Thank-you Sir Rickie Lambert
Article by e-Southampton's Sam WilkesClick here to follow e-Southampton on Twitter!
Andy Townsend is talking about how he is looking forward to seeing Rickie Lambert next season and bringing a tear to my eye.
For once, it isn’t the inane drivel that Townsend confuses with punditry that has brought me close to edge. The fact that Lambert will be pulling on a red shirt with Liverbird on the chest rather than a Saint leaves me reaching for the “stronger drinks”.
Lambert had come to represent our journey. Joining from Bristol Rovers for £1m, his goals fired Southampton to successive promotions and the Premier League. As we developed as a club, he developed as a player. The “heaviness” disappeared and a lean Rickie emerged, ready to show that he could make it at the top level. The goals continued and his all-round play brought the best out of Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana. Even the record signing of Dani Osvaldo would not displace Rickie from the team. His debut goal for England against Scotland was one of my happiest as a Southampton fan.
But what made him special was the hope that he brought to the fans. Not since another mercurial number 7 graced the Dell with his genius have Saints’ fans known there is always a chance. Give Rickie a freekick, a shot on the edge of the box, a hopeful cross and chances are he would make something happen.
As he leaves, he does so with the best wishes of everyone at the club and the fans are actually pleased for him. He deserves the fairytale ending to his career for giving us so many happy moments over the years. Thank you Rickie, we’ll miss you.
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Absolutely! Thank-you SRL for everything! Liverpool have an absolute bargain! I will enjoy watching you score goals for fun for Liverpool too (except against S'ton of course :) ). btw that goal last night against Ecuador.... bloody hell, one of his best, outside of the boot like a rocket into the far corner... sheer artistry! And Rooney pinched the other one SRL was about to toe-poke in so it would have been SRL 2 - 0 Ecuador. Have fun at the World Cup and don't sell the movie rights to your story too cheaply.
ReplyDeleteThat England header was one of the purest moments of joy ever. Never felt so proud to be a Saints fan. Hard to believe it was only a few years back when SRL, Lallana and Oxo were tearing up League 1 defences.
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