Lucas Moura joined Tottenham in the last January transfer window from PSG but it is only this season that he has had an impact. His brace against Manchester United on Monday ensured that he became Spur’s top scorer at Old Trafford.
He had a disappointing end to life with the Parisians but he seems to have benefited from a full pre-season with Tottenham as you could hardly notice he was new to the side. His contribution from the wing has been incredible and this has taken the pressure off Harry Kane to provide goals upfront
His showing away to United demonstrated the hunger of a player ready to succeed in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Furthermore, he has joined one of the most balanced sides in the division and below is a look at what role he is set to play.
Stats
Moura is a winger who has a handy eye for goal, and Mauricio Pochettino knows that he can rely on his knack for scoring in the coming months. He has already scored three goals in the Premier League this season, making him joint top scorer with five others.
It will surprise you that his WhoScored rating is at 7.87 and this is the fifth highest rating in England’s top tier. The Brazilian is a very technical player who likes to make powerful runs whilst possessing the trickery to pick a final pass or finish where possible.
Formation
Spurs have also lacked the services of a natural winger who is capable of dragging out defenders to create space for Harry Kane through the middle. Son Heung-min was utilized in this role in the past but Moura will be a much better fit for the way Tottenham plays and this will naturally improve the players around him.
Pochettino deployed him alongside Harry Kane in a 4-3-1-2 formation where he would assume the role of a striker whenever Kane dropped deep to collect the ball. The result was impressively surprising as he effectively tormented United’s backline whilst scoring two goals in the process.
As expected he will not always play as part of a front two in all the games but that alone speaks to his utility to the team. This will give them the much needed tactical flexibility, as they are set to play more regularly in the coming months
Conclusion
While many teams invested a lot of money in the transfer window, Tottenham have gone about their business quietly. In fact, they did not make any additions to the first team in the just concluded transfer window. However, their ability to get the best out of existing players means that they will remain a top contender for the title. Moura’s influence is a testament to Pochettino’s ability to impart his ideas with relative ease and they can only get better as the season unfolds with Lucas a key member of the cast.