The wide man promised much, but has continually failed to deliver. With Defoe set to depart, perhaps it's time for Lennon to do the same. Imagine, a winger who can cross? It's easy if you try.
Lennon: We gave speed a chance
When he arrived for a cut price fee I thought it was good business. Aaron Lennon would be an excellent back-up for the boy wonder Wayne Routledge. The Palace man after a rather acrimonious transfer saga, had decided to join Spurs, meanwhile Lennon had been poached from the sinking ship HMS Leeds. Two young promising English wingers arriving at the Lane, the future, as it always does in the long summer months, looked lilywhite.
Unfortunately fate dealt Routledge a blow. Injured early in his Spurs career he was then forgotten as Lennon made the right-hand side his own. The former Leeds man excited us, there are very few things better than a winger in full flow at Spurs.
I had grown up worshipping Chris Waddle and David Ginola, even Willem “the winger that never was”Korsten remains a favourite of mine. Had God bestowed upon me the pre-birth option of choosing footballer qualities, I would have asked for speed and skill, but he didn’t. He blessed me instead with Tom Huddlestone speed.
With Routledge out injured Lennon slotted beautifully into our winger void, and offered Spurs far more out-wide. He outshone his contemporary Simon Davies and proved less of a gamble, in many different ways, than Matty Etherington. Lennon was a prospect, if only he could improve his final ball. Those two words, “final” and “ball”, they are the two words that have come to define him and what has made me arrive at this juncture where I would happily see him depart.
For too long Lennon has raised my hopes, only to dash them across the knees of the first defender, or pull it back past the on running forwards. At full pelt, right arm out to his side like some overly camp “Carry On” actor, he is a wonderful sight, but the joy and expectation I once felt have disappeared. Now I only see futility. Occasionally the urge to wander across the White Hart Lane pitch is unbearable.
[authquoteleft text=”For too long Lennon has raised my hopes, only to dash them across the knees of the first defender[/linequote]
I can picture it now. Full-back dazed by his pace, crowd on their feet, striker waiting expectantly and the Spurs manager imagining his job security improving then, nothing. I put down my Bovril, squeeze past the chap next to me, jump the hoardings, push myself past the steward who is busy listening for a banned word and make my way over to the right-wing with a consoling look upon my face, arms outstretched and beckoning him towards me for a man hug.
“Azza, can I call you that? Do you know the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing but expecting different results? Take a deep breath, settle down and rest. It’s not going to happen, it if would, it would’ve.”
“You wot blud?”
This isn’t a personal issue with Lennon. I have been a staunch defender of his for quite a long time. My love for him blossomed during one of the most embarrassing Spurs defeats in modern times. Away to Grimsby in the first few rounds of the Capital nee Carling nee nee Worthington Cup, Lennon came on and pulled off a glorious trick, I can’t remember the mechanics of it, but I remember it being glorious.
We were out of the cup, but we had grabbed hold of a new star. He was fresh exciting, to Spurs fans this is what football is about. It has to be played the right way, unfortunately, despite the odd twinkle now and again Lennon’s star has burnt out. He is now a black hole of possession, attacking promise and assists. The ball goes wide, it doesn’t come back, or even across.
With Jermain Defoe departing for new waters, it has become clear that its also time for Lennon to depart. Lennon has been a crucial member of a team that has all too often failed, or wilted when the spring arrives. Spurs have become almost a mirror image of the winger, we seem to be moving at great speed with great direction, only instead of cutting inside and producing we head for the by-line and then end up on the floor in front of a baying crowd.
[linequote]Lennon has been a crucial member of a team that has all to often failed, or wilted when the spring arrives[/linequote]
Lennon is now 26, which in itself is rather mind blowing. Somehow he has survived false dawns, two points from eight games, rigidity and over planning, all the way through to current Spurs. The most amazing thing of all however, is how he remained pretty much a first choice throughout all this. Credit to him, but questions must be asked of our recruitment process. Even today after an outlay of millions and the rise to prominence of Andros Townsend, little Lennon remains first choice.
