I liked Erik Lamela before it was cool

[milo]

The main problem is that he'll be very predictable and in turn easy to defend against when he's always cutting in. Happy for him though, hope he'll kick on and prove his worth with his goal!

I don't see how a predominantly one footed player playing on the "wrong" side is any more predictable than one playing on their "natural" side.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Lamela was the key man yesterday. What a peach of a goal. You could see he had it in him: shots like yesterday's that curled the wrong side of the post. Jiinking runs that haven't ended in much...but take bags of skill.

Even when not doing well he's involved. Making things happen. When it doesn't come off he gets massive amounts of stick. How many people in this thread were wetting themselves adamant he must be dropped?

He does need to improve being clinical with his final ball/ shot. Its like he's done the hard part, and doesn't give enough attention to being clinical with that crucial last phase always. But he is young and will improve. The more he can find team mates to play off, moving into space for a return pass, the more space he'll find to play. Hopefully he can develop his right foot, he created a wonderful chance in the box by going onto his right. If he can become more two footed, defenders will be in the zhit!

 

[Spurs7891]

Really happy for Lamela scoring his first ever league goal for us. But was a bit disappointed by the celebrations after that. Felt the players were too slow to celebrate with Lamela. Mason was the only one who really celebrated with Lamela while most of the players were too casual. Some were even just walked to him. Compared this to the wild celebrations when Soldado scored against Everton. Maybe Lamela are not very popular among the other players now.

 

[shaney]

Really happy for Lamela scoring his first ever league goal for us. But was a bit disappointed by the celebrations after that. Felt the players were too slow to celebrate with Lamela. Mason was the only one who really celebrated with Lamela while most of the players were too casual. Some were even just walked to him. Compared this to the wild celebrations when Soldado scored against Everton. Maybe Lamela are not very popular among the other players now.

I noticed that too on tv. Dont know if you can read anything into if though.

 

[milo]

Really happy for Lamela scoring his first ever league goal for us. But was a bit disappointed by the celebrations after that. Felt the players were too slow to celebrate with Lamela. Mason was the only one who really celebrated with Lamela while most of the players were too casual. Some were even just walked to him. Compared this to the wild celebrations when Soldado scored against Everton. Maybe Lamela are not very popular among the other players now.

I think that you are reading too much into it

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I don't see how a predominantly one footed player playing on the "wrong" side is any more predictable than one playing on their "natural" side.

In practical terms a lefty on the left can go inside and outside with the same foot

On the right they can't go outside as easily without using their right foot

It's why Lamella cuts in all the time and it must be part of Pochs plan

 

[milo]

In practical terms a lefty on the left can go inside and outside with the same foot

On the right they can't go outside as easily without using their right foot

It's why Lamella cuts in all the time and it must be part of Pochs plan

It is part of most managers plans at the top level because it creates more shots on goal and gets more attacking players into positions where they can do damage.

 

[Lemonade Money]

No gif for that goal?

 

[GrimsbyYid]

Bonsaiboy is painful....

Anyway, I thought he had a great game, and really think Walker helped that a lot, stretching play to give him more space. I thought he looked dangerous many many times in the first half. Just hope he can do it on a regular basis!!

 

[Maltese Falcon]

No gif for that goal?

 

[metalgear]

Bonsaiboy is painful....

Anyway, I thought he had a great game, and really think Walker helped that a lot, stretching play to give him more space. I thought he looked dangerous many many times in the first half. Just hope he can do it on a regular basis!!

We always knew that Lamela and Eriksen needed more space between them, but did we create that situation, or was it Burnley that opted to play open that favoured us (and them) ?

 

[metalgear]

The curl on that ball is immense, like that roberto carlos free kick eons ago. looked like it moved metres away from the original direction.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We always knew that Lamela and Eriksen needed more space between them, but did we create that situation, or was it Burnley that opted to play open that favoured us (and them) ?

Burnley played decent football and were in a 4-4-2 formation which is less and less used now

The extra room lamella had came from Walker going outside in all the time

Burnley didn't help themselves with the way they played though

 

[Lemonade Money]

Many thanks obscure bird reference.

 

[braineclipse]

And how many times is he gonna do that a season, 3 maybe, compared to how many assists a player with a decent right foot could provide.

I think a lot of this debate is down to those who have played football and those that haven't. I would urge the latter to go in their gardens with a ball and imagine you are taking a cross with your stronger foot, but then, without changing body shape, cross with your weaker foot, and you will see all you can do really is to flick the ball, almost like a toe poke - you won't be able to get any whip or power on the cross at all.

What exactly is the debate here? Which side does Pochettino seemingly fall on?

It's not like Lamela isn't getting assists.

I don't see how a predominantly one footed player playing on the "wrong" side is any more predictable than one playing on their "natural" side.

Agreed.

Bonsaiboy is painful....

Anyway, I thought he had a great game, and really think Walker helped that a lot, stretching play to give him more space. I thought he looked dangerous many many times in the first half. Just hope he can do it on a regular basis!!

