fans ruining Townsend!

[jambreck]

I was at the game sunday and yes it was a great atmosphere but what is getting at me is the criticism Townsend is receiving.
Lennon had a great game and I am a believer that Townsend could play on the left, but all I hear is fans moaning everything he doesn't manage to beat both defenders who are intensely marking him,
For England he has been immense and before Sunday our best player and he has created many chances but unfortunately have not been finished. All his mazy runs will not come off but he is dangerous and if he doesn't try them they won't come off,
My point is let's get behind our most potential home grown player in decades and remember he is young and is learning every game.
If we get on his back every game his confidence will go and he won't become that amazing player he has the potential to be,
So let's get behind him and stop using him as a scapegoat and moaning about him,. He is yid through and through

Well said.

Regardless of whether or not Townsend should be in the team ahead of other candidates, some of the flak he is taking is completely out of order.

Most of the criticism that I hear at games relates to him cutting inside rather than beating his man on the outside. And that isn't really his fault. It is what's being asked of him. And the reason why it's not working well at the moment is that our full backs aren't often enough providing the width in attacking positions that AVB's system requires.

Townsend might not be the most gifted of players. But nor is he without ability. And he is positive, brave, direct and, above all, one of our own. Let's back him. Not get on his back.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Its not just Townsend who gets stick, Lamela has been laid into quit badly as well. I agree that people to wake up and realise how much potential these kids have and get behind both of them even if they make mistakes. We can criticise the likes of Defoe and Dawson who are both seasoned professionals but we tend to expect too much from some of the youngsters who have the potential to be world stars in a few year given the right environment. We need to back them and support them if we want them to reach their full potential.

 

[guate]

Even watching the game on the telly, way over here in Central America, it was obvious the supporters resented the fact that AVB was taking off Lennon who was giving Evra a roasting, consequently they started booing. This had nothing whatsoever to do with Andros coming on and the moment he stepped onto the pitch it immediately stopped.

 

[jambreck]

I said a few months ago that Andros Townsend would only reach his full potential as a player if he had the full backing of the fans.
I was shocked by the reaction of the fans when he was coming on to replace Aaron Lennon on Sunday.
This young guy isn't from the other side of the world who couldn't give a shit about Spurs and is only here for the dough.
He is one of us..........how bad must he feel when fellow Spurs fans reacted like that.
Fucking disgrace and the fans should be ashamed of themselves.

Agreed - with one caveat.

I'm sure you're aware that the booing was directed at AVB for taking Lennon off rather than because Townsend was coming on. Granted that it could still have affected him.

 

[Syn_13]

I'd love to see him on the left....taking on his man and fizzing some crosses into the box, as opposed to on the right.

Could see Soldado getting more service.

Lennon was exceptional on the right on Sunday and really got in behind Evra well. If we see that happening on both sides then we'll be getting more out of our strikers for sure. Chadli, although he had a quiet game, had to track back a lot because of Valencia really pressing Vertonghen, which is why we didn't see a lot of service on that side. However, I'd love to see Townsend given a go there as I do believe he's done enough to merit a spot in the first team.

 

[mpickard2087]

I think he has flaws, a lot of flaws maybe, but some of the criticism he gets is absolutely hilarious. Apparently instead of cutting inside where you can pass, cross or shoot, the solution is for our wingers/fullbacks to get down the outside and put more crosses in and everything is solved... Yes that is bound to work with one midget in the box. It will cause defences all sorts of problems

 

[markieboy]

Surely they were booing the decision to take off Lennon, not actually booing Townsend.

I understand and thats fair enough but they didn't exactly roar him on when he did come on.
We are also starting to hear moans and groans when he takes people on and loses the ball or when he has a shot on goal thats not on target.

 

[Legacy]

My point is let's get behind our most potential home grown player in decades and remember he is young and is learning every game.

I think Ledley King, among a few others, might disagree with that.

 

[markieboy]

Although Lennon had a good first half,I don't think he kicked it for 20 minutes in the second half and deserved to be replaced.

 

[dagraham]

Although Lennon had a good first half,I don't think he kicked it for 20 minutes in the second half and deserved to be replaced.

As opposed to Chadli who was completely ineffective in both halves.

 

[Beni]

I think he has flaws, a lot of flaws maybe, but some of the criticism he gets is absolutely hilarious. Apparently instead of cutting inside where you can pass, cross or shoot, the solution is for our wingers/fullbacks to get down the outside and put more crosses in and everything is solved... Yes that is bound to work with one midget in the box. It will cause defences all sorts of problems

Not saying it's the solution to all of our problems, but in soldados last season at Valencia, 10+ of his goals all came from crosses into the box from out wide.

 

[mil1lion]

We're not ruining his career it is just tough love.
Boo Townsend you waste of space. Sort it out you slag!

 

[michaelden]

I think he lost the ball nearly every time he received it.

Looks a different player with an England shirt on, but I'm just calling it how I see it. Want him to do well though, obviously.

He looks better for England cos the players around him aren't as good as Spurs

 

[Syn_13]

He looks better for England cos the players around him aren't as good as Spurs

To be honest, I think it's more the fact that the opposition he plays against is a lot weaker than Premier League standard. Plus, Rooney is excellent at making space for other players around him and Townsend probably benefits from this.

 

[jezz]

He had the freedom of the park early on in the season.
Now managers have sussed his game and are doubling up on him.
He needs to learn how to handle this to his and our advantage.
Hes young, he will learn and get better for it.
Playing time is earnt, whether your home grown or from the other side of the planet.

 

[absolute bobbins]

To be honest, I think it's more the fact that the opposition he plays against is a lot weaker than Premier League standard. Plus, Rooney is excellent at making space for other players around him and Townsend probably benefits from this.

He'll look so ineffectual if he goes to Brazil and England somehow fluke it out of the group

 

[absolute bobbins]

He had the freedom of the park early on in the season.
Now managers have sussed his game and are doubling up on him.
He needs to learn how to handle this to his and our advantage.
Hes young, he will learn and get better for it.
Playing time is earnt, whether your home grown or from the other side of the planet.

Simple thing, don't cut inside and try to kill a fan with every run

 

[jj87]

It is a symptom of this miserable consumerist culture taking hold in the Premiership. Boo every tiny thing about football that you don't like. Ruining the atmosphere.

 

[only1waddle]

He looks better for England cos the players around him aren't as good as Spurs

I have said this a couple of times before, he is better for England because he is worked into a team ethic, he knows taking pot shots constantly won't be received well by Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard etc, i imagine Hodgson has also told him not to shoot as much as he does for us.
One of the biggest mistakes AVB has made this season is encourage Townsend to shoot so much, a few games is ok, but it went on for too many games just so his system could be validated, to the detriment of our overall game in the final 3rd.
I like Townsend but he should be coached into making decent team decisions as a wide forward/AM, not some one man army to bail us out in the 88th minute. Take his natural game and improve it, don't make him something he isn't.

 

[SteveH]

Andros is a victim of his own 'success' and the media hype/rubbish that sadly followed.