Saints legend's shock at Lambert England snub

6:30am Wednesday 6th February 2013 in Sport

Rickie Lambert Rickie Lambert

SAINTS legend Matt Le Tissier is “amazed” that current talisman Rickie Lambert has been overlooked by England.

Despite netting 11 times in the Premier League so far this season, a tally that makes him the joint top English scorer in the division, Lambert was not picked for tonight’s friendly against Brazil, at Wembley.

Even the withdrawal of injured duo Jermain Defoe and Daniel Sturridge – two of the five forwards included by manager Roy Hodgson – did not result in a late call-up for the Saints front man, or anyone else.

Lambert admitted after Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Wigan that he was disappointed to have been overlooked.

Le Tissier is a man who well knows that form alone does not always equate to a place in the England set-up and he believes the club’s current number seven has every right to feel aggrieved.

“Two of the strikers have pulled out injured since the squad’s been announced,” he said. “If he wasn’t in the first five, it amazes me that he’s not the next one down the pecking order.

“You tell me another English centre forward who’s been more effective than Rickie Lambert this season.”

With Lambert turning 31 later this month, it has been suggested that his age could have counted against him.

But Le Tissier insists that should have no bearing, and neither should the fact this is his first season in the top flight.

“I never understand, and this may be one of the reasons why we never get very close to winning a major tournament, why are we always planning for the future and not thinking about the present?” he said.

“If you spend all your time thinking about the future, you will never win anything in the present.

“It’s a poor excuse, to be honest with you.

“Because of the way he’s come up, he’s looked down upon by people in higher positions – because of the route that he’s taken to get to the top, because of how long it’s taken him to get to the top.

“But, at the end of the day, you should pick an England squad primarily on current form, and I don’t think it happens.”

Only Robin van Persie (18), Luis Suarez (17), Demba Ba (14) and Michu (13) can boast more Premier League goals than Lambert this term.

Le Tissier has been thrilled at how the striker has performed in his first season in the top flight.

“He’s got 11 goals in the Premier League in 25 games and that by anyone’s standards is a good return,” said Le Tissier.

“You look at what Van Persie does and it’s phenomenal.

“Because of what he’s done, it almost belittles other people’s achievement of scoring a goal nearly every other game.

“If you can play in the Premier League and score a goal nearly every other game you are a good footballer.

“There’s no two ways about that.

“Rickie is a very, very good footballer.”

Comments(27)

rocketone says...
6:42am Wed 6 Feb 13

We all know he ain't going to get picked.
Grant Holt should have had a chance last season. Didn't happen for him either and now he has just got fat with disappointment!
If Adam had been fit and playing would be have got a look in?

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Costa Baz says...
7:44am Wed 6 Feb 13

Lambo will just have to take his frustration out on Citeh.
Come on Ricky, time for your first Premier League hat-trick.

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Little Hitler says...
7:47am Wed 6 Feb 13

Absolutely gutted for Rickie but their loss is our gain TBH.

Woy is a doddering old fool, much like the rest of the FA.

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Mush On The Beach says...
7:52am Wed 6 Feb 13

Baz you read my mind. Rickie will be motivated by this knock back and in time will prove again to any doubters that he is worthy of the next step up.

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Bring back Branfoot says...
7:55am Wed 6 Feb 13

Rickie not in the England squad, let me guess who is to blame Tiss, Nicola by any chance?

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Norwegian Saint says...
7:56am Wed 6 Feb 13

Not just Rickie....

Clyne,
Shaw,
Cork,
Lallana,
Puncheon...

We have half the future England team!

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Mush On The Beach says...
7:59am Wed 6 Feb 13

Norwegian Saint wrote:
Not just Rickie....

Clyne,
Shaw,
Cork,
Lallana,
Puncheon...

We have half the future England team!
Puncheon? hmmmm. How's that Absolut vodka tasting you naughty Norge.

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Seedhouse the Unrepentant says...
8:10am Wed 6 Feb 13

HUIT

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Stroppy_gramps says...
8:21am Wed 6 Feb 13

do you know, right now I think this is the right decision.

I appreciate it might have annoyed SRL (because any right thinking player should want to play for their country)

but I would far rather have him concentrating on keeping us up this season. entirely selfish I know but we ain't safe yet!

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Salar says...
8:24am Wed 6 Feb 13

Was that wheat you said Seed?

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Nemesisaint says...
8:29am Wed 6 Feb 13

Why is Matt Le Tiss surprised? They treated him the same way. Sounds a bit unpatriotic, but I hope England fail to score tonight, and Rickie gets a hat trick on Saturday just to rub their noses in it. I agree, their loss is our gain as long as Rickie sees it that way too!

