Should Tottenham Hotspur sell Andros Townsend, or does he still have a role to play? The academy graduate has been a loyal servant to Spurs, but his current form and ability are under question. Would the club be making a mistake if they sold him?
Townsend broke out onto the Premier League in style in 2012, yet his form since then has been poor and uninspiring. The injury that he sustained really seemed to knock the England international player for six as he still hasn’t got back to his peak. But, Spurs should keep some faith for Andros Townsend? He is a very good squad player, after all. He is certainly no Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale, but when called upon, he is a decent winger, suited to the Premier League dynamic, and is able to cause defenders worry with his pace and ability to cut inside. But, if Spurs are to keep him, there are a few grievances that Mauricio Pochettino must sort out.
Firstly, Townsend shoots often too early and too often, much to the frustration of Spurs fans. It’s not to say he doesn’t have a strong shot; in fact, he is quite effective from outside the box, but his crossing could be a more effective choice, especially with Harry Kane sniffing out a chance in the box. So, maybe Pochettino should play Townsend on the left wing so that cutting inside isn’t such a natural decision to make? The only trouble with this is that it disrupts Pochettino’s tactics of having inverted wingers, and with Spurs’ current form, is it worth tinkering with quite an integral part of his system for the sake of one player? Probably not.
Secondly, Townsend’s take-ons aren’t what they used to be. Currently, he has 67% successful take-ons in the Europa League, but only 50% in the Premier League. Perhaps these statistics are due to a lack of playing time, but nevertheless, it’s something that needs to be improved upon. Every take-on is a chance to beat a player and whip a ball into the box, or at least make a pass that leads to a cross or key pass. Therefore, when Townsend is currently losing the ball instead of providing a chance, it reflects badly on him and makes his overall performance seem worse. If Townsend can master his take-ons, then Pochettino may well just favour him over Erik Lamela or Nacer Chadli. But, is this likely when Lamela and Chadli are so useful to the team at the moment? Again, it does not seem very likely.
The sticking point with Townsend is the fact that Spurs have a solid starting eleven, who are all on form. Erik Lamela is finally showing his true colours and, depending on the midfield make-up, Christian Eriksen or Clinton N’Jie – or even Nacer Chadli – occupies the left midfield spot. Therefore, if Townsend wants to prove himself, it will have to be in the Europa League or in the FA Cup. However, with the transfer window only just a couple of months around the corner, time is running out for Townsend, who needs to prove himself on and off the pitch if he wishes to get back into the starting eleven again.
Should Spurs sell Andros Townsend? Based on current form, yes. But, a couple of injuries or suspensions could mean that Townsend finds himself beginning again for Spurs. Why not give him a few more chances before moving him on?
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