This has to end.
Tottenham need to move away from the flattering to deceive players that have hypnotised us for close to a decade. With a new manager set to parachute into White Hart Lane, barring a 20 game winning streak from Tim Sherwood, the summer months would be a perfect time to dispense with not only Lennon, but Michael Dawson.
Defoe, Lennon and Dawson. Three players that arrived at the Lane fresh and full of potential, but are now tired shadows. They have served the club well, but “well” is no longer good enough for where we demand to be, or where the club wants us to be.
This season has seen many turn against Dawson, a player who is living proof that giving everything isn’t always enough. Criticising him though is cruel. It’s like hitting a veteran Labrador for lifting it’s leg in the sitting room. It doesn’t know what its doing, its just reacting to its natural instincts. This season when I have seen Vlad Chiriches or Jan Vertonghen, then witnessed Dawson stumbling alongside them, I have felt pity for our captain. He tries, but trying isn’t enough, no matter how hard you want it to be.
[authquoteright text=”As the last few games have shown Lennon does very little to warrant a regular starting berth[/linequote]
Just as Chiriches and Vertonghen have shown me where Dawson fails, Erik Lamela has done the same with Lennon, unfortunately just not in a Spurs shirt. The Argentine is a fantastic player, its just a monumental shame that a combination of homesickness, injuries and a managers reluctance to play him has hindered his start. My faith him remains unbroken though, he will shine and make Lennon redundant, he just needs time.
As the season winds down, ideally I would like to see Lennon’s playing time curtailed. As the last few games have shown he does very little to warrant a regular starting berth. He remains fast, but if he was at any other club he would be just another Jerome Thomas/Matt Jarvis [insert generic wingers name here.] I often feel it’s the shirt he wears that keeps him in the limelight, not what he produces.
Thank you for your efforts Azza, I wish you all the best, just hopefully somewhere else.
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28 Comments
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12/02/2014 @ 2:24 pm
He deserves a place in the squad.
Milan away, Chelsea win at the lane, arsenal goals. The boy can play but he needs the best around him to shine so he can. We we suck, he sucks worse.
Get rid? Nah mate. Get someone in who is better first before calling for his taxi. What would that do to help?
12/02/2014 @ 4:01 pm
But that points to him getting up for the big games. In a dour away game against Hull can he play like he does when the cameras worldwide are on him.
Sandro will go in 100% in a non glamour game. Perhaps we should put a cardboard cutout of the England manager in the stand for all of Lennons games?
12/02/2014 @ 2:31 pm
Disgraceful piece of anecdotal rubbish.
THFC signed two wingers, Chadli and Lamela, during the summer despite knowing Andros Townsend was coming through. Chadli and Lamela have been truly awful. Lennon probably realised pre-season that Levy was priming him for sale. He was only re-called to the team because the new players are not up to it. Lennon does epitomise THFC, you were right about that if nothing else. He plays like someone who knows he isn’t really wanted anymore. Lennon is reaching his peak at 26 years of age. All the experience he has gained at Spurs should have seen him becoming one of the most important players at the club during this transition.
Levy is the problem. The players are nothing more than stock to him. Lennon has been at Spurs for nine years, cost very little and Levy would like nothing more than to sell him on for ten times what he paid for him. That is the real problem. If you would prefer to believe that Lennon was never really good enough or has lost his talent you are a fool. Lennon is drifting because of the way THFC is being run. Lennon at his best will average 6 goals a season, create a similar amount of goals for his team mates and worry opposition full backs to death. AVB coached all our talented players to be risk averse. the opposite of what Harry Redknapp did. That is why it is still so flat at WHL and the football is rubbish to watch. The players have been constrained by AVB’s tactics and the damage is looking increasingly irreversible.
