Player Watch Player Watch - Lucas Moura

[southlondonyiddo]

I’ve been disappointed with him because he has a great pedigree and is clearly an incredibly talented footballer

Definitely style over substance for me though. Really hope he can show us more performances like Old Trafford earlier in the season

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Best attacking performing sub we have had in a while.

He adds good depth and we are comfortable starting him in big games.

Kind of player we have been looking for.

Apart from yesterday you mean, when he came off the bench and offered absolutely nothing!

 

[dontcallme]

Apart from yesterday you mean, when he came off the bench and offered absolutely nothing!

I don’t judge any player on one performance or sub appearance.

 

[Shadydan]

I don’t judge any player on one performance or sub appearance.

We need more people like you

 

[southlondonyiddo]

I don’t judge any player on one performance or sub appearance.

Well obviously!

 

[ajspurs]

I'm conflicted with Lucas. He's definitely of use and chips in with goals, important ones too but I just feel like he can offer more on the pitch. I do watch just him on the pitch a lot too and even his body language sometimes isn't right to me, like he'll slowly walk or jog around the pitch instead of being a bit more active in seeking out the ball and seeking out the chance to create something.

I rate him highly and have seen him perform for us to how I'd envisioned a range of times but more recently I just feel like he could do more on the pitch. If he's out wide, he should be squaring up the opponents fullbacks often and using his pace to get by them to deliver a cross (like Son) or if he's though the middle he should be using his pace to get in behind more. Like in the Arsenal away game in the cup, there was so much space in behind that day and I think someone like Lucas should have had a field day.

So it's not that he's doing bad at all, I just feel with his ability we could be getting more from him.

 

[dontcallme]

Well obviously!

So why bring it up?

 

[southlondonyiddo]

So why bring it up?

My bad. Sorry old chap

 

[dtxspurs]

I don't think its any coincidence he looked really good (just 1 game a go!) when we played him as a pure right winger. One goal and an assist (it counted as an assist on transfremarket) against Bournemouth. Leave him on the right touchline and thats where he's best. He's played most the season in completely new positions/roles. He's always been a right winger and Poch has introduced him as an inverted left winger and second striker mostly.

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

I don't think its any coincidence he looked really good (just 1 game a go!) when we played him as a pure right winger. One goal and an assist (it counted as an assist on transfremarket) against Bournemouth. Leave him on the right touchline and thats where he's best. He's played most the season in completely new positions/roles. He's always been a right winger and Poch has introduced him as an inverted left winger and second striker mostly.

But didn’t officially count by the premier league.

 

[mattie g]

I think Mahrez is the better player than Moura personally. Mahrez is better all round and creatively.

Shaqiri very different player to Moura. Shaqiri reminds me of Van Der Vaart a little bit actually. I think he’s been a terrific signing for that lot.

Fat*, short, and left-footed?

*Relatively speaking, of course.

 

[mike_l]

Arguably wouldn’t be in the top 4 if not for him and Lamela in those early games

Yeah but now we've lost a game and we're not winning the league anymore so people have a shitty on, we're the mighty all conquering Tottenham, it's unacceptable!

 

[spursfan77]

I'm conflicted with Lucas. He's definitely of use and chips in with goals, important ones too but I just feel like he can offer more on the pitch. I do watch just him on the pitch a lot too and even his body language sometimes isn't right to me, like he'll slowly walk or jog around the pitch instead of being a bit more active in seeking out the ball and seeking out the chance to create something.

I rate him highly and have seen him perform for us to how I'd envisioned a range of times but more recently I just feel like he could do more on the pitch. If he's out wide, he should be squaring up the opponents fullbacks often and using his pace to get by them to deliver a cross (like Son) or if he's though the middle he should be using his pace to get in behind more. Like in the Arsenal away game in the cup, there was so much space in behind that day and I think someone like Lucas should have had a field day.

So it's not that he's doing bad at all, I just feel with his ability we could be getting more from him.

Wasn’t that PSG fans criticism of him too?

I agree to an extent but for me he’s been a good signing and has definitely strengthened the squad. He helped us out massively at the start of the season when Son was out but then his form dropped off a little. He did play a lot of games though and could have been feeling the effects of that after not really playing for a year before that.

It’s not inconceivable that Poch is resting him a little now in the hope he has a similar impact for us when Son is away in January. He will be Son’s replacement then so will be playing virtually every game.

 

[allatsea]

I get the feeling he is one of those players that need to have full confidence to be seen at his best. At his best he is unplayable but at the moment he is seemingly lacking a bit in confidence.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Lucas Moura is exactly how I expected him to be, in fact ever so slightly better than what I assumed. He has proven to be a reliable back up forward, something this site has been screaming out for for ages. So we are fortunate to have him.

 

[ajspurs]

Wasn’t that PSG fans criticism of him too?

I agree to an extent but for me he’s been a good signing and has definitely strengthened the squad. He helped us out massively at the start of the season when Son was out but then his form dropped off a little. He did play a lot of games though and could have been feeling the effects of that after not really playing for a year before that.

It’s not inconceivable that Poch is resting him a little now in the hope he has a similar impact for us when Son is away in January. He will be Son’s replacement then so will be playing virtually every game.

I'm not sure what they said to be honest mate!

But yeah he's definitely been a good signing that's for sure, not only for the price we paid but for the return we've gotten as well. I would just love to see him taking command on the pitch a bit, actually feeling like he is one of our best players and match winners. I think that's one thing that has done Son wonders, he started believing in himself and his own ability again and recognising his importance to the team and I think his level of play elevates because of it. It can be massive when a player feels a self confidence and swagger about their play.

 

[Nebby]

A bit underwhelming.

 

[thebenjamin]

A bit underwhelming.

Yeah I'm not really a fan so far. Obviously weighed in with some important goals, and I appreciate his effort, pressing and decent leap. His passing, however, seems of a low standard, both in selection and execution. As does his decision making in general. That was to be expected to a certain extent as that has been his major weakness throughout his career.

What has surprised me is that his dribbling and ball carrying in general has been underwhelming. Even his pace doesn't seem as scintillating as it appeared.

Hopefully he's very out of form at the moment, and these factors are just a symptom of low confidence, and not indicative of the level we get from him going forward.

 

[coys200]

He started great this season and I thought ok this is the real Moura. But last 6 weeks or so he has definitely gone on a downward curve. Unless he gets back to that early season form I’m not convinced he’s good enough to be our no 1 attacking choice from the bench which he currently is. I made that comment about Shaqiri and mahrez a couple of weeks ago. But unfortunately we every performance at the moment I’m starting to doubt what I said.

In fact I said it a week ago. Been a lot of games lol.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

last 6 weeks or so he has definitely gone on a downward curve.

Why is that definitely? His December was good. In fact if you tested your statement scientifically, there probably would be no big significant difference between his first 6 and last 6 weeks of the season so far. The major difference is that Pochettino prefers and has available a different set of attacking players now than at the start of the season, but that doesn't really make Lucas Moura a worse player.