What’s caused the transformation of Erik Lamela from a supposed ‘flop’ to a consistent, influential key player for Spurs?

Lamela has already scored two Premier League goals, equalling his haul from last season, in just 16 games. This is partly down to the fact his shot accuracy (63% on average per 90 minutes) has increased from 50%. Indeed, each shot is a chance of a goal and even a meagre 13% could be wholly vital in winning a game. These statistics are by no means prolific, but it’s Lamela’s creation of chances for others that is far more impressive.

Every 90 minutes, Lamela now makes 2.61 key passes which means that he is playing a part in the creation of almost three goals a game. How far can statistics show Lamela to have improved? In terms of duels, Lamela has won 10% fewer. He even makes fewer interceptions and his pass completion rate is 4% lower. In mitigation, statistics must be taken with a pinch of salt. For example, what does 10% fewer duels won contribute to? A few lost headers? Maybe even a mistake made by the statistician collecting the data? The only true way a player can be judged is on the pitch.

So, how does Lamela perform differently on the pitch? There seems to be a more ruthless streak in him now, instead of dallying on the ball, he surges forward putting defences under immense pressure. Instead of losing possession cheaply in attacking areas, he now makes the right decision most of the time. He has even tried a ‘rabona’ in the Premier League. His work rate remains high as ever with no compromise to his overall performances. All in all, Lamela is looking a different player on the pitch this season for Spurs.

@Wizward Pochettino kept his faith in him during the poor performances. Addition of an intelligent player like Alli will bring best out too — Sam (@Heisenberg42) December 27, 2015

One such reason for the transformation of Erik Lamela is down to the players around him. The addition of Dele Alli has improved the Tottenham squad as a whole, supplying creativity and enough physicality to support and make use of the players around him. Also, players like Clinton N’Jie have posed a threat to his place and so he has had to step up his performances.

Pochettino has been the ideal manager for Lamela, keeping the faith in him during the barren spells of last season as well as nurturing a fellow Argentine into the cultural aspects of the Premier League. Pochettino himself said that Lamela is “a very special boy” and needed “time to adapt and not only on the pitch”. Maybe he has just taken this long to settle at the club, in a foreign country where many others have struggled in the past. Fortunately, Pochettino realises his value and has encouraged him to keep his head down and work it through.

Confidence is key. Lamela had a complete lack of it when he first played at White Hart Lane, but now he has been oozing it, his first career hat-trick against Monaco just one of the highlights of his promising season so far. The audacity to try a ‘rabona’ against a Premier League standard team simply emphasises his confidence. Not many players would take on that kind of shot, even though it was saved and maybe he should have used his other foot, it proves that he is a special player who is confident in his own ability and decisions made on the pitch. As long as this confidence is retained, the sky is the limit for Lamela’s third season at the club.