Cometh the hour, cometh the man...

[ShelfSide18]

I've been meaning to make a thread on this for a while now, but when Lennon stuck away our late equaliser today I knew it had to be done, a thread acknowledging the little mans ability to come up with some vitally important, points winning contributions when it really matters, often late on in games. It's a lovely little habit he's got.

Now we can all debate Lennons sometimes erratic end product, and sometimes a lack of intelligence and nous in advanced positions - because they are legitimate concerns, although I think sometimes overblown. What I do think is becoming quite apparent though is his knack of being there when it matters, of being strong willed enough to stick the ball away when it matters, away from home, deep into stoppage time etc...this is no coincidence, and I think is something that is highly unusual, and highly valuable for a young winger and shows me that he's got a bit of balls about him.

Just off the top of my head I can remember in his first season a cool, calm finish in a tight game away at Brum to give us the lead in our doomed Champions League charge, and also that season another great finish against Bolton which took us into Europe in another tight and tense game...

Then of course that goal against Chelsea, the 94th minute equaliser at the Emirates, the winner away at West Ham last year and the goal at home to Brum in the 50th minute of stoppage time early last season, not to mention the Liverpool winner a few weeks back, again well into stoppage time.

Just thought I'd put this out there, as this does seem to go a little unnoticed, well done Aaron Lennon.

 

[brett.spurs]

Agreed, hopefully it gives him some much needed belief as he is a very talented footballer. I said earlier on that he may not score a great amount but they're always important goals whether they be winners or equalisers. I know I'm on my own on this but I still think he could make it as a forward.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

No football brain as far as I'm concerned. I look forward to the day when we can upgrade.

 

[full-frontal-nudity]

No football brain as far as I'm concerned. I look forward to the day when we can upgrade.

:clap:

 

[Rackybear]

Very well recognised mate. Surprised how many late contributions he has indeed made, good spot! :up:

 

[ShelfSide18]

That's not really the point of the thread though is it? I made it to recognise a strength the kid clearly has, the ability to stand up and make the difference when it matters, and few players have this habit. Whether you like him or - and I personally see him as a valuable member of our squad although certainly not out the very top drawer - this little habit of his has been winning us valuable points since he broke into the first team in 2005.


Edit: That's not aimed at you of course Racky, the 2 posts above yours.

 

[kaz Hirai]

he's so fast and tricky on the ball, players cant really touch as it will most likely result in a foul. he should aim for 10 goals a season

 

[3Dnata]

Getting better at playing on the left too.
I think he's getting his confidence back after the world cup.
I agree with the initial post and we won;t be "upgrading' on Lennon anytime soon.:roll:

 

[jonathanhotspur]

That's not really the point of the thread though is it? I made it to recognise a strength the kid clearly has, the ability to stand up and make the difference when it matters, and few players have this habit. Whether you like him or - and I personally see him as a valuable member of our squad although certainly not out the very top drawer - this little habit of his has been winning us valuable points since he broke into the first team in 2005.


Edit: That's not aimed at you of course Racky, the 2 posts above yours.

I reckon he's quite possibly the new SWP.

 

[full-frontal-nudity]

he's so fast and tricky on the ball, players cant really touch as it will most likely result in a foul. he should aim for 10 goals a season

So what then he can be as good as Walcott?

 

[andyw362]

No football brain as far as I'm concerned. I look forward to the day when we can upgrade.

A great white doesnt have much of a brain. But its still lethal.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I'm sorry SS18, but I'm firmly with the "if he applied some brains to his product we wouldn't be needing him to score last minute savers" mob.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

A great white doesnt have much of a brain. But its still lethal.

:rofl: Thanks for that, Andy.

 

[Spurger King]

I like lennon, and yes he has made some important late contributions, however he needs to get his consistency back otherwise he's going to be a burden.

A Few seasons ago he was a sensation that had two marking him at all times. Now he has more space, but seems less confident in his abilities.

Incidentally, Pav also has a habit of scoring important late goals. Probably more so than any other spurs player over the last couple of seasons.

 

[Spurger King]

Phone posting is obviously beyond me.

 

[Spurger King]

But....Pav has been responsible for a lot of important late goals. More so than any other spurs player over the last two years.

 

[Spurger King]

Taxi for spurger king....

 

[double0]

If Aaron Lennon can add more goals to his game then we have a truely world class player on our hands and education complete not many players have the close control and skill Lennon has in tight area's.

I do find the criticism he gets from some way over the top, going on about intelliegence and lack of an end product, people fail to see the improvement season apon season Lennon has made during his arrival from Leeds.

By far, Lennon of today is a much better player IMO than when he came. The only thing that annoyed me about him scoring against Toon was his celebration, he should have got the ball quickly back to the centre circle to go for the win....still learning.

 

[ShelfSide18]

I'm sorry SS18, but I'm firmly with the "if he applied some brains to his product we wouldn't be needing him to score last minute savers" mob.

I'm not sure it's quite as cut and dried as that, but I understand the point about Lennon, and broadly agree with it. All I'm trying to do is point out a facet to his game that isn't recognised by many, nothing more than that, not implying he's the all round, world class winger that we'd like at all. Whatever anyones opinion on him is, no one can deny that the ability to come up trumps when having a quiet day is a great attribute to have.

He frustrates and impresses me in equal measure to be honest, but I like the guy, I think he has genuinely worked hard at his game and has definitely improved a lot since his breakthrough in 2005, yesterday for instance he made 40 passes, you would have never have seen this heavy an involvement in the game from him a few years back. Of course with wingers like Lennon it's what you do with the ball that counts, and he can be bloody frustrating when he gets in good positions, either through a lack of speed of thought in advanced positions or poor execution of the ball, like yesterday when he tried to stand the ball up for Crouch at the far post.

But wingers, as you say so yourself, are a funny species. I think if you went to any clubs fans and asked about their wingers you'd get the response - 'their end product is wasteful' etc. We see the Lennons and Bales week in week out, for 90 minutes, and there's always going to be an element of natural wasteage from fast wingers by the very nature of how they play, and then I we watch MOTD and see XYZ putting in a great cross for a goal whereas for all we know the previous 10 would have been poor.

As far as I'm concerned he's a good player, and a valuable player to have although I don't think he'll ever threaten the top drawer but I also see a kid who is willing to learn and improve his game so hopefully he makes the best of the abilities he's been given. Of course as a club that now harbours ambitions of winning titles we should be looking at the Lennons, Defoes, Huddlestones, Huttons, Crouchs of the side and thinking - we can do better than this now, but when it comes to the little man, I'm just pleased he's popping up with some pretty significant contributions for us despite the obvious flaws tht hamper his game.

 

[stevenurse]

I really rate Lennon and hope we don't bin him off, he gives us something that apart from bale we don't really have and that is true blistering pace. That's the one thing in football that is the hardest to legislate for, if someone is quick