12/02/2014 @ 4:44 pm
Behave, Chadli has had a couple of poor games, but all the rest have been solid, he just never has a stand out game so receives a ridiculous amount of stick for it. The fact that you say Lamela has been ‘Truly Awful’ makes me question, what team have you been watching this season? He’s 21, Foreign, trying to adjust to not only the Premier league but the country as a whole, and in every appearance has shown glimpses of the talent he clearly has. He need’s time to settle, and lack of appearance’s and Injuries have not helped him at all, but to write him off as ‘Truly Awful’ is a joke.
13/02/2014 @ 10:58 am
Totally agree with you Ledknee. In fact, it’s Kosher Kid’s response that is totally awful. I’m certain that Lamela will be a star for us – he has the talent, and has showm us glimpses of it even though he hasn’t been able to play many games for us yet. KK must watch matches with his eyes shut. And Chadli certainly warrants his place in the squad… he’s quiet, unassuming, but gets the job done and has some extra stuff in his locker, like yesterday’s goal!
12/02/2014 @ 5:26 pm
Spot on with the AVB thing we are going to suffer for a long time for his rubbish approach to football.At the start of every game we hit the ground ambling,where does that come from ?not Harry thats for sure.When Lennon has a qiuet game he ‘s doing his job,teams have to commit players to shut him out,which should give our somewhat stuttering attack,AVB again,more room ,No Lennons alright and done us proud.
12/02/2014 @ 2:42 pm
In you list of previous good wingers you omit Tony Galvin , who Keith Burkenshaw once said was first name on the sheet of a very good team.
Also we often forget John Chidozi who was a very quick winger until injury cut short his career.
For those with longer memories there was Terry Dyson – last man to score a hat trick against Arsenal in my first game ever at the Lane.
The absolute top was Cliff Jones best winger in the world in his day. Check his career stats out- better than Bales when defenders were much more physical.
One part of Lennon’s game is overlooked : he has learned to track back and defend which helps Walker.
12/02/2014 @ 2:45 pm
Spot on article. For some time now, Azza has been ineffectual on the wing. His willingness to track back and help defend at times disguises all the sideway and backwards passing in the final third. There has been a clear reluctance to take on defenders and make incisive runs. Most of the time he looks rather redundant and not infrequently quite disinterested. Thanks but no thanks.
12/02/2014 @ 2:47 pm
Sadly I think you might be right.
He’s probably my favourite player of the last ten years, yes he hasn’t got the class of Berbatov or Modric but a number of games he played became the Aaron Lennon show and the memories from those is great. Winners against Chelsea and Liverpool, the 4th against the Gooners and his demolition of Wigan in the 9-1 highlights for me and great ones. The worrying thing about Lennon is the way he was chased down by Distin (aged 36?) at the weekend and comes off the back of a few poor weeks. Without his pace he’s nothing.
however…
I don’t think Kyle Walker is helping him – Walker constantly brings an extra defender nearer to Lennon by pushing up so far, walker’s positioning also makes it harder for passes to get to Lennon. In my opinion Lennon gave his best performances when partnered on the right by Corluka who rarely ventured past the halfway line. Walker needs to position himself with a bit of thought.
Bale’s performances were based upon his freedom, without Lennon’s workrate balancing the flanks and tracking back (when Bale never did) we were not the same team. Lennon’s injuries had more impact on our season under Harry than the court case or England job.
Lennon spent his successful career crossing for Keane and Berba effectively, then for Crouch to knock down to VDV. He also had years of trying to cross to a man of 5’6″ who rarely moved in the box and wanted the ball on a sixpence – even Beckham would have struggled to find Defoe in the box with a cross.
He never complains about not being in the team publicly – he gets on works hard and wins back his place.
12/02/2014 @ 3:02 pm
Agree about Lennon being stifled by Walker. We started to see some better things of him in the game Walker was subbed and Naughton replaced him and sat back giving Lennon a bit more space.
