Erik Lamela

[dontsalebale]

Can we convert you into a taxidermy?

All levity aside I don't think he will get a new contract and I think he will be gone in the summer. For a whole variety of reasons

 

[dude573]

Lamela embodies the press. In the early Poch days when it was him Alli and Eriksen behind Kane, you always saw Lamela chasing down a defender, usually getting a yellow card too, But I actually like that about him! I hope he doesn't go.

 

[Hoopspur]

I don't get this 1-footed criticism of left footed players. You never hear right-footed players being criticised for not using their left more

I would be equally critical of any player that exclusively used his right and refused to even trap the ball with his left which Lamela refuses to even do. Someone else mentioned Dele and I had a look at a video. He uses his left to dribble, control and then get it on his right. We all have opinions I guess.

 

[Joeyboey]

He's had some great cameos since returning from injury (Leicester, Man City, West Ham). Hope he starts getting the minutes he deserves and played in games where we're not just chasing the game.

 

[theShiznit]

Well in this group of highlights he scores (more than one) assists, tackles, does skills, dribbles even starts a move he eventually finishes. All with his right foot.

God forbid we let him get up to speed though...

 

[dontsalebale]

Well in this group of highlights he scores (more than one) assists, tackles, does skills, dribbles even starts a move he eventually finishes. All with his right foot.

God forbid we let him get up to speed though...

Sounds like the complete player

 

['O Zio]

I would be equally critical of any player that exclusively used his right and refused to even trap the ball with his left which Lamela refuses to even do. Someone else mentioned Dele and I had a look at a video. He uses his left to dribble, control and then get it on his right. We all have opinions I guess.

I'm with you on that one. I don't understand why it's just "accepted" that some players are completely one-footed. Unless you're so phenomenally brilliant with your one foot like Messi then I think it's inexcusable for an elite-level professional to not be able to use their other foot at least to a passable level. I know it's not exactly the same, but for me it's almost like a tennis player saying "Sorry, I don't do backhands - I just run around the ball and hit it on my forehand instead. It's got me this far". If they're that bad with their wrong foot then they should spend an hour after training each day doing drills to improve it. God knows they get paid enough and they only train a couple of hours a day so they've got plenty of bloody time!

EDIT - just wanted to point out I'm not specifically talking about Lamela, I meant players in general.

 

[Hoopspur]

I'm with you on that one. I don't understand why it's just "accepted" that some players are completely one-footed. Unless you're so phenomenally brilliant with your one foot like Messi then I think it's inexcusable for an elite-level professional to not be able to use their other foot at least to a passable level. I know it's not exactly the same, but for me it's almost like a tennis player saying "Sorry, I don't do backhands - I just run around the ball and hit it on my forehand instead. It's got me this far". If they're that bad with their wrong foot then they should spend an hour after training each day doing drills to improve it. God knows they get paid enough and they only train a couple of hours a day so they've got plenty of bloody time!

Best not to. I've stuck a stick in a hornets nest and the little stripy buggers are angry!

 

[St José Dominguez]

Hope he starts and has a great game tomorrow because if we sign Moura and everyone remains fit next few weeks he might not even be in the squads which won't be good for him or his future here. With Poch seemingly being a huge fan of Sissoko it would be a straight choice of final sub between Lamela and Llorente and I think Poch would want a ST on the bench.

 

[fortworthspur]

my impression of Lamela:

season 1 - injured
season 2 - ok
season 3 - pretty damn good
season 4 - injured

I could go either way on a transfer - but if a good offer comes in I wouldnt shed a tear.

 

[robertgoulet]

my impression of Lamela:

season 1 - injured
season 2 - ok
season 3 - pretty damn good
season 4 - injured

I could go either way on a transfer - but if a good offer comes in I wouldnt shed a tear.

Same. Love him as a player when he's healthy. Problem is I don't know that I can trust him to be healthy. Unfortunately we aren't in a position to be able to hold a player like him. Not deep enough.

 

[dtxspurs]

My heart says no to this but my head says if we bring in Malcom that's probably the better move for the club.

 

[allpaths]

would like to see him given a preseason healthy, so he doesnt have to play catch up. the club has had to be patient just to see him back on the pitch, might as well wait for him to get back into a football rythymn. if it's not working out by that time, then i'd understand moving him along.

 

[ebzrascal]

my impression of Lamela:

season 1 - injured
season 2 - ok
season 3 - pretty damn good
season 4 - injured

I could go either way on a transfer - but if a good offer comes in I wouldnt shed a tear.

I would add to this that he does not really have enough end product as the season he did really well he was more useful for his amazing pressing from advanced positions and good alternative to Eriksen when taking corners

 

[Johnny J]

Obviously a good player but he's been so unlucky, and there must be doubts about whether he'll get back to where he was pre-hip surgery. I hope that he has a great end to the season and stays in our plans, but it wouldn't surprise me if he went back to Italy this summer. But we'll miss his workrate and determination; before his injuries, he always seemed to set the example for our press, which we largely seem to have dispensed with (probably because the same players play week in week out).

 

[ralvy]

With Alli's regression, Son's inconsistency and Eriksen's frequent Houdini act, I don't understand how could we even consider parting ways with Lamela. It would be an extremely risky move for us to make. Then again, if Pochetino really rates Sissoko that high, then stupid and nonsensical moves such as this stop being so surprising.

 

[Metalhead]

With Alli's regression, Son's inconsistency and Eriksen's frequent Houdini act, I don't understand how could we even consider parting ways with Lamela. It would be an extremely risky move for us to make. Then again, if Pochetino really rates Sissoko that high, then stupid and nonsensical moves such as this stop being so surprising.

Has Son been that inconsistent of late?

 

[ilya]

I don't think he's going to leave, except if he wants. Great player to have him in team.

 

[JAYSTAR]

I'm with you on that one. I don't understand why it's just "accepted" that some players are completely one-footed. Unless you're so phenomenally brilliant with your one foot like Messi then I think it's inexcusable for an elite-level professional to not be able to use their other foot at least to a passable level. I know it's not exactly the same, but for me it's almost like a tennis player saying "Sorry, I don't do backhands - I just run around the ball and hit it on my forehand instead. It's got me this far". If they're that bad with their wrong foot then they should spend an hour after training each day doing drills to improve it. God knows they get paid enough and they only train a couple of hours a day so they've got plenty of bloody time!

EDIT - just wanted to point out I'm not specifically talking about Lamela, I meant players in general.

I was saying something similar to my son about Neres. When you are totally one footed (and not world class), it's too easy to defend against

 

[ralvy]

Has Son been that inconsistent of late?

Uhmm, yes? Inconsistency doesn't mean bad, you know, it just means lack of consistency. We all know how good Son can be, but he often just shows that in patches. I love Son, and he has been amazing as of late, but what I meant in my previous post is that our main creativity front is certainly unreliable as it stand now (simply look how toothless we have looked in several matches through out the season), and I just can't see how getting rid of Lamela would make things better.

Yeah, I totally hope Moura and Malcolm come, but even then it would be foolish of us to part ways with Lamela. Fact is, we know how important Lamela can be for this team... Malcolm and Moura may get the job done, or may flop.