Rickie Lambert lifts the lid on strained Neil Warnock conver
Tue May 12, 2020 9:01 am
FOR ME WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY & COST CARDIFF £ MILLIONS / RIGHTLY SO NEIL WARNOCK DID NOT WANT LAMBERT 
Former Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert lifts the lid on strained Neil Warnock conversation that effectively ended career
The former striker has opened up on his struggles under the former Cardiff City boss
Tuesday 12th May 2020
Rickie Lambert has suggested former boss Neil Warnock 'made an example' of him during his short stint with Cardiff City, adding that his rejection in the Welsh capital was a key factor in his decision to retire from the game.
Lambert, who spent nearly a year at the Cardiff City Stadium after signing on with Paul Trollope, netted just four goals in 18 games before leaving the club by mutual consent in the summer of 2017, as Warnock set about building a team that would later earn an unlikely promotion to the Premier League.
The former Liverpool striker failed to find another club and retired from the game just a few months later.
Now, in an interview with Bristol Live, Lambert has opened up on his short spell in the Welsh capital, and the frosty relationship with former manager Warnock.
Speaking about his career after leaving Liverpool, Lambert remembers: "I was 32 then, and it was the first time I was starting to feel the decline in my body. I wasn’t as powerful, and I wasn’t as quick over the first yard or so.
RICK LAMBERT:
"I went to West Brom, and I couldn’t do what I wanted to do, and Tony Pulis was a very physically-demanding manager, and I couldn’t get around the pitch like he wanted, so I moved on.
"Then to Cardiff with Trolls [Paul Trollope], and he was struggling when I went there and I couldn’t help him to turn it around fast enough, and he got sacked six weeks after I joined!
"And Neil Warnock came in and told me pretty quickly that I wasn’t in his plans. He was fair and honest, and said I need energy up top, I need someone to be closing defenders down, and you can’t do it."
Lambert struggled for game time under Warnock, and believes he was unfairly treated by the Yorkshireman, insisting he was never given a fair crack of the whip under his tenure.
"He said I won’t be playing so suggested I go out on loan. I told him I have brought my family down to move to Cardiff, I am 35, there is no chance I am going to do that.
"I was old enough to take things on the chin generally, but after than he stuck me on the bench, and never brought me on.
"Was he trying to make an example of me? Or trying to get me off the books? I mean I was getting paid, and I was getting paid pretty well.
"And I would have got a few goals off the bench, but he wasn’t having it. I was there one season and that was it, and I was left thinking do I carry on somewhere else.
"And I probably had three seasons when I was on the slide, and I kind of fell out of love with football, and that was it, so I retired."
Lambert admits he nearly kept his football career going by joining Wigan Athletic following his departure from the Bluebirds, but made the decision to turn his back on the game, adding that he is now focused on his personal life.
Nevertheless, he still admits that he does his best to keep up with his beloved Liverpool.
"Luckily I was financially okay, so I had a choice, I didn’t have to stay in the game. A lot of players have to play as long as they can. I didn’t.
"I mean, I almost joined Wigan. I went training with them, and I came home, and I was struggling with my back, I had been getting injections. And pondered what damage I would be doing to myself carrying on.
"I did all my badges when I was Southampton and that, but decided it wasn’t for me. Not then anyway.
"I wanted to come away from football. And that’s what I’ve done. I am just a husband and father to three kids now. I have a few things on the side, businesses and investments that I keep an eye on and help out.
"Football-wise, I help with my 12-year-old and his team, and I play football on a Friday with my mates and that’s about it. I always look out for results at Rovers and Southampton mainly, and I go and watch Liverpool when I can. I live back in there now, and have been about nine times this season I reckon."
Former Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert lifts the lid on strained Neil Warnock conversation that effectively ended career
The former striker has opened up on his struggles under the former Cardiff City boss
Tuesday 12th May 2020
Rickie Lambert has suggested former boss Neil Warnock 'made an example' of him during his short stint with Cardiff City, adding that his rejection in the Welsh capital was a key factor in his decision to retire from the game.
