13 Aug 2013

'Magnificent' €9m star admits: LFC told me I 'wasn't good enough'. Still true...?

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert received a well-deserved call-up to the England squad this week. It's been a long, hard road to the England squad for the self-confessed Reds fan, and in an interview today, Lambert revealed the heartache he suffered after being rejected by Liverpool earlier in his career.

Discussing his career during a press conference today, Lambert - who grabbed 15 goals/5 assists last season - told reporters:

"I was at Liverpool from age 10 to 15 and I was basically told I wasn’t good enough, which obviously was a hard thing to take at the time.

"I thought it was the end of the world. But I can tell people in the same situation that it is not the end of the world. It should drive you on to succeed even more"


Lambert - recently hailed as 'magnificent' by Sam Allardyce - scored against the Reds in last season's 3-1 defeat at St. Marys, and after the game, the striker enthused:

"I think everybody knows the relationship I have with Liverpool. It was a massive game and my family were there, but obviously I am professional and my main focus was to try and get three points. The lads are absolutely buzzing after that result".

Looking at the timeline, €9m-rated Lambert would've been 15 in 1997, which means he probably got the bad news from Steve Heighway - who ran LFC's Academy at the time - or Roy Evans, Liverpool's manager in the mid-1990s.

It's hardly surprising Lambert didn't make it. Look at the competition he faced: Michael Owen broke through into the first team in 1997, and Robbie Fowler was already well-established.

If Lambert wasn't good enough back then, what about now? Is he good enough to play for today's Liverpool team? One thing's for sure, I'd take Lambert over Carroll and Fabio Borini any day of the week.



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41 comments:

  1. Definitely over Borini or Carroll. Dude is intimidating - looks like he has a chip on his shoulder, and is ready to scrap! (in a good way). Much deserved cap!

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  2. Carroll was a very good player at Newcastle so that does not mean Lambert will make an impact at LFC.

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  3. the saints have some good players

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  4. liverpool4life5658:36 pm, August 13, 2013

    He good and works his socks off. And his free kicks are decent.

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  5. He's a decent player but I really hope we can attract a higher calibre of players. We should be attracting world-quality players, not good preimership ones.


    Though if BR decided he wanted him, I would back him up on that one 100%.

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  6. i would take 20 lambert ant butlers over borini

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  7. Theycallmemrburt9:06 pm, August 13, 2013

    Ricky lambert is 31. He can't surely be rated at a higher value than 29 year old 34 cap Downing. Lets see how he gets on in his second season. I remember there was a clamour for Grant Holt last season. Same type of player........where is he now? champo.

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  8. I personally love the guy and I'm still shocked at how "one-goal-last season Welbeck" is ahead of the top english scorer from last season in the England set-up. He knows how to find the net, has decent enough skill, and always puts in a shift. A poor mans Suarez if you will but there is one key difference between the two, Lambert would never embarrass us like LS has and he would be an instant fan favorite in my mind because he epitomises everything that has been lost in modern football; determination, graft, humility, and loyalty. I would have tremendous respect for BR if he made a bid for him but, like the several targets that look to be slipping from our grasps daily, I dont see it happening. YNWA Rickie!

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  9. I think LAMBERT has found his level at SOUTHAMPTON who are a good club that has taken to the PL like a duck to water.He's a integral part of their team and his form has got him a deserved England call up.
    But i'm not sure about being good enough for LFC.Expectations that comes with playing for us can be to much for some to handle and crush a players confidence.
    Second season syndrome that affects many players as someone else has already stated could come into play this season too.I would take him over BORINI but i'd have about 25% of PL strikers over him so that's not saying much.

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  10. now instead of disagreeing im agreeing in major scale. i think they will be flying this season

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  11. Wow some great comments here, I think we will push on this season and build on last seasons finish. Sir Rickie of Lambertshire, as we like to call him has improved so much, it's not just about his goals, it's his distribution, holding play up, 100% penalties, although disappointed with the amount of free kicks he took last season, as he's a top marksman there. I'm hoping he does well for England and yes he would be a hero at Anfield, he's just a nice down to earth, unassuming Scouser!

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  12. At the rate we're going (downhill), he wouldn't look out of place here but even then, like Beast says/implies somewhat, there is a air of pressure at Liverpool that remains, even during an era of mediocrity, that you don't get at a lot of other clubs (not necessarily a good or bad thing). So even if Southampton were fighting at our level, there are big differences between playing for them and for us, with all due respect. A very good player for Southampton, totally understand why they like him and a decent one for a top half team but no more.


