rickie lambert starts

congratulations to rickie but i just dont get starting someones international call up at age 31. perhaps Im wrong but surely you would go for youth when hes clearly only gap filling

Couldn't disagree more. I think its fantastic he has been given a call up late on his career and it also sets out to people, you're never too old to represent your country. Also he has worked his ass off through the football league, scoring goals for fun. He proved he can handle the Prem and still trouble defenses in the best league in the world, he proved after 2 minutes he can score for England and showed pure emotion when doing so, something people don't do anymore. 

He is a also a true englishman, something we don't see often in the prem these days.

I'm with Nick. Lambert's currently the best option, and deserves his place. As for going for the youth option, who would you suggest? I'm struggling to think of an up and coming striker who's worthy of a place.

im struggling too to be honest about the youth option . he got the two best youth players in the prem with Welbeck and sturrigde ,and with Welbeck suspended rickie a shoe in for the next game . ok Im wrong  

And rooney injured!

Lambert seems to be good enough though. I think its a pretty shrewd move by Hodgson tbh.

31 is old yes. But hopefully there are a few strikers that will make the grade in a couple of years. I think my lad Gayle will be knocking on the door soon

He's a pretty clever striker, has good movement and link up play. Not just a lump up top.

Be interesting to see how he does if he plays against Ukraine, which will be his first proper international test

Its Carroll injured at the moment?

From what he showed in the Moldova game, I'd say the closest comparison for Lambert over recent(ish) years is Sheringham - no great pace but reads the game well, decent finisher when a chance presents and can pick a pass to a better placed team mate.

OK, he's not the long term future for England, but he's got a chance of going to the World Cup next summer, which is really the short term goal. After that, who knows, but as someone whose game is not based primarily on athleticism, there's no reason that he can't continue to perform at a high level for a few years yet.

Yes good call Dummy.

He seems quite an intelligent reader of  the game tbh as was teddy. I am not sure if lambert has the same finishing ability mind.,

What's Lambert background/history? he plays for southampton but that's about the only thing I know about him.
from what I saw in the highlights of the moldovia game, he was well worth wearing the jersey though.

He scored goals for fun for Bristol Rovers in league one and league two. Before Southampton forked out 1 million pounds for him, when they were in league one. He then continued his superb goal scoring record and scored plenty of goals to get Southampton back to back promotions to the Premiership. Where he has continued to trouble defenses and scoring a lot of goals.

Great player, really hope he can prove he is good enough in the bigger games for England, tonight.

whocares wrote:What's Lambert background/history?  he plays for southampton but that's about the only thing I know about him.
from what I saw in the highlights of the moldovia game, he was well worth wearing the jersey though.

Based on his Wikipedia entry:
Rejected as a trainee by Liverpool at age 15, before making his debut for Blackpool as a 17 year old, but released after about a year and was without a club for a few months before signing for Macclesfield. Then a typical lower league journeyman career (Macc, Stockport, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers) until signing for Southampton (then in League 1) in 2009. Lots of goals (104 in 197 games for Southampton) and two promotions later and he's suddenly an England player.

Perhaps just one of those players who performs better when surrounded by better players?

dummy_half wrote:

whocares wrote:What's Lambert background/history?  he plays for southampton but that's about the only thing I know about him.
from what I saw in the highlights of the moldovia game, he was well worth wearing the jersey though.

Based on his Wikipedia entry:
Rejected as a trainee by Liverpool at age 15, before making his debut for Blackpool as a 17 year old, but released after about a year and was without a club for a few months before signing for Macclesfield. Then a typical lower league journeyman career (Macc, Stockport, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers) until signing for Southampton (then in League 1) in 2009. Lots of goals (104 in 197 games for Southampton) and two promotions later and he's suddenly an England player.

Perhaps just one of those players who performs better when surrounded by better players?

He scored 59 goals in 155 games for Bristol Rovers, I don't think it's the players that he plays with, he's just gotten better with age.

It really is short-term having him in the england squad. Personally I don't think he will go to the WC in 2014 as I think other players will be picked ahead of him (rooney, sturridge, welbeck & Walcott).

He is the footballing equivalent of Compton..(cricket opener)