Andy Townsend Interview: Enzo, Emery, Palmer and Celtic’s Title Race

Speaking exclusively with BettingLounge, former Chelsea and Aston Villa midfielder icon Andy Townsend has given his thoughts on the Premier League, Nations League and more.

Townsend has discussed Chelsea’s summer transfer business and praised the sale of Enzo Fernandez while also speaking on Aston Villa boss Unai Emery’s ongoing links to Man Utd.

Other topics include Thomas Tuchel’s snub of Cole Palmer in the England squad and Celtic’s chances of holding off Rangers in the Scottish Premiership under Martin O’Neill.

What have you made of Chelsea under Xabi Alonso so far? Are they still in with a shout of winning the Premier League this season?

AT: “Chelsea in title contention? It doesn't look that way. Chelsea were rattling in goals left, right, and centre at the start of the season, while also conceding goals. I saw them against Manchester United where they ended up coming out on the right side of it.

“In the second half they played very well, but in the first half they were second best to United and could have been behind.

“Losing at Sunderland, that's a poor result. Sunderland away, despite them being bottom of the league, is never easy because of their scrapping nature for Premier League survival, but you would have expected Chelsea to do more.

“They lack a focal point without João Pedro. Since he's gone out of the team, it's no coincidence that trying options like Pedro Neto or Morgan Rogers up there hasn't looked the same. They don't look as dangerous or prolific. 

“With their back four, a new goalkeeper at the moment because Emi Martínez is out, and playing without Reece James, I think they lack experience and guidance in defensive positions. 

“So they're going to be up and down, they'll have spells where they look good, but it can easily go the other way. Right now, Chelsea look like a top eight team, and I don't think they've got enough right now to really attack the top four.”

With Moises Caicedo out of form, is midfield a big worry for Chelsea?

AT: “What I would say is that Romeo Lavia has played better for Chelsea lately because he's been in and out a lot. Against United, I thought he was particularly good, the best I've seen him play in a while.

“It's taken time for Chelsea fans to see him perform regularly due to injuries. He's definitely improved. As for Moises Caicedo, at his fittest and best, he's a very effective player, but he hasn't been at those levels for a little while, certainly not this season.”

Has Alonso got to make Estevao more of a starter for Chelsea? Do you fear he could be loaned or sold in January if he’s struggling for game time?

AT: “Estevao played very well against United, he was one of their better players alongside Lavia. There's been a reluctance from Xabi Alonso to play him, and he was kind of forced into it a bit after trying Morgan Rogers or Pedro Neto up the middle with Palmer and Rogers alongside.

“He tried various solutions to keep firing up front, but it hadn't quite worked. I think there'll come a point pretty soon where Estevão starts every game. On the back of what I saw against Man United, it won't be too long before he forces his way into the team.

“At the moment, Pedro Neto gets the nod with his experience and league understanding. But Estevão against Man United was very good, in the first half, he was Chelsea's only real threat, and he continued that in the second half.

“He got a standing ovation when he came off. He's definitely an asset, and Alonso is just trying to give him time before fully relying on him.”

Enzo Fernandez has had mixed reviews since joining Man City. Have Chelsea got the better of the deal given the £125m fee?

AT: “Enzo Fernandez, it was a lot of money. There had been talk about Fernández leaving Stamford Bridge for a while. Leading up to the World Cup, people thought if Chelsea got £80m or £85m back they'd have done well. 

“To get £125m and make a profit was exceptional business. I thought he started particularly well at City. He's an experienced player who can step up in big games for club and country.

“He won't get involved too much in the intricate build-up play, he's not going to be playing neat one-twos with Cherki on the edge of the box—but he will get into the box and run beyond Haaland.

“And he will try to finish, which is important for them to have. When City have dropped off the pace recently, we've not seen quite as much from him. In a vibrant, strong Man City team, Enzo will be really useful around Erling Haaland in attacking areas. 

“He's better there than as a holding midfielder sitting alongside Elliott Anderson to initiate play. He's aggressive, likes to get in the box, and can finish, we saw that in his last season at Chelsea. 

“He started well, though things have dropped off for everyone over the last three or four weeks. He's experienced, so it won't phase him, but for Chelsea, selling him for a profit when he didn't really want to stay was very good business.”
Alex Scott has been linked with both Chelsea and Liverpool. If you were in his shoes, where would you go?

AT: “I think Chelsea's priority, particularly with Maxence Lacroix out with a nasty hamstring injury until the new year and Reece James injured again, will be defensive. I think they'll be looking more in those areas. But I really like Alex Scott.

“What I like about him is that he's box-to-box, can run beyond people, carry the ball, and comfortably receive it in tight areas. He's got a really complete, useful game.

“You look at Tyler Dibling at Southampton, he went to Everton and it hasn't quite happened yet. Alex Scott is at a point where a number of clubs will be interested in him.

“But right now, he's at a very handy club with a good team, knowing that if he keeps performing, an opportunity for his dream move will come.

“He's on the edge of the England setup, so staying put is the right move for now. Moving now and having to sit on the bench might slow his progress. If I were him, I'd stay until the end of the season and reassess then.

