Summer transfer mission

[Bus-Conductor]

I don't get where you guys get that he is too similar to Lamela. He has more acceleration to get past his man (and slightly more pace) and he also goes wide as well as cuts inside and crosses the ball (though his crossing could do with improving) and can use his weaker foot.

I've watched him (full games) about a dozen times this season and I honestly can't think of a player more like Lamela in existence anywhere. Very left footed, nearly always played right, he very rarely goes outside but when he does he's poor with his right foot. He might be quicker than Lamela buts it's marginal - he's certainly not "lightning" quick or a "direct" type. They are both very erratic and make the same kind of mistakes - turning into trouble instead of releasing the ball quickly, doing the complicated instead of the simple sometimes. But both can also show technique, talent and the odd moment of real craft.

In 500 minutes less football Lamela has 3 less goals and two more assists in a tougher league. Which means that PM Lamela is probably marginally more productive.

 

[ButchCassidy]

Well, of course 18 goals scorer from a Italian league was a guaranteed success, wasnt he?

That has so little logic it makes my head spin. Because we bought someone who did well in Italy and didn't do great in the PL, it means we should buy someone who has been poor in Turkey (a significantly weaker league than Italy) and they'll suddenly become great in England? Do you think the defenses are better in the Super Lig than the Prem? That it is easier to score at Anfield than it is at Istanbul Basaksehir FK? Or has Fenerbahce been using Emenike all wrong, and he'd be a fantastically better fit for Pochettino? I seriously wanted to hear your rationale for this player, and saying "because Lamela" does nothing to justify it.

 

[spurs9]

I've watched him (full games) about a dozen times this season and I honestly can't think of a player more like Lamela in existence anywhere. Very left footed, nearly always played right, he very rarely goes outside but when he does he's poor with his right foot. He might be quicker than Lamela buts it's marginal - he's certainly not "lightning" quick or a "direct" type. They are both very erratic and make the same kind of mistakes - turning into trouble instead of releasing the ball quickly, doing the complicated instead of the simple sometimes. But both can also show technique, talent and the odd moment of real craft.

In 500 minutes less football Lamela has 3 less goals and two more assists in a tougher league. Which means that PM Lamela is probably marginally more productive.

I haven't seen much of him this season for OM to be fair (but did hear he was having a bad season), I saw him for the U21s and last season.

Your right in that flat out speed, not much different than Lamela, but his acceleration is IMO and the times I have seen him he has been very direct. Thauvin, in a season, where he has been poor, only has 1 goal/assist total less than Ayew, who is having a good season (though Thauvin has played 300 mins more). FYI for France U21s, he has 6 goals and 6 assists in 9 games.

 

[spurs9]

I've watched him (full games) about a dozen times this season and I honestly can't think of a player more like Lamela in existence anywhere. Very left footed, nearly always played right, he very rarely goes outside but when he does he's poor with his right foot. He might be quicker than Lamela buts it's marginal - he's certainly not "lightning" quick or a "direct" type. They are both very erratic and make the same kind of mistakes - turning into trouble instead of releasing the ball quickly, doing the complicated instead of the simple sometimes. But both can also show technique, talent and the odd moment of real craft.

In 500 minutes less football Lamela has 3 less goals and two more assists in a tougher league. Which means that PM Lamela is probably marginally more productive.

I haven't seen much of him this season for OM to be fair (but did hear he was having a bad season), I saw him for the U21s and last season.

Your right in that flat out speed,

Is he as quick as Andros?

Acceleration, yes, flat out speed, no.

 

[Spursmad321]

andros can do that.

Yes, but "blind alley" and "head down" spring to mind!

 

[tooey]

Why do people talk about pace like it's the only attribute that matters, this isn't Fifa 15 we're talking about. I couldn't give a shit if he's quicker than Lamela. What about his vision, pass range, shooting, work rate, defensive capabilities, first touch, dribbling, decision making, set pieces, personality...

 

[Japhet]

Why do people talk about pace like it's the only attribute that matters, this isn't Fifa 15 we're talking about. I couldn't give a shit if he's quicker than Lamela. What about his vision, pass range, shooting, work rate, defensive capabilities, first touch, dribbling, decision making, set pieces, personality...

I think pace is important in Poch's system, particularly from a 'pressing' point of view. Our inability to win the ball back high up the pitch has, IMO, been one of our biggest defensive weaknesses which has really undermined our season. I'm not convinced that Thauvin would strengthen us at all in that area, especially since he has a tendency to cough up possession. As stated previously, Townsend has plenty of pace, but he also gives the ball away a lot and doesn't contribute much defensively.

 

[Chris12]

I think pace is important in Poch's system, particularly from a 'pressing' point of view. Our inability to win the ball back high up the pitch has, IMO, been one of our biggest defensive weaknesses which has really undermined our season. I'm not convinced that Thauvin would strengthen us at all in that area, especially since he has a tendency to cough up possession. As stated previously, Townsend has plenty of pace, but he also gives the ball away a lot and doesn't contribute much defensively.

