Andros Townsend

[Jamesy]

Thought he played well tonight. Always a threat and good final balls.

[jedi_master]

Sign him up - perfect squad option for us on a 12 month deal.

[Vegas Claret]

outstanding, get that deal done pronto

[4midable]

12 month with optional 12

[Jamesy]

Sign him up - perfect squad option for us on a 12 month deal.

Agreed. 12 month deal would suit.

[Quickenthetempo]

He played well.

Always a bit sceptical of players playing for contracts. Normally world beaters until they sign

[4:20]

Hope VK signs him up. A real hunger to him, looked fit as a fiddle, a great performance from him.

[Rileybobs]

The benefit of signing Townsend is that he’s already Dyche fit.

Really impressed tonight. We’ve got to have some perspective in that it was a pre-season friendly but he was our biggest threat and so positive on the ball. Great deliveries, shots at goal - seems a no-brainer on a free.

[wilks_bfc]

I can’t think of any reason why VK would be play him in these games if he wasn’t intending to sign him

[Rowls]

The only doubt about Townsend was his fitness but if he comes through this pre-season tour we should be signing him up the second the players are back in the UK.

Magnificent tonight.

[arise_sir_charge]

The benefit of signing Townsend is that he’s already Dyche fit.

Really impressed tonight. We’ve got to have some perspective in that it was a pre-season friendly but he was our biggest threat and so positive on the ball. Great deliveries, shots at goal - seems a no-brainer on a free.

Dyche fit??

I had hoped that absolute ******** had been well and truly put to bed.

[RVclaret]

Surely signing Townsend means we don’t need Tella?

That would be 4 wingers plus JBG.

[Pearcey]

I can’t think of any reason why VK would be play him in these games if he wasn’t intending to sign him

Apart from seeing him play obviously.

Thought he was excellent. My only doubts were about his fitness but he showed that it’s not an issue. He’s always been a good player.

[Benson]

Dyche fit??

I had hoped that absolute ******** had been well and truly put to bed.

Whoooosh!!

[Ampth7]

Terrific performance from Townsend. A constant threat all night.
Lots of good performances all round to be fair and certainly lots to look forward to with players to come in and no doubt a few more new signings to add.

[Stan Tastic]

You shouldn't sign a player on the strength of one game, especially a pre-season friendly.

[Vino blanco]

Signing Wella would be the icing on the cake of this window, Townsend though could be a very useful addition to the squad.

[Spiral]

Based on that performance, and if we can keep him fit enough to get 10-15 starts across all competitions, and maybe another 15 sub appearances out of him, getting that version of Townsend for free is an incredible bit of business.

[Spiral]

Surely signing Townsend means we don’t need Tella?

That would be 4 wingers plus JBG.

We still need Tella, I think, and I have serious doubts that we've decided Townsend and Redmond between them can fill his place in the squad. Nobody else in his price range gives us his pace and directness without it being a huge gamble whether or not they fit the system, but also just settling in in general.

[nyclaret]

We still need Tella, I think, and I have serious doubts that we've decided Townsend and Redmond between them can fill his place in the squad. Nobody else in his price range gives us his pace and directness without it being a huge gamble whether or not they fit the system, but also just settling in in general.

Would you not rather spend that money on a CM?

[Hedontplayforyou]

Surely signing Townsend means we don’t need Tella?

That would be 4 wingers plus JBG.

JBG will not be playing out wide.

And I the shape we played tonight if you swap jay for Tella you’ve got some serious threat.

[Pickles]

Surely signing Townsend means we don’t need Tella?

That would be 4 wingers plus JBG.

Gudmundsson won't play wide for us. Or at least shouldn't. Four wingers is good, two for each position. Although I'm not even sure if you could call Tella a winger.

[colne-claret]

I think if we have

Wingers: Redmond, Townsend, Benson, Zaroury, JBG, Twine

Strikers: Tella, Obafemi, Amdouni, Jay, Weghorst, Foster

We’d be in a very strong position and would likely mean we can ship out some players too.

[arise_sir_charge]

Whoooosh!!

No whoosh. Riley would have been deadly serious.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Zaroury will be going to AFCON too

[colne-claret]

Gudmundsson won't play wide for us. Or at least shouldn't. Four wingers is good, two for each position. Although I'm not even sure if you could call Tella a winger.

Tella was better as a striker or a 10 last season. Running off Barnes. I felt like he looked a little lost some games when he played out wide.

[Rileybobs]

No whoosh. Riley would have been deadly serious.

I wasn’t being deadly serious.

[Pickles]

I think if we have

Wingers: Redmond, Townsend, Benson, Zaroury, JBG, Twine

Strikers: Tella, Obafemi, Amdouni, Jay, Weghorst, Foster

We’d be in a very strong position and would likely mean we can ship out some players too.

Gudmundsson and Twine aren't wingers. And I think Redmond will play a tad more centrally too. We have Benson and Zaroury who are proper, chalk-on-their-boots wingers. Townsend if/when he signs.

[123EasyasBFC]

Zaroury will be going to AFCON too

As will foster

[bobinho]

I can see redmond in the 10 role.

Anyway as for Townsend? Played very well tonite. Got some class about him.

[Spiral]

Would you not rather spend that money on a CM?

