Andros Townsend

[Syn_13]

Scapegoat alert.
Liverpool were better. Lamela gave the ball away stupidly and MoPo did not have a plan B.

As much as you are correct in that Poch lacked a plan B for this match, and Lamela was very poor, I do believe people's general criticism of Townsend is not unwarranted. Yes, it's unfair to make him a scapegoat when nobody played well today, but he's just not a smart footballer and does not have what it takes to step up to the required level. He doesn't have that spark about him that you see from other young players with "potential". We've seen it from Eriksen and Lamela, even if they have had plenty of poor games. Andros lacks this "X factor", for lack of a better term. He's got raw talent but nothing between his ears to carry it forward.

Losing games is often a collective problem, however you often get one or two players that make things a hell of a lot worse. Kaboul was the issue today and the game was lost before Andros came on. It didn't help that the kid's first touches were to effectively to set up a goal, however, yes, we shouldn't use today as a good reason to say he needs to go. Still, today doesn't need to be a justification to say he should go. I just don't think he has what it takes.

I'm happy to keep him around as a backup, and as much as I think Lennon gets Poch's style better than Andros, I'd rather keep Townsend as he's younger and Lennon's chance has come and gone. I do think that if we do play him it has to be out on the left where he's encouraged more to get down the byline and whip crosses in rather than look for the ever so predictable cut-insides. If we get good offers for both Lennon and Townsend though, I'd ship them both out given the chance. As I said earlier, some players have that spark about them, the moment of vision that you can applaud even if they don't quite pull it off. I don't think I've ever seen that in Townsend, just playground solo football where he tries to use his physical attributes like his agility, pace and quick feet to beat his man. Sterling's a great example as to why you need more than that to be successful.

 

[absolute bobbins]

And all our other players were magnificent.
We were 2-0 down when he came on and who exactly was covering him when he lost the ball?
AT will be a big star this season just like he was before he got injured last season. But some so-called fans love a scapegoat so ..enjoy.

I love Townsend the person but Townsend the footballer is shite mate. If he's going to be our big star we're going to be relegated.

He can't run with the ball, can't control with his first touch, he is unable to follow instructions and almost all his shots are all hit and hopes.

I'd love for him to become a Spurs legend but he's neither of sufficient quality or potential and when we have the opportunity to use him as a makeweight to sign a better player who is desperate to sign for Spurs then we should bloody well take it.

 

[morriss]

And all our other players were magnificent.
We were 2-0 down when he came on and who exactly was covering him when he lost the ball?
AT will be a big star this season just like he was before he got injured last season. But some so-called fans love a scapegoat so ..enjoy.

Difference is, I can remember when the other players on the pitch played well...

 

[prawnsandwich]

So are people here really blaming AT for the defeat. I mean really?
Sheesh!

 

[Mr Pink]

So are people here really blaming AT for the defeat. I mean really?
Sheesh!

Not at all.

But his game for months hasn't changed one iota. I'd say that has more to do with most people's exasperation - and you'll note that this frustration has been consistently documented in this thread long before today's game.

The fact he came on and lost the ball immediately which effectively killed any remote chance we had of getting back into the game has only heightened the building frustration towards his game.

Is that easy enough for you to grasp?

 

[paulcumpstone]

So are people here really blaming AT for the defeat. I mean really?
Sheesh!

i don't blame him for the defeat,game was as good as up before he came on. i do blame him for being a brain dead drongo who seems determined to play with his head down and for himself rather than the team.shame as he clearly has ability.

 

[Sweech]

I like how the Andros defense is, "why is everyone blaming him for the loss?"

I have seen absolutely no one blaming him for this loss. In the Liverpool game Townsend was simply part of an entire team that did not play well.

However, this is just another knotch in a string of poor Townsend performances. Whether or not the team plays well Andros rarely does as he opts to play his own game.

We should be looking to cut bait ASAP.

 

[prawnsandwich]

I like how the Andros defense is, "why is everyone blaming him for the loss?"

I have seen absolutely no one blaming him for this loss. In the Liverpool game Townsend was simply part of an entire team that did not play well.

However, this is just another knotch in a string of poor Townsend performances. Whether or not the team plays well Andros rarely does as he opts to play his own game.

We should be looking to cut bait ASAP.

West Ham?

 

[Mr Pink]

A shot on target

 

[Sweech]

Newsflash-

West Ham?

West Ham? Townsend had two long shots on goal against a 10 man side. WOW.

In fact it might not have even been 2 on target.

Let me know when he gets a goal or assist (non-penalty), you may have to wait awhile.

 

[torbaytottenham]

Townsend just seems to lack a footballing brain, why try a fancy trick on the half way line when your full back has just bombed past you, why continually try the cut inside manoeuvre, teams know what's about to happen, why as a winger attack the oppositions full back, get him backtracking into the penalty area and then proceed to pass the ball 30 yards back out of the box, attack him, take him on and make something happen, no-one in their right mind could blame him for todays defeat but he does appear a one trick brain dead pony and imo is one we should move on.

 

[DaSpurs]

I like how the Andros defense is, "why is everyone blaming him for the loss?"

