Well, unless he can find another gear, I feel Townsend is not a top4 player, steady PL player, but no more for me as it stands, I just can't see the 'little extra' to set him apart from any other PL winger. Everyone will say he's still young, he's 21, 22 in July.
Agreed. There's a fine line between a good premier league player, and the difference that makes you a regular top 4 team. We still have some positions that need tweaking, as there are currently players in our first 18 who are considerably better than others. Obviously we're never going to have a bench full of the quality like City or United, but we still need to do bring in some who will improve the squad to cope with a top 4 finish and a potential CL campaign.
I don't expect Andros to become a first team regular for us, but he's a player that is more than capable of coming off the bench and producing some goods in my opinion, he's definitely got the ability to be a "Premier League" winger which I think he's proving now at QPR, so to have him as an option from the bench/ use in cups etc is a plus point for us.
I wasn't even going to go there about CL standard, but no, he had cameos in this seasons EL, and was given a start v Maribor, he was swapped at HT for Falque having had...not the best half.
Good sub IMO, a bit like Livermore. Our youth prospects are getting there, we have PL quality players coming through now which we didn't have for a good while. Hopefully we'll be breeding top4 players in a year or 2
He's played 5 games for them, 4 against the likes of S'land, Norwich, Soton, and Swansea, he's proved very little yet SoS imo, other than capable in that company (which is commedable, not saying he's rubbish or anything). For me he's only emergency bench quality in a top4 side, don't think he deserves or should be happy with that, when he can get regular footy mid-table. Can you see him on a bench of one of our rivals? I seriously doubt that!
I think he's won MOTM in two of those games, granted it's against lower league opposition but it's still a feat for a player of his age and experience. I do actually think he's good enough to make our bench, and most of our rivals for the matter (not including City and Utd, they're a step above at the moment in my opinion and have players on the bench that'd likely get into our first team -Hernandez, Nani, Dzeko, Nasri etc). Looking at Arsenal's, Chelsea's and Liverpool's benches - the three teams I consider a main challenge to us at the moment, (hopefully next year we can add City and Utd into that if we add more quality), their benches aren't filled with what I'd consider genuine top quality. Having a look at some of the players, the likes of Bertrand, Marin, Moses, Arshavin, Coquelin, Gervinho, Assaidi, Henderson, Shelvey, Suso don't really stand out to me as much better than Townsend if I'm honest, maybe that's my Spurs bias talking but I genuinely believe he's better than some, if not most of them listed. It's hard to be able to get a good/ very good player to be able to chuck on the bench without causing too much disruption/ tantrums when you're not a title challenging side. So I do have a lot of faith in Andros to be able to take up a squad role with the club, at least for the forseeable future, I've followed his progress pre-Yeovil loan, as I have with Caulker and although Caulker is on a completely different level, I think Townsend still has something to offer... I hope!
Good answers SoS, I just think if our '1st choice bench players' are fit, he'll get nowhere near it and I just don't think thats a good basis for him to be here, its a tough one I agree!
Cheers Notso. Yeah you're probably right there, I just hope Townsend can force his way into reckoning, starting by proving himself on a consistent at QPR, the loans have been a platform for other youngsters to build upon and hopefully he can follow suit. Plus, as of right now, we really lack a proper wing replacement/ cover for Bale and Lennon, so Townsend now has the chance to showcase his skills and ability to put him in contention... Or put him out of the picture, depending on how he does.
Have to agree with SOS on this, as I see townsend as being a good squad player for us, especially when a game is stretched and we need width from the bench, its all about using a player of his ability at the right moment, rather then believing they are the next great thing, just because they have performed on loan. Usually I dismiss loan form, as I don't believe Rose is good enough and nor did I believe O'Hara was good enough (when he was playing a blinder at pompey) however I just see something in Townsend which suggests hes a player that will get better with age/confidence and currently would be a good option from the bench. Also Livermore is no more talented and he doesn't deserve to be placed ahead of Townsend in terms of potential, as hes a player that has gone backwards from his early performances so I would suggest if Livermore is deemed good enough to be a squad player, then Townsend deserves his chance. Even if its just to cross the ball for Obika to score his 1st senior goal!
