 Monday, 17th Jun 2013 21:19 Perhaps they should call Rickie Lambert "Mississipi" because like the big old river he just keeps rolling on. It wouldnt be unkind to recall that two years ago when our forthcoming season back in the Championship was being previewed, there were more than just a few who questioned whether Rickie Lambert would be able to make the step up to the second tier in English Football, after all he had never played at that level and at 29 it was a bit late to start, in the following months he gave us the answer and come the end Of April Saints were back were they belonged and Rickie had led us to the Premier League. This time last year the same questions were being asked again, surely at 30 Rickie couldnt take another big step up and play in the Premier League ? it would be fair to say that the transfer committee at Saints were asking themselves the same questions, hence the arrival of Jay Rodriguez as a ready made replacement, I wouldnt say that the powers that be werent going togive ickie the chance, but they clearly felt that long term Jay Rod would be the answer and that perhaps Rickie's appearances would be less frequent. When Jay Rodriguez started the season at Man City in the starting line up and Rickie was on the bench that seemed to confirm what many feared, that SRL was not going to be first choice. But those who questioned his ability hadnt taken into account firstly his ability to adapt, as he had done constantly in his time at St Mary's but secondly his determination, of course he was never going to be as free scoring as he had been but in his new role of lone striker he once again adapted and drove himself on like a man who knowing how long and hard he had waited for this chance wasnt going to throw it away, which of course in essence was what he was. In that opening game he very appropriately scored Saints goal back in the Premier League after coming on as sub and has pretty much been first choice all season and 15 Goals and 9 assists are testament as to why he has been. But perhaps his God like reputation hasnt helped him in some circumstances, some supporters find it very hard to accept anything other than him starting every game and pretty much playing all of the 90 minutes as well, they see it as an affront to his reputation, the reality of the matter though is that it is a squad game and a good tactician will know how to get the best out of his players and sometimes that means using them off the bench, this is only going to get more frequent in the future if Rickie is to spend more year in the Premier League. At 31 hes has played over 500 league games, 166 (4) of them for Saints scoring 93 League goals , add to that another 74 cup games and you have a player who in his 19th appearance in the coming season will hit 600 Competitive games, he needs only 7 league goals for his 100 for Saints in the League, not to mention only 2 more for his league 200. This perhaps emphasises what a action packed last 4 seasons he has had, League wise he has played over a 1/3rd of his career total league games plus scored almost half of his league goals total, he has been that dynamic. I like many other want to see him at St Mary's for a few more years yet, I believe he has it in him to do that, however I do recognise that he cant keep playing 38 game seasons indefinately, sometimes in games we will need to use pace that will enable him to come on when the game is more stretched, its no coincidence that in 2 of the 3 games he came on as sub, he scored shortly after coming on. His last third of the season saw the goals dry up a bit as Saints changed thir playing style under the new manager, he managed ony 4 goals in the 16 games under Pochettino, but finished the season as he had begun with the final goal of the season to book end the first, however with 9 assists to his name that proved he had a little more to his game than just goals and although he can still score the spectacular, look at his play now compared to the Championship and you can see how he has evolved from a player who would shoot from anywhere into one who is able to use a more patient build up as is required at this level. He will know Jay Rodriguez is chomping at the bit, indeed will know that when the time comes sentiment wont stand in the way of progress in the new Southampton way and that is perhaps what kept it going last season and will keep him going for a couple more at least yet, Rickie is not a pampered premier academy brat who has never known hardship, he is brought up in the old school and after all of his career bar the last two spent in the lower leagues, isnt going to throw away this opportunity now, he knows it will be short, it has to be due to age, but whilst he is here he is going to enjoy it and that can only be good for Saints. 8 1/2 out of 10 for Rickie, he has had an excellent season, but we also have to appreciate that there have been games where he has been isolated and done little, sadly thats perhaps the problem for many strikers in lower half teams in this division not just Rickie & Saints, there will be many games especially away from home where you will find yourself on the back foot, this is why I emphasise that next season might see Rickie used a little more sparingly, sometimes you need a bit of pace for the lone man up front and its perhaps not his game, but he still had an impact, his goals were statistically worth 10 extra points to us, ie counting those that turned draws into wins and losses into draws and thats a quarter of our total, so not to be sniffed at. 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