Por que no los dos? (Why not both?) I know this doesn't necessarily sound like the most responsible financial management, but I seriously think we've long crossed the point where it looks like we need to spend money merely to stay up. I think we're closer to the point where spending £15m more than we'd otherwise have spent to get us a CM would be a risk worth taking to bank a top half finish. You get million or two per place, which goes some way towards paying that hypothetical 'extra' expenditure, and we look absolutely nowhere near a relegation-battling team (this was true as of the last day of the season, even in the knowledge we'd be losing a few of the players). Furthermore, it's almost certain that Kompany turns down every managerial approach when sacking season starts because he knows he's good enough to work his way straight from Burnley to City when Pep leaves, so there's as close the a guarantee as you'll ever get of managerial stability holding it all together. It's honestly not unwise, under these fortunate circumstances, to take the gamble. I reckon the first two relegation places are going to be filled by Luton and Sheffield, and I seriously can't see us being near the six or so teams above them.

[Iloveyoubrady]

Tella was better as a striker or a 10 last season. Running off Barnes. I felt like he looked a little lost some games when he played out wide.

He was best on the right. He played wide right and ran beyond the forward and 10. He actually looked lost in the games he started centrally.

[Lancasterclaret]

He played well

But I think he's the back up plan in case we can't get in the players we want

[Vegas Claret]

He played well

But I think he's the back up plan in case we can't get in the players we want

Doubt that tbh

[CoolClaret]

He was best on the right. He played wide right and ran beyond the forward and 10. He actually looked lost in the games he started centrally.

Looked good on the left as well - didn’t play there much after we signed Anass but scored that brace at home against Blackpool and scored away at Wigan as well - two examples off the top of my head.

[Longsider]

Get it done Alan

[Jakubclaret]

I've always rated him even when he's having a off day he's the type of player who can unleash a long range bullet which potentially could be a game changer.

[Vegas Claret]

Surely signing Townsend means we don’t need Tella?

That would be 4 wingers plus JBG.

we have no intention of defending

[Clive 1960]

Let's not get to carried away yes he played well but it's one game only and he as to prove is fitness and if he can he will be a useful addition if we can't get our other targets, but i will leave that up Vincent and the board to decide.

[Woodleyclaret]

Never my favourite player but fair play he has had a good game. Worth a deal as we need a large squad.
Tella must be signed though he can be the difference with his pace and goals in tight games

[ClaretLoup]

Certainly looked good on the ball and carried the game to the Portuguese team.

[KlyBfc]

I personally don’t see Tella as a a winger so I’m not sure it’s Tella or Townsend. Tella played his best most effective football as the second striker with a winger outside him (e.g Hull he had Vitinho RW Zaroury LW). Also the defensive nouse Townsend will bring makes him different and an asset when we are away from home and under the cosh.

Clarke from Sunderland is interesting though as I had it being him or Townsend (similar wingers in my mind, quick / technical etc / hard working). But then I keep seeing us linked with him and now wonder if it’s him or Tella, has he did play up front vs us at Sunderland on his own and is very quick.

[RVclaret]

JBG will not be playing out wide.

And I the shape we played tonight if you swap jay for Tella you’ve got some serious threat.

JBG played wide last night first half (though I tend to agree).

Not sure Tella would be playing in central midfield like Jay did last night alongside one other midfielder, he’s just not built for that in the Prem.

I forgot to add Koleosho to my winger list too, so there’s another we already have (if Townsend signs). So I make it 5 + JBG + Vitinho (latter 2 cover).

Anyway, I know there’s a real love in with Tella on here and everyone ‘fell in love with a loan player’ but I personally would rather see the money invested in central midfield.

[Dodobdobodobo]

Andros played well last night but if he signs how many places will we have left in our 25 squad. I would imagine we’ll be signing another 2/3. If the numbers are already high then they’ll have to be loans.

[colne-claret]

Andros played well last night but if he signs how many places will we have left in our 25 squad. I would imagine we’ll be signing another 2/3. If the numbers are already high then they’ll have to be loans.

Think we will see a few depart whether it be permanent or on loan. My guesses would be:

McNally, Taylor, Bastien, Churlinov, Weghorst.

I’m also pretty sure that all loans despite their age need to be registered as part of the 25 as well. With obafemi being injured he may not make the initial 25.

[IanMcL]

You shouldn't sign a player on the strength of one game, especially a pre-season friendly.

No doubt he has been playing, trying and blending throughout his stay.

Very good player, with football brain and eye for goal.

[aggi]

Por que no los dos? (Why not both?) I know this doesn't necessarily sound like the most responsible financial management, but I seriously think we've long crossed the point where it looks like we need to spend money merely to stay up. I think we're closer to the point where spending £15m more than we'd otherwise have spent to get us a CM would be a risk worth taking to bank a top half finish. You get million or two per place, which goes some way towards paying that hypothetical 'extra' expenditure, and we look absolutely nowhere near a relegation-battling team (this was true as of the last day of the season, even in the knowledge we'd be losing a few of the players). Furthermore, it's almost certain that Kompany turns down every managerial approach when sacking season starts because he knows he's good enough to work his way straight from Burnley to City when Pep leaves, so there's as close the a guarantee as you'll ever get of managerial stability holding it all together. It's honestly not unwise, under these fortunate circumstances, to take the gamble. I reckon the first two relegation places are going to be filled by Luton and Sheffield, and I seriously can't see us being near the six or so teams above them.

I admire this wild optimism.

[dougcollins]

Pure pace is what Tella has. The other two don't match that.

[AmbleClaret]

You shouldn't sign a player on the strength of one game, especially a pre-season friendly.

Like a lot of players of his age,you can also look at his history.

[Spiral]

I admire this wild optimism.

I decided a while ago that using my head to think about football was really boring, so I just decided to start being led by my gut and it's way more fun. I overconfidently called promotion in late December and everyone else was like 'lots of football left, let's not get carried away, it's only the half way point, we could collapse yet', and I'm like have you all actually seen up play? Nah, enough of that, forget moderation, balls-out overconfidence makes footy 10x more exciting. LETS get carried away!