Summer 2015 - Transfer Rumours, Speculation & Suggestions

[Ryu]

Townsend is a bit of a highlights player for me. He does occasional high profile things that are brilliant, but spends a lot of time doing not a lot. I wouldn't be devestated if we signed him, but I wouldn't be delighted either. It all depends how much money we have available.

There is probably something in what you say but when I watched that video I was thinking could I imagine any of our current squad scoring goals like that.  Possibly Sinclair but if we're not after Townsend I hope we're looking at similar players.

[Concrete John]

I do feel its narrow and limiting only to buy English or uk players.Southampton are bringing I some potential cracking players to add to the unknown untried to English fans including mane from austria who is far better than Townsend.

Southampton do business early in the window which indicates they know who they want, and they're gettable. They've already signed a couple of 22/ 23 year olds from abroad, spending £3-4m. They seem to get good value. I suppose they are adding them into a much stronger squad.

I'd suggest that its a dangerous precedent for us to follow the Southampton approach to recruiting overseas players at this point in time...they have the foundations of a strong squad that has qualified for Europa League next season, and have an excellent and experienced European manager and presumably a stronger European scouting network. Southampton are in a position where they can afford to take risks on relatively unknown foreign players and need to add to their squad for Europa League football...they can afford to take the risk if a few of their new signings don't work.

Compare that to our position which is a poor squad lacking quality and strength in depth that just about avoided relegation; we don't have an experienced manager or European scouting network; and we certainly can't afford the luxury of taking risks on unknown up and coming European players...if we get it wrong this summer then it could be the difference between survival and relegation next season.

Yes the solution to fixing a poor squad is to spend a fortune on players that marginally improve it rather than risk buying players who could be much better for lower fees on lower wages.  If townsend had anything about him to suggest that he alone would be worth 3-4 places in the league I'd be all for it but he averages 2 goals and 2 assists a season, as a winger he has to be better than that, those are the sort of figures you'd expect from a full back.  He's another player who has been given much better press than his ability or record deserves so people have been fooled into thinking he's a better player than he is.

The simple solution would be to sign up on a spurs forum and ask them what they think, I doubt you'll find many that want to keep him.

I would argue that buying players for lower fees and on lower wages who might be better is how we ended up where we are right now.

[Clark W Griswold]

That's the thing, a sense of perspective might be in order here as to where we are as a club and a team. If you don't think Townsend is worth the money fair enough, but if you don't think he would improve the team, think back to the last few matches last season. If you think we should be aiming higher, you're in for a seriously disappointing close season.

We finished one place above the relegation zone and we're talking about signing a full England International. Think about it.

[passitsideways]

That's the thing, a sense of perspective might be in order here as to where we are as a club and a team. If you don't think Townsend is worth the money fair enough, but if you don't think he would improve the team, think back to the last few matches last season. If you think we should be aiming higher, you're in for a seriously disappointing close season.

We finished one place above the relegation zone and we're talking about signing a full England International. Think about it.

It depends on what you mean by "aiming higher". We're obviously not going to attract hot property such as, for a random example, Alexandre Lacazette. But why can't we attract a Benteke-type talent from the continent? I doubt we're any less of an attractive proposition than we were back in 2012, when we signed him. Yeah, I know we've had a few more low finishes, but I doubt that does too much once you wave enough cash in their faces.

[Toronto Villa]

I think it's a lot of money for a player who isn't a regular for his club. The fact that he makes the England team says more about the selection process and depth of our pool of players than about the quality of the player. That said we did finish just outside the relegation zone and at the right price he would add to what we have. I just can't figure where he fits in given that we still have Gil on the books and Sinclair just signed. But the topic of the fee aside if the summer did start with us signing Sinclair, Richards and Townsend, it's hardly a bad situation to be in.

[Concrete John]

I think it's a lot of money for a player who isn't a regular for his club. The fact that he makes the England team says more about the selection process and depth of our pool of players than about the quality of the player. That said we did finish just outside the relegation zone and at the right price he would add to what we have. I just can't figure where he fits in given that we still have Gil on the books and Sinclair just signed. But the topic of the fee aside if the summer did start with us signing Sinclair, Richards and Townsend, it's hardly a bad situation to be in.

I always thought he plays better for England than Spurs, so he retains his international place on the back of those performances.

And I think it's obvious TS doesn't rate Gil for whatever reason, so if you play Sinclair in any sort of a balanced side you need another winger on the other side.

[Clark W Griswold]

We all love the idea of unearthing a gem from Europe or anywhere for that matter but it doesn't work out more than it does. In fairness I think we should be looking to add a couple like that as well, but I can't help thinking Townsend is nailed on to make a significant improvement to our team given a regular place. We need that bit of assurance. Re Gill, I like him but I don't think Sherwood does. I think regarding where to play Townsend, he would play right with Sinclair left and Grealish off the striker.
I agree the England team is not what is was, but the typical standard of player in the England team is still a step up from the typical Aston Villa player at present.

