Burning Question: Rickie Lambert - Are you on board with it?

[Stu Monty]

People can't use city and Chelsea's wealth as an excuse why we have to fish around in the bargain basement but then be alright with 20 and 30 million moves for the likes of Lallana.

 

You very much can mate. Especially when it's actually their £70m extra in wages every season that allows them to have deep quality on the bench, and not a very sensible £20m for one of your leading targets. 

 

We can't get a Sagna to come and sit on the bench and pay him £120k a week. They can. 

 

We can't sign an amazing third choice striker on the same sort of money and then not have him play any games because the two we have are better than him. 

 

You not rating Lallana doesn't change the fact that spending £20m on a first team player is not excess.

 

Vietto would have been perfect, Lambert is good value.

 

I just can't see your logic here. He's going to cost a lot more money and he's not going to play any more games than Lambert. I'd also make a solid prediction that he'd not have as much of an impact on the team's 14-15 fortunes as Lambert will. You're going to buy a lad to have him not play, stall his progress completely or start pissing off Sturridge. Makes no sense to me. 

 

It's all about next season. This is not a year for potential, it's for locking shit down and being at at least the same level again. Lambert very much helps in that for me. Spending £15m on a wonderkid that isn't going to play doesn't.

[Paco]

plus add ons

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

The transfer window isn't even officially open yet and people are bemoaning us not signing world class players.

 

And, who says we want Lallana and Lovren and that we don't have other targets lined up, as well or instead?

 

The striking thing about the Lambert deal is just how few so called "in the know" journalists knew about it until it was pretty much all but done. Makes you wonder if the papers really have any clue at all about transfer targets.

 

Let's just sit back and see what happens.

[Pureblood]

This is a great signing.  Not only does he bring guaranteed goals for virtually no outlay (in today's terms) with minimal risk, it has the added bonus of annoying the hipster fraternity.  Win.  

[thompsonsnose]

£4-5 million? Yes.

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

Oh, by the way, it reeks of John Aldridge, this signing.

 

I think it'll be a shrewd bit of business, especially if Aspas moves for a similar fee. A decent, proven back up striker, for little or no net outlay.

 

Let's be honest, the front two are pretty much shoe ins for starting places. But a few games last season proved that we needed a reliable back up option or Plan B.

 

To get a top notch player to sit on the bench, we'd have to pay millions in both the fee and wages. And do we really want that kind of player? A mercenary happy to play a limited role, provided he gets his big pay packet every month?

 

Lambert won't be on peanuts, but he won't command the kind of salary that players who have been highlighted as better options would. They're better players, granted, but not the right players for where we are at the moment or where we're looking to go.

 

I'm quite happy with this deal and could see Lambert surprising a few and even challenging for a starting role.

[Strontium]

I just can't get my head around any criticism of this transfer. None of the arguments against it stack up at all. We're spending chump change on a proven Premier League performer, a forward with presence, adept at scoring with head and foot, free kick, long range, penalty box and penalty spot. So what if he's 32 years old? A 35 year old Teddy Sheringham fired United to the title in 2001 and picked up the PFA and FWA Player of the Year Awards for good measure. Rickie Lambert is going to do a great job for us.

[Frank Dacey]

If we sign Lambert then up front we could field up front Sturridge, Suarez and Lambert. Sterling and Coutinho can play there, not to mention Ibe possibly breaking through. That means that Borini and Aspas will be going and the money we get for them will more than cover Lambert's fee and also go to the other areas we need to strengthen; top class full back, centre half, powerhouse midfielder. Get those areas right and the Lambert deal will seem a good one.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

I just can't see your logic here. He's going to cost a lot more money and he's not going to play any more games than Lambert. I'd also make a solid prediction that he'd not have as much of an impact on the team's 14-15 fortunes as Lambert will. You're going to buy a lad to have him not play, stall his progress completely or start pissing off Sturridge. Makes no sense to me. 

