Lamela is no quick fix solution to Spurs’ problems

According to an article in The Independent Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that there will be no quick fix to our current problems when Érik Lamela finally returns to first-team duty, after we were held at home by West Brom on Saturday.

The article describes how we beat Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday, but that we fell behind on four minutes against West Brom with a late strike from Harry Kane to salvage a point to save our blushes.

The article adds that we looked unusually sluggish in the match and despite enjoying more than 72% in the game we didn’t create many clear-cut chances. It adds that we lacked pace and were almost beaten when Salomón Rondón spurned a fine chance in the final seconds of the game.

Another Premier League match where We failed to break down a team at Wembley who sat deep and played strictly on the counter-attack adds the article , in turn leading to yet more questions on Lamela, and whether he can provide that attacking spark that We clearlyhave been missing.

The article describes how the past few weeks Pochettino has been repeatedly quizzed on Lamela’s return to first-team football, with the and he conceded ahead of the West Brom game that “We need to increase our tempo within the games – [You need players] that can break one vs. one, like Lamela”.

It does add that Pochettino refused to blame the West Brom draw on Lamela’s absence but admitted the club are still waiting on the Argentinian midfielder, who celebrated the birth of his new baby over the weekend, to make his return.

“Lamela is still not in condition to play,” Pochettino said. “We are waiting for him, but it’s not Lamela today.
“With Lamela or without Lamela… when you drop points you always you the player that didn’t play.
“When you win against Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund – when it’s good – you never ask me about the players that don’t play, no? I understand but of course I want to have everyone fit and available to be selected. Lamela is now one year not playing.”

The article goes on to describe how this season Pochettino has spoken on more than one occasion of his team’s struggles to break down deep-lying, organised opposition, a feet we managed to do so successfully last season when they finished as runners-up in the Premier League, behind Chelsea.

It adds that there is a feeling that, with Lamela out injured and with Son Heung-min now used almost exclusively as a forward instead of a midfielder, We lack a fast player who can cut in from the wing with genuine one v one quality however Pochettino added that we are unlikely to remedy that in the January transfer window.

“I think it’s still very far away, but you know our politics and the way that we work,” Pochettino said.
“I think in January it is so difficult to find players that can help and that fit into the team so quickly.”

In other news Pochettino congratulated Harry Kane on scoring his 40th goal in 2017, although conceded that the forward would unlikely be celebrating the milestone given his disappointment with Saturday’s result.

Kane became just the fourth player to have scored 40 goals this calendar year, joining an elite list which also comprises Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (47), Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani (46) and Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski (41) however a disappointed Kane conceded immediately after the match that Tottenham’s performance “was not good enough”.

“Yes, it’s an unbelievable achievement {Poch on Kane} and I am very happy for him as he rescued us with his goal to win one point and that is important,” Pochettino said. “But of course he feels disappointed because in the end we have dropped two points. No one is happy.”

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