Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 8:23 am
Rickie Lambert's Cardiff City verdict: We're nowhere near the level to make the play-offs yet but it will only get better for me and the team
Monday 26th September 2017
BY PHIL SMITH
The 34-year-old endured a frustrating first three games but bounced back in spectacular fashion at Rotherham
In the build-up to what felt like a game of monumental importance at the New York Stadium, Paul Trollope called on his players to chase the game in a calmer fashion should they fall behind.
There could always be a crucial chance in stoppage time, was his message, and the key was to make sure they were still in at that point.
In the end the Bluebirds didn’t need that long, which owed much to the level-headedness and experience of the manager’s deadline day signing.
It’s not just his days playing in the Champions League on on the international stage that helps Lambert command respect, it’s the work-rate that has never changed from the years spent scrapping his way up the Football League pyramid.
The second goal may have had a touch of luck about it, but the first was just oh so canny. Drifting undetected in an offside position, he pulled back into space as the free-kick was taken. The header was then a simple finish, the kind he has made his trademark.
Alan Stubbs was rueful after the game. The Rotherham manager made his name battling against strikers like Lambert, and knew his young centre-back had fallen into his trap.
Stubbs said: “ I thought Rickie was a focal point for them, he gave them an outlet and used his body really well to link-up play. You can see why he’s played at the top level, it’ll have been a big learning curve for Dael [Fry] to play against someone like that.
“Rickie used his experience and looked to pull on Dael at every opportunity. All he’s done for the goal is used his experience to lean on him just enough to get the glancing header.”
As for Lambert himself , the 34-year-old had endured a frustrating start to his Bluebirds career. Three games in seven days was always going to be demanding for a player so short of first team starts, and to lose each one was galling to a player used to winning.
In typically candid fashion, he has admitted that his side are nowhere near the level they should be, but hopes that 78th minute deflection can be a springboard to better things.
He said: “We shouldn’t [have been bottom]. I’m not saying that we were looking to get automatic promotion. We were hoping to get around the play-offs and I’m not saying we are going to get there just because we got three points. We are nowhere near that level yet.
“But it’s a small step today and that’s all we can do.
“I am just so happy we have got the three points, but not only have we got the three points we have gone a goal down and come back to win.
“There was a lot of disappointment amongst the squad about the way we’ve handled going a goal down and I’m made up that we have responded in that way.
“Not only managed not to lose it, but to win it as well. It is also nice to get on the score-sheet and that’s what I have been waiting for and the quicker you can get the first goal the better.
“The performance wasn’t important today but what mattered is that we didn’t lose and we got the three points.”
Most encouragingly, the former Liverpool and Southampton man has insisted that there will be more to come once he has fully readjusted to the demands of being the team’s focal point week in, week out.
Even before his brace, Lambert was impressing with smart touches and good strength but it has been equally clear that physically he has not been at his peak.
He said: “I played 90 minutes and when I joined I wasn’t quite fit. I’m still not quite there at the moment but the more minutes under my belt I’m going to get to the level I know I can get to.
“Scoring goals is also going to help me confidence wise but minutes on the pitch is what I have missed the last two years.
“To go from two years not playing to then play four games, I am made up.
“There is more to come from me. It doesn’t necessarily means you are going to score goals, but performance and fitness wise it’s only going to get better.
“As horrible as it’s been the last few games, it’s nice to have 90 minutes.”
Perhaps the most impressive element of Lambert’s performances are that even after such a successful career, the hunger for goals is still there.
To see that you only need to see his response when it was put to him that his skipper Sean Morrison might have a claim to the first goal.
He said: “I don’t know what he is saying or seeing there, but it definitely did not touch him. And I’m claiming the second as well. It would have gone in the top corner if it hadn’t got a deflection.
“There is a bit of relief I scored. I believe in myself, I always have. I know I can score goals but it’s just getting that first one.”
“The quicker you can get that first goal it makes all the difference. Throughout my career I have normally scored in my first game. It’s taken me four games but I am off the mark now and I am looking forward to Tuesday now.
That can only bode well for the Bluebirds.
Monday 26th September 2017
BY PHIL SMITH
The 34-year-old endured a frustrating first three games but bounced back in spectacular fashion at Rotherham
In the build-up to what felt like a game of monumental importance at the New York Stadium, Paul Trollope called on his players to chase the game in a calmer fashion should they fall behind.
There could always be a crucial chance in stoppage time, was his message, and the key was to make sure they were still in at that point.
In the end the Bluebirds didn’t need that long, which owed much to the level-headedness and experience of the manager’s deadline day signing.
It’s not just his days playing in the Champions League on on the international stage that helps Lambert command respect, it’s the work-rate that has never changed from the years spent scrapping his way up the Football League pyramid.
The second goal may have had a touch of luck about it, but the first was just oh so canny. Drifting undetected in an offside position, he pulled back into space as the free-kick was taken. The header was then a simple finish, the kind he has made his trademark.
Alan Stubbs was rueful after the game. The Rotherham manager made his name battling against strikers like Lambert, and knew his young centre-back had fallen into his trap.
Stubbs said: “ I thought Rickie was a focal point for them, he gave them an outlet and used his body really well to link-up play. You can see why he’s played at the top level, it’ll have been a big learning curve for Dael [Fry] to play against someone like that.
