"Is Lambert too old at 34?"

Thoughts? I can remember Jason Roberts having a bit of an impact at Reading a few seasons ago but at 34 is Lambert too old? Personally, I think he's going to be a constant threat when the ball is in the box but I can't see him playing week in week out.

No because he never relied on pace which players lose when older. Hes known for his clever movement and finishing which i dont think you lose with age

No

not too old to sign for a year, but too old to give a 2 year contract on what probably amounts to the highest wage at the club.

a compromise would have been that if he played over, say, 30 league games, to automatically renew for the next year. this would provide a degree of protection to both sides.

we cannot afford a younger player who will guarantee goals, though. you are now getting goalscorers proven at championship level only being valued at £10-15m. we can barely afford a tenth of that now. so we must gamble on players like lambert.

Thoughts? I can remember Jason Roberts having a bit of an impact at Reading a few seasons ago but at 34 is Lambert too old? Personally, I think he's going to be a constant threat when the ball is in the box but I can't see him playing week in week out.

bloody hell shoot me now, I'm 48 and banging them in on a Monday night!

Helguson was older when he came and he played week in week out no problem.

Thoughts? I can remember Jason Roberts having a bit of an impact at Reading a few seasons ago but at 34 is Lambert too old? Personally, I think he's going to be a constant threat when the ball is in the box but I can't see him playing week in week out.

Helguson was 35 in our promotion year and without him we wouldn't have been in with a sniff by the January, at that point we then went out and got Frazier Campbell.

Helguson didn't have as good a strike rate or all round game as Lambert so it can work.

At this level it's not just about pace as a front player, it's about being clever and knowing where the goal is. We'll soon know whether Lambert is up to it !!

Thoughts? I can remember Jason Roberts having a bit of an impact at Reading a few seasons ago but at 34 is Lambert too old? Personally, I think he's going to be a constant threat when the ball is in the box but I can't see him playing week in week out.

Helguson was 35 in our promotion year and without him we wouldn't have been in with a sniff by the January, at that point we then went out and got Frazier Campbell.

Helguson didn't have as good a strike rate or all round game as Lambert so it can work.

At this level it's not just about pace as a front player, it's about being clever and knowing where the goal is. We'll soon know whether Lambert is up to it !!

a nice little Carl Dale would be brilliant alongside Lambert!

I remember Steve Howard being 34 when he played against us in the play-off semi-final in 2010 and gave the best centre-forward performance I have seen at CCS.

Downside he only scored 5 goals that season (although he didn't always start)

I see Ricky Lambert in the same mould as Steve Howard a great centre forward who will bring the best out of players such as Lex and AP as well as chip in with a few goals.

NO, Kevin Phillips.

Not at all.
Provided he's given good opportunities in matches i think he could score a fair few. It's unlikely he'll be a 25 goal a season striker but with attacking mids like Immers and Pilks playing with him i reckon we'll have a good attacking threat now.

Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic too old? He is 4 months older than Lambert.

Lambert may be rusty, and not played much for a while, but he looks lean, mean and keen - he has a strong personality and will be a presence on the pitch and off. At worst he will be a voice of experience and a mentor for Fred and Ken. At best he will get the service and support to score 15+ goals.

I remember Steve Howard being 34 when he played against us in the play-off semi-final in 2010 and gave the best centre-forward performance I have seen at CCS.

Downside he only scored 5 goals that season (although he didn't always start)

I see Ricky Lambert in the same mould as Steve Howard a great centre forward who will bring the best out of players such as Lex and AP as well as chip in with a few goals.

He was awesome that night and always seemed to play well against us.

I think we were linked with a move for him on a number of occasions too?

Helguson was older when he came and he played week in week out no problem.

My thoughts exactly, I think age is more of a big deal for players that rely on pace but Lambert doesn't. There's not a huge difference between say 30 and 34 aside from a yard of pace physically really, I think he will be good for us.. we may have ourselves a top championship striker if the rest of the team create the chances. We don't have the excuse of not having a goal scorer now that's for sure!

Helguson was older when he came and he played week in week out no problem.

My thoughts exactly, I think age is more of a big deal for players that rely on pace but Lambert doesn't. There's not a huge difference between say 30 and 34 aside from a yard of pace physically really, I think he will be good for us.. we may have ourselves a top championship striker if the rest of the team create the chances. We don't have the excuse of not having a goal scorer now that's for sure!

If we create the chances for him he will hit the net for sure. He also sets up a fair few. Let's see how well he can get about the pitch, some players even those who never relied on pace loose their legs badly... Jimmy Floyd for one!

