Why Erik Lamela Was Tottenham's Most Improved Player in 2015/16 Season

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has worked wonders in the two years since his arrival from Southampton. 

When he was appointed Spurs had no playing identity, a shallow first-team squad, a more or less total absence of homegrown players and a number of misfiring high-price signings. 

Pochettino has iconoclastically rebuilt the side after selling some of the club's longest-serving players like Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon. 

Happier to promote academy youngsters ahead of supposedly proven internationals like Paulinho, Etienne Capoue and Roberto Soldado, Pochettino has indisputably put his mark on the team. 

His football philosophy is stamped on a group of players that routinely outrun, outwork and outplay their opponents. 

Erik Lamela personifies the changes that Pochettino has brought to Tottenham, and his re-emergence as a star is just reward. 

Form, injury and Spurs' obvious internal issues conspired to wreck Lamela's first season in England, and year two, his first under Pochettino, was a marked improvement. 

Evidently shocked by his own struggles, Lamela bought in completely to Pochettino's ideas and sacrificed much of his natural creativity to become one of England's most effective defensive wingers. 

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Lamela was largely touted as one of Spurs' most improved players last season, but Harry Kane's remarkable emergence overshadowed that development. 

Similarly, in 2015/16, Mousa Dembele returned to his best form, and once again Lamela's improvements were relegated to relative obscurity. 

This season, though, Lamela combined his newfound defensive solidity with some of the flair he had shown in his time at Roma.

His aggression is unmatched. He was booked 11 times this season, more than any of his teammates. 

Rather than being concerned, Pochettino encourages Lamela's aggression as a tone-setter in the defence.

He raises the pace of Spurs' high-energy press—a foundational part of their success this season—and his four defensive involvements (tackles and interceptions) per game matches central midfield teammates Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele. 

While Lamela's defensive contribution is hugely valuable, it is not his primary role in the team. 

Lamela is there to score and make goals, and this season he took a great leap forward on that side of his game.

He played 2,385 minutes in the Premier League last season (roughly 26 and a half full matches) and scored a goal or made an assist 14 times. 

He contributed assists against Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City in the final months of the campaign. Crucial points were won in each of those matches, and Lamela was a central part of that. 

He scored 11 goals and laid on 10 assists for his teammates in 49 appearances in all competitions. With several substitute appearances, Lamela played the minutes equivalent of 34 full matches. 

By comparison, his output was six and eight in the previous campaign. 

Lamela is now key to Spurs' attack and defence, and has locked down his position in the side despite competition from international players like Nacer Chadli and Heung-Min Son. 

His role within Tottenham's defensive setup is his base, his starting point from which he can express himself with the ball. 

It has been interesting to note his discipline for Argentina during this summer's Copa America. While only acting as a substitute, Lamela has been highly effective in both attacking and defensive phases of play. 

That positional discipline comes as no surprise to regular watchers of his performances for Tottenham. 

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

It makes him one of Pochettino's most important players as he can be relied upon to execute his role within the system. 

Erik Lamela was totally adequate last season, rightly praised for his significant improvement, but in 2015/16 he became one the division's most effective attacking midfielders. 

Spurs are genuine contenders to win the Premier League title next season because they have a perfectly balanced wide man, capable of relieving his teammates of responsibilities in attack and defence.