I liked Erik Lamela before it was cool

[tynesidespur]

I was at the game and didn't get home until after MoTD had finished and couldn't put myself through watching my recording of the game, so therefore only had one look at it.... but there was a moment just before half time, when we were 2-1 down and had Emirates Marketing Project rattled. Lamela was in the box with the ball and a reasonable amount of time with us having (I think) three players in the box with Eriksen in particular looking as though a ball played to him would more often than not result in a goal. It looked to me as though Lamela shot instead of trying to pass to Eriksen, was that the case? Or was it just a poor pass/cross from Lamela?

It was a crap cross and exceptionally poor decision making.
Basically he was 1 v 1 against a defender. He steadied himself and Eriksen arrived in the box unmarked. A simple 6 yard pass would give Eriksen a free shot on goal but instead Lamela decided to take on the defender (he did beat him tbf) but then squared the ball straight to a City defender.
Such a poor decision.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Quite the opposite. He spends most of his time on the right side of the pitch - being heavily left footed, that means he'll cut in more than he'll drive outside. Of all of our players, he's probably the most likely to turn down an opportunity to "put it in the mixer" in favour of playing a lower chance/higher return through ball.

Sorry I meant old school battling/tackling style rather than a modern creative wide attacker.

Lost of people highlight Lamelas defensive attributes first and foremost

 

[Bedfordspurs]

It was a crap cross and exceptionally poor decision making.
Basically he was 1 v 1 against a defender. He steadied himself and Eriksen arrived in the box unmarked. A simple 6 yard pass would give Eriksen a free shot on goal but instead Lamela decided to take on the defender (he did beat him tbf) but then squared the ball straight to a City defender.
Such a poor decision.

Which is exactly the issue

Too long to pass and makes the wrong decsision some times. Did the same vs Chelsea when we would have got another goal but delayed it (pros and cons to both)

 

[Bedfordspurs]

While I think that Lamela is behind all of those three in terms of goals/assists, he works harder than Son does defensively and I can therefore see why Pochettino preferred to play him over Son for the Emirates Marketing Project game. I think the opposite will apply in our games where we are likely to have to do less defending and need the greater attacking output that the other players give us.

Agreed
I’ve said it loss but his strength is against better sides who actually attack us
It’s why I don’t think he had a bad game on Saturday

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

I was at the game and didn't get home until after MoTD had finished and couldn't put myself through watching my recording of the game, so therefore only had one look at it.... but there was a moment just before half time, when we were 2-1 down and had Emirates Marketing Project rattled. Lamela was in the box with the ball and a reasonable amount of time with us having (I think) three players in the box with Eriksen in particular looking as though a ball played to him would more often than not result in a goal. It looked to me as though Lamela shot instead of trying to pass to Eriksen, was that the case? Or was it just a poor pass/cross from Lamela?

Was that the one he dragged wide of the goal (to the right) with both Harry and Eriksen in better positions?

Was never going to do anything with it, it was obvious as it happened. Obvious he was going solo and obvious he was never going to score.

 

[billyiddo]

Sorry I meant old school battling/tackling style rather than a modern creative wide attacker.

Lost of people highlight Lamelas defensive attributes first and foremost

Because that's what sets him apart from our other midfielders and in a Pochettino team it is considered a valuable attribute- it's why he is included in games like Juventus away and features regularly in games against top opposition, you can't just gloss over it and say it's not an attacking midfielders job to do that when it's clear Pochettino values it highly, in certain games - kinda like how Benetiz relied on Kuyt and Park was relied upon for SAF. Both players main attribute was work rate but both, like Lamela, offered enough in an attacking sense to justify their inclusion in first XIs also but were far from the leading players in those teams with regards to output it's just sometimes matches call for a different approacg - the mythical plan B...

I would agree now we have stronger options in this area that he probably hasn't shown enough to be in in front of Son (potentially Moura too) in a goals/creative sense in games where the defensive attributes he brings are not required

 

[Baleforce]

The one I’m thinking of from that description is where he fired it across goal (there was a white shirt far post but I can’t remember who), it didn’t seem like a shot, the lay to Eriksen was the percentage ball.

