Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas has moved quickly to distance himself from comparisons between former Spurs winger Gareth Bale and this season's sensation Andros Townsend. Bale left Spurs over the summer in a world record deal believed to be in the region of 100m and, despite spending a similar amount on bringing in seven new players, the Lilywhites have struggled to replace the Welshman's dynamical play and eye for goal. However, Andros Townsend has emerged recently as a potential ready-made replacement for the Welshman. Following a host of good performances, the youngster earned his first England call-up recently and played in both of his country's final two World Cup qualifiers in which he scored, earned a Man of the Match award and generally impressed with his running. He then went on to score against Aston Villa in the Premier League - his first league goal for Spurs - and won the Man of the Match award again. His exceptional form, coupled with the fact that his style is to cut in from the right and shoot with his favoured left foot has meant that the comparisons to Bale have been inevitable. However, Villas-Boas had this to say on the matter:
"It is early beginnings for Andros in his life at this club. Gareth's influence had grown immense and it is early beginnings for Andros, but it is down to the player's ability and his drive."
Of course, if Townsend keeps up his form, such comparisons will become more and more valid and he may well become the player Spurs need to step in to Bale's boots. For now, however, he will have to maintain his focus amidst a plethora of positive attention and press, which will be the key to him becoming a truly great player. Source: Yahoo! Sport
