I keep hearing this. Anyone care to elaborate?
Rabona
6 assists
Price tag
Please go on..
Ok I'll make my case for Erik...
Many well weighted and disguised passes/assists, few goals including a rabona, a volley in the same game, and a great volley for Argentina this season too all of which require great shot technique, the successful dribbles (at one point he ranked just behind Hazard in that stat), the way he lets the ball run across him to open space, the way he can draw 2-3 defenders towards him and for me most importantly his vision, touch and control. He is one of the only players who can control a difficult pass drilled into him whilst running and take it in his stride effortlessly, play 1-2s in crowded areas etc. Also hit the woodwork about 3 times unlucky not to have another goal or 2.
He is good at the difficult things, which rely on technical ability.
One of our best players v Man City last season
Examples of some great play v Hull, our of best players again and his link up with Eriksen in this game was superb at points. At 3min 40 sec, to pull off that little feint under pressure in the box in real time takes real confidence and presence of mind (shame he skyed it after), you can tell there's quality in him.
I could post more because he's had good games and good moments. They get overshadowed by the bad games because that's what people pick up on, every mistake is amplified by the fact it's the record signing Bale replacement.
He tore Burnley a new one from start to finish.
As someone who wants us to play it forward quicker (I'm going to assume you mean quick passing and not hoofing it up there) you really ought to be seeing the benefit of a guy like Lamela.
For quick passing you need to break the defensive lines of the opponent. That takes coaching great movement, creating passing channels, losing markers etc. You can't simply shout cliches at the team like "right we need to play it quicker before the opponents settle", you think they haven't heard that and/or don't realise they need to do that?
Lamela has that elusiveness- his movement is great, and ability to play pass and move. A rare trait. Not a flat track bully, got assists are the scum and anfield. Think back to the anfield goal, in a packed central midfield he played a 1-2 with eriksen and then a disguised reverse ball to kane. You're not getting that from a O'Hara or Livermore, that's poise and guile.
This all why I (and others) think he has the skill set to become a good player.
I'll leave with this
it didn't come out of thin air he did all that, and yeah it's a highlight video but it's an indication of what he has in his locker. Give him patience, fans on his back isn't going to help.
