Player Watch: Erik Lamela

[BringBack_leGin]

I probably shouldn't sully poor old Dazza's good name, my mistake!

I’m protective over the awful 90s years. It was horrific watching but god damn it’s what I was brought up on.

Some of these new fans think we’re in darkness now and are trying to embrace it. I was born in the darkness!

 

[Bobbins]

I probably shouldn't sully poor old Dazza's good name, my mistake!

Any time supporters of another team call Anderton Sicknote I point out that he played more league games than the almighty Roy Keane.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

I’m protective over the awful 90s years. It was horrific watching but god damn it’s what I was brought up on.

Some of these new fans think we’re in darkness now and are trying to embrace it. I was born in the darkness!

Considering some fans have only been a fan in this decade yet moan like a seasoned pro speaks volumes.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Any time supporters of another team call Anderton Sicknote I point out that he played more league games than the almighty Roy Keane.

I'm off to the 'TIL' thread.

One of my favourite players, soft spot, guilty!

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Headless chicken in the final third

 

[punkisback]

I still think he's been better than son, moura and dele recently. But he has been unusually poor in his passing which is usually his strength. But if we have him, Lo Celso, Bergwijn and Ndombele available to play we may see more intelligent football

 

[emiley heskey]

I would sell Lamela and buy a technical, skillful dribbler and shooter outside the box footballer ...

Jose always brought out best from the players who were the outcast of Madrid/Barca... For example: Wesley Sneijder were outcast at Madrid, but jose got the best out of him. Fabregas was out of his depth and never been consistent at Barca, but Jose got the best out of him.

So I think if we can bring someone like James Rodrigues or Coutinho in the club, Jose will get the best out of them. They both are 28 years old and at the prime of their career. Jose knows how to get the best out of this traditional but skillful number 10 .. I hope Levy understands this, and replace Lamela with someone like James or Coutinho ...

 

[ClintEastwould]

I love him but he is essentially an Argentinian Ji Sung-Park. I maintain what I’ve always said that he is useful in this manner. Expecting him to magically come up with goals and assists after 7 years is delusional. As long as his wages aren’t crazy or starting ahead of better players I’d still rather see him over the likes of Moura.

 

[Stamford]

Before we even think about selling him we should sell Moura & Dele who are both worse

 

[danielneeds]

I would sell Lamela and buy a technical, skillful dribbler and shooter outside the box footballer ...

Jose always brought out best from the players who were the outcast of Madrid/Barca... For example: Wesley Sneijder were outcast at Madrid, but jose got the best out of him. Fabregas was out of his depth and never been consistent at Barca, but Jose got the best out of him.

So I think if we can bring someone like James Rodrigues or Coutinho in the club, Jose will get the best out of them. They both are 28 years old and at the prime of their career. Jose knows how to get the best out of this traditional but skillful number 10 .. I hope Levy understands this, and replace Lamela with someone like James or Coutinho ...

I didn’t think Coutinho was right for us last summer when we were linked, but things are so much more different now. We’re desperate for creativity, and even though he hogs the ball a bit too much and can be wasteful, his long range shooting, set pieces and x-factor can really help.

He could also give a bit of a psychological boost to a squad that’s hurting. I think Jose could sell us to him as being a place where he could be a main man and crowd favourite.

 

[emiley heskey]

I didn’t think Coutinho was right for us last summer when we were linked, but things are so much more different now. We’re desperate for creativity, and even though he hogs the ball a bit too much and can be wasteful, his long range shooting, set pieces and x-factor can really help.

He could also give a bit of a psychological boost to a squad that’s hurting. I think Jose could sell us to him as being a place where he could be a main man and crowd favourite.

I think coutinho would be incredible for us ... His goals and assists tally even for bayern is really good... Most importantly, he can create something out of nothing and i have a feeling jose can get the best out of him.. Jose usually works better with a traditional number 10

 

[dagraham]

I think coutinho would be incredible for us ... His goals and assists tally even for bayern is really good... Most importantly, he can create something out of nothing and i have a feeling jose can get the best out of him.. Jose usually works better with a traditional number 10

He’d walk into our team. Won’t happen though.

 

[fortworthspur]

Before we even think about selling him we should sell Moura & Dele who are both worse

Dele's got almost twice the goals in almost exactly the same number of appearances. Moura has a better scoring record too.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

So for the avoidance of doubt, I wasn’t claiming Lamela has never made a match-winning contribution. I’m saying I don’t ever recall a time he was considered to be a difference-maker (as in a critical member of the team) for us.

The fact everyone that responded referenced the same goal v City kinda makes my point for me. He’s made the odd contribution here and there, and not much more than that in 7 years. We bought him for not much less than Liverpool bought Salah and Mane for, or Chelsea bought Hazard for, and creating a goal against City is his standout moment. He’s been way, way, way below the level of those guys, but isn’t a priority for us to shift after 7 years? THIS is a big part of our problem.

 

[punkisback]

He’d walk into our team. Won’t happen though.

Agree, I think our days of being able to compete for transfers like that are over without CL. Board opinion was that we would be first choice ahead of cheslea and arsenal for a lot of players, but they have still such large reputations. Right now we are like a Leverkusen or a Sevilla.

 

[Gareth88]

Before we even think about selling him we should sell Moura & Dele who are both worse

If we could off load all 3 we would make a nice transfer budget but as mentioned in other threads looks like loan deals are going to be happening this transfer window

 

[Bulletspur]

So for the avoidance of doubt, I wasn’t claiming Lamela has never made a match-winning contribution. I’m saying I don’t ever recall a time he was considered to be a difference-maker (as in a critical member of the team) for us.

The fact everyone that responded referenced the same goal v City kinda makes my point for me. He’s made the odd contribution here and there, and not much more than that in 7 years. We bought him for not much less than Liverpool bought Salah and Mane for, or Chelsea bought Hazard for, and creating a goal against City is his standout moment. He’s been way, way, way below the level of those guys, but isn’t a priority for us to shift after 7 years? THIS is a big part of our problem.

You might not rate him but to say he has not made a difference in games is very underserving or blinkered. I wont refer to the 2-1 against City

NLD in the Leicester season where we were on top of the league briefly as we were beating Arsenal 2-1. Lamela and Kane were the dynamic duo in that game until Poch in his wisdom decided to sub him where very one was amazed. We immediately lost the impetuous and Alex Sanchez predictably equalized for them. That is the day I started questioning Poch's game management as it was obvious to everyone else that Lamela was the catalyst in that game.

Just this season we got a credible draw against the Champions City at the Etihad, mostly down to Lamela's industry and goal.

How can you not be impressed by the way he won the ball yesterday and then he and Kane went a lung busting run for our third goal, where both were then flat out on their backs.

Look many times he has been made MOTM on this very forum. I know there are a lot of other games where he did make the difference of us getting a positive result, but at the say time I do not say we cannot do better. But to say you cannot think of an example of where he made a difference is doing him a disservice

 

[yankspurs]

Im pretty sure he’ll be here another season or 2. He loves the club and it doesnt seem like we’re pushing him out the door. Plus Mourinho clearly has a thing for work rates which Lamela has in spades.

 

[emiley heskey]

How do you fit willian with lamela, moura, bergwjin and sissoko? Who will jose sacrifice?

 

[zinzanzee]

A number of seasons ago when he “accidentally” stepped on Fabregas’s hand he had me sold.