    Well duh, him over Carroll & Borini all day long ;)

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  13. No. Not good enough. Better than Carrol and Borini says nothing because they're not good enough either. Old fashioned bruiser good enough for a mid table team. I'm not sure he'll be at So'ton next year either.

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  14. liverpool4life56510:43 pm, August 13, 2013

    Liking the talk of liverpool are interested in willian, Ben smith(who is realible of the bbc) has confirmed it, and FSG will back rodgers for a marquee signing. :-) but the No CL will be hard like Mkhitaryan and costa.

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  15. The Willian link is awesome to hear but I'd almost rather spend that much on Jackson Martinez. Either would be great though but I think that kind of news leaked when it really looked as though we'd lose Suarez and now that it looks as though we won't I doubt we'll go that route.


    I'd rather put that money towards defense and a midfielder like Dortmund's Gundogan, who can play holding (as he did for much of the season) or a more attacking role (when Gotze was out).

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  16. liverpool4life56510:53 pm, August 13, 2013

    Having willian in the squad would be great, front of him,Sturridge,Suarez(if he stays) if he goes bring Martinez in. And I agree we need a CDM,LB,CB aswell.

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  17. WILLIAN signed for ANZHI 6 months ago for 32m.I don't see us going that high for him and i doubt his club would want to take a massive hit.Unlike us, other teams don't like to operate that way!

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  18. liverpool4life56510:56 pm, August 13, 2013

    We are willing to pay that much, we have got rid of players and his wages will be ok for us because we got rid of high earners in AC,Reina,SD, who were all together on 280K a week or around that. We want a marquee signing that's why.

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  19. Lambert is (IMO) streets ahead of Carroll, and if he'd signed instead of Carroll, I'm sure he would've done better. For a start, Lambert has better technique, close control and balance than Carroll, which automatically gives him a major advantage.

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  20. Yep, takes a decent free kick but he is no Le Tissier!

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  21. 'Dortmund's Gundogan'


    Dream on but I like your ambition ;) Classy player

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  22. liverpool4life56511:12 pm, August 13, 2013

    True say :)

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  23. Why did he sign for the global powerhouse of football that is ANZHI? It wouldn't surprise me if WILLIAN was on 250k+ their owner likes to overpay his players.
    Despite no European football i think the player would want to come to a bigger club and play in a better League.Maybe he'd even take a slight pay cut to do so because nobody pays attention to what goes on in Russia.
    However, i don't see this signing coming off.It's nothing more than more talk of another potential marquee signing to get us excited, that will see no serious action IMO.I hope i'm wrong though!

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  24. They are not the same type of player! Lambert's range of passing and vision is superior to Holt's, whereas Holt is more of a fox-in-the-box style centre forward (or at least was 2 years ago)

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  25. liverpool4life5651:35 am, August 14, 2013

    He on 100k a week their. Which we can push too. And I see it as a long shot but he wants to play in the PL so maybe we have a slight chance

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  26. liverpool4life5651:37 am, August 14, 2013

    So in Suarez home land their reporting that he agreed to stay and he might sign a new contract. To me he isn't forgiven it will take some time, if he scores goals then ok that's fine, but it will take time to heal. If the reports are true.

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  27. jk,
    completely AGREE! I would take Lambert over Allen, Borini, Downing,Shelvey when he was here and Suso too. Nice dream though, Southy would NEVER let this guy go. He is their heart and soul..........
    oh well.............

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  28. Apparently, he is playing the 'the support he has received from the fans is a factor' card. Cringe.

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  29. liverpool4life5652:07 am, August 14, 2013

    If true then okay fine but I smell BS.... In his new contract he will have a proper buy out clause hopefully liverpool are smarter this time and get a list if replacement in if he goes next summer which I think he will :)

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  30. I like Lambert as a footballer and a person. The respect i have for him is bourne from his sheer determination to succeed at the highest levwl. He has got there through graft and the strenght of will mixed in with his certain talent. He is cut from a different cloth than many of todays footballers. Do i think he is good enough to spearhead one of the top teams in the world, sorry ricky but answer has to be no.

    However if this mans spirit and character was blessed with the born ability of a Van Nistelroy or Henry, the guy would have been a world beater.
    His attitude and approach on the field is second to none and some of the worlds most talented strikers these days could well learn a thing or two from him.
    Congrats on the call up Lambert. Wish him all the best.

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  31. Will not happen. Now maybe if he we had shown some intent of progressing this summer, players like this would believe in BR and his "project" but no one is signing here to team up with Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto.

