"Lennon drives me to despair, but he can play"

60 second pundit

04Oct

“Lennon drives me to despair, but he can play”

Aaron Lennon has been rewarded for his fine early season form with a call-up to Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. As the Daily Mirror’s Martin Lipton explains, the Tottenham winger has always had the talent, it’s just his attitude that has sometimes been lacking.

“He’s been delivering well, he’s been driving at players, which he needs to do,” says Martin, speaking before Lennon’s call up. “He’s always had talent, but I think his attitude has sometimes been pretty woeful. His incomprehension of his duties and responsibilities as a professional footballer is, at times, something that drives me to despair, but he can play. Of that there is no doubt. And he seems to be enjoying it.”

Lennon is, of course, one half of Tottenham’s rapid right side, with full-back Kyle Walker. And Martin feels that Walker’s attacking instincts bring out the best in Lennon.

“He’s helped by the fact that you’ve also got Kyle Walker bombing on, so you’ve got two of them coming at you. And if you’re the defender and you’ve got a midfielder that doesn’t do his job [and track back], you don’t know whether to stick or twist because you’ve got them both coming. So that gives him extra space.”

Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the play button in the image above. Please note, this video was recorded before Aaron Lennon was called up to the England squad.

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Comments

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Paul

What’s wrong with his attitude? Has Martin Lipton ever managed him? He has been a fixture in the first 11 for a long time now don’t think any manager has seriously tried to sell him.
Jay

I think Paul that Lipton is referring to his desire to push on.

Players like Walker and Bale have that lunge busting drive, I have never see Lennon really bust a gut, and sometimes he seems reluctant to take responsibility and have a shot, instead looking for others….the best wingers in the world add goals to there game, something Lennon doesnt do….

What I will say is one on one he is one of the best in the world at beating a man on the flank, better than Bale
loz

I dunno what you’re breeding about mate. Lennon tracks back as much as if not more than any pacey winger in the prem. His attitude is also outstanding but service to him from midfield has normally been poor. This season were playing to his strengths a lot more. Hence his great start to the season. We regularly play balls between the full and centre backs. Low so azza can run on to them. And guess what? It’s working! Shit article
Lilywhite London

What on earth makes this Lipton loser think Lenny’s attitude as a professional is ‘woefull’? Would he like to give us some evidence of this during Lennon’s career? Just shows you, in the same week that joker from the Sun said there was ‘dressing room mutiny’ just before we win at Old Trafford we now get this moron talking out of his anus as well. Do these blokes actually get paid to do come out with total crap or what? It really is unbelievable… What a couple of tossers.
ollyparklane

Absolute rubbish. His attitude has never been questioned only the fact that like most speedsters he gets regular injuries which put him back half a season (normally picked up with England). Ask any of the left backs in the premier league or Europe whether they like playing against him and I’m sure they will say the same thing. And he does track back so much more than you give him credit for as anyone downte Lane would tell you. Lazy article, poor journalism
Matt

Have you ever watched spurs play? I have watched every game for 5 years. Can’t knock Lennon’s attitude 1 bit. Always chases balls, tracks back etc… He’s often been on great form in past years and then got injured and missed large parts of the season. People then claim he’s not been in good form. I can only think of 1 part of 1 season when he was fit and not playing well.

Yes, he could sometimes do better with his final ball and he should score more as a winger, but that is him. He’s not got a great finish, hence why he plays wider, to his strong points.

I can see why some might question him sometimes, but you can’t knock his attitude without direct evidence.

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