Ex Saints striker and all time legend Rickie Lambert is set to end his Liverpool misery by joining West Bromwich Albion.

Just over a year after joining bohood club Liverpool from Saints, Rickie Lambert is set to leave Anfield and join Premier League West Brom, thus ending what has been a less than average time under Brendan Rodgers.

Almost as soon ar Lambert had signed Liverpool were signing other strikers and it was hard to see just how he would fit in to the Liverpool way of playing which did not suit his style at all.

His game time at Liverpool was extremely limited and he started just 7 games in the Premier League plus another 18 as sub, scoring just twice to add to the only other goal he managed away to Ludogrets in the Champions league, this meant that he will leave Anfield without scoring on its hallowed turf let alone in front of the Kop.

Indeed even in the three cup competitions Liverpool were in his time was limited, he started 5 games in those competitions plus 6 as sub but this would have been barely half of those he could have appeared in.

I felt a year ago that Rickie was committing career suicide in joining Liverpool and that he would struggle to get a game, sadly I have been proved right and it gives me no pleasure to say that.

If he had stayed at Saints he probably would have struggled to get a start in the team but he would have got a lot more game time in terms of off the bench and its possible that an extra goal from him might have changed the course of the season, which is something none of his three Liverpool goals did, neither Premier goal changing the result of the game.

He could well have kept his place in the England squad, his lack of game time at Liverpool effectively ending any hope he had of being able to play in the European Championships next summer.

Ironically he turned down a move to Aston Villa back in January which in hindsight may have kick started his season and perhaps kept him in the International frame. But he preferred to try and succeed at Anfield which in hindsight has been a mistake and he becomes another victim of Brendan Rodgers scattergun approach to building a team.

Hopefully he will get a better chance at The Hawthorns should he go there, certainly Tony Pulis will know how to get the best out of him, turning 34 in February time is now against him, but perhaps he can have one last season where he can turn back the clock to the five great seasons he enjoyed at St Mary's

Photo: Action Images

BoondockSaint added 13:53 - Jul 21 Let's not give up any penalties when we play then!
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SaintDownUnder added 16:16 - Jul 21 This isn't sentimental, but when the goals dried up for pella last season how good would it have been to bring lambert into the team. Given he plays a similar style to Pelle's it begs the question why couldn't saints be bringing him in on loan this season as cover for Pella?
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ericofarabia added 16:47 - Jul 21 I don't think anyone would deny that if SRL had still been with us last season we'd have picked up at least 2 more points with him to take a bit of the load off Pelle's shoulders, which would have been enough to overhaul the scouse shysters. So, with the difference in our respective Prize Money being over 10 million quid, you could argue that it was a pretty shrewd move in the end by coont face Rodgers.

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davepid added 17:13 - Jul 21 SRL can do no wrong. But we should look closer to home for missed goals. Davis, JWP are the main culprits but Pelle missing from 2 yds at WBA and Mane, I think, missing at Whitehart Lane cost us probably two places in the League.Improved shooting practice would have been cheaper and easier to arrange than getting Rickie or A. N. other back.
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darkangelv2 added 17:38 - Jul 21 He's just not an 'off the bench' player - he needed the game time to keep his fitness levels up and never really contributed well from the bench. I hope he is first pick for WBA (alongside Berahino I guess) or I don't think we'll ever see him near what he's capable of again.
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SaintBrock added 21:16 - Jul 21 Dreams rarely come true as Rickie has discovered. Sad to see his career running out of steam and winding down. Probably will not be a regular starter at The Hawthorns either with the young lad Berahino zipping around. Unless he needs a last payday he should have enough pride to know that his time is up. Leaving Saints was not the wisest thing to have done at his age and after so long at SMS.

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simmo400 added 14:47 - Jul 22 Pursued his dream and fair play to him. Have to say no sympathy now hes seeing out his career at a boring low life club like WBA. Still i guess hes alot richer.
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IWOZTHERE added 15:16 - Jul 22 Totally agree with darkangel, in that at his age he needs to play every week to stay fit. To guarantee that, he might have to drop down a division which would be a shame. Excellent buy for someone, praps with a view to extending his career by moving him into midfield later. He's not the quickest but that's always been said about him and he did alright up front for us.

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