Player Watch: Erik Lamela

[danielneeds]

Accusing him of slowing our play down is wrong imo. It can't be at 100mph all game, he slows it down when it needs to be slowed down, he doesn't slow us down to a halt and he always drags us forward. There's a reason Poch loves him, it's because he puts the impetus on the rest of our players to get moving forward. If he does stop, it's because there are no options ahead of him and he's waiting for them to present themselves - he easily has one of the best football brains at the club.

Dele, on the other hand, dawdles in a far more damaging manner lately. He demonstrates the traits people accuse Lamela of far more than Erik does.

Lamela has always taken too many touches and slowed it down. He’s always far more effective when the game is broken up and there’s space to counter and he has time to pick out those slide-rule balls he does so well. That’s why he was so good as an impact sub early last season.

When a game is tight and the opposition is squeezing the space in the centre he often gets a bit lost.

 

[Spurrific]

Lamela has always taken too many touches and slowed it down. He’s always far more effective when the game is broken up and there’s space to counter and he has time to pick out those slide-rule balls he does so well. That’s why he was so good as an impact sub early last season.

When a game is tight and the opposition is squeezing the space in the centre he often gets a bit lost.

I disagree, I think it's a lazy criticism of him based mainly on his awkward running and dribbling style. He very rarely loses the ball, but it seems our fans would rather he quickly surrendered possession instead of holding on to it and waiting for an option.

 

[mpickard2087]

He is guilty of enjoying too many touches a lot of the time and not giving the ball at the right moment, but then that equally applies to the likes of Alli, Son, Kane etc.

 

[danielneeds]

I disagree, I think it's a lazy criticism of him based mainly on his awkward running and dribbling style. He very rarely loses the ball, but it seems our fans would rather he quickly surrendered possession instead of holding on to it and waiting for an option.

That’s simply not true. He has always lost the ball quite often. He’s a high risk/reward player in that respect. He does lose possession but can create things.

 

[Gassin's finest]

If Erik can stay fit and healthy, then he's such a good player to have. I really hope he has a good season.

 

[Spurrific]

Career average dispossessed/Dribbles per game stats:

Son - 1.8/1.5
Lamela - 1.7/1.6
Eriksen - 1.5/0.8
Kane - 1.8/1.2
Dele - 2.1/1.2
Lucas - 1.6/2.3

Using it as a criticism specifically for Lamela is agenda-driven, when they all average about the same. He attempts the second most dribbles per game over his career (Lucas' average is dragged up during his time in Ligue 1) and he loses it the third least, less than Eriksen who mostly dispenses the ball as soon as he gets it and Lucas who is just good at not losing it.

As I said, it's a lazy criticism. It's not "simply not true". For us, he loses the ball on average 1 time per game - to insinuate that he's the ball-losing machine is bollocks.

 

[E17yid]

I actually think a lot of the time he supposedly slows down play is when some of our other attacking players aren’t on the same wavelength as him.

I also agree that he likes taking risks which is one of the reasons Poch likes him. He’s brave. Possibly one of the bravest players we’ve got.

 

[danielneeds]

Career average dispossessed/Dribbles per game stats:

Son - 1.8/1.5
Lamela - 1.7/1.6
Eriksen - 1.5/0.8
Kane - 1.8/1.2
Dele - 2.1/1.2
Lucas - 1.6/2.3

Using it as a criticism specifically for Lamela is agenda-driven, when they all average about the same. He attempts the second most dribbles per game over his career (Lucas' average is dragged up during his time in Ligue 1) and he loses it the third least, less than Eriksen who mostly dispenses the ball as soon as he gets it and Lucas who is just good at not losing it.

As I said, it's a lazy criticism. It's not "simply not true". For us, he loses the ball on average 1 time per game - to insinuate that he's the ball-losing machine is bollocks.

I take it these stats are from Whoscored? Not the most reliable metric. Whatever, though, we've all watched this guy for almost 7 years now. He offers some very unique ups and downs, he's a curate's egg of a player. It'd be nice if he could put together a whole season and show what he can do, but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

 

[tottenham28]

Career average dispossessed/Dribbles per game stats:

Son - 1.8/1.5
Lamela - 1.7/1.6
Eriksen - 1.5/0.8
Kane - 1.8/1.2
Dele - 2.1/1.2
Lucas - 1.6/2.3

Using it as a criticism specifically for Lamela is agenda-driven, when they all average about the same. He attempts the second most dribbles per game over his career (Lucas' average is dragged up during his time in Ligue 1) and he loses it the third least, less than Eriksen who mostly dispenses the ball as soon as he gets it and Lucas who is just good at not losing it.

As I said, it's a lazy criticism. It's not "simply not true". For us, he loses the ball on average 1 time per game - to insinuate that he's the ball-losing machine is bollocks.

Hmmm..

I'd say you'd be better off letting people state their own reasons for thinking they way they do about Lamela. Personally, I've always liked the guy because he has the will to drive at defences and always enables a high press.
Still, in my eyes he does sometimes hold the ball too long when those in front of him have made runs.
Does it make him a bad player? no, it's just something I think that he needs to change a little.

If we go by your stats alone, we'd basically be saying Dele doesn't hold the ball too long either right? Which we all know to be complete bollocks..

 

[Shadydan]

Hmmm..

I'd say you'd be better off letting people state their own reasons for thinking they way they do about Lamela. Personally, I've always liked the guy because he has the will to drive at defences and always enables a high press.
Still, in my eyes he does sometimes hold the ball too long when those in front of him have made runs.
Does it make him a bad player? no, it's just something I think that he needs to change a little.

