Jamie Redknapp spoke out about his concern that Andros Townsend may lose his place to Erik Lamela at Tottenham, but this has left me confused.
I do not believe it is a true selection problem.
It has been highlighted over the start of the season that we are failing to use the key wing area's when attacking. Although we may not be using them Townsend is not under performing in his position.
Townsend has been ever present in 10 of our 11 games in the league. He may have been marked out of the Newcastle game, but this was a tactics issue rather than anything linked to his personal ability.
Andros has scored 346 points in the Squawka stats system a mere 5 points off of our top scorer Dembele. So why would we need to question whether Andros should be dropped?
The concern is that AVB will feel the pressure from fans to start record signing Lamela instead of Townsend. However there is a huge problem with this. You wouldn't drop one of your top performers. We struggle with placing the right person in left midfield, so surely it is obvious, we would need to drop a naturally left footed midfielder in. Townsend has not really been played in this position and therefore should be switched, this would then allow Lamela to drop into his more natural right midfield position. It is not rocket science and in fact far form it, so why does it raise the question?
I think that this highlights that people are too impatient. For all AVB's faults (that the fans are highlighting), did he not get the staggered inclusion of Lloris right? Lloris was not ready for the league and AVB did not want to blow his confidence until he was ready. Lamela's chance I feel will come and likely against City, but it is time that the simple solution is chosen.
Lamela likes to hold his position on the right rather than cutting in, so it would be ideal for both him and Townsend to play on opposing flanks and it would balance out well. You cannot put two or three men on Lamela and Townsend, so it would open the game up.
I do not feel that Townsend's position is in danger at club or national level. You only had to see that Andros was the most likely scorer against Germany and has played exceptionally well in his caps to date.
I feel that it was a little silly to make such comments, but I feel that there is more behind the words from Jamie other than he may be dropped.
COYS!!!!
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