Aaron Lennon - Honest Opinions

[Dharmabum]

Just look on YouTube and you can see tons of examples of his first touch skill.

Tons of examples of the opposite. Being able to control the ball and run past a defender doesn't mean Lennon has a good fist touch. It's expected from players in the EPL to be able to control the ball as Lennon does. Take a look at Barca, Malaga, Real M or even "lesser" Spanish teams, then you'll see what "good first tough" means. Can you show me one example of him taking down the ball in the box while tightly marked and lay the ball "dead" with one touch, hold off 1-2-3 defenders, and then weave past them...?

 

[Dharmabum]

i suggest its you who have not been to many games if you really believe that rubbish, as for you second point that Lennon and Defoe get knocked of the bal easilyl then it just confirms that you have not.

Sorry, but that line of defense really defeats your defense....Defoe is known for being knocked off the ball very easily. He's effect when he's got space and run at defenders but com'n, how on earth did you get the impression that Defoe is good at holding up the ball in tight situations???

 

[michaelden]

Tons of examples of the opposite. Can you show me one example of him taking down the ball in the box while tightly marked and lay the ball "dead" with one touch, hold off 1-2-3 defenders, and then weave past them...?

Yes, keep looking they're in there. But he is more than a dead spot controller.

And control & 1st touch doesn't always mean stop dead, he's a pace player so his 1st touch is to space to run on to, bypass players. There are loads of examples of Lennon taking the ball over his at full pelt and controlling it (not dead stop) and flicking it past the opposition. And yes, at times passes 2-3 players before playing the ball on to a team mate.

 

[Black]

I believe the first 45 seconds along of this video makes my point about his first touch for me, haven't seen the rest as I'm at work but I imagine it's in the same vein.

That video is like 55 years old

Lennon doesn't do any of that stuff anymore

 

[ultimateloner]

1) Will selling him strengthen our 1st XI or squad?
2) Would we buy someone better?
3)He’s been a major part of our resent improvement in the last 7 years and gives us width & balance

1) Selling will improve our squad because it gives us more financial muscle to either buy a replacement (hopefully an upgrade) or invest into the stadium
2) No idea
3) Agree. However what he has done for us is irrelevant. Agree he gives us balance.
What matters is what the optimal thing to do with him; cash in at high point or keep.
So i guess if we can get a like-for-like (perhaps younger/cheaper) then should sell out.

 

[ultimateloner]

I tend to agree with this, he is at his peak value wise so if we were ever going to cash in on him, now would be the time.

What would he be worth, 15 mill ?

Yes. Similar to whatever Ashley Young fetched.

 

[kcmei]

do not sell lennon!

 

[parklane1]

Sorry, but that line of defense really defeats your defense....Defoe is known for being knocked off the ball very easily. He's effect when he's got space and run at defenders but com'n, how on earth did you get the impression that Defoe is good at holding up the ball in tight situations???

By going to the games home and away and seeing him do so, how do you come to the conclusion ( along with the rubbish that lennon has no first touch) that he can not.

 

[Gringospur]

I believe the first 45 seconds along of this video makes my point about his first touch for me, haven't seen the rest as I'm at work but I imagine it's in the same vein.

Aaron looks superb in this video. Pity it seems to be just about 1 clip from each season.

When he's hot, he is great, but he is more often only warm, which isn't enough for starting in the first team if we want to progress.
I do like him and don't want him sold, needs competition and maybe he'll up his game.

 

[YankeeYid9]

Sell Lennon buy Dries Mertens. He's similar to Lennon size and speed wise. But a much better all around attacking game and he SCORES Goals.

 

[double0]

I have heard some crazy comments about selling Lennon GET REAL.

What we need though is more options and competition for Lennon. We are so reliant on Lennon to provide balance and pace that whenever Lennon is missing coming back from injury-something thats happening much more of late we lack the thrust and cutting edge.

 

[Black]

To be honest Lennon is a joke, he should look at bale and then look at him self

 

[Misfit]

To be honest Lennon is a joke, he should look at bale and then look at him self

Herp derp.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

£15 million for Lennon, did I just read that correctly? Not a chance.

I would actually get on my knees and give Daniel Levy the happiest of happy endings if he were to ever get that much out of anyone for him. I'd also drive Lennon there myself.

 

[tooey]

Lennon is just fine to have in our squad of players. He might not be world-class, but he can definitely do a job of scaring the shit out of a full back. He's also comfortable playing off the left hand side, which is extremely useful given our tendency to shift our wingers/CAM about. If we were challenging for league titles then I could understand peoples concerns, but unfortunately we're not, he is just fine for the level we are at, even if it's just in on the bench. As said previously, what he needs is competition, and a clear run without injury.

 

[Ribble]

I think people are missing quite an important point in regards to Lennon - we need homegrown players of a good level to fill the allocated slots in the 25. At the moment we have 11 by my count - Walker, Naughton, Dawson, Caulker, Livermore, Parker, Huddlestone, Siggurdson, Bale, Lennon & Defoe. Now, given we need 8, is Lennon really anywhere near the top of the list of who we need to move on or replace in the squad? Not the first team, the squad.

 

[alex3]

£15 million for Lennon, did I just read that correctly? Not a chance.

I would actually get on my knees and give Daniel Levy the happiest of happy endings if he were to ever get that much out of anyone for him. I'd also drive Lennon there myself.

if henderson and downing went for 20 and zaha unproven player for 15 then lennon is worth more than 20

 

[BPR_U16]

Any team should always be looking to upgrade, but we should not be looking to get rid of Azza - we need him plus a.n.other.

He provides the balance and pace to our attack, particularly on counter and even more so now that Bale plays inside. It is noticeable when he is not on the field.

But as said, we should be looking for someone better so that Azza becomes more of a squad player

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

if henderson and downing went for 20 and zaha unproven player for 15 then lennon is worth more than 20

Dude....it's just never gonna happen. The only person who thought Henderson and Downing were worth that was the same person who thought Andy Carroll was worth £35m.

Zaha is 20. if he's no better than he is now in 6 years time (like a certain #7), then he too would struggle to attract bids anywhere near that amount.

 

[Main Man]

A lot of people slating Lennon, yet nobody in 10 pages has been able to suggest a realistic replacement?

That says it all for me.