 

It's all about next season. This is not a year for potential, it's for locking shit down and being at at least the same level again. Lambert very much helps in that for me. Spending £15m on a wonderkid that isn't going to play doesn't.

Well allow me to retort. The logic is, far from stalling his progress, bring a top prospect in to play FA Cup, League Cup, Sub, and cover for injuries - basically what Lambert will do - but also have the upside of him working with Rodgers in a young and upcoming team full of players who have either just broken through are are just on the verge of it.

 

My initial response was to somebody saying that this transfer was perfect. now, I like Lambert. I think he is good with his feet, good passer, can hold it up, good finisher, not arced about his age and his fee is right. I'm not hating this transfer in the way some are, but for me it's quite a way from perfect. Perfect is about creating a generation of excellent players who can dominate the league and buying a top prospect is in line with that. If you could have got the Aguero that joined Atleti or Lambert, you'd chose Aguero. That's the prospect I consider 'perfect'. Learn from Rodgers and Suarez whilst getting plenty of games but not being a started in the biggest matches, but also come in to be the next big thing. That's my logic. Even if I do like Lambert. Rather than 'perfect', for me it's 'yeah, makes sense at that price'. I think he can play a part, I think Vietto (or another young prospect) could play a massive part for years to come.

[JermainePennant]

Fuck no am I on board, we are signing an average player to facilitate the lallana deal and the club are happy to do so knowing a lot of lfc fans will not complain because hes a supporter.

 

Noone can convince me this is not the case, he had a better first season so why were we not in for him last summer especially considering there was possibilities we could lose Suarez.

 

If I was concerned about players supporting us I would want Nolan but I don't because hes shit and same goes for lambert.

 

I don't like this at all, if we were going for a 32 year old I would want a top player who has done it for years not a journey man like lambert.

 

Waste of money and an embarrassing deal for the club.

[Nelly-Szoboszlai]

I rarely agree with Stronts, but he's speaking sense here.

 

Plus, the 2 year deal makes sense too, as come 2016 players will be replaced by robots anyway.

 

Sorry, Dog! Couldn't resist.

[Kevin D]

I have a hard time interpreting the signing in its current context. I think that problem will clear up when the transfer window closes, but, just now there are too many complications.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Fuck no am I on board, we are signing an average player to facilitate the lallana deal and the club are happy to do so knowing a lot of lfc fans will not complain because hes a supporter.

 

Noone can convince me this is not the case, he had a better first season so why were we not in for him last summer especially considering there was possibilities we could lose Suarez.

 

If I was concerned about players supporting us I would want Nolan but I don't because hes shit and same goes for lambert.

 

I don't like this at all, if we were going for a 32 year old I would want a top player who has done it for years not a journey man like lambert.

 

Waste of money and an embarrassing deal for the club.

Nah. Not on board with that either. It certainly isn't an embarrassing deal. Worst case scenario is we get what we pay for, a squad option who brings something to the side for £4m. Actually, the deal only really has the potential to be a good one. I mean, you've got to be pretty fucking shit to be a bad £4m signing, and he's far from shit.

[JermainePennant]

I have a hard time interpreting the signing in its current context. I think that problem will clear up when the transfer window closes, but, just now there are too many complications.

This deal is very dodgy, every lfc fan knows this and those that say they don't are lieing to themselves.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

I have a hard time interpreting the signing in its current context. I think that problem will clear up when the transfer window closes, but, just now there are too many complications.

Yeah, fair shout. If he's part of a window that seems one or two very high quality players, two high quality players, and a couple of smart buys, then bring it on, let's all have an orgy. If it's Lallana as the one high quality signing, no very high quality signings (talking top tier), and a couple of mid level signings, then put your cocks away gentlemen.

[moof]

This deal is very dodgy, every lfc fan knows this and those that say they don't are lieing to themselves.

What in the name of fuckery are you talking about?

