by Scouser_Dave Sat May 31, 2014 6:11 am
Rickie Lambert: five reasons the striker has been targeted by the Reds
With the Reds closing in on the Southampton striker, the ECHO looks at the qualities he can bring to Brendan Rodgers' side
Rickie Lambert's impending move to Liverpool FC for £4million plus adds-ons has taken the footballing world by surprise.
The ECHO understands the 32-year-old England international will be offered a two-year contract and club officials hope the transfer will be completed in the next 48 hours.
Here's five reasons why his move to Anfield would make sense.
Goalscoring prowess
A team that scored 101 league goals doesn't necessarily need to add even more goals to the set-up, but that's what Lambert will do. In his two Premier League seasons, he's notched 29 goals for Southampton – and despite his highly-regarded penalty-taking ability, only six of those came from the spot.
In 37 appearances last season, he notched 13 goals – more than Robin van Persie, Christian Benteke, Emmanuel Adebayor, Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto'o. And while Lambert may have played more than that quintet of striking stars, that is just reward for a fine fitness record matched by few. Only two players over 30 made more appearances than Lambert last season.
Lambert had 103 shots on goal last season – the fifth-highest in the Premier League last season – with an accuracy of 51%, slightly worse than Luis Suarez (53%) and slightly better than Daniel Sturridge (49%). And while he's thought of as a player who lurks in the six-yard box and eyeballs goalkeepers, he isn't worried about having an attempt outside the area, with 44 last season.
His use from dead balls could be useful, too. Not only is he proficient from 12 yards – scoring all 34 of his penalties for the Saints – but his vicious free-kick style sees him troublesome from as far as 30 yards.
His eye for a pass
Woe betide any defence who regards Lambert solely as a battering ram, a six foot two bundle of flesh who leaves the opposition battered and bruised. He can bruise and batter, granted, but he marries that with finesse with the ball and an inclination to create chances for his team-mates. In the past two seasons, he's attempted more through balls (94) than David Silva and Jack Wilshere – as well as Suarez and Philippe Coutinho.
Brendan Rodgers wants his front line to be able to both score and create. The addition of Lambert would see the Reds possess four of the top eight Premier League players in terms of both goals scored and assists made in 2013/14; with 10 assists, Lambert is clearly versatile and not simply somebody who spends 90 minutes next to the goalposts.
He averages 1.5 key passes per game and created 53 chances last season for the Saints, demonstrating there's more to him than goals alone.
It has been some journey for Rickie Lambert, who has risen up the leagues with the SaintsIt has been some journey for Rickie Lambert, who has risen up the leagues with the Saints
He brings different kind of option
Upon arriving at Anfield, Rodgers said: “If Plan A doesn't work, Plan B is to make a change to make Plan A more effective.”
Lambert, on the surface, would appear that Plan B. Strong, tall and with ill manners towards defences, he provides the Reds with something different to Suarez and Sturridge - he would also provide something better than Iago Aspas, who was an unused substitute 28 times last season.
But the 32-year-old doesn't have to be different to Suarez and Sturridge; he can compliment them, too. His arrival will not herald NFL-style Hail Mary passes, high enough to break the floodlights, on the off-chance of finding his forehead – he only scored one goal with his head last season, anyway.
Lambert is intelligent in his movement and can play good football; he has the ability to join the passing carousel of Suarez, Sturridge and Coutinho – although his pass accuracy of 70% will have to improve. He can do this either as a starter or from the bench.
It could transpire, then, that Lambert is not the player to initiate Plan B; instead, he's a Plan B player who can play Plan A which – after all – brought 101 league goals last season. Lambert appears to be the man with the plan – it just depends which one.
Possesses experience in an attacking system
Integration into the Liverpool side should not be too hard. While the Saints were not as breathtaking as Rodgers' side last season, Mauricio Pochettino created an impressive identity at St Mary's that was based on similar principles to that of Rodgers – high-intensity, strong pressing and an attack that's quick and flexible.
Both Liverpool and Southampton were in the league's top six with regards to successful passes – Liverpool fourth, Saints sixth - while the difference in their possession was minimal. Southampton also created 397 chances and made 357 key passes last season – comfortably in the league's top eight.
Lambert has not spent the last few years with a sore neck, forever looking skywards at floating balls. He has played in a young, exciting team with progressive players around him; players who are quick with both boot and mind, playing with energy and exuberance. Even if Adam Lallana wasn't to join Liverpool, Lambert's experience playing next to him – and Jay Rodriguez – will have given him some insight into what awaits him at Anfield.
The fairytale
Ok, so being local does not automatically equate to being a hero. There is no scientific formula that confirms being born in Kirkby rather than Kiev extracts 10% more effort. Manchester City did not win the league with Noel Gallacher at left back.
But there's just something undeniably romantic about Lambert signing for Liverpool. Ten years ago, he was playing for travel expenses at Macclesfield; five years ago, he was an option for League One Southampton. Even two years ago, he was a Championship striker, albeit with 27 goals and a promotion secured.
Now, he's set to complete a fairytale two years with an ending he couldn't imagine. Success at Southampton followed a call by England; that was followed by a goal on his international debut, with his first touch in an England shirt, and a subsequent call-up to the World Cup squad.
A move to Liverpool will top all that. It keeps the Scouse heart of the side beating with a player who will run through walls for his boyhood club. The last player to hail from Kirkby was Phil Thompson – and he didn't do too badly at all.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rickie-lambert-liverpool-fc-five-7195732
