Lamela’s chance to shine

Top of Tim Sherwood’s priorities as he takes over the realms at White Hart Lane must be to get Erik Lamela into the team. It sounds like stating the obvious, but if Spurs want to solve their problems in front of goal, they could really do with consistently selecting their most talented attacking threat.

Much has been said of the failings of the ‘£100 million’s worth of attacking talent’, but it’s worth remembering that prior to Sunday’s game at Southampton, Lamela and Christian Eriksen, who between them contribute £38 million to this number, had yet to start together in the league.

Such has been the length of the Argentine’s absence from the starting eleven, it’s easy to forget how unusual it is for a club not to field their star signing. Below is a list of every foreign import brought into the premier league for over £25 million, and how many league matches they played in their first season:

^{*Yet to complete their first season **January transfer (appearances correct up to 20th December 2013)}

As you can see, most expensive new signings are used as regular starters in their first season, with only Balotelli and Lamela featuring in less than half of their team’s fixtures. And when you remember that four of Lamela’s six appearances have been from the bench, the stat becomes even more alarming.

So why did Villas Boas take the unusual move of not selecting his prize asset?

The frequently stated reason is that the 21-year old has found the move to London quite a culture shock, and is taking a long time to settle in, and he has evidently been far from his top form in the few games he has played. But even the players listed above who endured slow starts – Veron, Drogba, Dzeko etc – were still given time in the first XI to improve.

[linequote]The Argentine has made his name on either the right of midfield or in a number 10 role[/linequote]

While it must be remembered that the manager has personal contact with the player and sees him on the training ground, and as a result will have a more informed opinion on whether he is ready to play. But such has been Spurs’ poor attacking form that it seems crucial to throw into the deep end the man brought to lead the attack. After all, other new signings like Nacer Chadli and Paulinho have looked similarly below what was expected, yet have consistently continued to be picked despite their poor form.

With a new manager inevitably comes change, and it would be a big surprise if Sherwood does not instate him into the starting team. However the question is where?

Another frustrating aspect of Villas Boas’ use of Lamela was his deployment of him on the left of midfield, despite the fact that the Argentine has made his name on either the right of midfield or in a number 10 role.

[linequote]The most logical solution would be to play Lamela on the right and Eriksen in the middle[/linequote]

With Christian Eriksen returned from injury and destined to become the side’s key playmaker (the only time the team has looked fluid was when Eriksen was briefly pulling the strings against Norwich and Chelsea in September), a way must be found to accommodate both players. The most logical solution would be to play Lamela on the right and Eriksen in the middle, but the formation could also be adjusted to a 4-4-1-1 with Lamela playing behind the striker and Eriksen either central or left midfield.

Wherever Lamela plays, a return to his best form is vital if Spurs are improve. If any good can come from this transitional period, it could be the emergence of our record singing.

[author name=”Stephen Puddicombe” avatar=”https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000474812363/492467fba7e9dd716bf0f53e5e829c00_reasonably_small.jpeg” website=”http://21stcenturyspurs.wordpress.com/” twitter=”s_puddicombe[/linequote]