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Puddletown Saint says...
8:45am Wed 6 Feb 13

Agree with you all England managers all stuck up their own ar**s Still remember MLT scoring a hat trick in a 'B' internatonal and still did not get picked. A good question is posed Norg -what would the England team be on current form. At last 4 Saints me thinks.

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Puddletown Saint says...
8:45am Wed 6 Feb 13

Agree with you all England managers all stuck up their own ar**s Still remember MLT scoring a hat trick in a 'B' internatonal and still did not get picked. A good question is posed Norg -what would the England team be on current form. At last 4 Saints me thinks.

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only1chopper says...
9:23am Wed 6 Feb 13

Lambert should have been called up, it's a no brainer, I was having an argument on twitter with someone who said Gary hooper should have been picked instead of lambert! I reminded him that anyone can score in the spl. England places should be given to players who are in form, not because the fa big wigs are friends with the top 6 clubs chairmans. Woy is just another fa puppet.

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Strasbourg Saint says...
9:52am Wed 6 Feb 13

Salar wrote:
Was that wheat you said Seed?
That's right, Salar, huit (8) is, as you say, pronounced a bit like 'wheat'. The trouble is, any skunt reading it that way will be rather confused. I mean, can you really imagine anyone on Portsea Island ever having ventured far enough north to have seen real wheat? A bit like describing themselves as the bestest, best ever bestest fans in the world, it's never been so and never will be so. Poor urban squallor dwelling skunts.

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J7junctionseven says...
10:53am Wed 6 Feb 13

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
HUIT
LLLLLLLLeighters!!!

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Glory Glory Man United says...
11:09am Wed 6 Feb 13

Lambert should partner Rooney! Lambert should partner Rooney! Yep it's funnier the more I hear it.

All together now.... glory glory Man United.....

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RED & WHITE..RED & WHITE says...
11:58am Wed 6 Feb 13

Glory Glory Man United wrote:
Lambert should partner Rooney! Lambert should partner Rooney! Yep it's funnier the more I hear it. All together now.... glory glory Man United.....
Another Plastic Manc, Man U Utd fan on the south coast....... get to old trafford much ????

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Glory Glory Man United says...
12:21pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Lambert's not fit to carry Wayne's wash bag!

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St Graz says...
12:34pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Glory Glory Man United wrote:
Lambert's not fit to carry Wayne's wash bag!
Who is our last England hero? Rooney? Cole? Gerrard? No - none of them - they've beaten no-one when it has counted, limped out of tournaments and done it without any class.

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St Graz says...
12:44pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Nice to know we're attracting te attention of manc wums - obviously put the wind up em and they're having to take notice of the true Red Army and cow to SAF following his glowing praise of the mighty Saints. Would you like a favour this weekend lad? (Or maybe it's clever old kent in his new colours) LLLLLLLDDDLLLLLLLL

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OSPREYSAINT says...
12:48pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Glory Glory Man United wrote:
Lambert's not fit to carry Wayne's wash bag!
Shush and ignor, sock puppet at work.

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saint in dordogne says...
1:28pm Wed 6 Feb 13

St Graz wrote:
Glory Glory Man United wrote:
Lambert's not fit to carry Wayne's wash bag!
Who is our last England hero? Rooney? Cole? Gerrard? No - none of them - they've beaten no-one when it has counted, limped out of tournaments and done it without any class.
Rooney is the worst player ever to play for England

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thehoggsback says...
1:29pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Glory Glory Man United wrote:
Lambert's not fit to carry Wayne's wash bag!
Your not fit to talk to us but you are,now do us a favor and f**k off,coyr

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CB FRY LIVES says...
3:07pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Norwegian Saint wrote:
Not just Rickie....

Clyne,
Shaw,
Cork,
Lallana,
Puncheon...

We have half the future England team!
If GULY DO PRADO was fit he would deserve a run out for the samba merchants.there is an awful lot of coffee and footballing talent at ST MARYS
COYR

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Delldays says...
9:46pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Your time will come big Ricky, just keep scoring for the reds!!

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TheSaintsMan says...
5:05pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Glory Glory Man United wrote:
Lambert's not fit to carry Wayne's wash bag!
I didn't realise that Rickie wasn't the top scoring Englishman in the Prem, but it was Wayne Rooney! Silly me... oh no, I was right!

Don't even get me started on Danny Welbeck, one of the most overrated players I have seen.

Go and find a real team glory hunter.

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