Aaron 350 - infographic

[mawspurs]

Aaron Lennon's appearance off the bench at Sunderland on Saturday took him to the 350-game milestone for the club.

Read the full article at Official Site

 

[garryparkerschest]

If this boy was German, Spanish or Dutch, with the physical attributes he had, he would have been an international regular of the highest order.

I wrote a blog about him a few years ago (pasted below) and sadly my opinion hasn't changed. Lost potential.

Aaron Lennon, a winger without a cause.


The White Hart Lane Faithful has been blessed throughout the years with some of the best wingers to grace the British and world game.


Since I’ve been a fan, we’ve had the likes of Chris Waddle, David Ginola and Darren Anderton hogging the touchline, dropping a shoulder and producing brilliance or a cross which has brightened a dull winter evening.


With such a strong history of playing wide expansive football, with Redknapp, under his tutelage we have been able to produce two wingers in Bale and Lennon who would compare favourably to their illustrious ancestors.


Football has changed, where in the past a winger would be all about skill, close control, producing crosses, going on solo runs with a hope of an end product. It was an individual role in a team environment. They were seen as mavericks, which were there to entertain.


Nowadays it’s intertwined in the team’s fabric, not seen as a winger but a sided midfielder, with more responsibility in the defensive side of the game, working the length of the pitch.


Lennon is seen as the modern day wide man, speed being the main asset required, he has it in abundance, the defensive side of his game has improved, working tirelessly to track back and help his full back.


His work in the attacking third can be erratic, sometimes sublime, his assist to Teemu Tanio in the famous 4-3 win against the Hammers doesn’t get the credit it deserves, it was world class. Had Messi or Carlos Kickaball had done it, we’d all be purring but there are times when his final ball has a lot to be left desired.


To be fair the former Leeds player’s distribution has improved in the six years he’s been at the club but I feel over the last couple of seasons he’s hit a wall and the potential his ability had promised has failed to materialise.


The ‘minute winger’ has the make up to be anything he wants to be, he has the pace and skills to be one of the best wide players in Europe, I feel his brain which seems to work at the same speed as his little legs, prevents him to slow down, see the bigger picture and distribute the right ball.


I really expected him to be a very special player, up there with the best players in the league, he is yet to reach it but I’m starting to feel he may never will.

 

[whitesocks]

They have a bit of a nerve celebrating this when Poochie was trying to boot him out the door a couple of weeks ago.

 

[sak11]

It doesn't matter what you think of him, the boy has done really well. He has joined an illustrious band - look at some of the names on the list of appearances. Great achievement.

 

[garryparkerschest]

I agr

It doesn't matter what you think of him, the boy has done really well. He has joined an illustrious band - look at some of the names on the list of appearances. Great achievement.

I agree, it's a marvelous achievement, I just think he should have done a lot more with the ability he has.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Always rated him. Always liked him. Baffled at the attitudes of English football fans sometimes.

 

[parklane1]

One of our best players in recent times, we always look better when he is in the team.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Typical spurs fans. Always think a player isn't good enough whilst never demonstrating a better option.

 

[garryparkerschest]

Typical spurs fans. Always think a player isn't good enough whilst never demonstrating a better option.

He's always been good enough but just don't think he has reached his potential. He had everything that a top class wingers needs, he just didn't produce in the final third as often has he should have.

I think with his ability he could have been world class.

 

[whitesocks]

He had some poor games last season, but I suspect Sherwood spooked him by telling him his days were numbered.
Poochie (going on preseason) seems to think he is a central attacking midfielder, or some kind of second striker - when it is clear he does not have the strength for that - (it really makes you wonder...).

He is a specialist - a winger, but because we play athletic morons in the fullback positions, who at best play the ball to his feet rather than into space, then we do not make the best of him.

Corluka was our last FB with half a brain, and Lennon was magnificent.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

He's always been good enough but just don't think he has reached his potential. He had everything that a top class wingers needs, he just didn't produce in the final third as often has he should have.

I think with his ability he could have been world class.

That's different to those saying he should be dropped/sold when time and again, we look worse without him in the team.
Townsend is miles behind Lennon on talent, danger, end product the lot.
Lamela is still hit and miss but may offer a regular alternative.

I also think Lennon has been hampered by constant manager changes. A lot of people are saying how bad they feel for Holtby on they other thread today about his career being hampered by it. Surely the same logic applies to Lennon?