“Rickie used his experience and looked to pull on Dael at every opportunity. All he’s done for the goal is used his experience to lean on him just enough to get the glancing header.”
As for Lambert himself , the 34-year-old had endured a frustrating start to his Bluebirds career. Three games in seven days was always going to be demanding for a player so short of first team starts, and to lose each one was galling to a player used to winning.
In typically candid fashion, he has admitted that his side are nowhere near the level they should be, but hopes that 78th minute deflection can be a springboard to better things.
He said: “We shouldn’t [have been bottom]. I’m not saying that we were looking to get automatic promotion. We were hoping to get around the play-offs and I’m not saying we are going to get there just because we got three points. We are nowhere near that level yet.
“But it’s a small step today and that’s all we can do.
“I am just so happy we have got the three points, but not only have we got the three points we have gone a goal down and come back to win.
“There was a lot of disappointment amongst the squad about the way we’ve handled going a goal down and I’m made up that we have responded in that way.
“Not only managed not to lose it, but to win it as well. It is also nice to get on the score-sheet and that’s what I have been waiting for and the quicker you can get the first goal the better.
“The performance wasn’t important today but what mattered is that we didn’t lose and we got the three points.”
Most encouragingly, the former Liverpool and Southampton man has insisted that there will be more to come once he has fully readjusted to the demands of being the team’s focal point week in, week out.
Even before his brace, Lambert was impressing with smart touches and good strength but it has been equally clear that physically he has not been at his peak.
He said: “I played 90 minutes and when I joined I wasn’t quite fit. I’m still not quite there at the moment but the more minutes under my belt I’m going to get to the level I know I can get to.
“Scoring goals is also going to help me confidence wise but minutes on the pitch is what I have missed the last two years.
“To go from two years not playing to then play four games, I am made up.
“There is more to come from me. It doesn’t necessarily means you are going to score goals, but performance and fitness wise it’s only going to get better.
“As horrible as it’s been the last few games, it’s nice to have 90 minutes.”
Perhaps the most impressive element of Lambert’s performances are that even after such a successful career, the hunger for goals is still there.
To see that you only need to see his response when it was put to him that his skipper Sean Morrison might have a claim to the first goal.
He said: “I don’t know what he is saying or seeing there, but it definitely did not touch him. And I’m claiming the second as well. It would have gone in the top corner if it hadn’t got a deflection.
“There is a bit of relief I scored. I believe in myself, I always have. I know I can score goals but it’s just getting that first one.”
“The quicker you can get that first goal it makes all the difference. Throughout my career I have normally scored in my first game. It’s taken me four games but I am off the mark now and I am looking forward to Tuesday now.
That can only bode well for the Bluebirds.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 9:22 am
Great honest words by a wonderful striker, that second goal was ladyluck helping us out for a change, its a long road ahead, lets hope we get some more luck our way 
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 10:04 am
He wants to play football, hes experienced, skillful, pationate, profesional, he can only get better and he gives the whole team a lift, great signing! 
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 12:03 pm
At last some honesty from someone in our club and its from Rickie Lambert, No bullshit, Straight talking, We are Not good enough for promotion, Dalman needs to learn from Lambert
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 12:08 pm
Forever Blue wrote:At last some honesty from someone in our club and its from Rickie Lambert, No bullshit, Straight talking, We are Not good enough for promotion, Dalman needs to learn from Lambert
Lambert is our Leader?
god knows, we need a leader at CCFC
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 12:22 pm
eddiep wrote:Forever Blue wrote:At last some honesty from someone in our club and its from Rickie Lambert, No bullshit, Straight talking, We are Not good enough for promotion, Dalman needs to learn from Lambert
Lambert is our Leader?
god knows, we need a leader at CCFC
We certainly do
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 12:57 pm
Forever Blue wrote:eddiep wrote:Forever Blue wrote:At last some honesty from someone in our club and its from Rickie Lambert, No bullshit, Straight talking, We are Not good enough for promotion, Dalman needs to learn from Lambert
Lambert is our Leader?
god knows, we need a leader at CCFC
We certainly do
make him the Captain. Morrison still reckons we'll stroll to the title lol
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 1:01 pm
ThomasC wrote:Forever Blue wrote:eddiep wrote:Forever Blue wrote:At last some honesty from someone in our club and its from Rickie Lambert, No bullshit, Straight talking, We are Not good enough for promotion, Dalman needs to learn from Lambert
Lambert is our Leader?
god knows, we need a leader at CCFC
We certainly do
make him the Captain. Morrison still reckons we'll stroll to the title lol
Thomas,I agree, Ricky Lambert,put the goals aside, is a born leader
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 3:35 pm
Most important word used by Lambert is WE. Always remember Beckham with I I and I. Think he is going to be pivotal in our fortunes this season wether that's sneaking us into the playoffs or keeping us up.
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 5:05 pm
When someone like Stubbs talks about how you can tell the level Lambert has played at, it's exciting to hear. Provide he's still got the legs for a full season, and he stays injury free then his class should shine through at this level!
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 9:07 pm
Really refreshing to hear someone at our club being honest
Re: Rickie Lambert:Honesty About Where we Deserve to Be
Mon Sep 26, 2016 10:47 pm
we are where we are - " Move On Up "