3 minute read
18/9/2022 | 09:10pm
Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed an impressive record with regards to developing youth talent over the years, with the likes of Glenn Hoddle, Ledley King and Harry Kane having all gone from academy talents to first-team stars in north London.
One man who was unable to make that leap from emerging prospect to prominent figure was Andros Townsend, with the Englishman having failed to nail down a regular starting berth in his brief stint in the senior set-up.
To his credit, the dynamic winger had shown great persistence in an attempt to force his way into the first-team reckoning with Lilywhites, having endured a succession of spells out on loan in his early playing career.
Having made his Tottenham debut in January 2011, it wasn’t until the 2013/14 season that the 5 foot 11 forward truly become a first-team player for the club, having earned wider attention after starring during a temporary stint at Queens Park Rangers in 2013, scoring two goals in that six-month spell at Loftus Road.
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A promising breakthrough campaign under Tim Sherwood – in which he made 25 Premier League appearances – was followed by a frustrating 2014/15 season under Mauricio Pochettino, as the Leytonstone-born dud was restricted to just ten top-flight starts.
The 13-cap, England international notably irked the Argentine following a row with fitness coach Nathan Gardiner in November 2015 after failing to make it off the bench in a clash with Aston Villa, subsequently receiving a ban from first-team training as a result.
Having made just three substitute appearances in the top-flight at the start of the 2015/16 season under Pochettino, Townsend opted to make the switch to Newcastle United in January 2016, having scored just 11 goals and provided 15 assists in 93 games at his former club.
That sale ultimately saw Daniel Levy and co pull off something of a blinder, as they were able to recoup a fee of around £12m for a player who had cost them nothing after coming through the academy.
After just a brief stint at St James’ Park, the wide man ultimately moved on to Crystal Palace in a £13m deal in the summer of 2016, going on to score 16 goals and lay on 28 assists in 185 games during his time at Selhurst Park.
While there were notable high points during his time with the Eagles – including his stunning effort in a shock win over Manchester City in December 2018 – the 31-year-old has done little to truly leave Spurs regretting their decision to sell, with the player himself having admitted he simply wasn’t “playing well enough” during his time at Tottenham.
How well do you know Spurs manager Antonio Conte?
Question 1. During his playing days, in which position did Conte typically operate?
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CB
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The £2.7m-rated man secured a move to Everton on a free transfer last summer, although after a fine start to life with the Toffees – registering 11 goals in all competitions in the first half of last term – he has since been on the sidelines after sustaining an ACL injury back in March.
The £21.5k-per-week playmaker has enjoyed a respectable, albeit unremarkable, Premier League career since his north London departure just over six years ago, although it proved a real astute piece of business for the club to sanction his exit.
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