Moving Target

Moving Target – Aaron Lennon

Everton’s final coup of Deadline Day saw the Merseysiders acquire the services of Aaron Lennon from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £4.2 million. Arriving on a three-year deal, the winger – who spent the back end of last season on loan with the Toffees – was delighted to seal his return to Goodison Park:

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, a lot of people know it’s the move I wanted and from the first time I got here, it felt like home. I was just hoping it got done throughout the summer, I was just waiting, waiting. The loan spell was great for me. I enjoyed the whole feel of everything and the reception from everyone to do with the club. I felt so welcomed and I was just hoping throughout the whole summer that this one got done – and thankfully it did.”

THE HISTORY

The Yorkshire-born wide man started his career at the Leeds United youth setup in 2001 and was promoted to the first team at the tender age of 16. His professional debut, against Tottenham Hotspur in August 2003, marked him as the youngest ever Premier League player.

Having netted on his first Premier League start, against Sunderland on Boxing Day 2004, Lennon cemented a first-team spot at Elland Road. After Leeds encountered financial problems, Lennon was sold to Spurs for £1 million, a much lower fee than expected due to the Yorkshire club’s difficulties.

Lennon burst onto the scene after arriving at White Hart Lane and was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the year for three consecutive campaigns from 2005-2008. However, his ten goals and 24 assists over those three seasons wasn’t enough to snatch the award from Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ashley Young.

Lennon kept his starting role during a period of turbulence that saw Juande Ramos sacked and Harry Redknapp brought in. A mainstay in the Spurs team over the next five years, the winger was one of his side’s most consistent players and averaged four goals and nine assists during that period.

The arrivals of Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela before the 2013-14 season threw his starting role into jeopardy and Lennon started slowly losing minutes. Last January’s loan to Everton provided a re-birth and the winger managed two goals and one assist in 12 starts, impressing with his direct play, which Everton had previously lacked.

Lennon was part of England’s 2006 World Cup squad, making his first senior start in the 3-1 loss against Portugal in the Quarter-Final. After that he was in and out of Steve McClaren’s side but was selected by Fabio Capello for the 2010 World Cup, where he featured twice. Since then the 28-year-old has only collated two further caps. One in the 2012 World Cup qualifying match against San Marino, picking up two assists, and he came off the bench in 2013’s friendly against Brazil. Lennon has already announced his intentions of returning to the international scene:

“To get back in the England squad is definitely one of my aims. I didn’t have a good run of games for the last maybe couple of seasons until I came back up here (Everton), but hopefully I can get a great run of games in the team. It’s definitely my aim to try and push for an England spot again.”

THE PROSPECTS

Although Lennon was quick to cement a role in Everton’s starting line-up in 2014/15, he’s likely to face a tougher challenge this year. Last term, Roberto Martinez’s side lacked a more direct option until Lennon’s arrival but the signing of Gerard Deulofeu, allied with the return to form of both Ross Barkley and Arouna Kone, gives the Toffees boss greater options in the final third.

So far, Martinez has handed Kone, Kevin Mirallas, Steven Naismith and Deulofeu minutes on the right of a 4-2-3-1, though it’s Kone who looks in the driving seat, having started each of the last three. Nonetheless, having been part of the first XI in 12 of the last 13 Gameweeks he was available for last year, Lennon will fancy his chances of ultimately climbing ahead of the Ivorian in the pecking order.

Tom Cleverley’s ankle ligament injury also needs to be factored in. With the former United man set for a spell on the sidelines, the likes of Mirallas and Deulofeu could be given more minutes on the left, thus boosting Lennon’s chances of earning minutes on the opposite flank.

With a price tag of 5.8 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, Fantasy managers would be wise to resist bringing the winger in for now. In-form mid-price midfield options such as Riyad Mahrez, Bakary Sako, Nathan Redmond and Cheikhou Kouyate afford us far more secure picks in the same bracket.

Looking at the upcoming schedule, clashes against five of last season’s top eight in the next six (CHE, swa, wba, LIV, MUN, ars) is enough to steer Fantasy managers away from Martinez’ side for now. With the fixtures turning far kinder from Gameweek 11 onwards, though, Lennon may yet have a part to play, though with the in-form Barkley at just 6.7, the former Spurs man faces a tough task to make his way onto our Watchlists. Indeed, given that Lennon has never scored more than five goals in a Premier League season, he’ll need to greatly improve his end product if he’s to play any part in our thinking.

Further Reference

Aaron Lennon Wikipedia

Aaron Lennon Transfer Markt Page

Aaron Lennon You Tube Highlights

thepuntmaster Twitter - @thepuntmaster Freelance journo and FPL addict. Everton fan.

932 Comments Post a Comment
  1. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    I'm all for having a laugh but the tiresome tit for tat digs on here are putting me right off coming on. It's the same rubbish everytime & the same petty arguments over and over again. If you want to talk through your ass I'd suggest you keep your tribalism to forums that facilitate it, ie. Red and White Kop or The Red Cafe. Rant over

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Hon Mayo

    2. Kered
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Why so serious?

    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    I get so lost whenever the paddies are having fun on here

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Just put on sky sports 1

        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        But Harry Kane is coming on to regain some confidence!

        Also I dont have Sky.

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Rte 2?

            • 10 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            I just had to google RTE which isnt a good sign 😛

            1. Ayew Serious
              • 8 Years
              8 years, 8 months ago

              Ireland main channel

        2. The Pep Revolution
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          If Sterling or Delph come on then I might have some interest.

          1. Konig Luther
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Delph is playing

            1. The Pep Revolution
              • 12 Years
              8 years, 8 months ago

              How is he doing?

