Don't really know where to say this so I'll put it here. I think Townsend and Holtby at this point are both perfectly built to be 60th minute impact subs. The main reason for this being that their biggest strengths as players currently are their energy. Holtby is pure work ethic and vigor while Townsend brings a great directness with his dribbling and shooting when he comes on.
That's great but I think they also both struggle from being immature footballers. For me, as starters they both struggle to put in a full shift. Both have the tendency to flit in and out of games they start and I don't think either has really put in a full perfomance for us. All their best perfomances IMO have come as subs. With Holtby he just hasn't quite figured out how to channel all his energy in a productive fashion yet. He struggles to maintain tactical awareness and can't keep up the insane level of intensity that endears him to us. With Townsend he hasn't quite developed enough variety yet, his direct style works better in shorter of periods of times while over the course of a whole game it doesn't translate as well.
Ultimately, they are two young players that absolutely ooze class at times but frustrate at others. I think that is mostly because they both are still going through the maturation process of understanding football and their own games. Unlike a young player like Eriksen who knows exactly his strengths and how to fit into the team Holtby and Townsend are still figuring it out. So while they will probably continue to dazzle in shorter appearances, I think it is likely that they need more game time and coaching before they can maintain that level over a full match. Hope Pochettino continues to use them as impact subs because they are two players that can really change a game with their energy and ability despite the fact they both are a bit raw and still developing acute football brains.
That's great but I think they also both struggle from being immature footballers. For me, as starters they both struggle to put in a full shift. Both have the tendency to flit in and out of games they start and I don't think either has really put in a full perfomance for us. All their best perfomances IMO have come as subs. With Holtby he just hasn't quite figured out how to channel all his energy in a productive fashion yet. He struggles to maintain tactical awareness and can't keep up the insane level of intensity that endears him to us. With Townsend he hasn't quite developed enough variety yet, his direct style works better in shorter of periods of times while over the course of a whole game it doesn't translate as well.
Ultimately, they are two young players that absolutely ooze class at times but frustrate at others. I think that is mostly because they both are still going through the maturation process of understanding football and their own games. Unlike a young player like Eriksen who knows exactly his strengths and how to fit into the team Holtby and Townsend are still figuring it out. So while they will probably continue to dazzle in shorter appearances, I think it is likely that they need more game time and coaching before they can maintain that level over a full match. Hope Pochettino continues to use them as impact subs because they are two players that can really change a game with their energy and ability despite the fact they both are a bit raw and still developing acute football brains.
ochlol: 
