Townsend or no Townsend?

[idontgetit]

He wasn't too bad against Newcastle. One attack in 2nd half he should have squared to Soldado for a tap in but in general his play looked decent

 

[jezz]

He wasn't too bad against Newcastle. One attack in 2nd half he should have squared to Soldado for a tap in but in general his play looked decent

i like townsend and im pretty sure 99% of the fans do aswell.
He just needs to be more intelligent with his final ball.
A second quicker with his passing and stop shooting at defenders.
Unfortunately for him, but good for us, he has serious competition for his place and the competition has started to show some form.

 

[jonnyrotten]

I think Townsend AND Lamela is the answer. They can switch wings but I would be inclined to start Townsend on the left. It would help us use the full width of our relatively small pitch and mean more crosses come into the box than is currently happening. The main issue would then be to ensure we have enough bodies in the box to convert the chances, and that means our "attacking" midfielders being within a mile of Soldado.

 

[mpickard2087]

Yeah on reflection Townsend wasn't too bad. It was late on in the game where things were getting a bit desperate when the speculative shots started, which is maybe understandable.

As for playing in Soldado, probably should have but at least worked the keeper and Soldado's header for the rebound was piss poor lets be honest... No guarantees he would have tapped it in with form like that!

 

[SlunkSoma]

I think that Andre planned (in the same way he did with Lloris) that he would stick Lennon/Townsend in for a bit and then ease Lamela into our starting lineup. Townsend's good show for England seems to have stalled that plan.

It hasn't made Townsend undroppable, but it has made teams wary of him in a way they wouldn't have been earlier in the season. I think AVB has looked at this as an opportunity to exploit - see what sort of joy the team would get out of one player again being doubled up on in the way Bale was but with our new attacking threat elsewhere. I think Lamela, all being well, was earmarked to be in the first XI by the Villa game but Andre has stuck with Townsend for better or worse.

I think after the international break (unless Townsend has some sort of blinding two games) that we'll see Lamela introduced...although now possibly after the Manchester games.

 

[michaelden]

Lamela is streets ahead of Townsend in quality & development and they are the same age. Lamela should start over Andros on RW(F).

 

[eddiebailey]

Lamela is streets ahead of Townsend in quality & development and they are the same age. Lamela should start over Andros on RW(F).

Not in terms of Premiership experieince he isn't. Lamela will come good but he has some adjusting to do.

 

[michaelden]

Not in terms of Premiership experieince he isn't. Lamela will come good but he has some adjusting to do.

Nope, he has few EPL minutes but has proven more effective in those than AT in all his EPL games.

 

[Deleted member 26368]

He wasn't too bad against Newcastle. One attack in 2nd half he should have squared to Soldado for a tap in but in general his play looked decent

As you say his general play wasn't bad. He certainly advances the play up the pitch very quickly - perhaps a little ironically he'd have been better suited to Harry's rapid countering style than to AVB's possession game.

What was interesting with Townsend v Newcastle is that very few of his final balls ended up as crosses or through passes. Soldado would benefit from an increase in both. That isn't to say I don't rate Townsend - I do. As many others have said, it's very much a case of learning to use the ball better.

 

[idontgetit]

As you say his general play wasn't bad. He certainly advances the play up the pitch very quickly - perhaps a little ironically he'd have been better suited to Harry's rapid countering style than to AVB's possession game.

What was interesting with Townsend v Newcastle is that very few of his final balls ended up as crosses or through passes. Soldado would benefit from an increase in both. That isn't to say I don't rate Townsend - I do. As many others have said, it's very much a case of learning to use the ball better.

Agree with that mate. I think that part of the problem (aside from his passing decisions) is that he's actually playing too deep. The number of times he picks up the ball and takes it forward only to get closed down by 3 players is rediculous. Really Walker or one of our midfielders should be carrying the ball forward and then looking to play Townsend in behind. That suits us in both an direct countering style and a slower building style. At the moment playing wide forward he looks more like an inverted winger whereas we need more of a wide striker

 

[Deleted member 26368]

Agree with that mate. I think that part of the problem (aside from his passing decisions) is that he's actually playing too deep. The number of times he picks up the ball and takes it forward only to get closed down by 3 players is rediculous. Really Walker or one of our midfielders should be carrying the ball forward and then looking to play Townsend in behind. That suits us in both an direct countering style and a slower building style. At the moment playing wide forward he looks more like an inverted winger whereas we need more of a wide striker

Spot on.

 

[YiddoInPoland]

You can't doubt that the lad has ability, it's just his decision making. Thing is, he has got into his head that to be noticed he has to score (or be looking to score) based on his recent interview and that's not what his first thought should be, well not playing for us anyway.

 

[jezz]

You can't doubt that the lad has ability, it's just his decision making. Thing is, he has got into his head that to be noticed he has to score (or be looking to score) based on his recent interview and that's not what his first thought should be, well not playing for us anyway.

If thats what Townsend is suggesting. He should be dropped now.
His decision making is poor and hindering our progress.

 

[eddiebailey]

What he actually said was:

"Goals and assists make you un-droppable and I know there are great players all vying for two wing spots at Spurs, so I need to get more goals and assists to cement my place in the team and not give the manager an excuse to drop me,"

 

[TheSecretNonFootballer]

What he actually said was:

"Goals and assists make you un-droppable and I know there are great players all vying for two wing spots at Spurs, so I need to get more goals and assists to cement my place in the team and not give the manager an excuse to drop me,"

Sometimes you have to read between the lines

 

[jezz]

What he actually said was:

"Goals and assists make you un-droppable and I know there are great players all vying for two wing spots at Spurs, so I need to get more goals and assists to cement my place in the team and not give the manager an excuse to drop me,"

Well if thats the case, why the fcuk is he still being picked?

 

[YiddoInPoland]

What he actually said was:

"Goals and assists make you un-droppable and I know there are great players all vying for two wing spots at Spurs, so I need to get more goals and assists to cement my place in the team and not give the manager an excuse to drop me,"

Ahh ok, i read the @TheSecretNonFootballer version i still don't think his game should be about goals he should lean to assists first and goals will be a nice bi-product and that would actually make him undroppable

 

[hodsgod]

Townsend is still young, he has a lot to learn. He needs to play and be rotated sometimes like everybody else.

 

[double0]

Can't understand some people s agenda. ..anything to discredit Townsend instead if supporting a youth academy product playing for his boyhood club.

For the record I believe Lamela Townsend and others can play in the same team and all can be rotated.

 

[jezz]

Can't understand some people s agenda. ..anything to discredit Townsend instead if supporting a youth academy product playing for his boyhood club.

For the record I believe Lamela Townsend and others can play in the same team and all can be rotated.

Every body is supporting Townsend, but because hes from the youth academy doesnt mean hes exempt from criticism when deserved.
Hes will be a fantastic talent for us and will play with the squad and learn from them.