I've said this before, and not just on the subject of Lamela, stats are generally not the way to judge football players or football matches any more than J Evans Pritchard is the best way to judge poetry. Scoring a goal or creating an assist doesn't necessarily mean a player had a better game than a player who didn't.
Truly exceptional pieces of skill to score or create a goal are worthy of praise. Kane, Eriksen and Son produce these regularly. Lamela doesn't in my opinion.
Ugly goals, hustle goals, forced turnovers to start attacks; these are plays you need and typically they are provided by Lamela types. Milner would be a loved figure here. We have a similar player in Lamela, they just play different roles.
Every team needs the type of player that gives their all and more often than not, helps the team out. He may be a bit odd sometimes, but fuck me, he was never going to be Bale.
Goals are goals. Assists are assists. Those stats count and so yes, a player can have a better game or year without stuffing those stats, but those stats are needed for a team to challenge for things.
Lamela...keep doing what you are doing. We will need it as we move along this year.