Player Watch: Erik Lamela

[smallsnc]

What like the little chip for Dele against the Arsenal?
Right now Son Eriksen and Dele are the first Eleven starters and they've earned it.
It's up to Coco to change that.

He can make short passes of real quality, that is not the issue. From the right, he struggles to get in behind the defense when playing on the right as he always wants to cut in. At CM, his lack of a right foot (limits or slows down passing options) is exposed as is his sometimes suspect first touch. He is a good player, I am just not as over the moon with him as some are. Does not mean he cannot be a very good player for Spurs.

 

[guy]

If we were to sell him I don't think we could a) afford or b) convince a better player to come.

 

[JB_Spurs]

Draxler is muck. Any arguments suggesting we replace Lamela instantly fall apart when he's named as the replacement.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

Draxler is muck. Any arguments suggesting we replace Lamela instantly fall apart when he's named as the replacement.

I think Draxler is very over-rated. I must admit I did not watch him much though

 

[piedpiper]

You’re indifferent to Dele and Son?!

His importance to the team is elevated above those players by some. I wouldn't want to lose Son or Dele but would be indifferent to Lamela going..

 

[Flashspur]

I think we are looking so much more aggressive since he has been back. No coincidence that some of our tougher performances have occured since his return. To have a forward who epitomises the forward press, which is one of the key characteristic of a Poch side, means we are in a good position to apply this when he is on the field. Why do you think the possession stats against Juve had us at 67%? He drives the front 4 in the press through his own actions and intensity.

 

[walworthyid]

He can make short passes of real quality, that is not the issue. From the right, he struggles to get in behind the defense when playing on the right as he always wants to cut in. At CM, his lack of a right foot (limits or slows down passing options) is exposed as is his sometimes suspect first touch. He is a good player, I am just not as over the moon with him as some are. Does not mean he cannot be a very good player for Spurs.

I disagree. He has been very effective in the last few games and his lack of right foot hasn't been a factor at all? His quick use of the ball is the best in the squad without question. He also rarely gives the ball away. We could not replace him easily at all.

 

[IGSpur]

At CM, his lack of a right foot (limits or slows down passing options) is exposed as is his sometimes suspect first touch.

Do you think this also affects mainly right footed players too? You could have a midfield 3 of 3 right footers and no one would care. If you had a midfield 3 of 3 left footers people would see a problem. I don't get it. Surely the same criticism should be levelled at both types.

Dembele is very one footed, as are Wanyana and Dier

 

[longtimespur]

Now I know what it must be like in the House of Commons when their debating Brexit

 

[smallsnc]

Do you think this also affects mainly right footed players too? You could have a midfield 3 of 3 right footers and no one would care. If you had a midfield 3 of 3 left footers people would see a problem. I don't get it. Surely the same criticism should be levelled at both types.

Dembele is very one footed, as are Wanyana and Dier

Yes, I think it negatively affects Dembele but he is a different type of player because he does not rely on quick passing as much but more on controlling and carrying the ball. Dier uses both feet very well hitting both long and short passes with his left when required. He uses his right more often but all players have a favored foot.

One of Son's strengths playing on the left is that he can cut in on his right or go to the endline and play the ball across with his left very effectively. It makes him much harder to defend.

There is a big difference between having a stronger foot and being overly reliant on one. Look at Eriksen, his favored foot is his right but he can shoot, pass, etc. with his level at a high level. It allows him to play more effectively in the middle because he does not have to turn his back on part of the field in order to get the ball on one foot. It also means defenders cannot as easily take away his right by overplaying that side because he can beat them with his left.

By the way our last two wingers we purchased and have since sent on both are overly reliant on their rights it negatively impacts their games.

I just don't get that people have these blind spots when assessing Lamela. He shouldn't be replaced at this time, he is a valuable member of the squad, but he is going to have to play a role. For those that think he is a like for like replacement for Eriksen, watch more football.

 

[adamsky]

News reports this morning that Lamela is interested in going to Inter. Would be disappointed if he left but not devastated. I am curious whether most would see signing Malcolm as a replacement as an upgrade. There is an obvious risk when signing new players, particularly from French football, but I think his potential is higher. We have seen what Lamela contributes and I am a fan, but ultimately I don’t see him having a season like Salah or Mane have had for Liverpool. These are the type of risks we need to take to find the next superstar and challenge for titles, and good players like Lamela may have to be the ones that get sacrificed.

 

[jezz]

News reports this morning that Lamela is interested in going to Inter. Would be disappointed if he left but not devastated. I am curious whether most would see signing Malcolm as a replacement as an upgrade. There is an obvious risk when signing new players, particularly from French football, but I think his potential is higher. We have seen what Lamela contributes and I am a fan, but ultimately I don’t see him having a season like Salah or Mane have had for Liverpool. These are the type of risks we need to take to find the next superstar and challenge for titles, and good players like Lamela may have to be the ones that get sacrificed.

Why not just sign Malcom and keep Lamela?
Win win for us and Inter have been signing Lamela in every window since he's been here.

 

[adamsky]

Why not just sign Malcom and keep Lamela?
Win win for us and Inter have been signing Lamela in every window since he's been here.

We signed Moura, not sure there is space for another AM/WF. Too many good players can cause problems if there isn’t enough game time for all. I think we have the perfect size squad now, it is just about where/how we can improve it.

 

[OPModric]

Time for Poch to stop favouring Alli. Lamela and Son are better players and its a good chance Moura is too.

 

[iddebu52]

Everywhere you go, always take Lamela with you................

 

[dudu]

I am one of those squarely in the middle of the opposing opinions on Lamela.

Its no secret I wasn't a big fan at first but I have certainly warmed to him over the years.

He hasn't blown me away since his return but he has also played well, contributed to a well-drilled side and offered something a little different.

Him, Alli, Eriksen and Son are all different players and all offer their own unique abilities to the astonishing front line we now have. Add Moura to that and other teams should be scared of our options.

I just think both ends of the spectrum are so defensive, those who can see him do no wrong are just as bad as those who can see him do no right.

The main thing I feel is that our team succeeds because of the team, not one individual. That is clearly what Poch is all about and hopefully, the penny will drop with more and more of us the longer we have him.

 

[coys200]

If Lamela could recapture his Roma goal scoring form he would be talked about in same way as dele and Son . Interestingly heard pleat talking about his injury and was saying his hips were out of alignment. It’s an injury he may have been carrying for a while. I still have this feeling we haven’t seen the best of him.

 

[IfiHadTheWings]

Time for Poch to stop favouring Alli. Lamela and Son are better players and its a good chance Moura is too.

Alli just got the assist for Kane's goal and won the free kick that Eriksen scored from...think Poch's selection is vindicated just a tad.

 

[SlotBadger]

News reports this morning that Lamela is interested in going to Inter. Would be disappointed if he left but not devastated. I am curious whether most would see signing Malcolm as a replacement as an upgrade. There is an obvious risk when signing new players, particularly from French football, but I think his potential is higher. We have seen what Lamela contributes and I am a fan, but ultimately I don’t see him having a season like Salah or Mane have had for Liverpool. These are the type of risks we need to take to find the next superstar and challenge for titles, and good players like Lamela may have to be the ones that get sacrificed.

I'll keep this response succinct:

This story is

 

[hughy]

Time for Poch to stop favouring Alli. Lamela and Son are better players and its a good chance Moura is too.

I could understand this a few months ago, but Dele's form has picked up considerably. He isn't getting as many goals this season, but I'd take team wins over Dele goals any day.