Player Watch: Erik Lamela

[SpursDave88]

He looked a lot faster than before at the beginning of the season...he's a kind of cult hero player...a trier who you are desperate to do well...but just lacking in the end...much like our team.

A talented footballer but just below the level we need him to be....

 

[tobi]

He’s not built for games on the break, he’s so slow. If a team is parking the bus then he’s useful. He’s also not confident in front of goal, definitely upgrade him if he was a starter, but I guess he’s a great bench player. 100% all the time tho, can’t knock him for that part of his game, but for an example tonight his arms are flying all over the place deep in their half. Free kick. Too many sloppy free kicks.

He's perfect for the counter attack because he can thread through balls.

Speed isn't everything, having said that, his acceleration over the first five/ten yards has increased this season. Whether there's movement ahead of him and he releases the ball on time is another thing.

 

[fortworthspur]

others have pointed it out, he's either injured or just back from injury 2/3 of the time. when he's healthy with a long run in the side he can be quite good - unfortunately thats not frequent and probably isnt going to change,.

 

[E17yid]

It’s frustrating. On the one hand I know he’s just come back from yet another injury and is bound to be a bit rusty as this was only his second game back, but he had one of those games he occasionally has where he doesn’t positively effect the game at all.

He’s a good player but his injury record, I believe, has stopped him from being a top player. He needs to play week in week out to get that consistency as shown in the good spells he’s had with us when he’s been injury free.

The other thing I think about him, that prevents him from being top player (other than his injury record), is the fact that in order to be at the top of his game he needs top players in good form around him. If he’s in a side that’s struggling he’s not the one to carry the team even though he’s got a lot of fight in him.

If he wasn’t so injury prone I wouldn’t even consider selling him if he wanted to stay as he has a unique-ish skill set but he needs to start showing some consistency now, especially when we’re down Kane, Alli and Son, to really prove his place in the squad. He’s got to really step up these next two weeks. We know he can do it. Basically get that form back from the start of the season and fast.

 

[gibbospurs]

He's perfect for the counter attack because he can thread through balls.

Speed isn't everything, having said that, his acceleration over the first five/ten yards has increased this season. Whether there's movement ahead of him and he releases the ball on time is another thing.

He isn’t perfect if he’s one of the players breaking, seen it so many times when all ball is played through to him when he has space to run into and he just gets eaten up and stops turns around does his annoying hip wiggle and plays it backwards.

 

[The Mourneview Ace]

Sticking the elbow in Azpilicueta is bound to be worth something at least though.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

At least Lamela has an excuse with his terrible injuries. Moura had a fantastic game at United and has faded very badly. We really needed him to contribute more.

Overall I don't think Moura had an outstanding game against utd but had the good finishes when it mattered.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

I'm a fan, have been since his first game for us. Tonight wasn't good from him however. I think as some have said his injuries have caught up again and that pace he came back with the last time has gone again. Wasted so much energy with headless chase sprints and was flustered when receiving the ball, these last few appearances the ball seems to get stuck underneath him. Poch needs to work on him, his decision making, his turning into trouble, his overplaying at wrong times, his over complication. The system didn't really suit him tonight he is a close proximity player, and the team were very open and distanced. Was unlucky with the offside call and would of been through 1 on one but for a useless overzealous line call when on. I agree with others though Moura was much the same tonight.

Was sad for Erik tonight though looked like he had bad energy attached to him, nothing went right for him. Good penalty though. His was the one I was worried about.

 

[ralvy]

I mean, today wasn't amazing from him, but I felt he was one of our better performers of the night. He made sure to complicate as much as he could every time Chelsea played the ball from the back and he was able to make a few steals.

I know you guys were probably expecting him to take full command from our offensive game or something, but this is a team sports and it's very difficult to create much when the only other offensive outlets this team had were Eriksen and Llorente (and no, I'm not hating on either of them either, but playing Dier instead of Moura totally crippled our offensive game tonight (though I understand very well why Pochetino decided to do it and it really wasn't a bad idea).

 

[thePessimist]

Sticking the elbow in Azpilicueta is bound to be worth something at least though.

Seriously, think he has to learn to control his arms. He’s flapping around like a bird learning to fly

 

[piedpiper]

I should never have praised him. He did so well when all i did was find fault.

All players have an off day.. even Kane/Eriksen have had a few. When we lose its exposed even more. We need to find a scapegoat perhaps. Lamela has a pass on his last 2 performances with me. Nothing a run of games cant fix.

 

[dagraham]

Can’t and never have faulted him off the ball, but he’s consistently flattered to deceive on it ever since he arrived.

He is a good, skilful player, but nowhere near the level that he is made out to be on here imo.

I appreciate that injuries have held him back, but he often doesn’t seem on the same wavelength as the other attacking players and still holds onto the ball too long for me. Ali does this as well ( but gets slated for it ) and whilst I wish Ali would improve this about his game he does more than enough in other areas for it to be overlooked.

I still think he’s a good squad player and offers something a bit different, but like Moura I’m not sure they are quite good enough to really push our top players for their place in the team.

 

[Hakkz]

others have pointed it out, he's either injured or just back from injury 2/3 of the time. when he's healthy with a long run in the side he can be quite good - unfortunately thats not frequent and probably isnt going to change,.

I'm starting to accept this

 

[coys200]

Was optimistic lamela and Moura were showing they were good enough to be serious back up. But both have dramatically dropped off in last 2 months. Unless either or both can show some real form between now and end of season we need to think about an upgrade. We need a real quality back up that can share time with Son and dele. It’s basically our 1st attacking sub choice.

 

[SlotBadger]

just when we needed him to step up in the absence of all our forwards, he's produced his very worst.

It's only been two games, one of which we won.

 

[danielneeds]

I think he's really useful from the bench, when the game is more end to end and broken up. When he starts it's just not working for him, and by the time the game is more open, he's lost his zip.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

He's looked off colour since he came back into the side but to be fair I don't think Eriksen has been that great recently. These are two players who thrive on making forward passes and quick interchanges in attacking positions. And with Kane/Alli/Son missing I don't think it is any coincidence that they looked a little blunted.

 

[Monkey boy]

great penalty last night. Shame about the other 90 minutes. Its with a heavy heart as ive always rooted for him but I wouldn't be against selling him if given the chance.

 

[SlotBadger]

One thing I find odd is that if Lamela has one poor/average match, multiple people are keen to point this out (having not commented when he's been our match-winner or performed excellently. He performed vs Barcelona, and got a goal and an assist, and they're hardly shit).

Most of our squad isn't held to the same standard, although I'm well aware there's a couple who get a rougher ride with this sort of thing.

 

[n0.1.spurs]

Had two great opportunities to score yesterday. One was the offside which wasn't (smh at the ref) and the other was when Eriksen tried to put in Llorente but he couldn't control it, - Lamela was free with so much space as the defender closest to him got drawn to Llorente in the box. Could easily be having a different conversation about his contribution if any of those were goals. Fine lines.