Erik Lamela: The False 9

[Kyriacos]

I would love to see it.

What does everyone think?

 

[nicdic]

Right now I'd be happy if all we saw was him training.

 

[teok]

*insert obvious joke*

 

[Dinghy]

*insert obvious joke*

Ok... At the moment he seems like he's a false footballer...

Ali Dia has seen more of a professional football pitch in the uk!

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

No way.

 

[Jody]

Could someone explain what one is please? I'm thinking a striker who does some other midfieldy stuff?

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Could someone explain what one is please? I'm thinking a striker who does some other midfieldy stuff?

Messi. A centre forward who drops deep, pulls defenders with him, creates from the midfield and can also play as a classic striker

 

[EQP]

He would be more effective if he played behind Soldado and the two of them interchanged. Both have a decent pass on them and are quite skilled in tight spaces.

 

[Mustard]

Who?

 

[Mouse!]

Lamela, Chadli and even Sigurdsson could all play the False 9 role with a bit of training IMO.

 

[Azazello]

The greatest trick Erik Lamela ever pulled was to convince the world that he doesn't exist.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Poch doesn't play with a false 9, so it's pointless discussing it.

 

[LukeBB]

Hard to judge yet considering we've seen very little of him in the PL in his preferred position, however:

At Roma, he showed a distinctive knack for popping up in the box to get on the end of crosses and through balls, as well as an ability to dribble and trick his way into the box, skills which are vital for a player who starts his plays further away from goal due to him supporting the midfield in a way the "false 9" role requires.

Again though, we need to see more of him in his preferred RW position so he can find himself space out on the wings before we shove him into the lions den, inbetween the likes of Jedinak, Barton, Shawcross, Terry etc. Considering his injuries, in the next season we need to protect him and this mean limiting the amount of players who are going to have a pop at him.

At River Plate he started his career in a central advanced playmaker role behind a natural striker, at Roma he was moved out wide to make room for Totti and so he could cut inside on his preferred left foot.

This suggests we could see Pochettino experiment with Lamela in a more central position but for this first season at least I reckon we'll see Lamela played in his more familiar RW position and besides it's doesn't suit Poch's system to utilise a false 9 and there are few managers who utilise such a system. While I'd love to see it experimented with, it's unlikely we'll see it under Poch.

(Stats via TikiTakaTactics Youtube channel)

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Poch doesn't play with a false 9, so it's pointless discussing it.

Doesn't mean to say he never will

 

[Blake Griffin]

Poch doesn't play with a false 9, so it's pointless discussing it.

fat sam didn't for about 20 years but it didn't stop him from trying it last season.

 

[SlickMongoose]

Could someone explain what one is please? I'm thinking a striker who does some other midfieldy stuff?

Go on youtube and watch all the highlights you can find of Cruyff playing for the Netherlands in the 1974 world cup.

Then return to us, a better person than you were before.

 

[CRUSADER]

I have a feeling he will come out good under Poch. I still believe he is class.

 

[Mr Pink]

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

Lamela, Chadli and even Sigurdsson could all play the False 9 role with a bit of training IMO.

I always wanted to see Siggy give that a go.

 

[raf18]

I can easily see this thread becoming one of those we look back on in a few years like the "Bale should play left winger" threads. I don't think Lamela's finishing is good enough for a false 9 role despite a very good return in his last year at Roma. Wouldn't be surprised if he developed into one though.