[JermainePennant]

Nah. Not on board with that either. It certainly isn't an embarrassing deal. Worst case scenario is we get what we pay for, a squad option who brings something to the side for £4m. Actually, the deal only really has the potential to be a good one. I mean, you've got to be pretty fucking shit to be a bad £4m signing, and he's far from shit.

One excellent quote Jose said when he first went to Chelsea that doesn't get mentioned enough is when he said a bad signing is a bad signing no matter what the fee, he said something else that made it sound better but that was his main point.

 

Its not only the fee anyway, getting him probably means we wont get another striker so we are missing the chance to possibly get a good striker.

 

I read the paper last night and br was complemented lambert saying he isn't a typical number 9 and scores all sorts.

 

I watched all his goals from last season on youtube last night and he scored one where he went past and player and the rest were 90% headers or pens, anyone who doesn't believe me look yourself.

 

People are saying an option from the bench but when I saw him come on for saints he looked on a different wavelength and negatively affected their performances.

 

I was literally laughing at the english giving him praise saying he should be in the England team after his goal for them, he was dogshit that game and scored a header, I put the praise down to people likeing the story of his career more then his ability.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

I think he's better than you're making out and not quite as good as others are making out. Whilst I sympathise with the 'missed opportunity for another striker' stance, I think you're judging him harshly. Judging him by the standards of Suarez and Sturridge last year, he's not close to that level and I don't think he ever will be, but he's no clogger either.

[JermainePennant]

What in the name of fuckery are you talking about?

If Rodgers rates lambert so much why didn't he go for him last summer?

 

It will be interesting to see the fees for lambert and lallana if we get them.

[Pureblood]

It's just a great Roy of the Rovers story.  If you're not in favour of this move you're a stinky bum-head, fact. 

[moof]

If Rodgers rates lambert so much why didn't he go for him last summer?

 

It will be interesting to see the fees for lambert and lallana if we get them.

You're weird

[RazorBack]

If he's dogshit and then scores a goal, I'll take that dogshit. To go for someone like Muriel, we would have to spend 15-20M at least, so I guess we are saving that for a proper forward who can play right, left and centrally. Pedro, Muniain, Alexis, etc. we're all hoping for something like that - is it realistic? Hard to say..

[Gnasher]

2 questions. If Stevie and Lambert are both on the field who will take a penalty? Who would you have taking a penalty?

[Bernard Diomede]

This Transfer window is already grating on me and it hasn't even opened yet. Its the time of year for hysterical fannies to get all hysterical and shit.

[Stu Monty]

Well allow me to retort. The logic is, far from stalling his progress, bring a top prospect in to play FA Cup, League Cup, Sub, and cover for injuries - basically what Lambert will do - but also have the upside of him working with Rodgers in a young and upcoming team full of players who have either just broken through are are just on the verge of it.

 

My initial response was to somebody saying that this transfer was perfect. now, I like Lambert. I think he is good with his feet, good passer, can hold it up, good finisher, not arced about his age and his fee is right. I'm not hating this transfer in the way some are, but for me it's quite a way from perfect. Perfect is about creating a generation of excellent players who can dominate the league and buying a top prospect is in line with that. If you could have got the Aguero that joined Atleti or Lambert, you'd chose Aguero. That's the prospect I consider 'perfect'. Learn from Rodgers and Suarez whilst getting plenty of games but not being a started in the biggest matches, but also come in to be the next big thing. That's my logic. Even if I do like Lambert. Rather than 'perfect', for me it's 'yeah, makes sense at that price'. I think he can play a part, I think Vietto (or another young prospect) could play a massive part for years to come.

 

Fair enough but you're presumably allocating a fair amount of money to this lad and thinking that a player of that quality is going to be happy coming here and getting maybe 5 starts a season if he's lucky.

 

I see the number one objective next season as cutting the rope beneath us in the Champions League and I see spending a decent chunk on potential greatness as a poorer choice than spending £4m for tried, tested and ready to go from game one.  If Suarez and Sturridge bang into each other on the first day of the season Lambert is going to do a far superior job than the hot prospect.