Player Watch: Erik Lamela

[Strikeb4ck]

if lo celso isnt fit enough to start id love to see him as the #10. He's got the workrate and a great knack of popping up in the pocket of space between midfield and the backline. He'd give us so much more than sissoko centrally.

He's been given many chances in the #10 role. I like Lamela but it's pretty clear it's not going to work out. As a 10 in this league you either need to be a brilliant passer (Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, etc) or have some kind of star quality and be brilliant in tight spaces. Lamela's first touch is far too inconsistent and he regularly holds onto the ball too long, and you just don't get that kind of time in the Prem. He also isn't a particularly great passer, largely because he takes so long to get rid of it. He's far more effective, and less frustrating, out on the wing.

 

[fortworthspur]

didnt do much today, but Sonny and TN were worse. All the talent we have at forward its hard to see why he started where he did today. And while we're on it, our first half performance today was worse than vs Antwerp and not a single change at the half. I dont know what JM is playing at.

 

[allpaths]

He's been given many chances in the #10 role. I like Lamela but it's pretty clear it's not going to work out. As a 10 in this league you either need to be a brilliant passer (Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, etc) or have some kind of star quality and be brilliant in tight spaces. Lamela's first touch is far too inconsistent and he regularly holds onto the ball too long, and you just don't get that kind of time in the Prem. He also isn't a particularly great passer, largely because he takes so long to get rid of it. He's far more effective, and less frustrating, out on the wing.

I meant only till Lo celso is fit enough to start regularly. im not saying he'd be perfect, it'd just be an alternative to what we saw today.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

I meant only till Lo celso is fit enough to start regularly. im not saying he'd be perfect, it'd just be an alternative to what we saw today.

At that point I'd rather just bring Dele into the fold as a second striker, particularly as we don't seem to have any interest in being a possession based team and we've seen Dele thrive in that role alongside Kane/Son before.

 

[allpaths]

At that point I'd rather just bring Dele into the fold as a second striker, particularly as we don't seem to have any interest in being a possession based team and we've seen Dele thrive in that role alongside Kane/Son before.

good shout if he's out of the doghouse.

 

[fortworthspur]

At that point I'd rather just bring Dele into the fold as a second striker, particularly as we don't seem to have any interest in being a possession based team and we've seen Dele thrive in that role alongside Kane/Son before.

absolutely. Lamela is adequate competition for Dele at number 10 but not as a goal scorer. Again, whats JM playing at?

 

[ralvy]

absolutely. Lamela is adequate competition for Dele at number 10 but not as a goal scorer. Again, whats JM playing at?

JM clearly isn't playing, either Dele changes his attitude or he won't be starting another PL game for Spurs as long as JM is in charge.

 

[Real_madyidd]

absolutely. Lamela is adequate competition for Dele at number 10 but not as a goal scorer. Again, whats JM playing at?

Managing us to second in the league. What are you doing?

 

[Danny1]

absolutely. Lamela is adequate competition for Dele at number 10 but not as a goal scorer. Again, whats JM playing at?

I think Mourinho is playing at the following:

- managing a team that sits 2nd in the league.
- with this team being top scorers.
- with this team having the 3rd best defence.
- with this team having the best goal difference.
- with this team inflicting the joint worst defeat at old Trafford in premier league history.
- with this team having had to play multiple more games in multiple mode countries than any other side.
- with this team having lost only two games in the last 20 in all competitions.
- managing players back to full fitness carefully to not injure them (Bale, Gio, Vinicius).
- managing players who are not cutting it and trying to light a fire (Dele, Stevie etc).

Although other than all that I guess he hasn’t done anything.

 

[Nayim60yards]

I really like Erik overall, yes he frustrates at times but he works so hard and sets the tone so well in games I always forgive him. The thing I miss from the early Erik years with us is the vision he had to play delicious slide rule passes. He would pick the ball up and quickly slip it between defenders freeing someone on the other end. He never seems to play those passes any more, his tendency is now more to holding the ball a bit longer and trying to bundle his way through. I would like to sit him down with some old videos of him playing and say to him: "Bring back those passes Coco".

 

[ralvy]

I really like Erik overall, yes he frustrates at times but he works so hard and sets the tone so well in games I always forgive him. The thing I miss from the early Erik years with us is the vision he had to play delicious slide rule passes. He would pick the ball up and quickly slip it between defenders freeing someone on the other end. He never seems to play those passes any more, his tendency is now more to holding the ball a bit longer and trying to bundle his way through. I would like to sit him down with some old videos of him playing and say to him: "Bring back those passes Coco".

I gotta admit, I only started noticing him holding onto the ball a bit too long last season after the return from the long covid break, during that match against Shedfield I think, when he came from the bench when we were chasing the game and made that long, and almost set up Kane for the equalizer but got intercepted by Lucas somehow.

 

[buckley]

All I can say I know for sure Lamela will give 100% and anyone calling for Dele instead of him imo is wrong what I have seen from Lamela is he is always at the front for effort and you cannot ignore him when he plays .
What I have seen from Dele for 18 months is a player that I sometimes forgot he was playing he is like the invisible man and his casual strolling about the field is doing my head in . You can play in a casual way and be successful like Hoddle for instance but Dele if he does not score he gives you nothing else . I know I am in a minority but I have never been sold on Dele as he is too casual for me and not committed enough . I will never forget the great goals he has scored for us but for me his sell by date is up .
I would always play Lamela in a tough situation as I know I am going to get 100%.

 

[14/04/91]

He's just posted pictures in the gym, wearing a protective boot. He says he has a problem with his foot.

Mourinho mentioned midweek that he's been carrying this for a while, slightly strange that he started against Brighton that being the case.

Hopefully just a short lay-off.

 

[thecook]

Wearing a boot doesn't sound like anything short term

 

[PrettyColors]

A lot of times a boot is prescribed at the start of a 2-3 week recovery period. It happens a lot with American sports - football or basketball players tweak an ankle or a foot and are in a boot for a few days to absolutely minimize further damage and provide optimal healing - then the rest of the week spent on rehab. With the International break upcoming I’d assume they’re doing exactly that. Dier for example was wearing a boot this season then played later that week.

Obviously a boot could also mean severe damage but I think this is an ongoing issue with Lamela rather than a broken foot.

 

[SlotBadger]

He's just posted pictures in the gym, wearing a protective boot. He says he has a problem with his foot.

Mourinho mentioned midweek that he's been carrying this for a while, slightly strange that he started against Brighton that being the case.

Hopefully just a short lay-off.

To add to this, Lamela still has a swollen right achilles.

He’s worn odd boots a few times this season (the interviewer asked about this after the cup win against Chelsea).

Adidas have been using specialist stores to source old footwear for Erik to try in order to isolate the issue.
The pairs he wore versus Burnley and Southampton are from 2013 and 2014.

 

[chinaman]

No luck at all with him. Playing much better recently and hit the woodwork twice.

 

[Littleharry]

The poor bloke is just one of them players that will always be carrying some form of niggle/injury he has probably never ever been 100 percent fit since he joined us. Great shame, great talent and works so hard when he plays. It is a compliment to his determination and great attitude that he keeps dusting himself down and going again.

 

[King of Otters]

The poor bloke is just one of them players that will always be carrying some form of niggle/injury he has probably never ever been 100 percent fit since he joined us. Great shame, great talent and works so hard when he plays. It is a compliment to his determination and great attitude that he keeps dusting himself down and going again.

I think the Amazon doc summed his luck up perfectly when he started training after a long lay off and had to withdraw soon after with a separate injury.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Where’s Wally