12/02/2014 @ 4:03 pm
Bale had an end product. That is the difference (also can last 90 mins better). In the final third, Lennon makes the wrong decision and does not have the ability to pick a lock even if he does spot the right player.
12/02/2014 @ 2:55 pm
Absolute tosh..Lennon seems like has been around as long as Giggs but still only 26. Meaning his best years are still to come. At the moment there isnt many better outlets than Lennon anywhere in any league. There are not many defenders could live with his pace. And please do not come back with no end product malarkey. Lennons game has never been get the ball wide and cross. He has done a lot more than that in his career. He cuts inside , still leaves defenders for dead. When Spurs find their goal scoring rythim and opposition stop parking the bus in front of the goal, Lennon always will be Lennon. Defoe was a different issue..He is 31 and we received £8 million for him. In 5 years time if another MLS club turn up with similar cash im sure Mr Levy might takevyhe path to entertain them. But at the moment Lennon has a lot more to do at where he belongs.
12/02/2014 @ 3:02 pm
I have noticed this too about Lennon most in the last couple of games. Now that Townsend is back from injury it’ll be interesting to see what TS decides to with Lennon. I personally would like to see Townsend in for Lennon now that he’s back. Townsend has a little more sparkle that Lennon has lost in his game lately. It’ll be very interesting as well once Lamela is back. Still have faith in him.
12/02/2014 @ 3:07 pm
Lennon has been hindered going forward by the emergence of Walker, Walker’s insistence on driving forward has left Lennon to cover him in all too many situations. Lennon has grown up and has developed a responsibility to help the team defensively and in doing so he has put the shackles on in terms of his attacking threat.
For me, although I do not rate him as a player, Kyle Naughton at right back gives Lennon the freedom to attack, Naughton is exactly what it says on the tin, a right back, he defends his position (although questionably well at times!) whereas Walker is constantly driving forward into Lennon’s space and positionally Walker is atrocious, if an alien came to one of our games he’d be hard pressed to decide which of the pair is playing right wing and which at right back.
Despite the wonderful Gareth Bale exploits of last season, Lennon was our best player across the year, consistent, threatening going forward and an unquestionable work ethic for the team – when he was injured we missed him just as much if not more than Bale, for different reasons, his work rate and what he gave to the team was fantastic, equally with the threat of Lennon on one wing this gave Bale even more freedom to work his magic – he’s played for us for so long because he is a quality player.
We all know what he can do, we all know what he can’t but to question his value to this football club is absurd! We do not have the millions that the others have, we do not pay top wages, we do not attract the cream of the crop for the previous two reasons. What we do have is the ability to build a team of youngsters, having Lennon around the place will only help them, he knows the club inside out, knows the fans and knows what we want! Get rid of him and we will lose just about the last piece of the Tottenham that we used to know!
If Lennon had all of the qualities you wish for in a winger he would be Ronaldo, if he was that good he wouldn’t be at Tottenham, simple as! We all know it, we are all resigned to it – I used to believe that the players love the club and wouldn’t want a move elsewhere (think Bale, Modric, Berbatov, even back to Teddy!) but I have now woken up and realised we are a stepping stone. One player who has not used us as a stepping stone is Azza – he’s had opportunities to leave (Fergie wanted him 2 years into his WHL career) but he stayed and he’s still here. Now you want to get rid of him because at 26 he’s past it? Not good enough?? Ok while we are at it let’s go sign Messi and Ronaldo, add Xavi, Iniesta and Falcao in for good measure! Cheers! COYS
12/02/2014 @ 3:18 pm
241 games, 26 goals, plenty of assists and an excellent workrate. It baffles me that somebody would write a blog about how he should be jogged on. He’s always had patches of indifferent form, doesn’t make him past his sell-by date.
12/02/2014 @ 4:05 pm
Those stats are not the stats of a top 4 winger. The teams we are trying to beat have wingers or AM’s who get around 20 combined assists and goals a season. Lennon is never anywhere near that. And the flip side is he weakens us attacking/defending corners etc plus for all of his tracking, he is not actually that good at stopping attacks. He shepherds them to danger areas if anything.
