Erik Lamela’s time at Spurs has been well documented and if we have learned anything, it is that raking through the voluminous injuries, possibly tall tales and generally getting overwrought service little purpose.
Still, a cameo part in 2020, the Argentine occasionally shows glimpses of magic, hope and determination, perhaps all in equal measure. I can understand the frustrations that some fans have, after all, one of the reasons that Giovani Lo Celso is so valuable, is that retains the ball and seeks to augment our attacks with his generosity, whereas Lamela can be more sparky and less of a team player.
However, some abuse doing the rounds this morning is frankly bewildering. Here are some examples, there’s a tonne more but I’m reluctant to pollute this place with it.
And beneath the uninformed growling lies the truth.
Presumably, to the fans above, these hot spots were where Erik stopped to light a cigarette or take a mobile phone call?
These figures are decent for his position
lamela magic #COYS pic.twitter.com/tdzQukA5jO
— TheBoyHotspur (@TheBoyHotspur) July 16, 2020
Without this “headless” run, there would’ve been no goal.
Lamela only played for 33 minutes, but he didn’t fluff a pass
Vegemite for me.
I can’t see how he could have done. When Lamela arrived at the edge of the box Kane was still way back, so couldn’t lay it off then. When Kane arrives at the edge of the box there are 3 players directly between him and Lamela, and that remained the case right up to the point where Lamela decided to shoot.
There was no opportunity to lay it off. Taking it on himself was the correct decision.
My only issues with Lamela are the silly fouls he commits and his appalling injury record. He hit an excellent run of form under Poch and was in the Argentina squad shortly before the hip injury – and his dog dying – put him out for eighteen months. Always works hard and knows where the goal is. Probably worth more to us as an impact sub considering the pittance we’d get for him.
🎼always bring lamela with you🎵
From my experience of reading and talking to Spurs followers , not many of the squad are even liked by the majority it seems, only the very top players are hero worshipped , the rest just don’t count , are ignored, or they want sold. In the case of Lamela, he is frustrating to watch, I am not a fan of the way he plays, when it works he looks good ,but it doesn’t happen often enough, I would sell this summer.
Of course we were lucky with the rebound his best work was trickery in the box before the shot. If the GK had not parried it H would have probably kicked his Arsenal.
True I cringed at the way the Newcash player ran him down
What do you expect H from twitter, they’re mostly plastic fans on there. Lamela still has a role to play, if only from the bench. He’s got a lot of skill and most defences hate him. Perhaps the only critique I’d have is he doesn’t always use the ball having broken through the defence. I’m sure Jose can improve him given time.
He’s marmite. Or sweet nd sour… take your pick
He’s worth a place in our squad no doubt. I think he makes things happen for us.
Yep, he got it right on the break for that 3rd goal, but I bet I could show you another 3 wasted opportunities in the same half, let alone the same game, or even the entire season. Bottom line: quick of feet, slow of brain.
Football is a ruthless business, and fans get attached to players especially those who seem to put in that extra bit of effort like Erik Lamela. He can’t help those injuries, if he could stay fit I would be happy for him to stay, but unless he is available more often then he’s not helping Tottenham. Spurs have been more than fair and patient with him. Did Klopp keep Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool, more importantly have they missed him, have they not replaced him with better players who are not out injured for months.
The Twitter world is full of mindless idiots who feel they have a valued opinion.
Erik has had horrendous hip injuries that are unfortunate but he has been loyal and worked hard to get back where most give up.
His introduction to recent games has given us energy and options to feed Harry which he does.
Dont tell me about crossing for Kane last night, they jointly created a brilliant chance on the break and Erik did fantastic get a shot off that the keeper spilled to Harry.
I bet Harry’s not complaining he took it on
I bey
He’s a Tommy 9 Touch! He hasn’t worked out when to pass or dribble. Sometimes he gets it right, but when he has too many touches the opportunities are invariably lost. As noted, he works hard, cares for the shirt but his abilities warrant more end product. Not many score a rabona, but how many easy ones has he missed! I didn’t think he deserved to be dropped for Alli after the Utd game and when he’s played he has done enough for me to show he is bothered, as he wants to go forward. Massive shame about his injuries, but that’s football.
But couldn’t he have found Kane before his shot was parried in to Kane’s path? yes, it worked this time but how many times is it just a wasted shot when he should have got his head up? I dunno, last night was all him but still felt like more luck than judgement.
I get both sides. Can really inject pace (of thought, not necessarily ground speed), determination, got a great bit of steel about him and an absolute shithouse when he wants to be BUT, offensively we definitely lose opportunities as he delays a pass for one take on too many, or decides to go alone when there are other options. After all these years I still don’t really know what to make of him which is why, on balance I find it difficult to continue defending him. You can’t still be an enigma after 7 years.
He cost roughly £30 million in 2013, a club record now at 28 years old when he should be at the peak of his powers he is valued at transfermarkt at £13 million. I think that’s a fair valuation and tells you all you need to know. Who would pay that for him, I just don’t know but he will have takers. He’s talented, tries hard, he seems likeable but we need those qualities week in week out month after month not for a few weeks here and there. I will know Mourinho means business when I hear that Lamela and Aurier are on the transfer list.
I thought he showed great strength and skill for our 3rd goal. If people want to give out about slowing the game down they should be looking no further than Winks.
I haven’t seen any ‘abuse’ (but then I steer well clear of the twittersphere) butthe excepts above seem fairly spot on to me.
Hard work and enthusiasm are to be applauded, but the boy has little to no end product, after all these years he MUST have been coached to release the ball a few seconds earlier – those glimpses of magic you pertain to almost always end in a damp sqib and lost possession when there was invariably a well placed teammate to lay the ball off to 3 clever drag backs sooner.
I’m afraid that he’s another one (like Aurier) who costs us more possession and goal opportunities than they create.
Ged rid.