Still seeing a lot of hate for Lamela on here and with transfer articles people keep suggesting we find a new winger to replace Lamela.
Personally, I think that he started the season pretty well, had a poor and inconsistent patch in the middle (When Townsend started to play a bit), and then finished the season actually very well.
Last season will really be counted as his first season (The one before he barely played, something like 9 games and had a long lasting injury) and for a 22 year old Argentinian he did alright I think.
Now I think he is a lot more settled in, and at 23 he should be pushing on, bulking up, and making a lot more of an impact. He made the most assists out of any player in our team last season which is not a bad statistic at all.
IMHO people calling for him to leave have not given him enough time and are expecting far too much from a 23 year old. We need to be patient and let him develop, stop expecting him to turn up and be a top player straight away. I mean even Di Maria was poor last season and he's an exceptionally good footballer.
I am sure that next season he will step up, improve on his performances towards the end of last season and become a decent player for us.
COYS
Would like to see this against United:
Lloris
Walker Alderweireld Vertonghen Rose
Dembele Bentaleb
Lamela Eriksen Chadli
Kane
Lamela
posted on 9/7/15
Lamela gets a hard time because he has largely been awful to average.
It's not like he is some 21yr old plucked from the third division, he has taken a top league by storm prior to his move and was signed for huge money.
To me it's bias because people are desperate he does well, probably to save face to other fans.
I'll give you a great example of how hypocrisy works....
Ryan Mason is just a year older than Lamela, and is playing in his first ever season in a top league.
He has outperformed Lamela VASTLY, in a position with far more responsibility, and in a side where that position is put under a lot of stress.
All you hear is of him being replaced. No "first season" excuses, and that he will only get better. Apparently his ceiling has been set
posted on 9/7/15
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Agree.
posted on 9/7/15
People slag off Lamela because he was meant to be Bale`s replacement and his fee is incorrectly reported as £30m by the media.
His fee was 30m euros and paying by instalments means we will benefit from the better exchange rate against the euro, we will only probably pay around £22m - £23m.
Mason is a workhorse and no more, yet fans give him plenty of slack, Lamela puts in just as much work and contributes going forward, yet fans are constantly on his back.
posted on 9/7/15
See. You've decided Mason is just a workhorse after his first ever top flight season. Perhaps he's had to be a workhorse because his role demands it. He was a number 10 through his youth career, but maybe he hasn't had a proper chance to stamp that because of his role in our side.
He has contributed far more to our season than Lamela
posted on 9/7/15
Sir Super he was their best player other than Boyd, gutted we never went for him tbh, we need a rb and he would of suited a Pulis team.
Wasn't amazing going forward but he was very solid at the back and that's what I want from a rb personally, defend first and never compromise yourself by over committing.
Should be an excellent buy for you
posted on 9/7/15
I don’t hate Lamela, the same as I don’t hate Chiriches or Soldado (as examples), but he just isn’t good enough.
The difference with Lamela is, for some reason he gets a little ring of protection on these boards and he gets excuses made for him – that would also apply to other players - of whom get a ridiculous amount of stick.
The problem with his “dip of form in the middle” is it lasted 20 odd games. If another player played 2 good games at the start and 2/3 at the end of the season they would be called inconsistent. But all Lamela gets is “he deserves another season”. Quite frankly he doesn’t deserve anything over any other player – and I sincerely hope we cash in whilst he’s under a bit of contract and has some asset value.
PS. Townsend is better .
posted on 9/7/15
Ryan Mason is just a year older than Lamela, and is playing in his first ever season in a top league.
________________________
My immediate instinct for any 23 year old who's playing his first ever season in the top flight - regardless of transfer fee or nationality - would be to wonder why he wasn't good enough to play earlier. If you're good enough then you're old enough.
Messi had won ballon d'ors at that age.
Neymar has 60-odd caps/40-odd goals for Brazil
Now it could be argued that I'm comparing Mason to world class footballers which isn't fair....
Wilshere broke into the Arsenal first team aged 19/20 I think?
Hell, Tom Cleverley was in the Unitee team 3/4 years ago.
posted on 9/7/15
The thing is transfer fees are irrelevant, if Lamela was home grown or only cost £5m, then his detractors would probably be saying what a great prospect he is and a star in the making.
In perspective, Di Maria had less of an impact for United and he cost three times more.
Poch obviously rates Lamela and we should see more improvement this season.
posted on 9/7/15
Mason was always a small player. Looked about 13 when he was 18. I'd suggest that because he is a late developer physically, it has hindered his progress.
Us signing lots of midfielders over the last few years has done him no favours either. Had his loans and done ok, but maybe he's just better suited to a higher level of football.
Wlishere is a poor example. He was rushed in to men's football and is suffering for it now
posted on 9/7/15
Ledley's knee surgeon,
Messi had won ballon d'ors at that age.
Neymar has 60-odd caps/40-odd goals for Brazil
- - - - - - - - - - -
So unless they win world player of the year by that age we may as well get rid?
Some posters eh?