Tottenham Badly in Need of Injection of Width in Post-Andros Townsend Era

Andros Townsend knows better than most how quickly things can change in football.

In 2013-14, he went from a young hopeful on the fringes of Tottenham Hotspur’s first team to an England star in just a few short months. He then proceeded to get caught up in strategic issues affecting the last days of Andre Villas-Boas’ tenure as Spurs boss and, subsequently because of injuries, lost his place in Roy Hodgson’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.

The year just past in Townsend’s career has been just as eventful, after life at Tottenham was passing him by, he moved to Newcastle United and is now at Crystal Palace. He is set to return to White Hart Lane for the first time this weekend, the club having experienced plenty of change since his departure in January, too.

For one thing, the ground itself is now missing a chunk in its north-east corner, the latest step in stadium redevelopment. Since the start of the year, Spurs have also experienced their first proper title race since before their ex-player was born—creating a new set of expectations moving forward—and have also qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2010-11.

Fascinatingly, while it was the right time for the two to part ways after so many years, Townsend’s absence has been felt to a degree. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino may be acknowledging this with the reported pursuit of Marseille winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou.

Spurs move for Marseillie’s Georges-Kevin N’Koudou ‘back on’ report Sky sources. Full story: https://t.co/q86EKN5QbV pic.twitter.com/z7hlGUJfN7

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 17, 2016

The N’Koudou saga that has been played out in various media outlets over the last month (Pochettino, as always, remaining noncommittal) has threatened to match the eventual tediousness of last summer’s interest in West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino. That deal never came to fruition, but at the time of writing, Sky Sports HQ is reporting this one will happen (see above).

N’Koudou is an exciting prospect for sure.

The 21-year-old has been a regular in Ligue 1 over the last two seasons. After transferring from Nantes, he stood out as one of the few positives in a rough year for Marseille last time out.

While not a one-note player by any means, it is his strengths as an out-and-out winger that may be exciting Spurs.

Pochettino appeared to be moving away from this type of player. Before Townsend was even moved on, the Argentinian also let the right-midfield mainstay Aaron Lennon go, joining Everton full-time after an initial loan spell.

Bringing N’Koudou in would, on paper anyway, restore a kind of natural width and explosiveness in transition Spurs have been without in attacking midfield since then.

So, what has changed in between times that Pochettino may feel he needs such a player again?

A big reason for signing N’Koudou will be that he is a talent the north Londoners believe they do not want to miss out on.

Allowing Clinton Njie to be a makeweight in the deal—as is being speculated—is not a decision they will take lightly given he remains a potentially strong option as a wide-attacker, despite his injury-hit first season in north London (his assist for Erik Lamela in the 4-1 win over Manchester City or strong work in the home victory over AS Monaco are good examples of his ability).

The reasoning behind …

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