The reasons why Aaron Lennon has no future at Spurs

The European football media find themselves fawning over Lionel Messi again. However and unlike the status quo, they are not simply writing of his undisputed brilliance, but instead writing about a proposed move away from FC Barcelona.

The main point to emerge from these stories is that a Messi-less-Barcelona would signify a new era for the Catalans – an era that has been dominated by style and success, as well as dependence on the Argentine.

In addition to a proposed exit for Messi, Sky Sports are reporting that Aaron Lennon is free to leave Spurs if he wishes too, or if a club meets their valuation of the player. There are not many things that Messi and Lennon have in common (the first being sheer ability), but if either were to leave their clubs, it would no doubt represent a side’s shift in direction.

Lennon out because of one in?

The football career of Aaron Lennon has been intertwined with Tottenham Hotspur since 2005, and unsurprisingly their recent history shares similarities. Both seem to possess promise and potential, but when it comes down to the wire, you are more often than not left disappointed.

So why now – why is it this January where it seems more likely than ever that Lennon will leave? The first argument would be that Mauricio Pochettino has seen enough of the player in his time at the club to conclude that he is not at the standard required. Although, Spurs fans will tell you that that opinion has been in existence for some time.

Sky reporting that Lennon is free to leave Spurs may coincide with the arrival of American international DeAndre Yedlin. Yedlin is fact a right back, but his exceptional pace will no doubt be a huge asset for us when attacking teams.

At 21, Yedlin has a rawness about him that, if developed correctly, could lead him into being an important player. In comparison, you only need to look at Raheem Sterlings evolution in three years under Rodgers, to see that a 27-year-old Lennon is still the same player we bought at 18. Yedlin, who has been given the number 12 shirt and has started training at Hotspur Way, may even prove to be more effective than Lennon at present.

Why keep a Lennon when we already have two?

As Lennon looks to be forced out of the club, with West Brom and QPR interested, another winger had pledged his short-term future to Spurs. Today Andros Townsend told the London Evening Standard: “"Unless the club come and tell me they want me to leave then I won’t be going anywhere. I’m fighting for my shirt. The last six or seven windows have been the same, with my name linked with other clubs."

Similar to Lennon, Townsend hasn’t really shown the potential that was attributed to him at such a young age. Many see the two English wingers as being duplicates, both having great pace but limited end product. As a result, the common saying is that both players should leave together, as both do very little to benefit the team.

Although you may be unable to separate the two in terms of performances over the last 18 months, it’s important to remember that Townsend has only had these exact 18 months of first team football at Spurs to prove himself, where, in comparison, Lennon has had nine and half years!

If Pochettino was expected to pick between keeping one of the two, you’d be inclined to think that he would be more willing to give Townsend a chance to prove himself in a Spurs shirt. Townsend may not be better than Lennon at present, but just as Yedlin’s case – he is more likely to improve over time.

Mr Consistently inconsistent

Lennon’s Spurs career has not been decorated with titles and trophies - such as Messi’s. Instead, there has been short term success and well-documented failure for both club and player. Managers have come and gone, but somehow Lennon always seems to remain. Whether he has been a key-player, rotation option, back-up or impact sub, Aaron Lennon has always played a certain Spurs part since joining the club in June 2005.

The most frustrating aspect of Lennon’s time at the club is that he constantly lulls us into the belief that he can still play a part – prompting fans to demand his return when he is excluded, before concluding that he is not good enough after he hits a poor run of form. A prime example of this was our 2-1 win over Everton in which Lennon was superb, but can he produce performances like that consistently? History tell us no, and so we find ourselves in a true Lennon merry-go-round.

Whereas a Barcelona-less-Messi could mean turmoil for the Catalans, there’s hope in the belief that a Tottenham-less-Lennon could participate in progression. It is widely accepted that Mauricio Pochettino has been given a job likened to a rebuilding process. And maybe, by removing Lennon (our longest-serving player at present), our Head Coach will ultimately be ridding himself of former manager’s foundations of failure...foundations that still haunt us.

 

Our manager soon discovered that lennon was unable to kick a ball correctly i.e. never taking a corner or freekick never passing a ball more than five yards only managing one half decent cross every five games never getting in a decent shot at goal scoring once in his last fifty games i wouldnt pay two bob for him.

 

His only discernible attribute is being able to beat his man and that stopped happening once he started smoking cigars and dressing like al capones bobblehead

 

Ever since he bottled it at the Bernabeu he has been a different player. Formerly a vague threat to opposition defences, he faded to become the lego brick on the staircase. Potentially harmful, but easily negated.

 

He's been such a disappointment over the years because he has made such little effort to improve his game, instead simply relying on his pace. I think the only part of his game that shows some signs of improvement is his attempt at the 'stab' style of crossing the ball instead of a full follow through delivering at pace. Other than that, that's it in nearly 10 years. Not good enough mate. So long and good luck.

 

To be fair Lennon has not failed Spurs as much as Spurs have failed Lennon. Chopping and changing managers willy nilly, bringing young flavour of the year signings (Dos Santos, Bentley) which he has seen off time and time again. Some would say he should be ahead of airheads Lamela and Townsend. He has Champions League and International football pedigree and only 27. No we don't havea deep lying Croatian playmaker anymore or a fullback that can play a cultured pass or play 4411 or 442. The game some say has moved on, but you can do all the rambola's, flicks and tricks, play 4231 or whatever formation in the world but genuine pace beats it all. Lennon may not have no future at Spurs with our current setup but to dismiss our last senior player as failure would be fickle, shirtsighted and just plain spitefull.