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  32. Another limited caliber but over hyped English player, whose best attribute is physical. In BR's system, he won't be successful. Not only LFC, in his early 20s, he was released by Steve McMahon (Blackpool) as well, which indicates, there must be something wrong with him. He might be a late bloomer in a mid table club but I don't think he would have been a hit at Anfield. Also, during his best years, under Hullier & Rafa, LFC had a much better team for him to be part of.


    Having said that, he would have been a much better purchase for around 8-9m at 29, than paying that amount for Carroll or Downing. I think, he is more skillful than Downing or Carroll, but that only indicates how poor are the pair. However, for 10m, Borini is a good purchase, he might not turn into a 35m forward, but 'll never cost 35m transfer loss, & must be at a very reasonable salary.



    Apart from Shahin (wasn't a bad investment, but he didn't fit into the system & BR played him at wrong position) & Assaidi (no loss/gain, too insignificant), I do think BR's signings are very good to outstanding. Actually, Allen impressed me most during preseason & I am sure Borini 'll be a hit; I have seen him in Israel this summer, if BR stays, Borini 'll fight with Sturridge for a starting berth.

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  33. liverpool4life5657:01 am, August 14, 2013

    BR already said these are squad players and he has shown intent, e,g Mkhitaryan and costa but they turned us down not BR fault.

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  34. At the risk of sounding like a broken record...first you get your first team in order, then you sign squad players. When you have players you'd like to sign for your first team, you have a plan B in case you fail to land them. It shouldn't be such a big surprise that big players attract attention from other clubs and they may decide to go there instead. We failed to sign Mkitharyan and then we signed no one. Ergo, no plan B. So now we'll just have to do with just the squad players.

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  35. He has been very prolific for Soton. 103 goals in 193 appearances is nothing to scoff at. I'm sure had he been at Liverpool he would have scored goals.

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  36. Rickie Lambert is a quality Player i'm a Saints fan and really wouldn't want to lose him after everything he has done for saints and his loyalty to saints is great so we are the lucky ones to have such a talented player and its great to see him get a call up and i think this is what England need fighters and not the usual flops C'Mon LAMBO & England!!

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  37. by that I meant both would be described as target men. Both lack pace and both are reasonable finishers.



    Marcus Stewart...... another 1 season wonder and Steven Gerrard in his second season up front found it extremely difficult when he was man marked. The second season hump can be a big obstacle is my point, but I take your point, we havent done well with target men since the creation of the prem with the exception of Crouch. Quick, Skillful strikers is what we should be after.

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  38. Out of that 103, how many in PL? By the same standard Andy Carroll 'll be someone like Radamel Falco.

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  39. St Martin of Dulwich5:08 pm, August 14, 2013

    Definitely not world class, but over-hyped? By who? He's exactly the opposite of that type of player, while to say his best attribute is his physicality obviously hasn't seen him play enough. Fair do's you don't support Saints so I wouldn't expect you to but base your opinions on a little more fact would help your argument.

    Rickie's vision, intelligence and range of passing make him far more than just another striker, Grant Holt he ain't. While he uses his size to his favour it's not his main attribute. Saints style of play and that of Liverpool under your current coach ain't a million miles apart so I'd say he'd fit in pretty well.

    It's a pity for Rickie that he really started to take things seriously after joining Saints, otherwise he may have risen sooner. He's admitted he wasn't professional enough until he came to the south coast. Maybe this had something to do with why he was released by yourselves and Blackpool. Maybe it's because they and you were utilising him as a midfielder and it took Steve Parkin at Rochdale to see he suited playing up front better.

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  40. Not sure how many of you watched the England game today but I'm absolutely buzzing for the lad. What a goal and what a celebration; just pure elation!!!

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  41. True, I haven't seen him as much as Suarez or Van Perse, but indeed have seen playing. Yes, he is intelligent with good passing vision, but at the end he is a target man. I don't think he can play in a fast moving, passing & interchanging positional game that Rogers wants to play with his 4 men forward line.

    I already admitted, he is better than those clowns bought by KK & may be at Southampton, he finally has found the apatite at a mature age, but still, you must have to admit that, for a forward, playing for the Saints (no disrespect) is lot easier than for LFC. Not only from expectation, but also at LFC, forwards are required to penetrate packed back line, where as at Southampton, it's opposite, you can hit on counter or play as a target-man for opportunities.

    Believe me, he might be going through a silky patch, but had he been that good, for his English identity only, he would have been priced much, much, much higher than €9m.

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