He's like the kid in the park playing for his own fun

Player Assessment: Andros Townsend

Time to move on to our wide attackers, it's difficult to call them wingers as they don't operate as wingers, inverted wingers if you prefer the term.  We'll start with a look at a player who has stagnated, Andros Townsend.

Andros Townsend

Here is another player with some ability but no end product. Even England commentators are now noticing he is fast becoming a one trick pony, cut in and shoot. When he started out in the England side he stayed wide and ran outside defenders, causing havoc and creating chances. Then he was able to cut in and score as the defender didn't know which way he was going to go, beaten for pace on the outside he has to show him infield and we all know that is where Townsend wants to be, infield, shooting.

For Tottenham it's rare he goes round the outside of his man, this may well be under the head coaches instructions but ITK suggests that he doesn't do as he is told, he does his own thing to much. Whichever is tight it's not producing the goods for us. He shooting, 16 shots at 67% accuracy, may look good statistically but how many of those shots actually trouble the keeper, very few.

If he is going to come in off the flank and he is as that is our style, then he must be looking for telling balls through the defence but we see precious few of these, you just get the impression that it's all about him and not the team. Érik Lamela didn't set the world alight, he wasn't keeping Townsend out of the side because of his performances, he kept Townsend out simply because Townsend wasn't good enough, no end product and can at time be a defensive liability.

He does seem to have stopped his little back-heel on the half-way line with no defender behind him after gifting Liverpool at goal at White Hart Lane. Harry Kane seems to have matured quicker than 23-year-old (24 in July) Townsend, yet he has played more league games, more Tottenham games and more England games than Kane.

Tim Sherwood though said he and Kane were the two with the best mentality in the club so clearly there is something there. We need to see more of it. He doesn't moan, he just gets on with it which is encouraging, perhaps another pre-season learning the system, the other players roles within it, his role within it, will bring out an improved player.

He doesn't look mentally ready when he comes on as a sub and was all at sea against Manchester United, being taken off after half an hour. I just wonder if he is a player who doesn't want to play a set way in a set system but wants to be the kid in the park playing for his own fun. he frustrated in his first season with his constant shooting into the crowd and frustrated again last year.

Foe me he is another with a defining season in front of him. Produce or be sold.

Premier League Games Only

Andros Townsend
Played: 17
Minutes: 755
Total Passes: 294
Pass Completion: 81.29%
Forward Passes: 45.92%
Key Passes: 11
Key Pass Time: 1 every 68.64 minutes
Chances Created: 13
Chance Creation Time: 1 every 58.08 minutes
Shots: 16
Shot Accuracy: 67%
Shot Time: 1 every 47.19 minutes
Goals: 2
Assists: 2
Positive Attacking Action: 1 every 17.16 minutes
(Total Minutes divided by Shots, Goals, Assists, Key passes, Chances Created combined)
Tackles: 39
Tackles Won: 51.28%
Blocks: 0
Interceptions: 2
Clearances: 10
Take On Success: 42.42%
Header Success: 25%
Defensive Action: 1 every 62.92 minutes
(Total Minutes divided by Blocks, Clearances, Interceptions

Further Reading
Medical for Capoue Tuesday
Building a squad for Bale
Kane's approach sets him apart
Time Lamela delivered more than the show pony routine

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