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Player Watch Player Watch - Lucas Moura

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Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2005
2,945
3,861
He probably should have got on at the end last night, particularly with how deep Juve were but, Lamela was always going to be the first change.
 

jurgen

Busy ****
Jul 5, 2008
6,711
17,170
Also he came from PSG and although they’re generally flopping in the CL he does have big game experience which we needed...
 

ohh_when_the_spurs

SPEEDY GONZ-AZZA
Jun 12, 2008
1,220
1,406
We press as a team. Lucas in his brief spells on as a sub has looked a bit lost without the ball and you can see he is still getting used to where to be and when to press.

It takes a while to learn and we will see alot more of him when we do.

With the ball the guy is brilliant though so i would have gave him 15 mins while chasing the game
 

markdadude

Well-Known Member
Oct 25, 2007
445
470
Ok, I voiced my concerns over his absence versus Juventus. I was told 'he's only been here a month' type stuff but again today, Poch did not put trust him. Is anyone not even considering now that maybe Poch just doesn't like something about him? I want to see him play. Its too long now.
 

DaleMurphy

Well-Known Member
Sep 4, 2014
807
1,710
He’ll start v Swansea

give it some time of course he doesn’t have as much trust as he does in Lamela and the other two subs were defensive minded as we needed to see out the game
 

Univarn

Lost. Probably Not Worth Finding.
Jul 20, 2017
2,864
15,279
Ok, I voiced my concerns over his absence versus Juventus. I was told 'he's only been here a month' type stuff but again today, Poch did not put trust him. Is anyone not even considering now that maybe Poch just doesn't like something about him? I want to see him play. Its too long now.
I would think it is more of a case of he doesn't think he has to rush him into the side. Had Kane not gone down injured along with Dele and Rose he probably would have come on towards the end. Right now Lucas is an option, not a requirement. Getting him comfortable minutes and learning our system for next season is his main goal.
 

thfc1973

Active Member
Apr 29, 2015
565
1,192
He’ll start v Swansea

give it some time of course he doesn’t have as much trust as he does in Lamela and the other two subs were defensive minded as we needed to see out the game

Funny cos that's exactly what should have been the case the other day when we went 1-0 up against Juventus, or even when we went 1-1 against Juve... Hmm. Seems like the sub choices aren't making sense.
 

Hengy1

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2014
2,744
7,424
Ok, I voiced my concerns over his absence versus Juventus. I was told 'he's only been here a month' type stuff but again today, Poch did not put trust him. Is anyone not even considering now that maybe Poch just doesn't like something about him? I want to see him play. Its too long now.
Too long? He played a week ago v Huddersfield
 

cozzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2005
3,541
6,225
If he doesn't play and we win the FA Cup and finish in the top 4 I won't be bothered. Its a squad game and there is no room for sentiment
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
Ok, I voiced my concerns over his absence versus Juventus. I was told 'he's only been here a month' type stuff but again today, Poch did not put trust him. Is anyone not even considering now that maybe Poch just doesn't like something about him? I want to see him play. Its too long now.

Lamela has battled back from a year long injury, spent months patiently getting himself 100% match fit, then spent another couple of months on the bench waiting for his chance, and throughout has maintained the attitude Poch yearns for in his players, one where the team is king. And when called upon Lamela has influenced games and given everything on the pitch. To move Moura ahead of him in the pecking order is just not how Poch works and would go against the club ethos he has built. The same measure is used for everyone, and the likes of Wanyama, Winks, Rose and Alderweireld have also realised that if you lose your place through injury you have to work twice as hard to win your place back on merit. And merit with Poch is mainly measured away from the 90 minutes on a Saturday, but the other 6.9 days of the week. Once Moura gets his chance, if he executes how Poch wants then his quality will see him keep his place. In the meantime the likes of Dele, Eriksen, Son and Lamela have all upped their work rates as they know their places are under threat. It's called competitiveness and competition for places. Once big money signings automatically start then you either need a bottomless pit of money (to ensure an endless supply of stars) or you'll end up a weaker team.
 
D

Deleted member 25918

I agree with previous posts, as long as we win something and finish top 4...

That said...

There is something to be said for keeping a player hungry... Make him work for his appearances.
 

cider spurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 5, 2016
9,399
23,731
I recall reading a snippet from Poch the other day basically saying that it's not only about what Moura does with the ball, but learning how to be effective without it.

Possible reason for cameo appearances. I'll trust Poch on this one.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,987
81,919
Ok, I voiced my concerns over his absence versus Juventus. I was told 'he's only been here a month' type stuff but again today, Poch did not put trust him. Is anyone not even considering now that maybe Poch just doesn't like something about him? I want to see him play. Its too long now.

I suggest you read poch’s book or listen to his interviews.

He is very clear that he signs players to train. He believes integration takes time both on and off the pitch.

We can discuss whether this is the right approach but to turn it into the manager not liking people is incorrect.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Ok, I voiced my concerns over his absence versus Juventus. I was told 'he's only been here a month' type stuff but again today, Poch did not put trust him. Is anyone not even considering now that maybe Poch just doesn't like something about him? I want to see him play. Its too long now.
Silly timing.

Yesterday, Lamela was the right choice to come in for Kane. After that, it was never appropriate to bring Lucas on. After Son scored the 2nd, we were protecting a lead, and Dele is the better choice, so no early sub for Dele. Trippier comes in for Rose - can't argue that choice, and then Sissoko for Dele - again, more of a defensive move to protect the lead. If we had been chasing a goal late, I am sure Lucas would have made an appearance.
 

Luka Van der Bale

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2011
6,041
13,611
Funny cos that's exactly what should have been the case the other day when we went 1-0 up against Juventus, or even when we went 1-1 against Juve... Hmm. Seems like the sub choices aren't making sense.
The Juventus goals were with half an hour left. You don’t make defensive subs to see the game out with half an hour left. You do it in the last ten minutes, as we did today. Even if you don’t agree with that philosophy, which is fair enough, you can’t say there isn’t logic behind Pochettino’s decisions.
 

The Scarecrow

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2013
5,597
12,201
I'm not too worried. You don't sign to play, you sign to train, and I'm sure Poch told Lucas as much before he signed. He didn't start a single game for PSG this season, so he's lacking match fitness, and he'll need to earn his place, just like anyone else.
 

markdadude

Well-Known Member
Oct 25, 2007
445
470
Some very good points, and yes, the game was in the balance right up until the end so, yes, the most likely explanation is that he doesn't like his defensive attributes, i.e. off the ball, enough -- yet! The way the game panned out with the goals scored when they were, even lucas was probably not expecting to get on the pitch anyway.

I thought of mentioning it in my previous post but it would have undermined my original point :). There is a fantastic player there though. He can make us even more terrifying for our opponents. I love watching a spurs player who can run the ball, goal facing, with such quick feet, right into the penalty box while the defender is so unsettled he's just running backwards. Just like Son - who is the best at this in the team. Often you see whoever has the task of containing Son just backing off for fear of getting skinned. Son gets in the box, and then shoots. Moura can do this from the right side and the defence will be fertilising the grass with their excrement!
 

Everlasting Seconds

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2014
14,914
26,616
As much as I understand that his positioning off possession and defensive work rate needs work, I don't really understand why Pochettino at certain moments in the past weeks didn't go "screw it, we need goals now more than a perfect high pressing defensive wizard, so I'll chuck Lucas on and hope for the best".
 
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