I have seen absolutely no one blaming him for this loss. In the Liverpool game Townsend was simply part of an entire team that did not play well.

However, this is just another knotch in a string of poor Townsend performances. Whether or not the team plays well Andros rarely does as he opts to play his own game.

We should be looking to cut bait ASAP.

It's not that I think people shouldn't be blaming him, it's simply that I view it as a problem that he's been selected as the seeming choice for venting, while IMO the true culprits are almost entirely left devoid of criticism because they're quality footballers individually.

We have the exact same problem as last season: a slow, meandering, too similar, unbalanced, horizontally-prioritizing, and utterly biteless central midfield that inspires no fear in our opposition nor grit in its teammates. We have no one who in the 80th minute can grab the game by the nuts, and flip it with a will to get forward and pin the opposition back. We have Holtby, but it seems Poch may very well have an issue with his stamina and he looks to be off. But other than them, no one who can change the game with incisive play.

That problem manifested yet again today, as our central midfield did absolutely nothing to control the game and thereby stem off the supply to Liverpool's speedy and technically gifted attackers. Against West Ham and QPR we have the individual quality to overcome, against the top sides we do not. Only a disadvantage in area of the pitch that is so influential to the course of a match. Good players each in their own right, but far too similar altogether and too lacking in areas we need badly.

 

[fortworthspur]

always over-rated here. I admit there was a brief murmur of possibility for a couple of months last fall, but he never looked the finished article. he is a one trick pony who doesnt even turn that trick very well - run to the corner as fast as he can or try to cut back (behind his plant foot usually). the defenders have him figured out.

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

@SamWallaceIndy: THFC to offer Andros Townsend as part of £14m deadline day deal for Southampton's injured striker Jay Rodriguez http://t.co/ceOPInTiYr

 

[Sweech]

It's not that I think people shouldn't be blaming him, it's simply that I view it as a problem that he's been selected as the seeming choice for venting, while IMO the true culprits are almost entirely left devoid of criticism because they're quality footballers individually.

We have the exact same problem as last season: a slow, meandering, too similar, unbalanced, horizontally-prioritizing, and utterly biteless central midfield that inspires no fear in our opposition nor grit in its teammates. We have no one who in the 80th minute can grab the game by the nuts, and flip it with a will to get forward and pin the opposition back. We have Holtby, but it seems Poch may very well have an issue with his stamina and he looks to be off. But other than them, no one who can change the game with incisive play.

That problem manifested yet again today, as our central midfield did absolutely nothing to control the game and thereby stem off the supply to Liverpool's speedy and technically gifted attackers. Against West Ham and QPR we have the individual quality to overcome, against the top sides we do not. Only a disadvantage in area of the pitch that is so influential to the course of a match. Good players each in their own right, but far too similar altogether and too lacking in areas we need badly.

None of the rest of the team's woes absolves him of his poor performances. Like I said earlier whether the team plays well or poor, Townsend is doing the same crap as always, on a solo mission on his own.

If I want to praise or criticize some other player I'll find their own personal thread.

If I want to praise or criticize the team I'll find the appropriate thread for that as well.

We need to be able to judge the players singularly. This is the Andros Townsend thread. Thus I'll discuss Townsend and how I've found him disappointing for a very long time.

 

[Arthur Hucksake]

Ok ok.... his critics are wrong. The statistics prove what a greatly improving player Townsend is. Look at those assists, goals and superb crosses.

 

[VanZan]

Just what do Southampton see in Clownsend? I thought Koeman was a better judge of player.

 

[DaSpurs]

None of the rest of the team's woes absolves him of his poor performances. Like I said earlier whether the team plays well or poor, Townsend is doing the same crap as always, on a solo mission on his own.

If I want to praise or criticize some other player I'll find their own personal thread.

If I want to praise or criticize the team I'll find the appropriate thread for that as well.

We need to be able to judge the players singularly. This is the Andros Townsend thread. Thus I'll discuss Townsend and how I've found him disappointing for a very long time.

I'm not criticizing you since you weren't among the pile who immediately jumped in here to vent at the whistle, I'm simply pointing out why I myself used the defense you pointed to as being insufficient.

You're absolutely right, the team's performances do not "absolve" him. My case is simply that the amount of blame on his kid was entirely disproportionate in relation to others, and I think was intrinsically linked to the ITK bit about Schneiderlin falling through because we weren't willing to negotiate about Townsend. The frustration is fair, but misplaced IMO. Is all I meant to point out.

 

[Arthur Hucksake]

For what it's worth, we have greater clowns to deal with. Kaboul and Ekotto for starters.

 

[St José Dominguez]

No way was anyone blaming him for today's result surely. Even the third goal despite him losing ball I blame Kaboul and Capoue a lot, no way should a player losing ball in opponent half lead to a goal that easily.
I had it with him after Thursday, it was exactly same nonsense of last season and this was despite having over month more than most training and getting instruction. I blamed tactics a little last season but it's clear it's him. If Poch wanted to keep him cool, I'd back his decision but if not and scope to swap for Jay Rodriguez we should be all over that.