12/02/2014 @ 4:32 pm
Well unfortunately those players tend to end up at the top clubs…they aren’t really on our radar at the moment.
Besides: not of what you’ve said is a reason to get shot of the bloke. It’s a reason to try and bring another player in perhaps but on the other hand we’ve tried to “upgrade” on Lennon plenty of times and it hasn’t worked yet. Bentley for example.
12/02/2014 @ 3:38 pm
We look pretty slow and one dimensional when Lennon isn’t in the team. I’m still excited when he gets the ball. He is frustrating at times – but aren’t they all ?
12/02/2014 @ 3:42 pm
Tough One! I actually agreed with most of your comments. We have seen over the past 2,3 seasons that he has been coached to, once he has got to the by-line to cut the ball back, as opposed to whipping in an inviting ball for the man arriving at the back stick, because he is incapable of doing this! Frustrating and predictable!
But here’s the thing! He is only 26. He has pace and decent? control of a ball at pace. I,d like to see him played, coached to come inside from deeper and run at and take on the back 4. Granted, he has not got much of a strike on him, should he find himself on the edge of the box but he will draw defenders, he will create (imo) far more havoc playing in this role. Let Walker be the width and as you say, Lennon has become far more aware of his defensive duties and has, if not the most tenacity, but the pace to clear up potential danger.
Would never consider building a team around the boy, but would’nt mind seeing him play in a 4-1-4-1. With him as the RM and as I say with the instruction to carry the ball, drive at the back 4 from higher and narrower up the pitch!
Walker-Vlad-Vert-Rose (4)
Sandro(1)
Lennon-Paulie(Bentaleb)-Eriksen-Lamela (Townsend) (4)
Ade (1)
Either that or flog him for 15 million!!!
12/02/2014 @ 3:53 pm
Lennon was excellent last season with Bale and has continually delivered and his final ball has got a lot better over the last few years. He has been far more of an asset than a hindrance.
We should looking at the dross we bought in the summer and realizing it was money badly spent on 2nd rate foreign players. Only Eriksson and Chrichles have shown me that they have a future in a Spurs shirt.
As for Dawson, yes he has slowed down, but he still has a lot of qualities. Perhaps we should not play the high-line which is not benefiting him (ie John Terry under AVB/Benitez and now different player under Mourniho) and is exposing his lack of pace.
12/02/2014 @ 3:57 pm
Lennon is a microcosm of Soft spurs. Has the potential talent to be Europran class, perhaps even world class but he does not have the fire/drive to get there.
We have a very English problem at Spurs. Players with OBVIOUS gifts like Hudd, Lennon, Bentley etc but they care more about what they do on a Sat night than a Sat afternoon.
IMO it is an English grass roots issue. A lot of attacking players England produce are lop sided and can’t read the game. Redknapp sideways/suggested Lennon fakes injury. And a lot of reports have him on the piss in Leeds every opportunity he gets.
It’s time to stop waiting for Lennon to be the Lennon lots think he can be. Because of him, players like GDS rotted on the sidelines (speaking of pissups) and not it looks like the same will happen to Lamela.
IMO Townsend is an identical player to Lennon without the drinking problem. But he still has the final third meltdowns that Lennon has. Wing play will cost TS his job if he continues. Lennon and Townsend and ONE PREM ASSIST between them…And 1 goal each (Townsends was a cross). Towny had 50 shots at goal!
It’s time to play to our strengths, kill soft Spurs and start winning games the hard nosed way: Scoring from free kicks, corners and having steel in our spine.
—————Ade—————-
–Eriksen–Dembo–Lamela–
Should be the future. With the beast, Capoue and Pauly watching their backs so we don’t get cut to ribbons down our flanks because that is where we are being killed.
Lennon on one side and Eriksen and Rose on the other are being targeted by every team that we face as a weak spot. It’s time to pack the midfield and forget this wing play fantasy that has kept us out of the title hunt for decades.
