| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend 15:12 - Feb 19 with 2614 views | cbower |
over Leif Davis. Yes, Townsend had a very good game defensively on Saturday and got into some decent attacking positions without really deliver but really? Leif has been outstanding for 2 1/2 years, has still nbeen one of our better performers this season and will undoubtedly be the target of some Premier League interest in the summer. We need wins, Leif is our chief chance creator. If he's fit, he plays for me. |  |
| |  |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:24 - Feb 19 with 2531 views | SheffordBlue |
Wouldn't be against seeing more of Townsend coming on later in games when Leif has started to run out of steam. Especially if we are holding on for something I think having both a fresh pair of legs and a bit more defensive solidity/experience would be helpful later in games. |  |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:28 - Feb 19 with 2506 views | cbower |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:24 - Feb 19 by SheffordBlue |
Wouldn't be against seeing more of Townsend coming on later in games when Leif has started to run out of steam. Especially if we are holding on for something I think having both a fresh pair of legs and a bit more defensive solidity/experience would be helpful later in games. |
That makes sense. We have flogged Leif pretty much since he came here. Similarly Delap. Yes, for a significant period Hirst was out but even since he's been back, Delap has been doing 80 odd minutes. At Liverpool we were 4-0 down and Delap was flogged for 77 minutes before being taken off a minute after receiving a caution! | |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:36 - Feb 19 with 2474 views | SaffronWaldenBlues |
We have had players come in and do well, Walton (first game), Wolfenden, Burgess, Broadhead, and now Townsend, and regardless of how well they have played, still can't keep their space when the players being picked ahead of them aren't playing any better or worse it doesn't really say much about taking chances for the squad overall. It may harm motivation long term. Credit to the likes of Woolfie for not spitting blood over it, but there's no way he or Burgess should have been dropped in my opinion.
We were decidedly less exposed with Townsend playing over Davis against Villa, he may be a better "defender" than Davis, and if it were me I would only change the suspended/injured. The bigger concern for me is Ben Johnson, who was again very exposed against Villa, and the fact we have signed Godfrey who doesn't appear to be making the first team either. [Post edited 19 Feb 15:37]
|  |
| An East Anglian Town overtaken by Londoners |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:41 - Feb 19 with 2434 views | Steve_M |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:36 - Feb 19 by SaffronWaldenBlues |
We have had players come in and do well, Walton (first game), Wolfenden, Burgess, Broadhead, and now Townsend, and regardless of how well they have played, still can't keep their space when the players being picked ahead of them aren't playing any better or worse it doesn't really say much about taking chances for the squad overall. It may harm motivation long term. Credit to the likes of Woolfie for not spitting blood over it, but there's no way he or Burgess should have been dropped in my opinion.
We were decidedly less exposed with Townsend playing over Davis against Villa, he may be a better "defender" than Davis, and if it were me I would only change the suspended/injured. The bigger concern for me is Ben Johnson, who was again very exposed against Villa, and the fact we have signed Godfrey who doesn't appear to be making the first team either. [Post edited 19 Feb 15:37]
|
"Ben Johnson, who was again very exposed against Villa"
You saw him get megged by Rashford and not the rest of his second-half performance then? I think that was the only time he was beaten, when we needed players to step up he did so. |  |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:46 - Feb 19 with 2392 views | HighgateBlue |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:41 - Feb 19 by Steve_M |
"Ben Johnson, who was again very exposed against Villa"
You saw him get megged by Rashford and not the rest of his second-half performance then? I think that was the only time he was beaten, when we needed players to step up he did so. |
The player ratings on here are very telling. Of the 9 starters who managed to last until half time (Enciso and Tuanzebe of course not making it), everyone gets an average on here of over 7. Apart from Johnson, who gets 5.8 That is a truly remarkable disparity. Have people taken against him unfairly, or did he not have a great game? |  | | |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:47 - Feb 19 with 2386 views | cbower |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:41 - Feb 19 by Steve_M |
"Ben Johnson, who was again very exposed against Villa"
You saw him get megged by Rashford and not the rest of his second-half performance then? I think that was the only time he was beaten, when we needed players to step up he did so. |
He was very good second half. First half with 11 men, not so great. For me, play him as right back in a four, otherwise he's a decent bench option to 'cover' a number of defensively minded positions. | |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:47 - Feb 19 with 2381 views | joshITFCporter |
This is probably going to be quite an unpopular opinion, but I thought townsend struggled on Saturday. (Although, I'm sure most people would've struggled against the pace of Malen, and then a world class winger in Asensio).
Did enough to get by, and had some solid moments, but got beaten quite easily by his direct runners and some of his first touches slowed play down quite a bit, compared to what we've been used to with Leif. I still think Townsend has done more than enough to be a solid, consisitent backup, but people just cannot argue that he is a long-term successor. |  |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 16:21 - Feb 19 with 2271 views | NthQldITFC |
I don't get it either. Townsend is good backup, Davis is X factor. |  |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 16:23 - Feb 19 with 2261 views | itfcjoe |
Absolutely - Davis is the main man and will play whever he is fit, rightly so.
I didn't see many calling for Townsend after a below average display vs Coventry. He's a very good back up, and can help in games when we need to shut them down as a sub - but Davis is what we need to get those 5 wins |  |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 16:33 - Feb 19 with 2194 views | Garv |
Broadly agree but I am surprised Townsend hasn't been used as a sub more this season.
