Great Expectations – Erik Lamela

Our pre-season series returns to gather up a collection of players who carry the weight of expectancy going into the new campaign. These are targets who are expected to kick-on and grow in stature over the course of the coming season and it begins with a suitable prospect down at the Lane: Tottenham playmaker, Erik Lamela.

Snapped up by Andre Villas-Boas last summer after the departure of Gareth Bale, the Argentine arrived amidst much fanfare after finishing the 2012/13 campaign as fifth top scorer in Serie A, with 15 goals and five assists in 33 appearances for AS Roma.

It’s fair to say that Lamela failed to live up to the hype in a hugely underwhelming debut year. Over the course of an injury-hit campaign, he managed a total of three starts and six sub appearances under both Villas-Boas and his replacement Tim Sherwood. In those 361 minutes, the South American mustered a mere eight attempts on goal and created just six chances for others.

After a similarly difficult start, fellow new boy Christian Eriksen found his feet as a result of Sherwood’s attack-minded approach. The Dane served up seven goals, eight assists and 20 bonus points in his subsequent 18 appearances (an average of 6.4 points per game) over the final five months of 2013/14 to underline his capabilities as a prime Fantasy midfield asset.

So far, Eriksen’s exploits have persuaded over 14% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers to snap him up – the ninth most popular pick so far. Despite being identically priced at 8.0, Lamela’s debut year has clearly proven a major deterrent; just 2% of managers have been willing to bring the South American into their five-man midfields. Despite that, there is growing evidence to suggest that Lamela could potentially emerge to challenge Eriksen’s output and finally live up to his billing as a goal-getting midfielder of some stature.

Key Factors

• The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino seems to have quickly transformed Lamela’s summer form. With his compatriot at the helm, the Argentine looks a different player and, with three goals to his name, he’s Tottenham’s top scorer in pre-season so far; Eriksen, on the other hand, has relied on set-piece duties to bag his first of the summer in a 6-1 trashing of Celtic. Fundamental to Lamela’s form has been a shift in position – previously utilised out wide, he’s been afforded the role in “the hole” in recent matches and has been far more involved in his side’s attacking forays.

• Furthermore, Lamela has backed up the idea he’s a confidence player. Despite his lofty price tag, the playmaker (when fit) was never afforded the chance to shine under either of Tottenham’s managers last term and cut a dejected figure on the rare occasion he entered the fray. After a recent friendly match, the South American confirmed he’s finally over his injury problems and is mentally refreshed for the campaign ahead:
  

  “I had an unfortunate injury last season that kept me out of play for quite some time. In the same way, it’s helped me emotionally and morally to get better and work harder towards this season.”

• Pochettino’s impact on Southampton’s attackers highlights how his high pressing game is suited to the English top-flight. Adam Lallana was transformed into one of the most sought-after Fantasy midfielders in the game last term, earning 179 points in his one full season under Pochettino compared to 93 points in the previous campaign, while Jay Rodriguez scored 152 points before succumbing to knee ligament damage in April. Providing he keeps clear of the treatment room, then, Lamela could be poised to benefit from Pochettino’s tactics and finally become a legitimate Fantasy contender at the second time of asking.

• Pochettino’s arrival will ensure Spurs move away from the two-man frontline employed by Sherwood from December onwards last season. With a 4-2-3-1 on the cards, then, there’s too much uncertainty surrounding the new manager’s preferred option for the lone forward role to gamble on their frontmen right now. There’s no doubt Emmanuel Adebayor impressed under Sherwood last time, though it remains to be seen whether he possesses the work-rate to lead the line in a high-pressing side, making investment in the midfield a safer route for now. With form on his side, Lamela is staking a real claim for consideration over Eriksen and with West Ham, QPR, Sunderland and West Brom in the first five, has the potential to be a deadly differential over the first few Gameweeks.

• After last year’s disappointment, it’s easy to forget Lamela’s capabilities. Further assessment of his 2013/13 season in Serie A shows he fired 86 shots – an average of 2.6 attempts per game was bettered by only two midfielders in the Premier League last season, Yohan Cabaye and Philippe Coutinho. Despite being fielded out wide by the Italian outfit, Lamela also chipped in creatively – a total of 56 chances created equates to 1.7 per appearance; on a par with Cabaye and team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor in the previous campaign.