Lamela

[Gbspurs]

Pritchard to say Lennon and Townsend.

Lamela I still have high hopes on this attacking productivity surely he'll improve... He seems like an intelligent enough footballer.

I don't think I have seen anything to give me hope. The rabona was great but apart from that I can't see anything that makes me think he will become a top player for us.

He is one paced, and sadly that pace is slow. No burst of pace, no top end pace.

The worst thing is he doesn't have the skill to take it round players and this surprises me. I must admit I didn't know a lot about him before he signed but I assumed he would technically gifted. Whilst you see some glimpses of this (again, the rabona) for some reason he can't take anyone on. Every run end ups with him running straight into the legs of the defender.

He puts himself about which is nice but the result of that is that is that he has conceded more freekicks that most other players!

I'm gutted tbh. The one time we have the balls to spend that sort of money on an "exciting" young talent and we get done. I was desperate for Lamela to be the player we all hoped and if there were sparks of something there I would be willing to wait but I just don't see anything.

 

[fortworthspur]

what I really like about Lamela is that he is very positive and always looks to run straight at the defense. Unfortunately, he lacks the pace or strength to beat the defender. Bale had both. So either he improves his dribbling or he has to learn to pass quicker.

 

[double0]

What is our best starting 11 though? Lamela I can't say has flopped. 1 injury ravaged 1st season with just 15 apps might have only yielded 3 assists and 1 goal, but it was a major disjointed season for him.



This season has been better 29 apps have yielded 4 goals and 5 assists with a pass% of 82.4%. I would hardly call that being a flop. I admit that I thought his general play would have been better, but given the above stats already for this season, and the fact he is playing in a team that on the whole has not been that prolific in creating chances and scoring, then I don't think his return has been that bad. If he finds himself in a system that suits him then I expect to see the real Lamela. I still believe that it is too early to cast judgement on him. Really there is not loads between him and Chadli. Sure Chadli has had a better season, but it's not miles better.

Best for me.

Lloris

Walker
Dier
Vertonghen
Rose

Mason
Bentaleb

Lamela
Eriksen
Chadli

Kane

I would like to see a Dier Fazio pairing one has pace the other airal power. A decent combination of defensive skill sets.

 

[mrlilywhite]

Our best XI does not include either Lamela or Soldado.
This week we have 2 cups to do well in. No more experiments.

But Poch will pick Lamela, you know that. Personally I hope he does. If Moussa's contribution was anything like today then I would have Lamela Eriksen Chadli. Whatever Lamela is or isn't doing, it's more than Moussa is. At least you know that Erik is going to put a shift in. No such guarantees with Dembele.

 

[KAISERwells]

If it's between lamela and townsend for Rw then it's lamela all day long

 

[double0]

I don't think I have seen anything to give me hope. The rabona was great but apart from that I can't see anything that makes me think he will become a top player for us.

He is one paced, and sadly that pace is slow. No burst of pace, no top end pace.

The worst thing is he doesn't have the skill to take it round players and this surprises me. I must admit I didn't know a lot about him before he signed but I assumed he would technically gifted. Whilst you see some glimpses of this (again, the rabona) for some reason he can't take anyone on. Every run end ups with him running straight into the legs of the defender.

He puts himself about which is nice but the result of that is that is that he has conceded more freekicks that most other players!

I'm gutted tbh. The one time we have the balls to spend that sort of money on an "exciting" young talent and we get done. I was desperate for Lamela to be the player we all hoped and if there were sparks of something there I would be willing to wait but I just don't see anything.

I think that's a tad harsh. I do understand were your coming from the, in terms of money spent and expectations Lamela clearly not the finished article however we hope he'll in time justify it...Andy Carroll cost 30+Million Joe Allen 20 M, we haven't done Liverpool.

 

[Blake Griffin]

I don't think I have seen anything to give me hope. The rabona was great but apart from that I can't see anything that makes me think he will become a top player for us.

He is one paced, and sadly that pace is slow. No burst of pace, no top end pace.