He's had 1 minute away at Brentford in midfield, a half against Liverpool when Davis was ill and 90 minutes at Villa when Davis was injured, that's it.
He also seems more willing/better at crossing than Davis, which is not something we've done enough of this season. For someone with so much quality Davis' aerial crossing isn't quite good enough for me, or perhaps he just isn't very willing to sling the ball into the box at every opportunity. |  |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 16:35 - Feb 19 with 2170 views | FrimleyBlue |
For me it depends who is playing ahead of them
If clarke then townsend. If not clarke then davis. |  |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 17:35 - Feb 19 with 2018 views | Steve_M |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:47 - Feb 19 by cbower |
He was very good second half. First half with 11 men, not so great. For me, play him as right back in a four, otherwise he's a decent bench option to 'cover' a number of defensively minded positions. |
Yes, a match that sums up his time at Town. Lots of good stuff but mixed in with some far less good. | |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 17:40 - Feb 19 with 1996 views | OldFart71 |
Whilst we always hear about the tightness of the players as a group I do wonder what effect it has on a Broadhead or Townsend when they replace an injured or suspended player and actually perform better than that player only to be dropped to the bench or out of the squad completely. Whilst I can see why certain players are always pencilled in first for the first 11 some I cannot agree with. I'm not suggesting I know better than KM because I don't and of course certain setups suit certain matches better than others. But like Muric and Davis neither have been as good as their replacements. | | | |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 17:49 - Feb 19 with 1960 views | Wickets |
Suppose it shows how opinions vary as Leif was touted as England possible recently. For me he is our first choice left back Townsend good back up no doubt . |  | | |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 17:52 - Feb 19 with 1944 views | ibbleobble |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:41 - Feb 19 by Steve_M |
"Ben Johnson, who was again very exposed against Villa"
You saw him get megged by Rashford and not the rest of his second-half performance then? I think that was the only time he was beaten, when we needed players to step up he did so. |
What about his first half performance? | | | |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 17:56 - Feb 19 with 1928 views | braveblue |
Absolutely. Davis is a different class. | | | |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:27 - Feb 20 with 1424 views | billlm |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:41 - Feb 19 by Steve_M |
"Ben Johnson, who was again very exposed against Villa"
You saw him get megged by Rashford and not the rest of his second-half performance then? I think that was the only time he was beaten, when we needed players to step up he did so. |
Johnson was far better when we went down to ten men,
Good second half,
Getting done by a resurgent rashford once isnt a bad days work,
And let's not forget the fantastic diagonal ball to omari to delap, |  | | |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:42 - Feb 20 with 1352 views | Parky |
I want Townsend to start, after a very solid performance. For me, it shows that players have to earn their place and nobody’s position is guaranteed. If Leif is dropped, it should make him fight for his place and when he gets his chance, tie it down with good performances.
Obviously Leif has been fantastic over the last few years for us, but that doesn’t just mean he should instantly start every single game, in my opinion. | | | |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 16:12 - Feb 20 with 1276 views | Ralphinho |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 15:42 - Feb 20 by Parky |
I want Townsend to start, after a very solid performance. For me, it shows that players have to earn their place and nobody’s position is guaranteed. If Leif is dropped, it should make him fight for his place and when he gets his chance, tie it down with good performances.
Obviously Leif has been fantastic over the last few years for us, but that doesn’t just mean he should instantly start every single game, in my opinion. |
Completely agree. For this match, I'd think that a solid defence will be key, Spuds play attacking football. They are shakey at the back, and with the likes of Delap, Hutch, Broady, et al, at our disposal I wouldn't rule out a goal from a counter.
In all honesty, (and at the risk of sounding like a Burnley fan) I'd rather defend like hell and get a point (like at Villa) than gamble on a win and get nothing. We can't expect to equal or overturn a deficit every game like we did in the championship. Every point counts when you are at the bottom of the table. If we can limit the defensive errors, there is 2-6 points up for grabs from these games against Spuds and Man U. | |
| |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 16:32 - Feb 20 with 1190 views | Len_Brennan |
Is he fit & available for Saturday? I'd have Townsend in due to Leif still being a doubt.
As for Ben Johnson, he was dreadful in the first half, and I have defended him on here previously. I fully expected him to be subbed at half time.
But you can't argue against his second half performance, where he absolutely proved that McKenna was right to keep him on. The rearranging of the defence at half time really suited him, and maybe he is just one of those guys that needs the minutes in his legs. Who knows, a run of games might give him the chance to show quality & consistency. | | | |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 18:00 - Feb 20 with 1048 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Seems like quite a few posters wanting Townsend on 16:32 - Feb 20 by Len_Brennan |
Is he fit & available for Saturday? I'd have Townsend in due to Leif still being a doubt.
As for Ben Johnson, he was dreadful in the first half, and I have defended him on here previously. I fully expected him to be subbed at half time.
But you can't argue against his second half performance, where he absolutely proved that McKenna was right to keep him on. The rearranging of the defence at half time really suited him, and maybe he is just one of those guys that needs the minutes in his legs. Who knows, a run of games might give him the chance to show quality & consistency. |
Tbh imo Johnson was only good 2nd half because hutch dropped even further and johnson didn't have to do any one on one defending which he's terrible at imo. | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
