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I liked Erik Lamela before it was cool

Not that many people were good last night, but Lamela was dreadful. More importantly though, the previous time we played Eriksen, Dele and Lamela as the 3 behind Kane we lacked any sort of pace or penetration as our two attacking players who bring that to us (Son and Moura) were sitting on the bench. Poch brought Son on for Lamela earlier than his usual 75th-ish min first sub so am hoping he sees this as well and we see one of Son and Moura always starting now
 
Let's look at the stats, he has 8, yes 8 premier league goals. Nowhere near enough for an 'attacking' midfielder. And before anyone starts, he has only 20 assists in just over 100 games. If we can get a decent price for him he should be allowed to be let go. Put Moura in and purchase an understudy replacement.
 
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Some have the gall to call themselves supporters...
 
Let's look at the stats, he has 8, yes 8 premier league goals. Nowhere near enough for an 'attacking' midfielder. And before anyone starts, he has only 20 assists in just over 100 games. If we can get a decent price for him he should be allowed to be let go. Put Moura in and purchase an understudy replacement.

I wouldn’t go as far as to sell him. I don’t see what most people on here see in him and think he’s overrated on this forum but I still feel he’s an excellent squad player and can make a difference when he comes on.

Personally, I believe the days of him being a starter (especially in the big games) should be a thing in the past until he improves his end product as I think Son has improved his game exponentially in the last 2 seasons. I get that he works hard but everyone in the team does, no one would get in this team if they didn’t put a shift in. Eriksen, Alli and Son all work just as hard as Lamela AND have a better end product.

I really hope Poch starts Son, Wanyama and Aurier next week in place of Lamela, Dier and Trips respectively. Would also be nice to see Toby but I fear that ship has sailed.
 
I wouldn’t go as far as to sell him. I don’t see what most people on here see in him and think he’s overrated on this forum but I still feel he’s an excellent squad player and can make a difference when he comes on.

Personally, I believe the days of him being a starter (especially in the big games) should be a thing in the past until he improves his end product as I think Son has improved his game exponentially in the last 2 seasons. I get that he works hard but everyone in the team does, no one would get in this team if they didn’t put a shift in. Eriksen, Alli and Son all work just as hard as Lamela AND have a better end product.

Well put. Very similar to my views. Wouldn't have a problem selling though if we brought in someone who can have more of an impact
 
Lamela has done brilliantly to get fit again. He has enabled him and us to now gain from his footballing future.
If I’m being honest I see him moving back to Italy.
He has impressed me with his endeavour and hard graft to return from such a debilitating and serious injury.
 
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Lamela's best attribute is the way he can be used to categorise fans.

Those that like him are far more likely to be amongst our more "thinky" contingent. Those that don't rate him are more likely to rate things like "getting around the back", "putting it in the mixer", "chalk on his boots" two up front being automatically more attacking than one, etc.

A handy tool to have.
 
Lamela's best attribute is the way he can be used to categorise fans.

Those that like him are far more likely to be amongst our more "thinky" contingent. Those that don't rate him are more likely to rate things like "getting around the back", "putting it in the mixer", "chalk on his boots" two up front being automatically more attacking than one, etc.

A handy tool to have.

But don’t we play him like the latter style you describe???
 
I wouldn’t go as far as to sell him. I don’t see what most people on here see in him and think he’s overrated on this forum but I still feel he’s an excellent squad player and can make a difference when he comes on.

Personally, I believe the days of him being a starter (especially in the big games) should be a thing in the past until he improves his end product as I think Son has improved his game exponentially in the last 2 seasons. I get that he works hard but everyone in the team does, no one would get in this team if they didn’t put a shift in. Eriksen, Alli and Son all work just as hard as Lamela AND have a better end product.

I really hope Poch starts Son, Wanyama and Aurier next week in place of Lamela, Dier and Trips respectively. Would also be nice to see Toby but I fear that ship has sailed.

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.
 
But don’t we play him like the latter style you describe???
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.
 
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?
 
Lamela's best attribute is the way he can be used to categorise fans.

Those that like him are far more likely to be amongst our more "thinky" contingent. Those that don't rate him are more likely to rate things like "getting around the back", "putting it in the mixer", "chalk on his boots" two up front being automatically more attacking than one, etc.

A handy tool to have.

That's all fine but would you not accept that he needs to improve his end product if he is to usurp one of Alli, Eriksen or Son? 2 of whom have 10 league goals this season and Alli who has scored 10 league goals 2 seasons in a row. Eriksen who also creates more chances, covers more miles than any other attacking player including Lamela and gets more assists, Son who offers us something different i.e. pace and Alli who Poch almost never drops.
 
That's all fine but would you not accept that he needs to improve his end product if he is to usurp one of Alli, Eriksen or Son? 2 of whom have 10 league goals this season and Alli who has scored 10 league goals 2 seasons in a row. Eriksen who also creates more chances, covers more miles than any other attacking player including Lamela and gets more assists, Son who offers us something different i.e. pace and Alli who Poch almost never drops.
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.
 
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