Is Ricky Lambert capable of the international stage?

The rise of Rickie Lambert from the lower Leagues to a respected relic in the Premier League jewellery set has been one any footballer would aspire to achieving.

He has done exceptionally well to convert his imperious goal scoring record he had in the Championship into the Premier League.

It is certainly form which is very difficult to ignore. Lambert could be the difference between relegation and survival amongst the English elite for Southampton.

It is difficult to dismiss goals as an option when it comes to any stage but the international stage is one which is a very different beast to the Premier League.

The international game is focussed very much around passing and is played at a far slower tempo as there seems to be a nip and tuck of tactical chess when the World’s best match up.

In this environment you can’t afford to carry any dead weight.  There are some players that are decent enough footballers but just not cut out for playing for their country.

Whilst Lambert is a shining example for players looking to climb the League and make it to the top his rise should end here. He does not belong in the Three Lions set up and falls into a similar bracket that Grant Holt did last season. He is above average but not exceptional.

He is latest fancy for the media to try and put in the national set up. Rickie Lambert will soon prove he isn’t capable of replicating such form consistently, so Hodgson should save the fans the pain the frustration and waste of time it would be calling him up.

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Comments

[Scummer Rich]

I'm not sure that you have seen enough of Lambert's all round play. He is a superior player to Grant Holt, and the way that he leads the line, holds up the play and brings in other players is exactly what England need. He is very much like Heskey in that respect, except he also has a considerable goal threat, something you could never accuse Heskey of.

It would be a mistake to dismiss him as a limited player as critics have said as much when he stepped up to Division 1, to the Championship and now to the Premier League. He is certainly a better option than Andy Carroll.

[Mooseman]

I agree with Scummer Rich. If you try to compare Lambert with Holt then you clearly have not watch enough of him to make any comment on his International credentials.
On the face of it Lambert may look like a typical target man due to his aerial ability (Destroyed Vidic twice this season) and hold up play. However if you watch his allround game you will notice that his technique is as good as any other English striker and he is very intelligent, he drops deep to collect the ball and has an excellent range of passing and crossing at his disposal (he played for 5+ years as a midfielder).
All he lacks is pace, which isn't as much of an issue in the 'far slower tempo' international game.
Watch the guy more closely before you write off his chances of adding value to the international game, he is certainly worth a look...

[Simon]

I'd definitely pick him. The front lot of Defoe, Sturridge, Walcott, Welbeck, Rooney are all very similar in style. There is no real variation apart from Carroll and Lambert is a much, much better player than Carroll.

If you are trying to unlock a defence and your small, tricky guys are struggling with 20 minutes to go I'd love to see Lambert come on rather than Welbeck or Sturridge.

[Sean Rampton]

Wow, you really need to do a bit more homework when putting up articles like this. If you had bothered to research any further than just how many goals Rickie Lambert has scored this season, or any other for that matter, you'd see that it's his all round game that makes him such an asset to Saints. He brings players in, is a dead ball specialist, 31 penalties scored out of 31 taken, and most assists so far this season too. He is quick of thought, deft of touch, strong in the air, reads the game exceptionally well and oh, yeah, bangs in a few goals too. If there's one thing that annoys me, it's lazy jounalism.

[Sean Rampton]

*journalism

[Ross]

Mr. Dembastic - Do your research before you post this kind of report. If RL did ever make it to the England setup it would be purely down to his ability not the media. The Grant Holt comparisons have become boring now. Anyone who who has been following the EPL this season should know by now that they really arent similar players at all.

[Ant]

Defiantly shows why your only a small time blogger then, I have seen Lambert this season only but I have seen a few free kicks he has scored in the lower leagues and I think he has been unlucky not to score a free kick in the prem. I know his goal tally in the lower leagues gave him two golden boots in 2 season?

I watched him at old trafford last week and saw him on TV a few times, his technique strength and pass rate is amazing, his assists ratio has also been good

I think any forward who can score regularly is worthy of a England call up and anyone who thinks otherwise is lacking some football knowledge

[Fuffell]

I think it's pretty clear you haven't seen Lambert play often enough. All round game is top draw, and finishing is as good England can offer.

Could easily do a job for the national side. Better all round player by far than Andy Carroll

[SomersetSaint]

Better in the air than Crouch or Carroll, better on the ground than just about anyone apart from Defoe or Rooney, add to that Rickie's supreme footballing intelligence, and you see why this article just doesn't match up to the reality. To leave him out of the England squad is a mark of Hodgson's monumental lack of imagination.

[El Santo]

He definitely deserves to play for England. Like everyone else said, he is a different option that England don't have. His vision and passing are immense, and he would be so hungry.