Is that because of a lack of pace or just shit pressing from the front 4 and somewhat the midfield 2

 

[Japhet]

Is that because of a lack of pace or just shit pressing from the front 4 and somewhat the midfield 2

Both. We don't get near the ball or open players. We have had glimpses of it but nowhere near enough. The 'press' is all about working as a unit, but without the pace to do it, it simply doesn't work. IMO lack of pace translates straight into 'shit pressing'.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Honestly, we've had this debate before and I'm loath to spark it up again, but lightning pace is not necessary for a pressing system. You need to be fit, have desire, good stamina and dynamism. You are not sprinting past people over distances, you just need to be able to change direction quickly-ish, move in bursts of 3-5 yards, reasonably quickly and frequently. It's far more about physical conditioning than having lightning pace.

Southampton did it with Lambert, Lallana, Rodriguez last season. ManU have been doing it with Mata, Fellani, Young & Rooney this.

We did it best with Kane, Lamela, Dembele & Eriksen. Our worst batch of performances, pressing wise, was the bunch of games with Townsend (our most "pacey" player) in the team.


If a player with pace has the application to work the system and has some brains, great. But just having pace, as Townsend has proved, isn't the most vital component to work it.

 

[ultimateloner]

We need to sell b4 we buy.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Why do people talk about pace like it's the only attribute that matters, this isn't Fifa 15 we're talking about. I couldn't give a shit if he's quicker than Lamela. What about his vision, pass range, shooting, work rate, defensive capabilities, first touch, dribbling, decision making, set pieces, personality...

It's not the only thing that matters but the fact is we have no pacey players that have a footballing brain.

 

[NeverRed]

2 of Jay Rodriguez, Ings, Charlie Allen, or Callum Wilson. Providing the appropriate injury assurances then preferably Rodriguez + 1 of the others as he can play right forward too.
Ade and regretably Soldado moving on.
Strikers sorted. Kane can have some rests every now and then to sensibly manage his fitness, and no shit creek if everyones favourite striker gets injured.


Thauvin out left (left winger with chadli and townsend)
Lennon moving on, for the best and truly grateful for services


Wimmer in for 4 cbs (Verts, Dier, Fazio)
Vlad and Kaboul moving on


Paulinho off too, regretful but hasn't happend and ali and pritch are coming in.


Good summer!

 

[longtimespur]

Tantalizing about Thauvin..

http://www.thetottenhamway.com/2015/05/01/spurs-target-a-mysterious-omission-from-marseille-squad/?

 

[Dharmabum]

2 of Jay Rodriguez, Ings, Charlie Allen, or Callum Wilson. Providing the appropriate injury assurances then preferably Rodriguez + 1 of the others as he can play right forward too.

Ade and regretably Soldado moving on. Strikers sorted. Kane can have some rests every now and then to sensibly manage his fitness, and no shit creek if everyones favourite striker gets injured.

Are you -and a few others that wants him - aware that Jay Rod just started training again and there's NO guarantee that he'll every be fit again?

 

[tooey]

It's not the only thing that matters but the fact is we have no pacey players that have a footballing brain.

What I'm saying is that pace isn't of paramount importance to our wide players. Creativity and the ability to hustle is.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

What I'm saying is that pace isn't of paramount importance to our wide players. Creativity and the ability to hustle is.

We need players who can combine the 3- and Mitchell's job is to find those players.

 

[chinaman]

No one is saying pace alone is all important, but if everything else is about equal, then the extra half yard will be decisive. We may not like him (more out of jealousy I guess ), but Wenger had always looked for pace and athleticism when recruiting, and look at the success he has had.

 

[NeverRed]

Are you -and a few others that wants him - aware that Jay Rod just started training again and there's NO guarantee that he'll every be fit again?

Hadn't the foggiest. No doubt that's why I wrote "providing the appropriate injury assurances"...

 

[Japhet]

Honestly, we've had this debate before and I'm loath to spark it up again, but lightning pace is not necessary for a pressing system. You need to be fit, have desire, good stamina and dynamism. You are not sprinting past people over distances, you just need to be able to change direction quickly-ish, move in bursts of 3-5 yards, reasonably quickly and frequently. It's far more about physical conditioning than having lightning pace.

Southampton did it with Lambert, Lallana, Rodriguez last season. ManU have been doing it with Mata, Fellani, Young & Rooney this.

We did it best with Kane, Lamela, Dembele & Eriksen. Our worst batch of performances, pressing wise, was the bunch of games with Townsend (our most "pacey" player) in the team.


If a player with pace has the application to work the system and has some brains, great. But just having pace, as Townsend has proved, isn't the most vital component to work it.

It's not the be all and end all but by Christ it helps if you have players with a bit of pace to close down the opposition. It's the same as every other aspect of the game - you can never have too much of it in any player that has the requisite skill set.