 

[Robspur12]

Seems harsh to judge Lamela on Saturdays game. He offers a good option, different to Son and I hope we dont sell him. That said Moura will probably usurp him next season.

 

[Gazza]

Easy target

 

[Jurgen the German]

A couple of comments

- Lamela is a better disrupter of the opposition high up the field than any of the other 3 (Dele, Eriksen & Son) and his workrate is only matched by Eriksen (he outworks the other two), and Poch wants that for spells in his midfield (why Sissoko gets game time)
- The last few games have shown he can play centrally, either alongside Kane or by himself to allow Dele/Son to take their more natural positions, Son/Dele tend to be less effective when doing so.

Re his future
- The guy has just come off missing 45+ games for us, match fitness, mental sharpness all needs to come back.
- Personally I believe he has to find some of the player he was, if he can join Dele, Eriksen, Son in the 10+ goals a season & assists, he has a future, if he's just a spiteful workhorse, he goes.
- That said, anyone close to his potential would probably cost us 40M+, I'd keep him for another year.

Re who Poch starts for the next game, Wanyama has been dire, I'd be ok with Aurier & Son, although I think Lucas needs game time as well.

Toby will get a game if he signs, if not, you are right, the ship has sailed.

I'd agree that Lamela is a more effective presser than Alli and Son and whilst I certainly agree it makes a positive impact I believe Son's goal threat and pace on the whole makes us more dangerous as an attacking unit and I would also say we were better last season going forward than we were the season previously. Part of that was down to Kane and Alli's continued improvement but I also credit Son for improving his game and end product. It's not like the press falls apart when Lamela is not in the side. I would agree it's not quite as effective but I don't see a huge difference. If you were comparing say Lamela and Chadli then I would agree as Chadli was sold for a reason despite his goal threat i.e. he didn't work hard enough. Our attack and build up play is too one-paced and slow with Alli, Eriksen and Lamela and personally I feel we need either Son or Moura to give us something a bit different.

I've actually been impressed with Lamela's determination and overall play since he came back. This season is sort of a bonus as he's just come back from serious injury. I would say next season is almost now or never for Lamela and he needs to score more goals to match the output of the rest of the attacking players in our team. If you asked me today if I would sell him I would say no, unless we get a silly offer for him, say £50-60m.

 

[Jurgen the German]

While I think that Lamela is behind all of those three in terms of goals/assists, he works harder than Son does defensively and I can therefore see why Pochettino preferred to play him over Son for the Emirates Marketing Project game. I think the opposite will apply in our games where we are likely to have to do less defending and need the greater attacking output that the other players give us.

I don't disagree with that. But I would argue we sacrifice some pace and goal threat if Son isn't in the side at Lamela's expense.

 

[billyiddo]

I disagree next season is now or never for him, because Poch quite clearly values his pressing/defensive contribution far higher than you appear to - he trusts him in the big games and i don't think a player whose future is in the balance would be getting played in those types of fixtures if he wasn't highly thought of.

His future as a starter is obviously in the balance and it is possible he himself would only agree a new deal if he saw himself breaking back in to the team long term but from Pochettino and the clubs perspective i don't see anything to suggest he would not be a player we want to keep.

 

[StephenH]

Easy target

He'd still miss!

 

[Gazza]

He'd still miss!

Where is the unlike

 

[Jurgen the German]

I disagree next season is now or never for him, because Poch quite clearly values his pressing/defensive contribution far higher than you appear to - he trusts him in the big games and i don't think a player whose future is in the balance would be getting played in those types of fixtures if he wasn't highly thought of.

His future as a starter is obviously in the balance and it is possible he himself would only agree a new deal if he saw himself breaking back in to the team long term but from Pochettino and the clubs perspective i don't see anything to suggest he would not be a player we want to keep.

Sorry, where did I say I didnt rate his pressing or defensive contribution? I’ve clearly said it’s a big positive for him and the team but he needs to score more goals. What’s wrong with that?

