into play like Fellaini does for Everton and like a typical no. 9. He then has good vision, touch and technique to play like a no 10. as well. If you have good movement around him then you will utilise his strengths. A well executed one two pass can make any defence look flat footed more than any speed merchant. Raw pace helps a lot more if you are playing a more counter-attacking style like Mourinho's Madrid did so successfully the season before last or like West Brom did to us at home. We can occasionally do that with Jay Rod, who can move at top pace with the ball and also has the strength and balance to brush off challenges. The way our team is set up to play actually needs quick minds, quick feet and good technique more than raw pace. Edited 2 July, 2013 by tajjuk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewildered Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 What's the average rate? EDIT: Hmm, Southampton have the 8th highest crossing accuracy in the Premier League. if we talk about percentages our three most accurate crossers are morgan (39.1), steve davis (36.5) who are are cms sowon't be out wide v. often. rickie isthird best (35.7) and he should be the man getting on the end of them. I think they artificially inflate the team total to be honest. the players whose job it is to provide the crosses compare badly for the most part. lallana 16.4 ramirez 23.2 punch 21.9 s davis 36.5 shaw 21.9 ricky 35.7 clyne 25.3 morgan 39.1 cork 22.5 j rod 9.75 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 Anyone who suggests we are going to bench our top scorer is barking. All that will happen if a big name comes in is more rotation which will suit Lambert. He's not the quickest but has the guile to unlock defences if he has willing runners working off him. MoPo's not going to change his style and Lambert is perfectly capable of playing a role in that. My biggest concern is if he's not on the pitch then who will take the penalties? Lets see what happens if we spunk 15m on sa striker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 As much as it pains me to say but can see Lambert getting moved on in the Jan window if we get a young hungry stricker or two in before the start of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 As much as it pains me to say but can see Lambert getting moved on in the Jan window if we get a young hungry stricker or two in before the start of the season. Just not going to happen is it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 There's been some talk about Rickie possibly moving down the pecking order if we bring in a big money striker this summer, but I wonder if he might be able to perform a number 10 or (very) offensive midfield role for us. Last season he struggled to be the hub of our play and act as a number 9 at the same time because most Premier League defences will nullify one or the other of those functions. Do we think he - as a great hold-up player with awareness, vision, and the best crossing ability in the team - could play a little further back and allow a new striker to lead the line? What would that mean for players like Jay Rodriguez? [Disclaimer: I don't think we'll sign Leandro Damiao, but that's the type of player that would have to displace Lambert as no. 9] It's all very well (and a good way to pass the time) to start thinkingabout replacing Lambeet, but for all their skill and (proported) talent, we need someone with a good goal tally and not a bit of pace and a nice touch. One can guess (the future " he " ) would be a challenger for JayRod to compete with, but I don't see Rickie dropping out of the picture just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 2 July, 2013 Author Share Posted 2 July, 2013 I agree - I'm not suggesting that a new player could walk into the club and instantly shaft Lambert onto the bench or into midfield. But a player like Leandro Damiao, if he performs to his ability, would have to be the first name on the teamsheet. He'd be one of the best players Southampton have had in the Premier League era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFrost Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 Lambert will be 32 years old in the latter part of next season and he isn't getting any younger. A player like Leandro Damiao is the sort of signing The Don would have in his vision for the club and we'd need to start progressing to be finishing in the top half of the PL. I think Lambo would benefit from having the occasional match on the bench because I feel he'd tire towards the end of the season. We have been very reliant on him in the last few seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersonic Posted 2 July, 2013 Share Posted 2 July, 2013 dropping Lambert back? what an awful suggestion - I walk faster than he runs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 3 July, 2013 Share Posted 3 July, 2013 Lambert will be 32 years old in the latter part of next season and he isn't getting any younger. A player like Leandro Damiao is the sort of signing The Don would have in his vision for the club and we'd need to start progressing to be finishing in the top half of the PL. I think Lambo would benefit from having the occasional match on the bench because I feel he'd tire towards the end of the season. We have been very reliant on him in the last few seasons. I know little about Damiao,(so I can't comment).... but a lot of these Latin / S.American players look good on YouTube when they are playing on dry pitches and against slow-footed defenders. That 'aint Prem style. I've been saying that since he was 29, but he keeps defying all the odds (and his critics). Of course we need a good replacement, but not one who needs a season or so to get upto RLs goal-scoring tempo. JayRod blew a bit hot and cold last season, Lallana didn't turn out to be the alternative either and it seems a lot of people expected very much more from Ramirez. My mad idea for this week..if you absolutely need to replace Rickie so soon...give Puncheon a spell up front ! HCDAJFU .......for a very short while, anyway, The list of goal-scoring "talismen" in Saints' history looks like this; Wayman, Reeves, Paine, O'Brien, Davies, Channon, MLT and....now Lambert. We need someone whose name can respectably appear on that list, and such a player isn't on " my radar " yet. TOUGH CALL - if you're talking Prem. survival for another season or two.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSAINT Posted 3 July, 2013 Share Posted 3 July, 2013 James Beattie just re-tweeted this. Squawka Football @Squawka Rickie Lambert created more chances last season (80) than Zlatan Ibrahimović (60), Stephan El Shaarawy (56) and Robert Lewandowski (33). Quite impressive if true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 3 July, 2013 Share Posted 3 July, 2013 dropping Lambert back? what an awful suggestion - I walk faster than he runs. You dont need as many legs in the hole dictating play as you do upfront IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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