The 21 year-old speedy English winger has been sent out on NINE loans in just 4 seasons, with Leeds United, Birmingham City and most recently doomed QPR being among the clubs he has plied his temporary trade for. He has had fluctuating success in these spells, but few can deny that his current loan at QPR has demonstrated his true talents, as a tricky winger who has a fierce shot and raging pace.
The question is: Is he now good enough to break into the Tottenham team?
First thoughts are no. Spurs have spent money on Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lewis Holtby and Clint Dempsey who have all been generally employed on the wings, and they already have Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale in their ranks. But, examining that list, with the Welshman’s move inside, they no longer have an out-and-out left winger. The youthful Townsend could definitely fill that slot.
Tottenham are a team where certain attributes need to be fulfilled for a player to fit into their system. At other clubs, you can be a generic, average footballer and fit into a team in your desired position. But at Spurs, you need pace, you need agility, you need a high work rate, and you need passion. The manager, Andre Villas-Boas, demands this. Andros Townsend has all of these things. He also has the ability to beat a man with sheer pace, or with a bit of skill, and what’s more, he can back himself to score from outside the box. He has shown at QPR that he is clearly too good to just be another eternal loanee (like your Fraizer Campbell's) and deserves a starting place in a top Premier League team.
There are even shades of Gareth Bale when you watch Townsend play. There is no doubt that he would fit into their team, and with an attacking midfield trio of Townsend, Bale and Lennon, what defence wouldn’t be petrified?
Spurs need to show him some respect. They need to get him into their team next year – where I feel he belongs – or they need to stick an £8m price tag over his head and move him on.
Source: DSG