Lambert, who spent nearly a year at the Cardiff City Stadium after signing on with Paul Trollope, netted just four goals in 18 games before leaving the club by mutual consent in the summer of 2017, as Warnock set about building a team that would later earn an unlikely promotion to the Premier League.
The former Liverpool striker failed to find another club and retired from the game just a few months later.
Now, in an interview with Bristol Live, Lambert has opened up on his short spell in the Welsh capital, and the frosty relationship with former manager Warnock.
Speaking about his career after leaving Liverpool, Lambert remembers: "I was 32 then, and it was the first time I was starting to feel the decline in my body. I wasn’t as powerful, and I wasn’t as quick over the first yard or so.
RICK LAMBERT:
"I went to West Brom, and I couldn’t do what I wanted to do, and Tony Pulis was a very physically-demanding manager, and I couldn’t get around the pitch like he wanted, so I moved on.
"Then to Cardiff with Trolls [Paul Trollope], and he was struggling when I went there and I couldn’t help him to turn it around fast enough, and he got sacked six weeks after I joined!
"And Neil Warnock came in and told me pretty quickly that I wasn’t in his plans. He was fair and honest, and said I need energy up top, I need someone to be closing defenders down, and you can’t do it."
Lambert struggled for game time under Warnock, and believes he was unfairly treated by the Yorkshireman, insisting he was never given a fair crack of the whip under his tenure.
"He said I won’t be playing so suggested I go out on loan. I told him I have brought my family down to move to Cardiff, I am 35, there is no chance I am going to do that.
"I was old enough to take things on the chin generally, but after than he stuck me on the bench, and never brought me on.
"Was he trying to make an example of me? Or trying to get me off the books? I mean I was getting paid, and I was getting paid pretty well.
"And I would have got a few goals off the bench, but he wasn’t having it. I was there one season and that was it, and I was left thinking do I carry on somewhere else.
"And I probably had three seasons when I was on the slide, and I kind of fell out of love with football, and that was it, so I retired."
Lambert admits he nearly kept his football career going by joining Wigan Athletic following his departure from the Bluebirds, but made the decision to turn his back on the game, adding that he is now focused on his personal life.
Nevertheless, he still admits that he does his best to keep up with his beloved Liverpool.
"Luckily I was financially okay, so I had a choice, I didn’t have to stay in the game. A lot of players have to play as long as they can. I didn’t.
"I mean, I almost joined Wigan. I went training with them, and I came home, and I was struggling with my back, I had been getting injections. And pondered what damage I would be doing to myself carrying on.
"I did all my badges when I was Southampton and that, but decided it wasn’t for me. Not then anyway.
"I wanted to come away from football. And that’s what I’ve done. I am just a husband and father to three kids now. I have a few things on the side, businesses and investments that I keep an eye on and help out.
"Football-wise, I help with my 12-year-old and his team, and I play football on a Friday with my mates and that’s about it. I always look out for results at Rovers and Southampton mainly, and I go and watch Liverpool when I can. I live back in there now, and have been about nine times this season I reckon."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: Rickie Lambert lifts the lid on strained Neil Warnock co
Tue May 12, 2020 10:28 am
Rickie Lambert was a terrible signing and cost us £millions, a total waste of money.
Re: Rickie Lambert lifts the lid on strained Neil Warnock co
Tue May 12, 2020 10:40 am
Was a panic buy from Trollope and Lambert was just too old and broken down to deliver. On silly wages aswell
Re: Rickie Lambert lifts the lid on strained Neil Warnock co
Tue May 12, 2020 12:26 pm
Yet another sob story from an ex pro.
Re: Rickie Lambert lifts the lid on strained Neil Warnock co
Tue May 12, 2020 4:48 pm
I think he is being a bit economical with the truth. He says he wasn't given a chance as he was on the bench most of the time but Warnock wouldn't bring him on. I might be wrong and time plays trick with the mind but wasn't he injured most of the time ? Last time I remember even seeing him was up at Burton in Trollopes last game. He was crap and I think Big Ken came on for him.