The worst thing is he doesn't have the skill to take it round players and this surprises me. I must admit I didn't know a lot about him before he signed but I assumed he would technically gifted. Whilst you see some glimpses of this (again, the rabona) for some reason he can't take anyone on. Every run end ups with him running straight into the legs of the defender.

He puts himself about which is nice but the result of that is that is that he has conceded more freekicks that most other players!

I'm gutted tbh. The one time we have the balls to spend that sort of money on an "exciting" young talent and we get done. I was desperate for Lamela to be the player we all hoped and if there were sparks of something there I would be willing to wait but I just don't see anything.

this is it for me, i just think he lacks key physical attributes(acceleration, upper body strength, balance) to be the player people want him to be in this league. playing in that role you're either direct or you're a creative player who can drop into pockets of space and link quickly, lamela's more likely to have success as the latter but i wouldn't bank on it. if i was in charge at spurs and i had to make it my mission to make lamela work then i would give him a shot up front alongside kane, not quite a 442 but certainly not as a #10 either, a second striker. some may say "but he doesn't score" and whilst that's true, the reason he doesn't is because he rarely ever finds himself in a shooting position. this is something townsend has over him, for all of townsend's faults he is sharp, he can turn quickly and he can pull away from players, this is why he ends up in shooting positions often whilst lamela doesn't. if he was to play in and around a forward there wouldn't be as much onus on him having to beat players and "make things happen". if anyone watches atletico then this is a role that griezmann is currently excelling in and it's not too different to where lamela was playing in pre season where he got a few goals. i can't say with any real confidence whether it would work but i just don't see it ever happening for him out wide.

 

[prawnsandwich]

But Poch will pick Lamela, you know that. Personally I hope he does. If Moussa's contribution was anything like today then I would have Lamela Eriksen Chadli. Whatever Lamela is or isn't doing, it's more than Moussa is. At least you know that Erik is going to put a shift in. No such guarantees with Dembele.

Personally I pray he doesn't. He has picked a few teams this year that have surprised me, mostly unpleasant surprises.
He has got to get real. No theories, no experiments.

 

[DaSpurs]

this is it for me, i just think he lacks key physical attributes(acceleration, upper body strength, balance) to be the player people want him to be in this league. playing in that role you're either direct or you're a creative player who can drop into pockets of space and link quickly, lamela's more likely to have success as the latter but i wouldn't bank on it. if i was in charge at spurs and i had to make it my mission to make lamela work then i would give him a shot up front alongside kane, not quite a 442 but certainly not as a #10 either, a second striker. some may say "but he doesn't score" and whilst that's true, the reason he doesn't is because he rarely ever finds himself in a shooting position. this is something townsend has over him, for all of townsend's faults he is sharp, he can turn quickly and he can pull away from players, this is why he ends up in shooting positions often whilst lamela doesn't. if he was to play in and around a forward there wouldn't be as much onus on him having to beat players and "make things happen". if anyone watches atletico then this is a role that griezmann is currently excelling in and it's not too different to where lamela was playing in pre season where he got a few goals. i can't say with any real confidence whether it would work but i just don't see it ever happening for him out wide.

Agree entirely with your first part, and it's an interesting proposition you make. However, to my eyes Lamela wasn't playing quite so high as to be a "second striker." He looked to be just right off center and Eriksen was playing slightly deeper. Frankly, I rather liked it and hoped we'd continue that. Gave Eriksen more space to turn and the lack of a marker on a high No 10 gave Lamela the room to turn and/or overlap with the ball at his foot and cause problems from the left. But in the Prem, this system admittedly causes problems with width and defensive structure, so while I would have been intrigued to see it I understand why things have folded out differently.

