Rickie Lambert

[chadrtc]

He was terrible last night, his confidence looks shot. I think he will accept being a sub

He hasn't made much of an argument to be anything more thus far.

[captainfog]

I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so

[Shaggy]

He is a good player - he's shown that often enough with Southampton and with England - but he really does look a rabbit in the headlights. Felt sorry for him last night.

[rodo]

he looks like as if he is still trying to come terms with being a red playing for lfc

[BootRoom]

He looked like a fella that had won a competition in the paper to play at Anfield. Woeful.

[Slinky Skills]

I get it all about him coming home etc.........However....

.....he is cumbersome, slower than a three toed sloth and he ducked under the free kick to allow them to score

Sloth's have quite a quick turn of pace actually. Well the ones in animated GIF's do at least.

I dunno, with all that Zak Snyder slow mo he would fit right in.

...and he can alos look back on the day he captained Liverpool as being a complete disaster for him performance wise. He looked a troubled man throughout.

Last night was a shocker but in his defence he's had zero game time.

Everyone was wanking over him at the start of the season, now everyone's slating him saying he runs like he's stuck in quick sand you fickle ****s!

He'll get better but he needs some goals, and that's going to be difficult for him as he's not going to get many games.

TBH I'd rather see him up with Sturridge rather than Balotelli, at least you'd get some work ethic.

[Patricks_Berger]

It's obviously a tough time for him at the moment. Up front on his own his shortcomings are there for all to see. But it's magnified because the team as a whole is playing so badly. He needs to take a spell on the sideline when Sturridge comes back and then be integrated once the team finds some form.

He should not have been captain tho - not on his first start - devalues the captaincy.

[Shaggy]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rickie-lambert---need-work-7828022#.VCPBiShh_Cs.facebook

Rickie Lambert - I need to work on my fitness, then watch me go

Sep 25, 2014 06:46 By Ian Doyle

Reds new boy admits struggle to impress hometown club

As penalty after penalty rifled into the Kop goal on Tuesday night, standing on the sidelines was the frustrated figure of Rickie Lambert.

Rather than demonstrating his renowned spot-kick prowess, the striker was left with his face pressed up against the glass as another opportunity to impress passed by.

Such has been the way for Lambert since arriving at Liverpool in the summer.

What started as a dream evening by leading out his boyhood club on his full debut in the Capital One Cup home tie against Middlesbrough ended in a familiar, nagging sensation of having failed to do himself justice.

Lambert may be back ‘home’ having made more than 600 senior career appearances elsewhere, but this season is proving new territory.

A regular at his previous clubs, the 32-year-old is adjusting to life as part of a squad player under Brendan Rodgers.

And Lambert believes fitness, as much as the danger of trying too hard to make his mark, is proving an issue – a shortcoming he is determined to address with extra work on the training pitch.

“I didn’t feel as sharp as I want to feel,” he says. “It’s just things, touches.

“That’s the main thing I want to look at going back into training.

“I want to get my match fitness up because obviously everyone knows I’m not playing every game so I have to adapt myself now.

“I think I’m going to have to do more so my fitness is up to the same level as everybody else.

“It’s not about getting used to be a Liverpool player. It’s my sharpness and my fitness which I need to get on the training pitch and start improving.

“We did have a few games at the beginning of the season, but it’s been game after game. I do work, push myself to the limit, but maybe I am going to have to go to the fitness coach tomorrow and see if I can do more."

Asked if he his eagerness to impress was having a detrimental effect, Lambert says: “Obviously that’s probably an aspect as well, which I’ve got to take into consideration and not let it affect me.

“But that’s just the way it is, and the situation I’m in.

“I’m more than confident I can get myself, and start contributing the way I know I can contribute.”

Lambert – still seeking his first goal in a Red shirt – has made five appearances so far this season, although the outing against Middlesbrough was his first start.

It earned the Kirkby-born forward the unusual accolade of being Liverpool captain on his full debut having been handed the armband by boss Rodgers.

“It was surprise,” admits Lambert. “The manager pulled me in and said ‘you’re going to be skipper’ so it was a great honour to lead the team.

“Was it dream stuff for a local lad? It was.

“But forgetting about that, it was a strange game. I’ve never seen a penalty shoot-out go on for so long.

“I’ve been close to it, but that surpassed it. We dug in. We gave away a bad set-piece goal again, which we are not happy with, but we dug in and we had to win on pens in the end.

“I kind of wish I’d been out there for the pens, yes! But the lads were superb with the pens and so were Middlesbrough. Full credit, the quality of pens was superb.

“But I wasn’t happy with my own performance, so that overshadowed the honour of being captain a little bit.”

Involved in every matchday squad this campaign, Lambert is counting down the hours before the chance to tick off another achievement by appearing in a Merseyside derby, with Everton due at Anfield on Saturday.

“Hopefully we can get one over on them,” he says. “It’s always a special day against Everton and I can’t wait for it.

“It would be another dream to play in a derby. But I want to stay away from stuff like that now and focus on my performance and fitness.”

[Pablo]

He does seem the sort who needs to play games to stay in peak shape. Mostly I just feel sorry for him, you could visibly see he was upset with his own performance at times the other day.

When he finally does score it's going to be a real emotional moment for him. He'll tap in the fourth in a 4-1 rout and spontaneously burst into tears or something

[MrMichael]

He's going to score the winner off the bench in the derby, he'll be fine after that

[Slinky Skills]

He does seem the sort who needs to play games to stay in peak shape. Mostly I just feel sorry for him, you could visibly see he was upset with his own performance at times the other day.

When he finally does score it's going to be a real emotional moment for him. He'll tap in the fourth in a 4-1 rout and spontaneously burst into tears or something

I do feel for him, you could see the pain and sadness in his face even not keeping the ball in which went for a throw in but I'm in agreement with you mate and that is he needs games to keep fit.

I think we'd be far more of a threat with a forward 4 of him, Sterling, Lallana and Strurridge than with Balloteli in there. I think Lambert offers more but he's clearly not going to get the opportunity which is a shame.

He has to knuckle down and hope that BR gives him some chances.

He's going to score the winner off the bench in the derby, he'll be fine after that

That would be ace.

Have a strong feeling he will start for this one.

[RedReet]

I do feel for him, you could see the pain and sadness in his face even not keeping the ball in which went for a throw in but I'm in agreement with you mate and that is he needs games to keep fit.

I think we'd be far more of a threat with a forward 4 of him, Sterling, Lallana and Strurridge than with Balloteli in there. I think Lambert offers more but he's clearly not going to get the opportunity which is a shame.

He has to knuckle down and hope that BR gives him some chances.





That would be ace.

Have a strong feeling he will start for this one.

I have more chance of starting against Everton than Lambert.

[Chris]

Good, honest interview. Still think he's doing ok. He helped change the Southampton game and give us a glimmer at City. If he impacts say 10-15 games in a positive way from the bench this season I think that'd be good. His start didnt go how I imagined it though!

[dom9]

He is a good player - he's shown that often enough with Southampton and with England - but he really does look a rabbit in the headlights. Felt sorry for him last night.

Those upgraded floodlights have claimed another victim.

[baitman]

I have more chance of starting against Everton than Lambert.

Im sure you will do us proud.