Alli and Eriksen appear to be nailed on starters for the foreseeable future. The other spot in the team right now appears to be a straight fight between Son and Lamela. Son has also started in big games, Juve at home, scum at home, United at home etc. Poch has no trouble benching Son if he has a quiet game or two in favour of Lamela but I’d say Son is ahead in the pecking order right now.

He’s been with us almost 5 seasons mate and despite his overall contribution we’re still hoping he can reproduce his goal scoring form from his Roma days. If he doesn’t do it next season then at what point does his place in the side become precarious (when he starts).

 

[billyiddo]

Sorry, where did I say I didnt rate his pressing or defensive contribution? I’ve clearly said it’s a big positive for him and the team but he needs to score more goals. What’s wrong with that?

Alli and Eriksen appear to be nailed on starters for the foreseeable future. The other spot in the team right now appears to be a straight fight between Son and Lamela. Son has also started in big games, Juve at home, scum at home, United at home etc. Poch has no trouble benching Son if he has a quiet game or two in favour of Lamela but I’d say Son is ahead in the pecking order right now.

I didn't say you didn't rate his pressing or defensive contribution, did I? I said you don't rate it as highly as Poch does which i think is fair as you are saying his future is in the balance because he doesnt score or create as much as Son yet despite that fact Pochettino still trusts him in our biggest games and it's because of that defensive contribution that he is trusted over a player who scores/assists more but doesn't compare when it comes to the other side of his game.

Pochettino didn't play Lamela over Son at the weekend or in other big games because Son had a quiet spell he done so because of the way he can set the team up with Lamela in is different to how we can set up without him - if he is sold then we'd need to replace him with a similar player otherwise Pochettinos prefered tactical approach in certain games would be unavailable to him.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

I think the Kuyt/Park comparison is a really good one.

I completely understand those that want more from him in an attacking capacity. I do to, because I believe he has it in him - so I want him to get there. If he does, he'll be one hell of a player.

As it is Im kind of on the fence, Im beginning to think he might be more of a Lennon - who also had potential but never realised it.

In the meantime Im happy with him as a valued squad member, and there is definitely something to having him in games you want to keep tight.

 

[harr1984]

The beauty of our AMs is that they all offer something different. We dont need all of them constantly scoring/assisting as long as they are offering something positive to the system. Again, Moura looks to add something different to the others but doesnt mean he's a given that he will be a goal/assist machine....

 

[Jurgen the German]

I didn't say you didn't rate his pressing or defensive contribution, did I? I said you don't rate it as highly as Poch does which i think is fair as you are saying his future is in the balance because he doesnt score or create as much as Son yet despite that fact Pochettino still trusts him in our biggest games and it's because of that defensive contribution that he is trusted over a player who scores/assists more but doesn't compare when it comes to the other side of his game.

Pochettino didn't play Lamela over Son at the weekend or in other big games because Son had a quiet spell he done so because of the way he can set the team up with Lamela in is different to how we can set up without him - if he is sold then we'd need to replace him with a similar player otherwise Pochettinos prefered tactical approach in certain games would be unavailable to him.

I didn't say that has always been the case. As i said before, Alli and Eriksen's places in the team appear to be almost guaranteed for the moment, the other spot is still anyone's (although I believe Son is slightly ahead and so does Poch judging by how often he starts). Son started against Juve as he was in the middle of a purple patch. I'm not saying that Lamela only gets a look in when Son plays poorly but Son does also make himself almost undroppable when he's in good goalscoring form, regardless of Lamela's skillset being useful in big games.

 

[Jurgen the German]

I think the Kuyt/Park comparison is a really good one.

I completely understand those that want more from him in an attacking capacity. I do to, because I believe he has it in him - so I want him to get there. If he does, he'll be one hell of a player.

As it is Im kind of on the fence, Im beginning to think he might be more of a Lennon - who also had potential but never realised it.

In the meantime Im happy with him as a valued squad member, and there is definitely something to having him in games you want to keep tight.

I like the comparison to Aaron Lennon. It's quite apt.