Lay off Lamela - his time will come

WILD west imagery littered yesterday's Press after "deputy" Jermain Defoe shot the Sheriff and rode out of town having drawn level with Martin Chivers' Euro goals record.

But while the media were polishing their puns and lauding the achievement of our "top gun", fans and forums were already training their crosshairs on a new target - Erik Lamela.

And we'd like to state our message loud and clear... Lay off him.

The impatience of some supporters goes too far at times as football gets caught up in the immediacy of modern-day life and a sensationalist media.

The Argentine is so far a victim of the high expectations that come with being our club-record signing.

And of our recent penchant for old-fashioned forwards flying at breakneck pace at opposing defenders.

And of the excitement and success that his countrymen Ossie Arsiles and Ricky Villa brought to North London in the 1980s.

So it is no surprise that 35,000 Spurs fans hang on the new man's every flick and stepover.

But don't forget that Lamela, still only 21, has come in under a massive price tag without a word of English in his vocabulary.

He is having to adapt to new surroundings, a new culture and, crucially, a new style of football.

While Roma may have employed him in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, the Italian Serie A is nothing like as physical as the English football and they do not use the wings to quite the same effect as Spurs.

That is clear in the way Lamela has been dropping deep and drifting inside to collect possession.

The demands of the Premier League are a learning curve with which even Gareth Bale and Luka Modric took time to get to grips.

And it is not easy to master a new way of playing when the good form of so many others is keeping Lamela out the side.

But anyone who saw the forward's input for Roma in the last few season will know what Lamela is capable of.

Lamela scored 15 in 33 games last season, so he certainly knows where the goal is.

And, watched closely when he does play, it is clear we are dealing with a truly special talent.

Andros Townsend may be hogging the headlines - and the right midfield spot - but Lamela's posture, awareness and close control make it clear he has it within him to be a cut above.

He just needs time to settle and find his place - it will be worth the wait.

*thanks for reading, for more Spurs articles please visit http://taxiformaicon.blogspot.com or Tweet @taxi_for_maicon