 

I think Lennon is a good player. When Bale was flying done one wing, Lennon was tearing down the other wing and causing mayhem with defences. Every game he's been used in he's been a handful for defences - this creates the space for the likes of Eriksen. Lennon's shortcoming (in my opinion) is he's not a goal scorer (although I'm forever grateful for the March 3 2013 goal against Arsenal) and Spurs are desperate for people that can score (Chadli). Lennon is also not an "inverted" winger - neither is Townsend (my opinion).

If Lennon moves on, I hope he does well. I think he's served Spurs well and has been a loyal player. If he stays on, he'll do his best when called on.

 

Agree, he's not the best but he does enuf to be decent. The club has known his shortcomings for years, no pun intended, and tried to replace him but he has stuck it out and done the job when called upon. For me he's a decent squadi and a good club man. Good luck if he leaves.

 

Sorry but Lennon can't go lamela has done one thing since joining us a great goal against a two Bob team in a two Bob competition Townsend I don't honestly know weather he will be good or not jury still out on him . Lamela is weak can't tackle doesn't track back ,lennon although his crossing is poor will track back tackle and keep going till the whistle blows his pace is his big asset and pulling players out of position to give the likes of Erickson room to play . But for me the big thing is his English and been at the club a long time I don't want a foreign team at spurs but that seems to be the plan . There are plenty of players I would let go before Lennon . Paulinho.capoue.stomboli.kaboul.adeybayor.soldado. and if we could get the money back lamela . But levy will make us all wait till 12 o'clock deadline day for some **** deal that we didn't need .

 

I agree with the last few comments Lenny has been far from a flop. A loyal 1m signing from Leeds 9 yrs ago represents a bargain for me. Yeah his best years are behind him and as with many who enter the first team so young burn out quickly especially ones who put as many miles in per game as him. As a full bk he would be a dream to have in front of you with his work rate tracking bk and the amount of space he makes for you to overlap into. Yeah he should have scored more and his final ball not always great but like many players he is a victim of these modern day systems rather than a conventional 442 when he thrived. He was integral in our two top four finishes(the first since early 90s I may add. Our Carling cup win v Chelsea and our quarter final CL run lest not forget chaps. Many a time his final ball looked poorer than it was due to have only one Cf target,lack of midfield runners who attack the penny spot/6 yrd area and in general forwards of any movement. If we had a sheringham alongside a berbatov for example his assist column that a few are obsessed with would undoubtedly read healthier.

 

How many more years will Lemon steal a wage at Spurs?
The reason we fail to win cups or Qualify for CL is because we talk up and cling to unbelievably average players.
If Lemon didnt have pace his footballing ability would be exposed in league 1.

 

Spot on felon82 the trouble is he wont move because he knows he will be shown up at any other club.

I bet he will still be at spurs at the end of the window.

 

This lad has been a rock for us in previous years. However, times change.
I believe the time is right to let him go. The system we are (learning to) play under
Mopo does not require an out and out winger who tracks back and hugs the line.
The covering is (supposedly) done by the dcm and the attacking width (supposedly) provided by the fb.
Whilst the players learn their roles, we will look disjointed at times. But to keep reverting
to old ways will only hamper progression in the long term.
I say Thanks for all the memories Azza, Goodbye and goodluck lad.

p.s. It is interesting to look at the teams interested in signing him. This tells you
how the rest of the league rate him.

 

Yeah teams that play with traditional out and out genuine wingers not rocket science to us but obviously is to one or two others. If these people think having azza as a squad is our biggest problem give me strength. Have a look at fazio and our cm area!!

 

Good engine, poor steering. Not a junk by any means. Yet, let others to drive that. We tried for a very long time. All the best to Aaron...
New system does not require to run the ball to a corner flag. If we can get Berahinho in return, it would be nice

 

Poch doesn't appear to want Lennon so maybe its time for a move. Have enjoyed watching Aaron over the years, know he can frustrate the spurs faithful, but he brought something to the Tottenham ethos that would have been surely missed. Speed, work ethic, electric bursts of pace that left many opposing defenders in his wake. Great servant for the club and deserves respect. Coys

 

Can't really classify Lennon's stint with the Spurs as a failure due to all the hurdles he's had to go through. He fit well in Redknapp's system and since then he really hasn't been given much opportunity. I am still baffled as to why Redknapp was sacked, nevertheless time has passed and maybe it's best that Lennon finds a new club that will give him decent minutes. He hasn't been afforded the opportunities and mistakes that Townsend and Lamela have been getting. I just hope that whichever club he joins, it won't turn to bite us in the end. I don't see him leaving the premier league.

 

The guy has put in a shift for us, if inconsistently, but it is probably time to move on.
He was at his best when Modrić was switching play left and right and Bale and Lennon were passing players at will. Unfortunately I haven't seen Lennon go past a defender in yonks, and there is not much else to his game.
I did think he had a great partnership going with Čorluka but once Walker came into the team it was like having two right wingers on the pitch.
Unfortnately, I always remember seeing him play at Udine, he was hurtling down the centre of the pitch and not a sole around him, and promptly fell over the ball as if surprised that such a thing should be on the pitch.

 

Lennon must be the luckiest footballer in the world. To command a place in a Premiership team squad when you cannot do the basic skills required to play in your position is truly a remarkable feat. Let's be honest, how many of his crosses actually find a colleague? How many goals does he score? How good are his corner kicks? Oh he doesn't take them dies he. Ok he has great speed, but just like Walcott in his early days speed isn't the be all and end all. There has to be a product and sadly that has been lacking.
Obviously Poch doesn't rate him and if he intends to play a system where his forwards interchange and are expected to play an inverted style there is no place for Lennon.
Townsend is still young and in my opinion still has much to learn. He has pace and has control and can shoot. He has scored goals. He is where Lennon was many years ago.
I believe he needs more time and will get better