Opinion: How Lucas Moura can get Spurs playing again

The defeat against Manchester City was another example of Jose Mourinho shuffling the blunt tools that he has at his disposal.

He started Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela, alongside Harry Kane and Heung Min-Son, in an attempt to give the usual counter-attacks more threat and numbers.

The line-up changes were another example of the Spurs boss not being content with his current team.

Throughout the season, every possible attacking option has been used in the third forward role, alongside Kane and Son, including Steven Bergwijn, Lucas Moura, Gareth Bale, Erik Lamela, and even Moussa Sissoko.

Unfortunately, none of them offer enough when it comes to alleviating the pressure on Kane and Son in front of goal.

However, have we seen some promising signs? 

Lucas Moura is a marmite figure with Spurs fans. He is still lauded for his heroics in Amsterdam but also frustrates supporters with how frequently he runs into opposition players and doesn’t release the right pass at the right time.

One thing that cannot be denied though, is that he is both the quickest player off the line at the club and the trickiest with the ball at his feet.

His ability to weave in and out of defenders is mesmerising, emphasising how irritating other, less effective, parts of his play are. That goal against Wolfsberger is a perfect example of this point.

However, if Mourinho were to use his speed to take the ball and run at the opposition defence, this could allow the team to create counter attacks at a frightening pace, and unleash Kane and Son on opposition defenders.

It is becoming too easy for other teams to concentrate their defensive efforts on Kane and Son, knowing that few other Spurs players will step up.

Having someone direct and positive being allowed to pick the ball up and commit players may not only lead to extra goals, but more space for Kane and Son to operate in.

Much in the way that Wolverhampton Wanderers have done with Adama Traore, this could prove a way of creating more goal-scoring opportunities for the strikers, whilst maintaining Mourinho’s signature style of play. 

One thing that the team has lacked this season is goals from attacking options other than Kane and Son. So, if Moura were to be used for his pace, and his pace only, he would have a much greater impact on the team than most of the other players have combined.

It is about time that Spurs found the third point to their three-pronged attack!

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