Both Aaron Lennon and Jesus Navas are young (Navas 22 and Lennon 20) talented wingers who have the potential to become world stars. They are more traditional wingers as opposed to the wing forwards of the modern game. Their game isnt based around scoring goals as both rarely find themselves on the score sheet after games. Their main ability is to beat defenders in the final third and get crosses in to set up goals. Wingers who get to the byline to whip in balls are actually quite rare nowadays. A lot of the current great wide players (C.Ronaldo, Messi, Robinho) are more prone to cut inside and shoot, whereas crossing balls in comes secondary. Conversely, Lennon and Navas do the opposite, as they thrive on putting in clever crosses.

I would say Lennon is both faster and has superior acceleration to Navas, but Navas is quite quick himself. Both are equally talented dribblers, but Navas is more intelligent with his runs. While Lennon is blessed with the natural ability, his dribbling runs still seem to be up blind alleys. Navas is able to recognize more effectively when and where to use his dribbling talents, but he is also older. They are both good crossers, who tend to pick out teammates as opposed to just whipping in hopeful balls. Both Navas and Lennon's aerial crosses have good pace and height, but Lennon's seem to carry more threat. Navas has superior low crosses that are driven hard just out of the keepers reach. Such balls are a strikers dream because they present goals on a platter.

As aforementioned, neither are talented goal scorers, although Lennon seems to be more prolific than Navas. Lennon had 5 goals last season and Navas had 2. This season Navas looks set to improve on his tally as he already has 2 to his name and Lennon with 1. Although the latter has been beset with injuries in the opening stages of the season. Still, I would give Lennon the edge when it comes to finishing up close, as even though most of his goals are tap ins, he still puts them away. Navas misses such easy chances, but he scores the spectacular (ie. vs Madrid, vs Bilbao, vs Deportivo), so I feel he has superior long range shots.

Another important point to consider is that Navas plays with Dani Alves as his partner. Lennon could partner (Chimbonda, Lee), and this lack of a stable partner would affect him. Dani Alves is superior to any of Lennon's partners, and his excellent attacking game really compliments Navas well. It is often Alves who releases Navas on a surging run with one of his through balls. So if Lennon had such a RB like Alves, he could very well be the better player.

And that last point gives away my conclusion. Navas right now is the better player, but not because of more talent, but because of both maturity and the complimentary qualities of Alves. Maybe I am giving Alves too much credit and not enough for Navas, but I feel Lennon could be just as good if in similar circumstances.

So who do you feel is the superior winger currently? and who has more talent and will become the better player in the future?

You couldn’t of picked a gayer picture of Navas could you?

I haven’t seen much of Navas really but I have seen plenty of Aaron Lennon. He is a very quick and a nippy player but he is sometimes too predictable in his running when going at defenders. He will always do a shape little turn to his right all the time and then try to get the cross in. It doesn’t really work to full effect either as I think with his pace he should be trying to keep it simpler and just go past the defenders in a more direct way like Messi. Although he doesn’t have the talent of Messi, he does have real pace. He just needs to learn to use it better.

I haven’t seen enough of Navas to really make a good comparison but from what I have seen of him he is a quick and has good ball control when going forward. He isn’t ever stretching for the ball and that’s a good sign of ball control.

I have seen plenty of both and i say at the moment Navas is playing at a higher level. Lennon is a very quick winger, and can cause any fullbacks problems, but he doesn’t seem to have that end product. Navas has really matured a lot these past couple of seasons and takes on a lot of responsibilities.

Navas has been around for ages and has been a very important player for Sevilla’s recent success. Sevilla play most of their game on the flanks and so there is a higher emphases on Navas,Adriano and Alves doing well.

Whilst at spurs they don’t really have the greatest wingers. Malbranque isn’t really a left winger. So they have to rely on Berbatov and Keane’s partnership a lot. Which is the reason why they have been caught out this season imo.

I disagree with you on the part about Alves. Yes playing with quality players like him can only help your game, but it hinders Navas a lot. They have a good partnership, but since Alves is so attacking he often ends up ahead of Navas on the right wing and that leaves gaps at Right back which Navas often has to fill. Also sevilla rarely go to the by line on the right, since Alves loves to put in deep crosses.Whilst Lennon doesn’t have to really worry about tracking back, since Chimbonda rarely goes ahead of lennon on the right.

So playing with Alves does have it’s drawbacks and benefits.

I think Navas is the more complete player and will only get better with age. But he has problems with travelling and so that might prevent him from having a big career. Lennon is still very raw, and has huge potential, but it’s less likely that he will ever become a great right winger.Though unlike other wingers with great pace he also has great technique.

Great post mate, and some nice replies too

This is something Lennon previously lacked, hid end product was on-existent, despite being able to bomb down the wing he wasn't able to finish it, put in a telling cross that would trouble the defence and get a team mate on the end of it.

These past few games however, Lennon's crossing has really improved. He is starting to realise his potential, hopefully he has put the injuries behind him and can start getting consistent games and putting in some top class performances to suit. Spurs attack thrives on players like Lennon being at their very best, I personally think he works better with someone like Chimbonda as he overlaps better whilst also having the athleticism to get to his defensive duties.

Navas though IMO is a much more smarter and intellectual winger to Lennon. Being two years older has it's advantages whilst also playing alongside the likes of Alves, being managed by Ramos and playing in a team that is performing well, at least that was Sevilla these past few seasons. The confidence seeped through, I only saw Sevilla matches in the UEFA Cup or against the big two in Spain, however Navas is a player that a lot of people and pundits rate, and it's understandable why. His footballing brain is at a more advanced level, he knows when to make runs and when to put the cross in.

Both of them have huge ability and talents, assuming injuries don't force them to miss games, I'd say they should be getting 5-10 goals a season, and a similar amounts of assists. The tag world class may not exactly be for them just yet though, as I can't see them reaching that level of Messi or C Ronaldo.

lol, the picture of Navas is quite gay.

But yea, I agree that Lennon is a bit predictable and should be more direct. His close control is good, but not in the same league as Messi, and his runs up blind alley's still too much. Once he uses his pace and dribbling ability to better effect he will be devastating.


You are right that Alves also depends heavily on Navas on a two way partnership. Thats another reason why I like Navas, because he does his fair share of defensive work covering for Alves.

I think Navas has overcome his psychological aversions to travelling as it has not hindered him once this season to my knowledge. Also, I remember reading that Sevilla were waiting for him to get over his homesickness issues before renewing his contract. They recently renewed it so I believe that they must be satisfied with his psychological progress.

Yea, from last season to now Lennon has improved a lot and is involved in creating a lot of goals. Although he has had injury issues which has prevented him from building up some good form and consistency.

Navas is the more intelligent winger, in that he knows how to protect the ball and work with the team before he gets into the attacking third. Then he will utilize his talents to the best effect.

You are right about them needing to score 5-10 goals a season. Both of them get quite a few chances, but score few goals. Scoring is the weakest aspect of Navas' game right now, and Lennon is ahead of him there because he scores the easy ones that Navas will miss.