The 2013 summer transfer window was a difficult time for Tottenham Hotspur as they were forced to wave goodbye to Gareth Bale following six years of excellent service.
That Tottenham supporters continue to wax lyrical about the Welsh wizard to this day is indicative of the enormity of his impact in north London.
Solo slaloms which terrorised the opposition and stunning thunderbolts which single-handedly clinched all three points for Spurs on multiple occasions endeared him to the Lilywhites faithful in a manner which hasn’t been matched since he left for Los Blancos.
Daniel Levy was tasked with signing a replacement for the departing talisman in 2013, and he moved into the transfer market to sign two wingers, Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela.
Both were welcomed to the club with open arms by supporters, but Lamela’s arrival was the one which commanded the most enthusiasm on social media.
He was far from considered a like-for-like replacement for Bale, but Tottenham’s decision to spend £27 million on the 21-year-old certainly hinted that Daniel Levy was incredibly enticed by his development at Roma.
And the supporters were certainly delighted with their decision to sign the Argentine prodigy…
Erik Lamela signing announced on @SpursOfficial and reports that Bale has agreed personal terms at Madrid. Cracking business, Mr Levy.
— James Hartnett (@JamesHartnett_) August 30, 2013
Tottenham sign Erik Lamela, meaning there are now two good teams in north London, and Spurs own both of them…
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) August 30, 2013
Lamela signs for Spurs, what a massive signing!
— Daryl (@darylbleach) August 30, 2013
“@SkySportsNews: Tottenham sign forward Erik Lamela from Roma on club record fee #SSN”
BOOM!! What a fantastic signing. Onwards & upwards!
— Gary Francis (@iAmGARYFRANCiS) August 30, 2013
Erik Lamela to Tottenham for £30 mill!!! Best buy of the year!!! Next star!
— Kalvin Parr (@Kparr5) August 30, 2013
AVB can turn to the bench on Sunday and have the ability to bring on Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela. Phenomenal. #COYS
— Talking THFC (@TalkingTHFC) August 30, 2013
The premier league ain't ready for man like Erik Lamela you know. He gonna set this league alight. Next Ronaldo, trust.. #coys
— Marky Rob (@Marky_Rob) August 30, 2013
Daniel Levy is a genius..I have never rated him but he has been a master this window..Erik Lamela is going to be massive this year! #yiddo
— jonny (@jonnyclark96) August 30, 2013
Clearly, the Tottenham supporters were absolutely thrilled by their club’s decision to sign Lamela, but he struggled to live up to the hype during the early stages of his career.
An outrageous piece of swagger showcased a glimpse into the extent of his quality when he scored a rabona from outside the penalty area against Asteras Tripolis during his second season at the club.
However, consistency eluded Lamela and he struggled to win over the entirety of the fan-base for quite some time, though it is worth noting that his work-rate was appreciated even when his technical quality left something to be desired.
But under Pochettino’s tutelage Lamela has been slowly refining aspects of his game which separate the good and the great players in the Premier League, and he has now blossomed into a key player within a star-studded squad.
Lamela returned from a lengthy hip injury this time last year with a point to prove and so far he has showcased a marked improvement which has simply delighted the supporters.
Combining his diligent attitude with a clinical level of potency in the final-third, it’s fair to say that Lamela is a player transformed under Pochettino.
Tottenham fans – thoughts on Lamela? Let us know below!
