Aaron Lennon - Honest Opinions

[SteveH]

Walcott can finish.

Lennon cannot unless its an open goal!

Both have great pace. Both cant cross.

Ones worth around £20m the other one isn't.

 

[ultimateloner]

Can we talk statistical return please, otherwise its hard to frame one's expectation of him.
For me I expect around 0.5 assist/goal per game because he achieved that in his best season, i think 2 season ago.
This season he had 11 from 34 games, thats around 0.3/game.
He is a constant threat to any opposition due to pace blah blah blah but what underpins all this is that he hasn't progressed for 2 seasons, and is now 26. For me he isn't going to make the type of breakthrough Bale did.
I think if we get the right offer we should sale.

 

[lillywhites61]

For me selling isn't the answer, but buying very healthy or better competition is.

We need to ever improve the squad not just the first eleven. I don't think he would jump ship to quickly if he were to lose his place.

He is frustrating at the very least. But wonderful on his day.

 

[IGSpur]

This is what he can do. Madness to get rid of him. Skinnin Evra for fun. Imagine if we had a half decent how many assists he'd get. Plus his assist at the end was class

 

[sim0n]

Griezman will take his position,....

 

[parklane1]

Lennon is a important part of the way we play, we do not look as good when he is out.

 

[kazzah9]

Lennon best when running at oppo players, hasn't done that often enough this season. Looking forward to how townsend does as he is more direct.

 

[Chinaspur]

Watching that video reminded me just how often he gets fouled and how little he hams it up. Part of me wants him to try and get the opposition carded more, and part of me loves the fact that he seems so honest.

 

[IGSpur]

Watching that video reminded me just how often he gets fouled and how little he hams it up. Part of me wants him to try and get the opposition carded more, and part of me loves the fact that he seems so honest.

Agree. Makes you understand why other players go down so easily, as they wouldnt get fouls otherwise. Remember Holtby in the Wigan game. That guy deserved a red, whether it seriously hurt Holtby or not it was dangerous and reckless and good have been worse if he got caught square in the face. If we got that yellow they would have been down to 10 men and we may have one.

Not going down could actually cost points over the season. but I do love the fact he's an honest player. And while he's being mentioned in this thread, I highly rate Walcott for that too

 

[neptunes]

He is a very important part of our team set up. You do not sell your best players but build on them. We need a very good squad for the new season.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

I disagree entirely.

Or are you telling me Aaron Lennon has all the attribute to play centre forward, like Theo Walcott has done with great success?

serious question. other than pace, name three attributes he does have.

 

[StartingPrice]

He protects and helps his full-back tremendously well - and isn't given enough credit for it.
At his best, he is almost as much of a nightmare running at defenders as Bale is (not quite).

Sometimes he fades out of matches, and looks lacking in confidence to take his man on.
He is not lethal in front of goal - and if AVB switches to his preferred 4-3-3, I am not sure that Lennon will ever provide enough goals to justify being 1st choice in that set-up.

Think Lilywhites61 has called it right - we shouldn't be talking about getting rid of him, but in getting competition for him.

That's about as honest as I can be

 

[dontcallme]

I like Lennon. He works hard and is a team player. He is a good dribbler and does his defensive bit despite it not being his strength.

But I do worry about how he fits into the team. He suits a 442 better than what we play now.

To play in such an attacking role he needs to score more. I think his lack of assists isn't all his own fault. We don't have a striker capable of attacking crosses and our midfielders aren't busting a gut to get into the box other than Dempsey.

He's a good player but still not sure he really fits.

 

[ultimateloner]

I'm perplexed by the call that what he needs is competition. For me this sounds like alot of you guys still believe that he will become better, that there is something that we haven't seen yet. I struggle to understand why you would think that. He's 26, his game is based on pace and thats not going to improve, and he is a seasoned Prem pro. He has had alot of time to improve technically. If competition would make him better then you are implying that he has been lazy, that he hasn't pushed himself. But this isn't something I see in his performances. He tracks back hard so he tries. I think he just lacks talent to become a good finisher.

Since I can't see any reason why anyone should think that Lennon will improve, that he will score 12 or 13 goals/season *deliver that 0.5/game benchmark, I think you should sell as he is entering his prime.

 

[Dharmabum]

I am in two minds about Lennon. One the one side, he's a threat because of his pace and he's deserves a lots of credit for his defensive work. And, as several posters have already pointed out: he does contribute more assist-wise than most seem to "believe".
But then he's also rather limited, depending a lot on his pace but got a poor first touch (and now that most team play defensively vs Spurs it's hard to use pace as a main weapon, particularly when the first touch is relatively poor), he's not much of a shooter and forget about headers. And his dribbles are a bit predictable.
So, the question is: should Spurs swap Lennon for player who most probably will do less defensive work, who's not as fast (naturally) but who's better technically, poses more of a threat in the air, shoots better (with both feet) and less rushed when passing/crossing? Could Spurs afford a quality player who fits that "mold" to improve upon Lennon for it to be worth it?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

serious question. other than pace, name three attributes he does have.

Unbelievable first touch.

Great ball retention.

Ability to play a killer pass.

Superb work rate to protect his full back.

I gave you a bonus attribute too.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I am in two minds about Lennon. One the one side, he's a threat because of his pace and he's deserves a lots of credit for his defensive work. And, as several posters have already pointed out: he does contribute more assist-wise than most seem to "believe".
But then he's also rather limited, depending a lot on his pace but got a poor first touch (and now that most team play defensively vs Spurs it's hard to use pace as a main weapon, particularly when the first touch is relatively poor), he's not much of a shooter and forget about headers. And his dribbles are a bit predictable.
So, the question is: should Spurs swap Lennon for player who most probably will do less defensive work, who's not as fast (naturally) but who's better technically, poses more of a threat in the air, shoots better (with both feet) and less rushed when passing/crossing? Could Spurs afford a quality player who fits that "mold" to improve upon Lennon for it to be worth it?

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. The way he kills a ball dead when it's been hit at him at pace and from distance and height, despite having legs the height of toothpicks, is amazing. You almost never see him miscontrol.

 

[Liquidator]

Unbelievable first touch.

Great ball retention.

Ability to play a killer pass.

Superb work rate to protect his full back.

I gave you a bonus attribute too.

Totes agree, plus 2 more:

He frees up space for his colleagues by occupying defenders.

He's fast.

 

[parklane1]

Unbelievable first touch.

Great ball retention.

Ability to play a killer pass.

Superb work rate to protect his full back.

I gave you a bonus attribute too.

Yep.

 

[Dharmabum]

I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. The way he kills a ball dead when it's been hit at him at pace and from distance and height, despite having legs the height of toothpicks, is amazing. You almost never see him miscontrol.

You obviously haven't seen much football then if you rate Lennon's first touch that highly. I for one prefers to set the standards high. He's got normal first touch.... but have you ever seen Lennon swish past a player at his first touch? No. You notice it easily when a player got a good first touch or not by how "relaxed" he/his body (or she in some cases) is when receiving the ball and how it becomes a "part" of the body right away; I don't see that with Lennon.
He beats the players due to his pace and not his technique/dribbles; which is why he easily get knocked off the ball - like Defoe - when he's in tight space.
It is true though that he often ties up 2 defenders when he gets the ball, something that should have been taken advantage of more; just as when Bale ties up 3 players.