              1. Konig Luther
                • 11 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                no clue... i'm not watching

                • 10 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                awful

  2. Kered
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Rooney is shite.

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Hon Mayo

  3. Ron_Swanson
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Roy Hodgson doing a Graham Taylor - sort of.

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Ye, hon Mayo, Oh no here comes super sub

    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Can Kane speak English?

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Hon Mayo

      1. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        You're spamming now - please give it a rest.

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          OK, I will!

          1. andy85wsm
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Cheers - and come on Mayo! 😉

    2. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes.

      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I'd be amazed if he wasn't Abel.

      1. Heels_Over_Head
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Funny

    3. BlzE_94
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      no because his nose looks like its constantly being squeezed, it comes out as a different language.

  4. Fifa las vegas
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Shite

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      What a player he is though

  5. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Hon the DUBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs

    1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      LOL at Mayo and their fans

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Ahhhhh hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

    2. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      You don't belong here

  6. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Up the Dubs!

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      You don't belong here

      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Mayo man, or bitter spear chucker?

        1. Somalion
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          😉

  7. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Serious goal by Dublin to level things up what a game 🙂

  8. Ayew Serious
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Bernard Brogan is the best footballer dublin have ever had! He cant miss! His brain is unbelievable, always turns up in big games, what a player

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      That is because Kerry blood courses thru his vains his mom being a Kerry women

  9. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Mayo and their fans wasting their hard earned year after year for the same outcome haha

  10. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    England rating based on the game today?

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Just put on the GAA, you are playing San Marino, pls TM

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Why?

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Mayo this, Mayo that.

            1. andy85wsm
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 13 Years
              8 years, 8 months ago

              😀

      1. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        He's from Australia

    2. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      6?

      Almost impossible to rate against this opposition. We can only beat what's in front of us. Maybe even lower than 6 as their goalie averages 4 goals against and we're only at 3 🙂

    3. Eden Hazardous
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      6/10

      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Pointless rating players playing at 50% on a League 2 pitch IMO. Though we have just learnt Delph can't volley.

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        And Kane is the new Torres

        1. Heels_Over_Head
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          That's harsh. Hope not for his sake.

  11. DJDave1979
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Curse strikes Mayo.

  12. The Pep Revolution
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Serious five minutes for Dublin there. Two goals and looking strong now. One final twist to it to come maybe.

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Its Gaa, don't rule it out

  13. Eden Hazardous
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    @Ayew Serious do u even sleep?

    1. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Not when there's GAA on 🙂

    2. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Like the Mayo defenders?

    3. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      You wont see me from about 4:30 to 12 uk time

      1. Ayew Serious
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Presuming you want to be free from me?

        1. Eden Hazardous
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          No just curious.....I like ya more than Breadbin and he is my fav.....No seriously you are DA MAN .......*Mayo

          1. Ayew Serious
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Thats it

      2. Eden Hazardous
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Where do u live .......guessing somwhere in the Western Hemisphere

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Ireland... I have disgusting hours in work

          1. Eden Hazardous
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Night job?

            1. Ayew Serious
              • 8 Years
              8 years, 8 months ago

              Its kinda between night and day

              1. Eden Hazardous
                • 9 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                You gotta take the 'Rough with the Smooth'

                1. Eden Hazardous
                  • 9 Years
                  8 years, 8 months ago

                  Presuming there is a smooth

                  1. Ayew Serious
                    • 8 Years
                    8 years, 8 months ago

                    The money is pretty smooth

                    1. Eden Hazardous
                      • 9 Years
                      8 years, 8 months ago

                      Get FFS membership then

              2. Somalion
                • 14 Years
                8 years, 8 months ago

                Hefty. Been at it long?

  14. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Walcott!

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Bandwagon return?

  15. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeo

  16. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Walcott bandwagon.....

    1. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Only 8.5....

      1. Jimmers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        and getting cheaper by the minute........

    2. The Pep Revolution
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Not going back there again. He starts scoring regularly for Arsenal then will consider it.

  17. ragsyboys
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Silva or pedro for gw5?

    1. BlzE_94
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      both

    2. Eden Hazardous
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Walcott!!!!!

  18. dykeypunk
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Walcott still trolling FPL managers

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Until he starts a game he's not trolling anyone

  19. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    And now for a week of "Wenger's so clueless" chatter

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      There is a few every year

      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Yes indeed. Hope he keeps destroying people 😉

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Harsh

          1. Somalion
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Too much faith in him on here. Deserved 😉

  20. laGan1n1
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Delph > KDB

    1. BlzE_94
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      KDB will flop and be benched for Delph soon

    2. The Pep Revolution
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      They don't even play in the same position.

  21. Ayew Serious
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Kevin Mcmanamon!

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Why???

  22. The Pep Revolution
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Game over for May. Dublin versus Kerry final.

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Up Kerry?

      1. The Pep Revolution
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Yep. Hopefully they are good enough to win it.

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Should be another classic

          1. The Pep Revolution
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Should be.

  23. ragsyboys
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    How bout KDB for gw5?

  24. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    The dream final Kerry vs Dublin should be deadly both lethal teams

    Set up for one of the best finals in years

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      This

    2. The Pep Revolution
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Absolutely.

  25. Bertzeiner-m
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Ayew>Walcott for a -4?

  26. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Cya Mayo

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Up Kerry

      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Ah, definitely not a Mayo man so. 😉

  27. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Oh Harry - that's a lovely finish

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Delighted for him!

    2. Eden Hazardous
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Can u describe the goal to me?

    3. The Pep Revolution
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Might kick start his season.

    4. 50 Shades Oshea
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      class chip, decent ball from shelvey as well

    5. Bertzeiner-m
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      We need him back in form desperately!

  28. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Definitely getting on the Theo bandwagon now

    1. LarryDuff
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Seriously?