[paul_e]

I do feel its narrow and limiting only to buy English or uk players.Southampton are bringing I some potential cracking players to add to the unknown untried to English fans including mane from austria who is far better than Townsend.

Southampton do business early in the window which indicates they know who they want, and they're gettable. They've already signed a couple of 22/ 23 year olds from abroad, spending £3-4m. They seem to get good value. I suppose they are adding them into a much stronger squad.

I'd suggest that its a dangerous precedent for us to follow the Southampton approach to recruiting overseas players at this point in time...they have the foundations of a strong squad that has qualified for Europa League next season, and have an excellent and experienced European manager and presumably a stronger European scouting network. Southampton are in a position where they can afford to take risks on relatively unknown foreign players and need to add to their squad for Europa League football...they can afford to take the risk if a few of their new signings don't work.

Compare that to our position which is a poor squad lacking quality and strength in depth that just about avoided relegation; we don't have an experienced manager or European scouting network; and we certainly can't afford the luxury of taking risks on unknown up and coming European players...if we get it wrong this summer then it could be the difference between survival and relegation next season.

Yes the solution to fixing a poor squad is to spend a fortune on players that marginally improve it rather than risk buying players who could be much better for lower fees on lower wages.  If townsend had anything about him to suggest that he alone would be worth 3-4 places in the league I'd be all for it but he averages 2 goals and 2 assists a season, as a winger he has to be better than that, those are the sort of figures you'd expect from a full back.  He's another player who has been given much better press than his ability or record deserves so people have been fooled into thinking he's a better player than he is.

The simple solution would be to sign up on a spurs forum and ask them what they think, I doubt you'll find many that want to keep him.

I would argue that buying players for lower fees and on lower wages who might be better is how we ended up where we are right now.

There's a balance, average and overpriced was the mon way and caused 4-5 years of book balancing and relegation battles.  The type of signings I like are Benteke, Okore level both in terms of quality and price, that 4-8m bracket, that's the market we should be working in. Townsend would be just another expensive mistake in my opinion, the odd flash of quality from him is too infrequent, it's alarmingly similar to nzog and ireland who I also didn't want but a fair few fans were really excited about, I think he'd go exactly the same way as them.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think it's a lot of money for a player who isn't a regular for his club. The fact that he makes the England team says more about the selection process and depth of our pool of players than about the quality of the player. That said we did finish just outside the relegation zone and at the right price he would add to what we have. I just can't figure where he fits in given that we still have Gil on the books and Sinclair just signed. But the topic of the fee aside if the summer did start with us signing Sinclair, Richards and Townsend, it's hardly a bad situation to be in.

I always thought he plays better for England than Spurs, so he retains his international place on the back of those performances.

And I think it's obvious TS doesn't rate Gil for whatever reason, so if you play Sinclair in any sort of a balanced side you need another winger on the other side.

I read something last season about the lack of players for Hodgson to pick from, and it pointed out that the previous weekend to publication, less than 40 of the players who had played in the Premier League round of fixtures would actually qualify to play for England.

[ADVILLAFAN]

I don't think we need to worry about signing Townsend anyway, we'll have Tonev back this season won't we?

[Concrete John]

There's a balance, average and overpriced was the mon way and caused 4-5 years of book balancing and relegation battles.  The type of signings I like are Benteke, Okore level both in terms of quality and price, that 4-8m bracket, that's the market we should be working in. Townsend would be just another expensive mistake in my opinion, the odd flash of quality from him is too infrequent, it's alarmingly similar to nzog and ireland who I also didn't want but a fair few fans were really excited about, I think he'd go exactly the same way as them.

Even those £4m to £8m signings are a gamble as they represent the lower end of the market for a PL club.  We've had mixed fortunes with it, whereas the likes of Southampton fair better, probably through superior scouting.

I think there are two arguments here.  The first is whether £12m English players is the way to go and the other whether Townsend is worth £12m.  For the first, I say I'd feel securer going that way than not, with the proviso it isn't our sole route to recruiting.  As to the second, it's quite comparative, but I think he'd improve the side.

[warleyboy]

That's the thing, a sense of perspective might be in order here as to where we are as a club and a team. If you don't think Townsend is worth the money fair enough, but if you don't think he would improve the team, think back to the last few matches last season. If you think we should be aiming higher, you're in for a seriously disappointing close season.

We finished one place above the relegation zone and we're talking about signing a full England International. Think about it.

This.
He would definitely make an improvement to our team.

[john e]

After the last few years I'm still very doubtful we will be spending 12 mill on a player
I've been conditioned now and I'm not sure how to react to that sort of speculation

[JUAN PABLO]

Trippier signs for spurs.

So is walker available?

[JUAN PABLO]

I haven't followed where all this Townsend speculation started from, so I don't know if he is is thought to be available or not. However, seeing Pritchard's cameo appearance for the U21s the other night, Spurs might be thinking that he could replace Townsend in the team.

Yes he looks good