Erik Lamela made an instant impact for Tottenham
There weren’t a lot of bright spots in Tottenham’s 2-1 loss at Leicester City, but the return of Erik Lamela did brighten Spurs’ future. The question now becomes just how much can the Argentine do for his club as this season progresses?
Obviously, the answer to that question will largely depend on how much fitness Lamela can enjoy for the rest of the year. He looked perfectly healthy during his cameo against the Foxes, but it was also his first performance for the club in over a year. The test for Lamela will be whether or not he can play big minutes for Spurs later in the year.
For the sake of this discussion, we’ll assume that Lamela will enjoy a reasonable recovery. He shouldn’t be expected to play big minutes anytime before the turn of the new year, but it’s not inconceivable that he could begin starting matches for Mauricio Pochettino in 2018. That would provide his gaffer with a huge boost.
Much has been made of Tottenham’s switch to three at the back this season. While it’s certainly a byproduct of the arrival of Davinson Sanchez in defense, that doesn’t tell the whole story. The deployment of four midfielders at a time lessens the club’s need to play three attacking midfielders at once.
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That’s convenient for Spurs since they really only have two attacking midfielders they trust to be regular starters. Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen have earned Pochettino’s trust, but it’s a mixed bag after those two stars. Some believe Son Heung-Min deserves to be a consistent starter, but his lack of defensive contributions restrict his ability to play big minutes against certain opponents.
Very simply, Lamela’s return will give Pochettino the option to play a legitimate 4-2-3-1 formation. That could turn out to be a key to Spurs’ ability to successfully attack teams that elect to park the bus. Adding an extra body in the attacking midfield will make Tottenham’s attack much more difficult to predict in tight spaces.
Of course it’s not just the addition of a warm body that will make a difference. Lamela’s talents make him the perfect complement to Dele, Eriksen and Harry Kane. He showed his slick passing immediately upon his return to unlock Kane for Spurs’ only goal against Leicester. Lamela also possesses the ability to take on opposing defenders and finish himself. He’s really the club’s only attacking midfielder who is an even bet to score himself or create for others.
Next: Lamela will allow Pochettino to go back to his roots
Spurs fans shouldn’t expect too much, too soon from Lamela. His recovery isn’t going to happen all at once. However, fans do have good reason to be excited about his potential impact on the squad this year. If he can regain his fitness fully, he could really boost Pochettino’s quest for silverware this year.