12/02/2014 @ 4:06 pm
Easy fix. get rid of Walker. Remember how good Lennon was when Corluka was behind him?
12/02/2014 @ 4:39 pm
I live all these blokes pushing for Lamela. First of all, he’s been hurt practically all season. Second, when he’s played, he’s shown no bollocks. Lennon has pace and needs the right components around him to shine. Spot on about Walker hindering his ability. One on one, nobody can stop the lad. He’s constantly moving and making runs. Our offense is much more potent with him in the lineup and he’s been our man of the match at least three times this year. This article is ridiculous!
12/02/2014 @ 4:46 pm
Yo, Gibbs131, are we playing a 461 formation? What has Lloris done to offend you?
12/02/2014 @ 6:03 pm
If you watch all goals conceded in the Sherwood era, Danny Rose has been to blame for nearly all of them. Ranging from stepping on the ball in no mans land, getting sent off for a rash challenge (good or bad that tackle was not an intelligent one), playing the op onside while he ball watches etc. He even gave a direct assist to drop 2 points vs Hull. I would rather we play with 3 centerbacks than have Danny Rose anywhere near this team.
Like Lennon, like Towny he is soft Spurs incarnate. Looks great but makes us soft and dumb off the ball. The team IQ needs to go up a notch and Lennon, Rose and Towny are tiny dancers who don’t really do anything apart from empty flashy football.
Roses positioning is terrible and he is another that keeps us from scoring from free kicks/corners. Until we can get a good left back, we should pack the midfield with DM’s and have a back 3. Like I said..Wingplay has kept us out of the title hunt for over half a CENTURY. And wingers/wingbacks have been all flash and no payoff. Even Bale and Ginola we were lopsided and open for business vs the minnows.
At the end of the day, a 1-3-3-3 looks too attacking on paper. But when a back 4 has rose on one side and Eriksen in front of him (wet paper bag) it will actually be stronger when you think the players on the left flank would be Capoue and Vert.
——————Ade—————
–Eriksen—Dembele—Lamela
–Capoue—-Sandro—Pauly–
–Vert——-Kaboul—-walker—
Walker can actually defend: His problem is he is always trying to make up too much space when he is on his travels in the final third…His crossing is not good enough for him to cross the halfway line. Our whole setup is too confused: So let the defenders defend, and let the DM’s swallow souls and let the attackers be DEFINED.
As it is you have Benty, Pauly, Dembo all stepping on each others toes trying to stick and twist on who is supporting the attack. It needs to be set in stone. Also the DM’s are not like a bunch of Zokora’s. The Brazillians and Capoue can all play a bit.
This team needs change: And swapping out Lennon for Towny is just going like for like. Same old soft problems. Dembo and Ade will help the issue we have had with parked busses (Soldado was bouncing off them). And Lamela and Eriksen should be given zero tracking back/water carrying and should express themselves Bale style under AVB.
12/02/2014 @ 6:05 pm
I meant 3-3-3-1. (Van Gaal style.)
12/02/2014 @ 4:48 pm
This again. The “No End Product” thing. The thing that was true for his first couple of seasons but not since.
After five years of Lennon consistently getting to the goal line then cutting the ball back to the penalty spot, you’d think that maybe, just maybe, ONE of our other players might work out that if they stand on the penalty spot they’d get the ball. But nope, they all hopelessly rush towards the keeper, the one place that the ball isn’t going.
If Lennon had played with Lampard he’d have 30 assists a season.
12/02/2014 @ 6:08 pm
Nah. Lennons crosses and dragbacks are random scattergun style. It leaves his boot and who knows where it is going? Same with Rose. AT LEAST Rose looks up before the cross. I would play Walker and Rose on the wings before I would play Lennon and Towny: The crossing/final ball/shot will be just as awful/wasteful, but at least you won’t be powderpuff down the flanks.