I agree that Walker did really well and it helped Lamela out.

I also think Lamela did better at staying wide a bit longer and getting back wide after going inside a bit quicker and more frequently. Part of the problem before has been him moving in early-ish in the buildup. Thought we were less congested yesterday as he stayed wider until receiving the ball wide more often, then moved inside with the ball or after releasing it. Made it harder for the full back to make a decision and opened up a bit more space perhaps.

We always knew that Lamela and Eriksen needed more space between them, but did we create that situation, or was it Burnley that opted to play open that favoured us (and them) ?

Interestingly this game Eriksen played more centrally, thus closer to Lamela. They popped up on the same side of the pitch at least somewhat frequently and seemed to combine well.

Probably a combination of our play improving, Lamela having a better day and Burnely not being as solid as some other teams have been.

 

[Bonsaiboy]

Bonsaiboy is painful....

Anyway, I thought he had a great game, and really think Walker helped that a lot, stretching play to give him more space. I thought he looked dangerous many many times in the first half. Just hope he can do it on a regular basis!!

It all about opinion GrimsbyYid, you don't seem to rate any of our young English players that have come through ranks, such as Kane, Mason or Townsend. I rate all of them and talk them up a lot on here. I compared Kane to Alan Gilzean over a year ago on here and was roundly pilloried for it, but I think the comparison stands.

I've been pretty consistent on Lamela for over a year now. I just don't rate him at all and believe we made a big mistake in signing him, and believe we'll probably sell him back to Italy for a loss in the Summer. Yesterday hasn't changed that at all - I know he's got the odd goal him like that as he scored an identical one for Roma, but I also know he is going to provide very few goals from a wide position and that he'll give the ball away a lot, and that we generally play better when he isn't in the team.

 

[SpurMeUp]

It all about opinion GrimsbyYid, you don't seem to rate any of our young English players that have come through ranks, such as Kane, Mason or Townsend. I rate all of them and talk them up a lot on here. I compared Kane to Alan Gilzean over a year ago on here and was roundly pilloried for it, but I think the comparison stands.

I've been pretty consistent on Lamela for over a year now. I just don't rate him at all and believe we made a big mistake in signing him, and believe we'll probably sell him back to Italy for a loss in the Summer. Yesterday hasn't changed that at all - I know he's got the odd goal him like that as he scored an identical one for Roma, but I also know he is going to provide very few goals from a wide position and that he'll give the ball away a lot, and that we generally play better when he isn't in the team.

But are you glad he played yesterday? It wasn't just the goal, there were a couple of on-a-plate chances he created for Kane. Do you think Townsend would have created them? Or shot so accurately?

Lamela is also a young player, younger than Mason and Townsend! People forget that because of his price tag. But if you think of Lamela like Kane - a promising youngster showing bags of potential - then you'll be closer to the truth and have more realistic expectations. Both Kane and Lamela have a long way to go, neither have fully proved themselves.

 

[africanspurs]

Great to see that he has gotten his goal.

hopefully now the relief can translate into energised performances

 

[Bonsaiboy]

But are you glad he played yesterday? It wasn't just the goal, there were a couple of on-a-plate chances he created for Kane. Do you think Townsend would have created them? Or shot so accurately?

Lamela is also a young player, younger than Mason and Townsend! People forget that because of his price tag. But if you think of Lamela like Kane - a promising youngster showing bags of potential - then you'll be closer to the truth and have more realistic expectations. Both Kane and Lamela have a long way to go, neither have fully proved themselves.

No, I think Townsend earned a start yesterday after a good game against Saudi Sportswashing Machine, he may or may not have scored (I'm pretty certain Townsend has scored more goals outside the area in his career) but he would definitely have been more of a threat in wide areas and we'd have seen more crosses from the right, and with his pace and stamina we'd have been a MUCH bigger threat on the counter attack when we were under pressure in the second half.

I like to play Minecraft sometimes to help me bond with my nephew, and I know that if I find some iron ore, I can melt it down into iron ingots and make a pick axe out of them - for a while I've seen the basic raw materials out of which a great player can be formed in Kane - I just don't see them at all with Lamela. A great left foot... and what else exactly?

 

[africanspurs]

But are you glad he played yesterday? It wasn't just the goal, there were a couple of on-a-plate chances he created for Kane. Do you think Townsend would have created them? Or shot so accurately?

Lamela is also a young player, younger than Mason and Townsend! People forget that because of his price tag. But if you think of Lamela like Kane - a promising youngster showing bags of potential - then you'll be closer to the truth and have more realistic expectations. Both Kane and Lamela have a long way to go, neither have fully proved themselves.

i dont like it when we have to resort to demeaning our own players just to prop up others that we like

to answer those two questions

Yes and Yes. Because believe it or not Townsend has actually created and scored goals as a senior player. why wouldnt he be able to do it again?