A legitimate criticism of Aaron Lennon?

This has surely been pointed out before, but I haven't been too active in spurs chat recently, so apologies if it is going over old ground.

One thing that really frustrates me about Aaron Lennon, is the infrequency with which he runs at opposition full-backs without the ball; he very, very rarely opts to run at the full-back and give the player in possession a potential pass. Instead, he usually chooses to receive the ball from a standing position and then plays a return ball to the players he receives it from, or else plays it back to our full-back.

The issue is that he sits a little deep, with a man marking him, which has the effect of tightening things in midfield; if he just occasionally went on a run without the ball - offering the option of a ball over the top, or a precise pass along the ground - then he would open up a bit of space in midfield, which could potentially be utilised. It would also have the effect of giving the man who is marking him something to think about. If he makes runs off the ball, in behind his man or the full-back and shows his man just how quick he is, then the man who marks him will probably drop a little deeper next time to give himself a yard or two on Aaron - this would mean the he gets a bit more space when he does look for the ball to feet. Also, if the ball is played to meet the run, he could find himself in behind the full-back, bearing down on goal.


Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

I think it is a good point. He does play some nice give an goes with Corluka, but very rarely is is he on the move when someone like Modric, VDV, or the Hudd has the ball in midfield looking for the ball over the top of the defence.

I said this yesterday difference between lennon(since his injury) and bale (other than technique) is lennon is reactive and bale is proactive

Lennon just stands there waiting for the ball to come to him

He's a shorty:shrug:

He runs like a pregnant penguin:shrug:

Can see what you mean. Think as his reputation has grown over the last couple of seasons he's not being given the space to get into those positions on the wing so he has to use his speed to get past full backs after receiving the ball. He'd also struggle to get onto the end of long crossfield diagonals like Bale does due to his height (or lack of).

I love the way Azza runs.

I reckon what with him being ill the last week he had a lot of runs in behind.

good point, his movement off the ball isnt that great

He needs to be more of a goal threat

Black said:

He needs to be more of a goal threat

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He has a different mentality to someone like Walcott, who is always looking for that ball over the top, because he feels more like a striker. Lennon sticks to the touch line more...

I actually think he DID try and produce runs like you have mentioned last night in the Madrid game! The problem was he never actually had anyone dropping the ball over the top for him. There was a few times last night where I watched Lennon make a run beyond the defence when Corluka had the ball but he just didnt have any luck with picking him out.

You are right though i think he needs to use his pace in these situations, greatest example of this where it had worked was when we beat Liverpool in the last minute!! But to suggest he doesnt do this full stop is unfair on the lad. Just probably needs to pick his moments a little better maybe ;-)

I wonder if he's playing to instruction because of fears due to the lack of pace behind him otherwise I see your point.

Yeah this is a good point. They can be lethal, if you look at the master of such things, Ryan Giggs, for United's recent champions league goals. If he added to this side of his game he could become even more of a top class winger.

Think it's easier said then done when the game gets cramped on one side, which is what quite often happens. That combined with the fact that his pace over 5-10 yards is explosive he can get away with not doing that.

I really think Lennon's improved a lot this season. He's adding more and more to his game.

His hair. His speedy stripes would be my main criticism.

That or his gay arms when he runs.

Good point - it's definitely something I will watch out for when we thrash the goons.

i too have noticed a slight change in the right wing play style. back in the day, chimbo and azza would run down the wings playing 1 2s etc but it's all changed now with lennon just sorta standing near players and not being able to do much with it.

LLPaulJ said:

I actually think he DID try and produce runs like you have mentioned last night in the Madrid game! The problem was he never actually had anyone dropping the ball over the top for him. There was a few times last night where I watched Lennon make a run beyond the defence when Corluka had the ball but he just didnt have any luck with picking him out.

You are right though i think he needs to use his pace in these situations, greatest example of this where it had worked was when we beat Liverpool in the last minute!! But to suggest he doesnt do this full stop is unfair on the lad. Just probably needs to pick his moments a little better maybe ;-)

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funnily, it was at the Real match that I saw a lot of evidence of it. I've thought it for a long time, but Wednesday night he really annoyed the hell out of me.

He does occasionally attempt to it, but from what I have seen it is usually only when it has become so blatantly obvious that it is on, and that it has become too tight that players don't have the space to deliver the ball. It may have something to do with the point that Nic makes (below), that his pace is so explosive over 5-10 yards that he can afford to delay his runs, because he has the pace to beat his man. The problem with delaying however, is, as mentioned, space gets too tight and it becomes too difficult to actually play the pass.

If he moved a bit more off the ball, and dragged his man up and down the touchline, then the man who marks him will have a much more torrid time, and he can use his runs to create space, not just to receive the ball - which is equally as important.

It's almost as though he thinks he has to have a touch of the ball, when it comes out to his wing, instead of allowing the likes of Hudd, Modrc, VDV to distribute it.

nicdic said:

Think it's easier said then done when the game gets cramped on one side, which is what quite often happens. That combined with the fact that his pace over 5-10 yards is explosive he can get away with not doing that.

I really think Lennon's improved a lot this season. He's adding more and more to his game.

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Nic, I think part of the reason it gets so cramped is bcos Azza is partly responsible for congesting the midfield. As mentioned above, it could actually have to do with the point you make about his pace over 5-10yds; it might be that he delays making his runs, which means that he and the man that is marking him is congesting midfield. If he made a run, he would take his man with him and possibly provide an outlet, but at the very worst would create space for others. The more often he skins his man like that, the more inclined his man will be to drop a little deeper to give himself a yard, which will create space for Lennon if he comes short to receive it, or for others if he pushes further up.

I agree that Lennon has improved greatly this season, particularly his crossing which used to be absolutely woeful; his final ball in general has improved, but I think he could improve even more - which would be an even greater asset to the team.

3Dnata said:

I wonder if he's playing to instruction because of fears due to the lack of pace behind him otherwise I see your point.

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You have hit the nail on the head there. Absolutely spot on!!!

Kaboul is the answer! To Lennons problems. Poor old charlie is just not fast enough!

Kaboul is not the answer to the problem of Lennon. It won't improve his rubbish off the ball movement. Lennon looked lost with Hutton behind him.

jonathanhotspur said:

Lennon looked lost with Hutton behind him.

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Who wouldn't be lost with that dumpling behind them :wink: