Tottenham have missed Erik Lamela
Erik Lamela has been missing in action for Tottenham for over a year. His return will allow his manager to go back to his tactical roots. Mauricio Pochettino will once again release his high pressing philosophy now that his countryman is returning to action.
Spurs fans shouldn’t expect Lamela to transform the side immediately, but Pochettino is clearly excited about the prospect of his return. The Tottenham boss describes Lamela’s energy on the pitch as “massive” for his squad.
Pochettino’s squad has been anything but energetic over their last few Premier League matches. A narrow win over Crystal Palace and a listless draw against West Brom have caused the club to fall behind Arsenal in the Premier League table. More importantly, Tottenham currently sit outside of a Champions League qualification spot.
If Spurs are going to pick up their game, it’s going to require more energy from the squad. In many ways, it will force Pochettino to return to the way he managed Tottenham immediately upon his arrival. Many fans and pundits applaud Pochettino for developing a Plan B, but that isn’t ever going to be as effective as his Plan A. The return of Lamela is going to allow Pochettino to once again release his version of the high press on opponents.
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No one will confuse Tottenham’s game with the frenetic pressing of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp. Pochettino’s version of the press is much more controlled. It requires an immense amount of discipline and precision to be executed correctly.
Curiously, the very thing that defined Pochettino’s early time at Tottenham has been absent this year. I’d challenge you to recall even one instance of anyone other than Harry Kane pressing the opposition in their own half this season. The attacking midfield has gone from a potent, pressing weapon to a passive passenger this year.
In fairness to Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, they’ve never based their games on pressing the opposition. Eriksen covers a great deal of ground, but he’s not fond of physical challenges. Dele can make a naughty challenge or two, but he prefers to sit back and survey the opposition. Pochettino is correct in his assertion that Lamela offers something completely different.
When Lamela is fit and firing he’s an absolute nightmare for the opposition. He constantly harasses players dawdling on the ball. His ability to win the ball and immediately transition it to the Tottenham attack is wholly unique within the squad. The Argentine attacker isn’t perfect by any means, but he’s never guilty of a lack of energy and/or effort.
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Erik Lamela isn’t the cure for what ails Tottenham, but he will allow Pochettino to push the club a step or two in the right direction. Look for his return to allow the Argentine gaffer to deploy tactics that closely mirror his original blueprints at Spurs.