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Player Watch: Erik Lamela

Hazardousman

Audere est Facere
Jul 24, 2013
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I personally think Lamela feels nervous to come back, maybe he doesn't want to let people down, maybe he feels like the pressure on his shoulders will be too much, he is afraid of making mistakes and costing the team after being out for so long and he doesn't feel like he is at the level the rest of the team is at, maybe Poch is waiting for the FA cup to give him a run out? Less pressure?

Obviously I am guessing but it certainly seems related to overcoming mental hurdles at this point and also because of a long term injury that can be really difficult, especially if he is nervous about being injured again, I wish him the best and that he comes back strong, if he doesn't and we never see him play for us again then it will be disappointing but I will understand.
 

lukespurs7

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2006
4,833
4,259
I personally think Lamela feels nervous to come back, maybe he doesn't want to let people down, maybe he feels like the pressure on his shoulders will be too much, he is afraid of making mistakes and costing the team after being out for so long and he doesn't feel like he is at the level the rest of the team is at, maybe Poch is waiting for the FA cup to give him a run out? Less pressure?

Obviously I am guessing but it certainly seems related to overcoming mental hurdles at this point and also because of a long term injury that can be really difficult, especially if he is nervous about being injured again, I wish him the best and that he comes back strong, if he doesn't and we never see him play for us again then it will be disappointing but I will understand.
Hopefully we can bring him on after we are 4-0 up on Saturday.
 

Grapo2001

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2011
3,700
5,957
I personally think Lamela feels nervous to come back, maybe he doesn't want to let people down, maybe he feels like the pressure on his shoulders will be too much, he is afraid of making mistakes and costing the team after being out for so long and he doesn't feel like he is at the level the rest of the team is at, maybe Poch is waiting for the FA cup to give him a run out? Less pressure?

Obviously I am guessing but it certainly seems related to overcoming mental hurdles at this point and also because of a long term injury that can be really difficult, especially if he is nervous about being injured again, I wish him the best and that he comes back strong, if he doesn't and we never see him play for us again then it will be disappointing but I will understand.

He is definitely nervous about something. Could be anything. Could be that he doesn't want to let his team mates down, could be acrophobia from being in a stadium full of people.

We should appreciate that a mental illness is as serious as a physical one.
 

JayB

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2011
6,652
26,046
I'm admittedly a big fan of Lamela and am probably much more willing to give him leeway than his detractors, but for me it's completely understandable that he would have this mental hurdle to overcome.

He's been out for over a year and went through double hip surgery, his entire style of play is predicated on tenacity and his work rate, and he's only just returned to full training within the past few weeks.You hear athletes who have gone through long-term injuries, especially joint injuries, talk all the time about how the most difficult part was being able to trust your body again and not have that niggling doubt in the back of your mind once the injury has resolved.

Given the length of time he was sidelined and the nature of the injury it was always going to be the case that he went through that.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
The getty images in injury thread are quite interesting. Having a real laugh with the boys today. Maybe poch has asked the players to get him on side.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,799
23,813
The getty images in injury thread are quite interesting. Having a real laugh with the boys today. Maybe poch has asked the players to get him on side.
He just nutmegged Foyth, i'm guessing the first time he's been megged, as everyone was celebrating.


Seemed to be great comradery, even Foyth was getting consolation hugs :joyful:

Lots of clubs seem to have this sort of tomfoolery regarding nutsing someone.
 

mark87

Well-Known Member
Nov 29, 2004
36,031
114,056
He just nutmegged Foyth, i'm guessing the first time he's been megged, as everyone was celebrating.


Seemed to be great comradery, even Foyth was getting consolation hugs :joyful:

Lots of clubs seem to have this sort of tomfoolery regarding nutsing someone.

I remember hearing one of our players in an interview a while back saying if someone gets megged 3 times in a rondo they have to do some kind of forfeit, whether it be singing in front of everyone or something like that, so my first thought was maybe that was foyth getting megged for the third time and that's why everyone was celebrating and foyth looking gutted.
 
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theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,799
23,813
I remember hearing one of our players in an interview a while back saying if someone gets megged 3 times in a rondo they have to do some kind of forfeit, whether it be signing in front of everyone or something like that, so my first thought was maybe that was foyth getting megged for the third time and that's why everyone was celebrating and foyth looking gutted.
Ah, i believe a "rondo" is mentioned in the twitter feed.



Also, good to know our players know sign language ;)
 
D

Deleted member 27855

I personally think Lamela feels nervous to come back, maybe he doesn't want to let people down, maybe he feels like the pressure on his shoulders will be too much, he is afraid of making mistakes and costing the team after being out for so long and he doesn't feel like he is at the level the rest of the team is at, maybe Poch is waiting for the FA cup to give him a run out? Less pressure?

Obviously I am guessing but it certainly seems related to overcoming mental hurdles at this point and also because of a long term injury that can be really difficult, especially if he is nervous about being injured again, I wish him the best and that he comes back strong, if he doesn't and we never see him play for us again then it will be disappointing but I will understand.
Do Spurs fans in general expect him to be the same player coming back after a year out? I certainly don’t have that expectation of him. I hope he comes back and slowly regains confidence over the course of the season and by this summer is something close to the Lamela we were seeing a year ago.
 

bomberH

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2005
28,454
168,207
I think that video puts to bed any doubt people may have had about Lamela’s relationship with his team mates. Good to see Rose looking as happy as he did too.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,799
23,813
I think that video puts to bed any doubt people may have had about Lamela’s relationship with his team mates. Good to see Rose looking as happy as he did too.
The body language experts are scanning the footage as we speak (or read and write) to tell us who wants to leave or was not happy with the chef's special that afternoon...
 

piedpiper

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2008
3,758
6,763
About 3 months back i read an article on the injured players expected return date.. Rose was reported as mid to end October and i remember Lamela's return date being early november.

So perhaps its just needless speculation regarding his state if mind... If he hasnt played a minute of football by middle of next month THEN we can start questioning his mindset.

I think he will be on the bench this Saturday..
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Where's that sympathetic rating when you need it? :cautious:
I am empathetic to his position - but at some point you just have to find out if he can sink or swim. If he sinks, then you know he needs to go away and get what ever mental help he needs. Its possible that simply keeping him around, but not addressing the mental health issue is doing him more harm than good. And, if you thrown him out there, and he realizes that he is ready - then you have helped him get past that mental hurdle - sometimes a person needs a friendly nudge to get past a roadblock.

And, if he is not ready - then that training time is better spent with players who will be ready, and called upon to play.
 

walworthyid

David Ginola
Oct 25, 2004
7,059
10,242
I am empathetic to his position - but at some point you just have to find out if he can sink or swim. If he sinks, then you know he needs to go away and get what ever mental help he needs. Its possible that simply keeping him around, but not addressing the mental health issue is doing him more harm than good. And, if you thrown him out there, and he realizes that he is ready - then you have helped him get past that mental hurdle - sometimes a person needs a friendly nudge to get past a roadblock.

And, if he is not ready - then that training time is better spent with players who will be ready, and called upon to play.
I think you are really underestimating the impact that being out for year has on the mental state of a professional athlete. He will have gone through so many emotions in that time. Frustration, isolation, a lack of confidence etc.

Nowadays I only run, but if I have the tiniest niggle it impacts my focus hugely. Imagine that in a footballer who has been out for a year with a serious hip injury?

As Poch says, he just needs time to feel right.
 
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