Helguson was older when he came and he played week in week out no problem.

My thoughts exactly, I think age is more of a big deal for players that rely on pace but Lambert doesn't. There's not a huge difference between say 30 and 34 aside from a yard of pace physically really, I think he will be good for us.. we may have ourselves a top championship striker if the rest of the team create the chances. We don't have the excuse of not having a goal scorer now that's for sure!

If we create the chances for him he will hit the net for sure. He also sets up a fair few. Let's see how well he can get about the pitch, some players even those who never relied on pace loose their legs badly... Jimmy Floyd for one!

Glenn Murray is only one year younger than Lambert and hes banging them in for Brighton you never loose that goal scoring touch.

Helguson was older when he came and he played week in week out no problem.

My thoughts exactly, I think age is more of a big deal for players that rely on pace but Lambert doesn't. There's not a huge difference between say 30 and 34 aside from a yard of pace physically really, I think he will be good for us.. we may have ourselves a top championship striker if the rest of the team create the chances. We don't have the excuse of not having a goal scorer now that's for sure!

If we create the chances for him he will hit the net for sure. He also sets up a fair few. Let's see how well he can get about the pitch, some players even those who never relied on pace loose their legs badly... Jimmy Floyd for one!

Glenn Murray is only one year younger than Lambert and hes banging them in for Brighton you never loose that goal scoring touch.

There always comes a time when you lose your goal scoring touch. If you never lose it, we should sign someone like Bobby Charlton next week. I don't know how he will perform at this level at his age, but however he does, this is obviously only a short term fix. One thing I do know is that once you hit your mid thirties, you have to pace yourself over the ninety minutes, you tend to pick up injuries more easily, and when you get injured it takes longer to recover. I think he will still be capable of getting a few goals, and if he can get around ten this season, that will be an improvement on what we have at the minute.

Helguson was older when he came and he played week in week out no problem.

My thoughts exactly, I think age is more of a big deal for players that rely on pace but Lambert doesn't. There's not a huge difference between say 30 and 34 aside from a yard of pace physically really, I think he will be good for us.. we may have ourselves a top championship striker if the rest of the team create the chances. We don't have the excuse of not having a goal scorer now that's for sure!

If we create the chances for him he will hit the net for sure. He also sets up a fair few. Let's see how well he can get about the pitch, some players even those who never relied on pace loose their legs badly... Jimmy Floyd for one!

Glenn Murray is only one year younger than Lambert and hes banging them in for Brighton you never loose that goal scoring touch.

Of course you do!

Helguson was older when he came and he played week in week out no problem.

My thoughts exactly, I think age is more of a big deal for players that rely on pace but Lambert doesn't. There's not a huge difference between say 30 and 34 aside from a yard of pace physically really, I think he will be good for us.. we may have ourselves a top championship striker if the rest of the team create the chances. We don't have the excuse of not having a goal scorer now that's for sure!

If we create the chances for him he will hit the net for sure. He also sets up a fair few. Let's see how well he can get about the pitch, some players even those who never relied on pace loose their legs badly... Jimmy Floyd for one!

Glenn Murray is only one year younger than Lambert and hes banging them in for Brighton you never loose that goal scoring touch.

There always comes a time when you lose your goal scoring touch. If you never lose it, we should sign someone like Bobby Charlton next week. I don't know how he will perform at this level at his age, but however he does, this is obviously only a short term fix. One thing I do know is that once you hit your mid thirties, you have to pace yourself over the ninety minutes, you tend to pick up injuries more easily, and when you get injured it takes longer to recover. I think he will still be capable of getting a few goals, and if he can get around ten this season, that will be an improvement on what we have at the minute.

exactly. the issue i have is that his legs will go at some point. we shouldn't have given him a guaranteed 2 year contract.

clearly, some flexibility is needed. if lambert had played 35-40 full 90 minute games last year it would be a different kettle of fish. but he hasn't. it appears he is winding down his career. you would have thought he would go into west brom and played every game, given their level, and the ability he showed at southampton. some players managers just don't fancy a player, and i understand that, but 2 years is a long time in football. a player who is past it can quickly become a problem you cannot get rid of.

people want him to do well, and so are overlooking the warning signs. we've been here before and been ripped off.

I think he could rediscover his goalscoring with us, providing we play the right players and don't keep wellying it up to him hopefully.
It's a pity we didn't sign a young , fast Premier player on loan to partner him though. Hope Trollope ditches 5 at the back (especially for home games), as Lambert will need a lot more midfield support than that system allows.