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Andros Townsend claims that former Everton boss Sam Allardyce changed his game
Everton winger Andros Townsend has admitted that Sam Allardyce helped changed his game and made him work harder.
Speaking to the club’s programme [via the Liverpool Echo], the 30-year-old heaped praise on the 66-year-old former Toffees manager who worked with Townsend at Crystal Palace.
The winger even claimed that he previously ignored advice from Mauricio Pochettino before finally listening to Allardyce about working hard for the team.
He said: “It was only in 2017 under Sam Allardyce, I had an awakening and realised I couldn’t be this luxury player, who’s only judged on what he does in the final third.
“I started doing the other side of it, running back and playing more of a box-to-box midfielder, as opposed to somebody only doing damage in the final third.
“I was working with Mauricio Pochettino, one of the best managers in the world, and he was telling me things I am learning to do now: run-in behind, don’t stay wide.
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“But I didn’t want to take it on board. I thought I knew better than him. As you grow older and more mature, you start listening to people and realise they can help you improve.”
Interesting comments from Townsend.
It seems as if Allardyce had a big influence on the winger’s career and helped him prolong his time in the top flight.
However, in his last two seasons for Palace, he scored just two goals in all competitions.
He wasn’t providing any end product by the end of his time with the Eagles.
Under Benitez, though, he appears to be reborn and has scored four goals and provided three assists in all competitions already this season.
Certainly, he looks like a wise signing for the Toffees, and he is also clearly a very good communicator, which is a bonus.
You could say that Townsend was seen as an underwhelming signing by some, but he is proving everyone wrong so far, and long may it continue.
Clearly, he is enjoying life at Goodison and is managing to combine hard work and end product [Everton].
In other Everton news, Salomon Rondon accused of joining the club for money.
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