"Real Madrid are on the phone to Levy as I'm typing" Beat me to it (I was just logging in to say the Levy tax on Townsend has just been set at 50m) .
"well done to Harry Redknapp for giving him the opportunity at QPR and for developing his talent." Obviously those Europa games in 2011-12 were the Arry masterplan.
Thoroughly enjoyed that. We should go into more games with this kind of attacking intent, not just when we have to win.
England looked good for once. Plenty of pace and running. Good tactics against a weak midfield, but most of that team would be stood around waiting for the ball all night against one of the top nations.
Walcot looks rather pissed off about Townsend's superb display. Faint praise through a emotionless gaze.
I'm very happy for Townsend, who's gone from an afterthought for Spurs to MOM in England's key match of World Cup Qualifying (if they beat Poland...). I'm hoping this may help to inspire AVB to get us running more and solve our wrong-footed winger problem. None of our wrong-footed wingers has contributed to a single PL goal this year, IMO because we never let them run at the defense before they have a chance to settle. Townsend is a terrific dribbler, and needs an open field to do his best work. One of the worst examples of sportsmanship I've ever seen was Lampard kicking the ball in disgust after Gerrard scored in the 2006 world cup. I've never seen a player on any other team in any other sport look half as disgusted when a teammate scored.
I know this is arbitrary, but I think of Gylfi and Lamela as central players playing wide, rather than inside-footed wingers like Chadli and Townsend. Fair enough about the Townsend penalty, though. I'll rephrase: it's striking that neither Chadli nor Townsend have been involved in the buildup to a single PL goal unless you count diving. The point I was trying to make is that they haven't done much but take useless long-range shots at settled defenses with the deliberate style we've been playing. Either go at the goal faster so their dribbling and movement can be useful, or bring in Gylfi, Holtby or Lamela, who have more passing and shooting skill against settled defenses.
Wilshere came on very quickly after Townsend scored. Did Roy have that as a substitution that was going to happen anyway? I'm wondering if we got lucky in that Townsend scored before he was going to be subbed.
Yeah, that was odd. It could have been that Wilshere was going to take someone else off but decided to give Andros his round of applause after his match winning performance. I'm inclined to agree with your reasoning but as Hodgson did so well yesterday I think we can give him the benefit of the doubt. I think being subbed off was probably the last thing Townsend wanted after scoring though.
I think that does bear more scrutiny. Why would you take off someone that has just done that, unless it was already planned? And if you were planning to do so (which indicates very poor thinking IMHO) then why would you continue with that plan once the goal was scored. I bet Townsend would have thought he could get more after that one. Bad substitution I think.
Woy was probably thinking to consolidate the 2:1 with the substitution when Andros scored. That just confirmed the substitution to him, consolidate the 3:1 instead.
Walker picking up a card was one of the smartest things he's ever done. Neither AVB nor Hodgson will give him a rest, and he needs one.
Ooh, good job he doesn't play for Utd - you wouldn't be saying that! He's had a lucky escape. Blazcyczcyczyczcyczykowski is one of Poland's better players.