 

[Syn_13]

this is it for me, i just think he lacks key physical attributes(acceleration, upper body strength, balance) to be the player people want him to be in this league. playing in that role you're either direct or you're a creative player who can drop into pockets of space and link quickly, lamela's more likely to have success as the latter but i wouldn't bank on it. if i was in charge at spurs and i had to make it my mission to make lamela work then i would give him a shot up front alongside kane, not quite a 442 but certainly not as a #10 either, a second striker. some may say "but he doesn't score" and whilst that's true, the reason he doesn't is because he rarely ever finds himself in a shooting position. this is something townsend has over him, for all of townsend's faults he is sharp, he can turn quickly and he can pull away from players, this is why he ends up in shooting positions often whilst lamela doesn't. if he was to play in and around a forward there wouldn't be as much onus on him having to beat players and "make things happen". if anyone watches atletico then this is a role that griezmann is currently excelling in and it's not too different to where lamela was playing in pre season where he got a few goals. i can't say with any real confidence whether it would work but i just don't see it ever happening for him out wide.

Fair points there. It's not entirely true that he deosn't score goals. His goalscoring was a major part of why we bought him. However, I can't help feel that we bought him intending him to play as a wide forward, someone in a front 3 who will get into the box to score goals. In this system he's pegged a little further back, but he doesn't really appear to be trying to get into the box as much he should be either. I think it'd be worth a shot giving him a go as a second striker.

 

[mrlilywhite]

Personally I pray he doesn't. He has picked a few teams this year that have surprised me, mostly unpleasant surprises.
He has got to get real. No theories, no experiments.

You know the biggest surprise this season? Watching Eriksen being given a free role on the left. I don't get why one of our most influential players keeps getting started away from his most dangerous position. It not only takes him out of his comfort zone, but it put's a bigger onus on the covering midfielder and full back to defend that flank. There is also the issue of how it affects the overall shape of the team. This is why I believe that our best chance of success has to come from having Lamela, Eriksen and Chadli. As things stand there are no better options than those 3.

 

[punkisback]

I think there is a slight bit of xenophobia amongst spurs fans. The ones who loved Harry and Sherwood but didn't want to give AVB or Poch a chance; the ones who loved Parker but didn't warm to Sandro; the ones who blindly hate Lamela but are happy to support Townsend. You see these types at Matches more unfortunately, ignorant, uneducated people who would probably vote UKIP or join the EDL. The ones who want passhun, blood and thunder who are unappreciative of tactics and technique. I think that we are divided in our support and it's clear to see where this divide lies between the progressives and the traditionalists.

 

[eViL]

Needs too much time on the ball..

I think there is a slight bit of xenophobia amongst spurs fans. The ones who loved Harry and Sherwood but didn't want to give AVB or Poch a chance; the ones who loved Parker but didn't warm to Sandro; the ones who blindly hate Lamela but are happy to support Townsend. You see these types at Matches more unfortunately, ignorant, uneducated people who would probably vote UKIP or join the EDL. The ones who want passhun, blood and thunder who are unappreciative of tactics and technique. I think that we are divided in our support and it's clear to see where this divide lies between the progressives and the traditionalists.

Most puke I've ever read in one post on SC.

 

[Good Doctor M]

He's always going to divide opinion... we spent a lot of money on him. But I think people forget at times that we bought his potential. The only way he'll realise that, let's not forget, he's only a kid, is by sticking by him.

The rabona was a crazy piece of skill, but the fact he can pull that off, points to the fact that there are possibly only a handful of players in the world with his potential skillset.

It would be crazy, completely CRAZY to give up on this kid just yet. He's come to a new league, a hard, physical league and he's struggling to get to pace with it. But he hasn't chickened out of it - he hasn't shirked his responsibility. He's more than happy to throw himself around and get physical.

Watching him this season, is almost like watching a middle-weight take his first fight at heavy-weight. It's not pretty, the potential is there but he's having to slug it out for a few fights until he finds his feet with the new physical demands.

The kid could be, COULD be... something really special. At 21 he's playing regular premier league football in a top 5 team. He's doing okay. He'll get better, there isn't a doubt in my mind about that. We just have to give him time, let him get himself bruised up. He's learning you have to think quickly, you have to move the ball, have to play with your head up and eyes in the back of your head.

Really, in two years, if we sold him, I think we'd have done something akin to almost letting Bale go to Birmingham for 3 million, 5 years ago when they came asking. It's crazy to think that was something we were considering. But we stuck with Bale and Bale stuck with us.

