Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has written off England's chance of making an impression at next year's World Cup finals, and he insists that one of the biggest issues for the team is lack of quality strikers in the squad. Southampton star Rickie Lambert didn't feature against Chile, but Hansen argues that the striker is simply not good enough to play at a World Cup.
In his column for The Telegraph today, Hansen notes:
"Rickie Lambert has scored a couple of goals for England this season, but you cannot see him playing in a World Cup finals"
That seems a little harsh to me. Lambert only came into the England squad recently and he's already scored two goals. In my view, he's a much better option than Danny Welbeck, who only gets into the team because he plays for Manchester United. If Welbeck played for a less fashionable team, he'd be nowhere near the England squad.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers certainly rates Lambert, and prior to the Reds' 1-0 defeat to Southampton this season, he raved:
"He [Lambert] never got the recognition for what a good footballer he is. He’s one of the most accomplished footballers I’ve seen. He’s been outstanding. Look at his touch; and the different types of goals he’s scored over his career, and he’s a specialist on penalties as well. He’s a terrific footballer"
It's been a long, hard road to the England squad for the self-confessed Reds fan, and if things had gone differently, Lambert could've ended up at Anfield. Discussing his career during a press conference last month, 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"
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.
England do have one shining light up-front though: Daniel Sturridge. If he plays regularly for the national team, he will score goals, and he's an infinitely more exciting/effective player than the likes of Welbeck/Defoe.
Author: Jaimie K
In his column for The Telegraph today, Hansen notes:
"Rickie Lambert has scored a couple of goals for England this season, but you cannot see him playing in a World Cup finals"
That seems a little harsh to me. Lambert only came into the England squad recently and he's already scored two goals. In my view, he's a much better option than Danny Welbeck, who only gets into the team because he plays for Manchester United. If Welbeck played for a less fashionable team, he'd be nowhere near the England squad.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers certainly rates Lambert, and prior to the Reds' 1-0 defeat to Southampton this season, he raved:
"He [Lambert] never got the recognition for what a good footballer he is. He’s one of the most accomplished footballers I’ve seen. He’s been outstanding. Look at his touch; and the different types of goals he’s scored over his career, and he’s a specialist on penalties as well. He’s a terrific footballer"
It's been a long, hard road to the England squad for the self-confessed Reds fan, and if things had gone differently, Lambert could've ended up at Anfield. Discussing his career during a press conference last month, 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"
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.
England do have one shining light up-front though: Daniel Sturridge. If he plays regularly for the national team, he will score goals, and he's an infinitely more exciting/effective player than the likes of Welbeck/Defoe.
Author: Jaimie K
Yet again Hansen is talking rubbish. I have a huge respect for him as he was an amazing player for us but his views are sometimes hard to understand. He seems to have a love in with UTD and writes us off for some strange reason.
ReplyDeleteThis is Anfield, Carr71 "Kanwar cant handle critism", thats the motto that goes with his name, you know who it is by the spelling, JK.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Hanson always had a downer on Saints. Good to know there are fair minded Liverpool fans out there. I'm biased but I think he has a great touch and eye for a pass.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit harsh really. Like you say he has only played a couple of those times, and those times he has played he has actually been pretty good.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it does seem that who you play for at club level influences whether you get called up.
What does everyone think of the Will Hughes rumours going around today? £12M.
ReplyDeleteJk sometimes acts like that Kopology on Twitter when it comes to blocking people!! ;)
ReplyDeletewaste of money at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAxel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Moussa Dembele,Yann M'Vila, Maxime Gonalons, Fernando Reges, Sebastian Rode, all of them are getable except Dembele. I hope we don't waste money on Hughes. Suso is better than him I think.
He has been pretty good for me a Football Manager.
ReplyDeleteYou managing Liverpool? I got a £60M offer from city for Suarez lol!
ReplyDeleteAxel Witsel is a beast but would command and £40M+ fee!
ReplyDeleteNo Bristol City, a couple of seasons in now.
ReplyDelete£60 mil, not bad! Rodgers got sacked within 5 months on my game, then Laudrup took Liverpool to 2nd,
I think he'll be our most important and influential signing since Alonso.
ReplyDeleteHe has expressed his desire to play in the PL and he is a player who is worth what we were willing to pay for Willian. Not getting my hopes up but 30 million on Witsel is better than 12 million on Hughes IMO.
ReplyDelete