How many times over the last few years have I heard "not top four quality" in relation to Spurs players like Dawson and Lennon? Dawson might not be as good as Vidic or Kompany etc but I am very, very glad that he's still at the club. There are plenty of players who "are not top four quality" who managers like Fergie like to have around. Players who will not kick up a stink if they get droppped, are good enough to do a job against most EPL teams, will give their all for a well-organised and successful team and won't stretch your wage bill. Players who deservedly have plenty of medals in the cabinet. Townsend could become one such player.
What a load of tosh ! He's already found "another gear" in his performances for QPR, so who is to say he can't find another ?? And as for his age, the outdated 'if he's not in the 1st team when he's 21, then he won't make it' train of thought, is way out of date.
Just to elaborate further on what Spurcat said...... We tried to force QPR into a three for one deal. They wanted Andros Townsend however we would only allow him to go if Rangers took Bentley and Jenas! Jenas was effectively released from his contract in order to sign and he waived all the money he was owed. (Always gets a bad reaction off our own fans yet the most model professional you could wish to meet and he deserves his chance at QPR.) Bentley shares the same agent as Jenas and Danny Graham so the deal was a nightmare on deadline day. In the end it was apparant QPR could only take one player on a permanent deal. Who needed the deal more? Jenas injury prone barely passing the fitness test after a spell on Notts Forest bench or Bentley mega money so the agent is still getting paid his mega money? Townsend drove away because Qpr ran out of money (never report that do they?) he then came back because as mentioned Jenas's money was used on Townsends wages. Harry was very cheeky to come out and say what there paying Townsend because we did them a favour. I have no concerns that Townsend will make it at Tottenham Hotspur. Classic early noughties winger, hugging the touchline but can cut inside. Andros will be with us for a few years yet. Not a chance QPR could buy him. However i would not mind taking Junior Hoilett off there hands, has real potential.
Completely agree. In Africa and South America they look at under 23s not Under 21s which i personally agree with. People are too quick to praise and then take away from youngsters. One minute Coulibaly is world class, one minute he is not. Let the kids learn, let them grow, integrate them into the team and ultimately give them more time to develop.
Just on the point about City and Uniteds bench being stronger than ours. Where they are stronger than us is the forwards and to me that is the area that makes the difference between a good side and a great side. United have Hernandez and Welbeck. City have Dzeko and did have Ballotelli. It's interesting how having 3-4 good strikers makes such a difference to the team and I think the main reason why the London clubs are that bit further behind. Strikers change games. Midfielders can also but generally not in the same way. I know I'm stating the obvious here but we rely so heavily on our first 11 doing the job that any subs we make are just to see the game out.
It'd be interesting to see Townsend in the side now, as I think he's better down the left, but Redknapp and Villas-Boas seem to prefer him on the right. I wonder whether his workrate's a problem though, as he was left out of QPR's side with Taarabt for their win over Southampton.
Harry does prefer his wingers to track back, but his reason for omitting Andros was because he felt he wouldn't give Bothroyd sufficient service. I think he left Taarabt out because he had no choice after his woeful perforance against Man United.
I know you've seen him far more first hand, I've only seen what we've all seen on tv, from his cup apps for us to his good spell (another gear) at QPR, and thats what I think, good little player, but not top 4. If he was for sale I wouldn't want us to buy him, and I don't think Chelsea, City or United would either, he's not as good as the players they use in his position, and thats not a discredit, or tosh! I should add I was wrong about Bale a few years, I thought he was going to turn out ordinary! As a scout there must be an age where you decide you've seen enough to make an opinion, thats all I've done here, the age thing maybe dated for you, its not something I use thats set in stone, its just one rule of thumb thats served me ok 'most' of the time over the years, and still does. I've usually seen something by the time they're that age, as of yet I haven't. Not comparing him to Bale, just using it as an example, Bale was tearing Inter a new one at that age, Townsend given his chance against Maribor wasn't very good. Before anyone jumps all over that, I don't judge on one game, again its just one example.
Think we just (the club and fans) need to trust and put faith in some of the youngsters a bit more. Some take a little longer to bloom than others. Lets not forget, there were many people that said Messi wouldn't make it due to his height... They must hate themselves right now