Lamela needs a bit of faith in him for the time being and if not faith a bit of patience and empathy for his age and inexperience.

He scored a rabona from outside the box for fucks sake. We're not talking about a Jermaine Jenas here. The kid has something, we need to try to make it flourish.

 

[Spursidol]

Fair points there. It's not entirely true that he deosn't score goals. His goalscoring was a major part of why we bought him. However, I can't help feel that we bought him intending him to play as a wide forward, someone in a front 3 who will get into the box to score goals. In this system he's pegged a little further back, but he doesn't really appear to be trying to get into the box as much he should be either. I think it'd be worth a shot giving him a go as a second striker.

Bang on. he's had a chance to get himself into positions to score but does not - Chadli and Eriksen do.

Think @Blake Griffin has it right in the first 3 lines of his post 'i just think he lacks key physical attributes(acceleration, upper body strength, balance) to be the player people want him to be in this league. playing in that role you're either direct or you're a creative player who can drop into pockets of space and link quickly, lamela's more likely to have success as the latter but i wouldn't bank on it'

Until he decides to get into shooting positions and take shots he won't score.

 

[talkshowhost86]

He scored a rabona from outside the box for fucks sake. We're not talking about a Jermaine Jenas here. The kid has something, we need to try to make it flourish.

I could provide a list of many players who have scored 'amazing' goals in their career and then done very little else.

Ravel Morrison as an immediate example.

I agree that Lamela is not hiding when we've seen that from other players, and obviously he is only young still. But we need to see more than effort and a crazy goal against a 3rd rate team.

He's getting to the point where the lack of any more becomes an issue.

 

[Good Doctor M]

I could provide a list of many players who have scored 'amazing' goals in their career and then done very little else.

Ravel Morrison as an immediate example.

I agree that Lamela is not hiding when we've seen that from other players, and obviously he is only young still. But we need to see more than effort and a crazy goal against a 3rd rate team.

He's getting to the point where the lack of any more becomes an issue.

Of course, that's true... and I agree that one goal doesn't prove anything. But it is an indication at least, that this guys has something special to him. Now, it's up to him and us as a club to nurture that. And if we can be the club to do that and have him mature through being one of our own, then we're going to come up smelly pretty good at the end of it. Lamela has the potential to be a great, great player. And I'd like to see that happen, for him and most importantly for the club.

I think anyone that watches him and can't see that something is there (or won't admit it), is beyond convincing anyway. He's not been an amazing signing so far...

... but he CAN be. I think that's a reasonable stance to have. And again, he's only 21. Giving up on him at this stage is crazy, especially considering the work ethic the guy has. No player gives as much as he does without the hunger to improve. I think, we just have to give it time and let that improvement happen.

 

[Blake Griffin]

And again, he's only 21

he's 23 in a couple of weeks

 

[yiddo23]

I don't think I have seen anything to give me hope. The rabona was great but apart from that I can't see anything that makes me think he will become a top player for us.

He is one paced, and sadly that pace is slow. No burst of pace, no top end pace.

The worst thing is he doesn't have the skill to take it round players and this surprises me. I must admit I didn't know a lot about him before he signed but I assumed he would technically gifted. Whilst you see some glimpses of this (again, the rabona) for some reason he can't take anyone on. Every run end ups with him running straight into the legs of the defender.

He puts himself about which is nice but the result of that is that is that he has conceded more freekicks that most other players!

I'm gutted tbh. The one time we have the balls to spend that sort of money on an "exciting" young talent and we get done. I was desperate for Lamela to be the player we all hoped and if there were sparks of something there I would be willing to wait but I just don't see anything.

I guess we are just grateful your wrong

 

[Good Doctor M]

he's 23 in a couple of weeks

22 then... doesn't make too much of a difference really. If there's no major improvement next season, particularly after another summer (presumably in the gym) then yes, I would be concerned. But at the moment, time is on his side, this season he got to cut his teeth, I would expect (and hope for) a step up ... if it doesn't happen I'll hold my hands up and admit I perhaps, possibly backed the wrong horse... for this particular course anyway.

But I do have faith in his ability and think we'll start to see it soon.