Crisis, what crisis? Tottenham got back on track with a 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday evening, a result that leaves them with a respectable four wins from their opening six Premier League games. Anthony Knockaert’s 93rd minute consolation strike provided Spurs with a late scare, but for the first time this month, they took home all three points.
Many had speculated that the wheels were coming off of manager Mauricio Pochettino's well-oiled Spurs machines after suffering the first back-to-back three defeats in his tenure at the helm of the club. Their win at the weekend changed the headlines.
Erik Lamela played no small part in that. The Argentine not only scored what proved to be the winner, but showed once again why he has become Mauricio Pochettino’s go-to impact substitute.
The 26-year-old’s goal rounded off a superb team move, Spurs playing the ball out from the back and showing the composure which has been missing of late. Lamela drew a defender out of position before nipping into the box and finishing it all off. Unfortunately, there have long been a lack of game-changers on the bench at Tottenham and that means Lamela might be destined to stay there for now.
A brief glance at his statistics makes impressive reading - two goals and two assists from one start and three substitute appearances in all competitions.
However, what is all the more pertinent is the impact he has had on the rest of the Lilywhites’ attack. In the defeat to Liverpool, it came too late, but he was about the only player to galvanise his team-mates.
Should Lamela be starting?
When it comes to being considered for the starting XI, Lamela is at an immediate disadvantage because of Lucas Moura’s form this season. The Brazilian showed glimpses of his pace and ability to take defenders on when he featured occasionally last term, but it was in August’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United that he first looked an indispensable part of Pochettino’s front four.
It was notable, nevertheless, that when Lamela started against Inter Milan and for the final 20 minutes against Brighton following his introduction, Spurs looked much better-oiled.
The irony is that having cried out for so long for a player willing to drive at defenders and go forward to complement Harry Kane, Moura actually leaves the striker dropping deeper on his behalf. When fit, though, Lamela can do just that.
Kane’s all-round game is such that he is perfectly competent at keeping the ball up well, but it seems such a waste to restrict him to that role. His goal at the AMEX came from a penalty and while fatigue is undoubtedly a factor in him struggling to reach the performance levels we have come to expect from him, he needs players around him – like Lamela – who will allow him to rediscover his natural game.
In the 3-1 win over Fulham, Kane’s first goal of the season came from the attacking midfielder’s run originating deep inside his own half. All Kane had to do was anticipate the pass, cut inside, and finish.
It remains understandable that in spite of his start to the new campaign, Pochettino remains cautious with his use of his compatriot. Lamela missed a whole year between 2016 and 2017 with a hip injury, his absence compounded by difficult personal circumstances back home in Argentina.
There has always been a feeling that Lamela has not done enough since his then-club record move from Roma in 2013. That is probably a fair argument against a forward who has scored 12 league goals in five years.
That said, given the difference he made against Brighton, he is now more deserving of a starting berth than ever. What Pochettino must weigh up is how to accommodate him.
Rotating Moura would be harsh – he has already scored three goals and created the own goal at Watford – but might it be a necessary evil to get Tottenham firing on all cylinders again? The returns of Son Heung-Min and Dele Alli, from the Asian Games and an injury lay-off respectively, further complicate matters, as does Christian Eriksen’s dip in form.
Perhaps it is time for Pochettino, just as he demands of his players, to “be brave” in his team selection. As Tottenham prepare for a run of three games inside seven days over the coming week, Lamela will surely get a chance to stake his claim for a regular starting spot.