If we go by your stats alone, we'd basically be saying Dele doesn't hold the ball too long either right? Which we all know to be complete bollocks..

Those stats say that Dele has been dispossessed the most out of those 6 players so it looks like they're accurate to me.

 

[tottenham28]

Those stats say that Dele has been dispossessed the most out of those 6 players so it looks like they're accurate to me.

Hardly a massive difference is it only 0.5 times a game more?
Yes, I agree Dele's is the highest but again, on those stats alone I see both Kane and Son also have more dispossession than Lamela per game but not one person has added anything regarding them.

I prefer to think that some players frustrate people more than others, it's just how it is and invites or creates opinions and division.

 

[Shadydan]

Hardly a massive difference is it only 0.5 times a game more?
Yes, I agree Dele's is the highest but again, on those stats alone I see both Kane and Son also have more dispossession than Lamela per game but not one person has added anything regarding them.

I prefer to think that some players frustrate people more than others, it's just how it is and invites or creates opinions and division.

Erm yeah that's kinda the point mate, Kane and Son have have are dispossessed more on average than Lamela but he is the one being singled out for it, it's a lazy analysis.

Assuming those metrics are per 90 then there's not much you can argue with, using your eyes as some sort of evidence is all well and good, you've probably watched as much Spurs games as me but I'm afraid you can't argue against something which is giving you factual evidence.

 

[theShiznit]

If there was a first time through ball on the person I would be most confident in seeing/making the pass would be Lamela.

Sure sometimes when carrying the ball his decisions can be off but in those instances the play is evolving and your decisions are dictated somewhat by the movement around you.

A strange beast Lamela, can be accused of slowing the game and doing things too quickly at the same time...

 

[danielneeds]

If there was a first time through ball on the person I would be most confident in seeing/making the pass would be Lamela.

Sure sometimes when carrying the ball his decisions can be off but in those instances the play is evolving and your decisions are dictated somewhat by the movement around you.

A strange beast Lamela, can be accused of slowing the game and doing things too quickly at the same time...

i do really think the PL is the wrong league for him. If he was back in Italy, that space just in front of the back four where he likes to drift into to play those balls is far less frenetic and fast-paced, and he'd have more time to do what he likes.

 

[Buggsy61]

I find him an incredibly frustrating and inconsistent player. His decision making at key moments in the game can let him down. Maybe it is the pace of the PL that he has not quite got to grips with.

But, he does offer something different, and can do the unexpected, so he is useful to have around.

However, I will always love him for this, and was laughing my knackers off at the game when I saw it unfold!.

 

[wrd]

I find him an incredibly frustrating and inconsistent player. His decision making at key moments in the game can let him down. Maybe it is the pace of the PL that he has not quite got to grips with.

But, he does offer something different, and can do the unexpected, so he is useful to have around.

However, I will always love him for this, and was laughing my knackers off at the game when I saw it unfold!.

I think he's shown enough in very big games to show that the pace of the prem isn't his problem. I just think a lack of run of games and injuries have been his downfall where he hasn't been able to have full pre-seasons also. I must admit I'm trying to downplay my own expectations of him because he usually ends up injured but if he gets through those first 3 months then we have the perfect creative player built in Pochs image on our hands.

 

[Bulletspur]

He carries the ball very well but in my opinion, he can take too much time to release the pass.
Just my opinion, no need for sarcasm without adding your own 2 pence worth bud..

No sarcasm here, but I disagree with your opinion, for the same reasons as explained below by @Spurrific . My own 2 pence worth I hasten to add

Accusing him of slowing our play down is wrong imo. It can't be at 100mph all game, he slows it down when it needs to be slowed down, he doesn't slow us down to a halt and he always drags us forward. There's a reason Poch loves him, it's because he puts the impetus on the rest of our players to get moving forward. If he does stop, it's because there are no options ahead of him and he's waiting for them to present themselves - he easily has one of the best football brains at the club.

Dele, on the other hand, dawdles in a far more damaging manner lately. He demonstrates the traits people accuse Lamela of far more than Erik does.

 

[JCRD]

I dont think he slows the game down but there are times he takes really unnecessary touches. Against Bayern for example he was through on goal it needed at most one touch then shoot or could have shot with the first touch. Instead he took a touch then ANOTHER which meant the defender had time to get to the ball

Thats the issue... Dele has sometimes the same issue.

 

[Giovanni]

Eric lamela is a quality player, bags of heart and desire. He needs the right mix of players around him and when he gets that hes brilliant. His best position would be at the point of a midfield 3, centre of the pitch with kane and son in front of him, even lucas too. Deeper player who can get the ball to his feet (n'dombele is ideal), turn, thread those quality forward passes and follow it into the box to finish instinctively.

Too often when he comes on he has dele, eriksen and kane around him. I love all 3 of them but dele and eriksen are pretty static and often recieve a simple pass to feet which just nullifys eriks game.

I may be sounding silly here as i know many of us here have said it before but i really think that he will have a great seaso this year. If eriksen leaves and dele is sat out a bit more i think he will really become a dependable source of assists and goals.

Just as an idea....

Kwp---------Toby----Jan---------Rose
------Winks---Tanguy---lo celso-----
---------------------Lamela-------------------
-----------------Kane------Son--------------

Great team.

 

[roslau]

I reckon Erik and Lucas are both as creative as Eriksen.