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I liked Erik Lamela before it was cool

I still think Lamela will come good. Expecting a significantly improved season next year and could have a breakout season the year after that. He has the talent, he's slowly adapting to the strength of the PL, he's releasing the ball much more quickly and brilliantly at times, so it's only a matter of time. But longer than just a season or two.
 
alekaras said:
I still think Lamela will come good. Expecting a significantly improved season next year and could have a breakout season the year after that. He has the talent, he's slowly adapting to the strength of the PL, he's releasing the ball much more quickly and brilliantly at times, so it's only a matter of time. But longer than just a season or two.
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not sure with poch's current style, its 20 players in one half with no space and no pace, which i think lamela will need to express himself. still he's put in some deft passes in tight situations.
 
alekaras said:
I still think Lamela will come good. Expecting a significantly improved season next year and could have a breakout season the year after that. He has the talent, he's slowly adapting to the strength of the PL, he's releasing the ball much more quickly and brilliantly at times, so it's only a matter of time. But longer than just a season or two.
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Can you really have a "breakout season" in the fourth year of your contract? Really don't think we can afford to wait that long for him to come good. One more season I would say, then look to cut ties if he has not improved significantly.
 
braineclipse said:
Why can't you have a breakout season later on?
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Maybe it's just me, but when I think of the term "breakout season", it usually means x player has done well in his 2nd or 3rd season at a club, not the 4th. I certainly don't think we can afford to give Lamela another season after next if he does not improve significantly.
 
Jurgen the German said:
Maybe it's just me, but when I think of the term "breakout season", it usually means x player has done well in his 2nd or 3rd season at a club, not the 4th. I certainly don't think we can afford to give Lamela another season after next if he does not improve significantly.
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Seems very arbitrary to me to put a limit after 3 seasons.

If we let him go or not at any point is probably as much about what he (and his agent) wants and which offers we get for him. And of course how well others in his position are doing.

Edit: Lamela's actually just a year and a bit older than Pritchard is. He's still young and there's plenty of time for him to push on and improve. Perhaps he moved to the PL a bit too early, perhaps coming to us wasn't the right move at the right time. But there's still plenty of time.
 
Lamela should be playing every week, how Townsend gets in ahead of him despite not performing is beyond me.
 
Townsend needs to be on the left imo, if he can fulfill his potential on the right then I'm more happy to stay the course but technically Lamela is streets ahead, find this kid confidence and form and you'll have a World class player on your hands.

Any division of opinion is justified based on what we have seen so far, but desperation to get rid of him this coming window is not, I'd be very disappointed with the club if they sold during the summer. He is still only 22 and isn't just about fancy skills, he can play lovely through ball which given our inability to break down teams over the years could be very handy.
 
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spurs' magna carter said:
Townsend needs to be on the left imo, if he can fulfill his potential on the right then I'm more happy to stay the course but technically Lamela is streets ahead, find this kid confidence and form and you'll have a World class player on your hands.

Any division of opinion is justified based on what we have seen so far, but desperation to get rid of him this coming window is not, I'd be very disappointed with the club if they sold during the summer. He is still only 22 and isn't just about fancy skills, he can play lovely through ball which given our inability to break down teams over the years could be very handy.
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I don't really understand how you come to the conclusion that Lamela is technically streets ahead of Townsend. From what I have seen of Lamela he finds it impossible to receive the ball while running and instead has to completely stop to control the ball, he also finds it necessary to roll his foot over the ball a couple of times before he does anything (often resulting either in him being tackled or his opposing player getting nice and balanced) that is all topped of with being one of the most one-footed players I have ever seen. Technically I think he actually looks pretty poor and (as a for instance) Aaron Lennon was streets ahead.

As far as I can see Lamela's two main attributes are his workrate and desire to press (which is very good) and his ability to try (and succeed with) key passes around the opponents penalty area. He would almost have been a perfect player in a central position in AVB's tortuous slow build up in that he could've helped create opportunities in the tight spaces that always existed due to our opponents having so much time to get back.
 
Like I said, so far he has divided opinion and and at times done himself no favours. For me it is no different to the Bale situation, people want rid but there is a chance, no guarantee admittedly, that he could be a class act who could cause damage anyone

Personally I see Townsend as a dangerous player whilst Lamela is skillful one. The former having a better start to life having come through the academy and rightly earning his place in the first team squad with the latter having the weight of the price tag on his shoulders and back injury whilst adapting to a new country giving him a less than perfect start.

I actually want both to succeed firstly because of my firm Ajax belief in putting faith in to the academy and young purchase. Secondly because seeing players reach your standards in your current crop is better than buying those who are already there.
 
indianspur said:
Lamela should be playing every week, how Townsend gets in ahead of him despite not performing is beyond me.
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Can I give you a super conspiracy theory?

Poch has given up on Lamela and intends to ship him out in the summer. His contract is choc a bloc with add-ons depending on team starts. Starting Lamela will trigger those payments which would be a total waste considering the first statement and would only end up raising the transfer fee needed to recoup.

So....
 
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015...get-townsend-lamela-next-season-their-replac/

View image | gettyimages.com


Andros Townsend and Erik Lamela have infuriated Tottenham Hotspur supporters in equal measure this season.

For every good moment either have produced - and their combined total of good moments can be counted on one hand - the wingers have frustrated mightily in the final third.

Indeed, Townsend's poor season can be summed up by his reaction after scoring for England against Italy. He chose to hit back at Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson but his version of 'proving a point' was netting in a meaningless friendly. Because that's all he could use as evidence.

But Spurs need not bother with either anymore. They are pet projects. Lamela because he cost the north London club big money, Townsend because he is a Tottenham youth product.



Indeed, Aaron Lennon has flourished since moving to Everton on loan and, even if Tottenham can't get his birthday right, they shouldn't be foolish enough to let their best winger leave on a permanent deal this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino may perhaps not be a fan of his due to his preference for inverted wingers. But here's the thing, Mauricio: no Premier League manager will ever succeed without tactical flexibility. It's about time he showed some.

SEE ALSO: Jermaine Jenas asks a key question of Daniel Levy

On the other flank, meanwhile, why should Spurs look any further than Alex Pritchard? The 21-year-old has been superb for Brentford on loan and Harry Kane is proof enough the barrier between top-level success is wafer-thin if confidence is high and ability is there.

The only counterargument against Pritchard being promoted to the first team is whether he's old, mature or good enough for the Premier League. The fact, however, is that neither Lamela nor Townsend are - as we've seen time and time again. So why should that be used as an excuse for Pritchard?
 
Something has to be going on in the background. Its inconceivable to me we would be in a worse position if Lamela had started every game Townsend has, and every other possible game he "could" have played in.

At the least the main benefit now would be more-or-less definite knowledge of if a hugely expensive player is going to hack it or not.

Possibly we may also have seen Lamela getting somewhat into his, expected and hoped for, stride.

All in all this has been genuinely disappointing.

Despite defending him (i ask myself why now) the thought of another season like this from him is quite quite depressing.
 
braineclipse said:
Seems very arbitrary to me to put a limit after 3 seasons.

If we let him go or not at any point is probably as much about what he (and his agent) wants and which offers we get for him. And of course how well others in his position are doing.

Edit: Lamela's actually just a year and a bit older than Pritchard is. He's still young and there's plenty of time for him to push on and improve. Perhaps he moved to the PL a bit too early, perhaps coming to us wasn't the right move at the right time. But there's still plenty of time.
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Well the point is, how many years do you give a player before you decide it's too long to say they have had a "breakout" season?
 
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