Erik Lamela 2.0: The time has come for Tottenham’s winger to make a difference

Erik Lamela can score a rabona just as easily as he can leave the boot in. The winger epitomizes both sides of the Argentinean game and his time has finally come to make the difference at Tottenham.

The Argentinean way

Argentina’s footballing history couldn’t be defined by two more contrasting styles: the aesthetically titillating la nuestra juxtaposed with the cynicism of anti-futbol.

Omar Sivori, Antonio Angelillo, and Humberto Maschio – an attacking trident known as the angles with dirty faces – epitomized the former. In 1957, the deadly trio led Argentina to continental glory in the zenith of the la nuestra era. But a dramatic change came the following year after humiliation at the World Cup in Sweden.

The onus shifted from artistry and self-expression to pragmatism and a win-at-all-costs mentality. No one embodied the style more than Antonio Rattin – a midfielder so ruthless that Bobby Charlton recounted stories of English mothers telling their children ‘Rattin would get them’ if they didn’t eat their vegetables.

A young Erik Lamela was clearly on one end of the variance. Like Sivori, he came to prominence at River Plate – scoring 120 goals in a single season for a youth team. Deployed as a jinky number 10 for the firsts, Erik made a fool of players many years his senior through an impudence and trickery akin to that of the caras sucias (the dirty faces).

When Erik moved to AS Roma and a tactically superior league, he evolved to play a more disciplined and direct game – usually seeking to cut in from the right. However, years later a spectacular rabona for Tottenham showed the spirit of la nuestra still coursed through his veins.

After some time out, Erik is now back in the spotlight. Far more than just a flair player, the winger now advocates both sides of the Argentinean game and has never looked better in Lilywhite.

Hotspur Way

With much fanfare, Lamela arrived at Hotspur Way back in 2013. His virtuoso talent for dribbling and penchant for finding the back of the net led Tottenham fans to believe they had signed a ready-made replacement for Madrid bound Gareth Bale.

However, the Argentinean failed to catch fire in London. He was rarely seen in his first season with Tottenham to the point many fans harboured genuine concerns he had been locked Tim Sherwood’s basement.

Erik admitted he struggled to adapt to the English game but vowed he would come good for the club: ‘my moment will come and I will make the difference.’

The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham raised hopes again, and under the tutelage of his compatriot, Lamela adapted to the ferocity of the Premier League. He was the poster boy for the manager’s hard-working philosophy and tireless tracking back and voracious slide tackles became new facets of his game. But, just as it all looked like it would click into place, disaster struck.

An initially reported ‘minor injury’ ended up keeping him out for a whole 13 months. Since then, family matters have come to light that had coupled with his injury to result in the darkest days of his career.

However, Erik has risen from the ashes with a whole new perspective towards the game. He is playing with a freedom, a swagger, and a composure in front of goal; as if his bulkier frame can carry whatever seemed to be weighing him down before.

The other side of Erik’s game can be equally as endearing. He is a true team player and covers every blade of grass on the field; as well as being more than adept in the dark arts of the game.

As if reading from a book entitled ‘how to become a Spurs legend’, Lamela (twice) left the boot in on ex-Gooner and current Chelsea player Cesc Fabregas and goaded Jack Wilshere with some choice words after a derby victory.

I don’t think mothers telling their children Erik Lamela will get them if they don’t eat their greens would ever work but at 26 years-of-age he has struck a deadly balance between the two seemingly incompatible styles of Argentinean football.

His resurgence couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment. As many Spurs stars fight off injury woes and World Cup fatigue, Erik’s form has ensured they are right up there in a league table tighter than Daniel Levy’s wallet.

Just as Erik prophesised in his early days, his time has come and he is making the difference.