“On the face of it, he's a really good player, and several teams above Bournemouth will be interested. If teams talk about £130m valuations, I don't see him anywhere near that yet, but he's a very gifted player with a bright future.”

Nicolas Jackson has hit the ground running at Aston Villa. Did Chelsea make a big mistake in letting him go?

AT: “First and foremost, Nicolas Jackson has been outstanding for Aston Villa, really, really good. For any striker moving clubs, getting goals early is vital for confidence to quieten down any noise around them.

“There were raised eyebrows when Nicolas Jackson came in for £60m+, and I was one of them because I didn't see enough in a Chelsea shirt. Why he went to Bayern Munich, I'll never know, he was never going to play regularly with Harry Kane there.

“That move was a mistake for his career, so he needed to find the right environment. Unai Emery knows the player, his character, and what he's capable of.

“I saw him against Fenerbahce at Villa Park in the 6-0 Champions League win, and it was the best game I've ever seen him play, holding the ball up, passing, and showing great awareness.

“Getting into the box and taking shots. He doesn't have a fancy trick or step-over, but his confidence levels are high, and he has a willingness to work, run, and chase hard.

“Look at his goal at Old Trafford, the ball came back off the keeper and while six other players were static, he was on the move.

“A striker anticipating a rebound is sharp and confident because the goals are going in. He feels appreciated and respected at Villa, perhaps more so than at previous clubs.”

Jamie Carragher said Unai Emery would leave Villa if the Man United job came about. Is that something you’d agree or disagree with?

AT: “I just don't see Unai Emery taking the Man Utd job, not at all. Unai Emery has worked so hard at Villa over the last few years to transform their fortunes.

“While Man United is a huge draw, I know which group of players I'd rather work with at the moment. Unai has complete autonomy at Villa.

“He controls the key areas of the club alongside a close-knit team with Damian Vidagany. It's not a squad of 20 or 30 executives all posturing for position.

“Unai and Damian have a great working relationship with the owners, who are visible and easily accessible. Michael Carrick doesn't have that setup at United, you can tell it's a very different set of circumstances.

“It's a very different environment. You can demand things in an interview, but once you get through the door, you find the rules have changed and you can't get your way. It makes it much harder to be successful.

“For a number of reasons, I don't see Unai Emery wanting to go to Manchester United. He's worked too hard to build a winning Aston Villa team, put the club back on the map, and this young squad is showing signs of great things to come. I'd be very surprised if he left.”

Could you see Michael Carrick bringing Roy Keane onto his staff if things don’t improve?

AT: “I don't see Roy Keane going in with Michael Carrick at all. I stand by what I've said before about Roy, I still think he could go into a club and make an impact as a coach somewhere, but that isn't Man United at the minute, no.”

How much fear do you have for Sunderland in the relegation battle? Is it shocking to see fans jeering the players and manager after last season?

AT: “It was a great, confidence-boosting win for Sunderland, but it's been tough. People point to European football as the reason for their struggles, but I don't entirely agree.

“It's more about injuries to key players, they lost Granit Xhaka very early on Sunday but managed to see it out and get the win. In that second season back in the top flight, expectations increased from supporters and around the club.

“You think surviving that first season means it will automatically happen again, but it doesn't work like that. Confidence drops and things get difficult. Going into the international break, that win yesterday was massive for them.

“There's still a long way to go, but if Chelsea had gone there and rolled them over 3-0, panic stations would have set in. That result does them the power of good.”

Has this international break come at the perfect time for Jack Grealish to work his way back into the favour of David Moyes?

AT: “Everton have been going really well lately. Kieran Dewsbury-Hall played particularly well against Newcastle and Coventry, and I wonder whether you can play Jack Grealish and him in the same team.

“They beat Newcastle in both the cup and the league, and Dewsbury-Hall was standout. Although he and Jack don't play the exact same position, they have a similar attacking focus, and the balance isn't always right with both of them on the pitch.

“Coming back to Jack, usually when a player steps out of line or misses training, there's a telling off, a fine, and everyone moves on. With Jack, it feels a bit different, there's more to it.

“As someone who has met him several times, I know he's an extremely likable lad, and I sincerely hope he's okay first and foremost.

“I hope he can get back into the team. The key for Jack Grealish is enjoying his football, he needs to enjoy it to produce his best. I haven't seen that joy in his game for a while now.

If he feels good about Everton and wants to deliver for David Moyes, Jack needs to get back into the fold, put his head down, and find that extra gear.

“We know the talent is there. If he has an issue, I hope he resolves it so we can see him back at his best soon.”

Can Will Lankshear get himself on the radar of Premier League clubs after his blockbuster start to the Championship season?

AT: “I saw Will playing for Oxford against Sunderland in the FA Cup last seasons ago, and he was the only player on the day for Oxford who looked quality.

“He was there on loan, and what he's doing at Middlesbrough now is great. He's big, tall, powerful, and a bit of a throwback striker. But we've seen strikers like that move and struggle, Liam Delap got his big move to Chelsea and couldn't get in the team or reproduce his form.

“Like the Alex Scott situation, Will just needs to keep doing what he's doing for Middlesbrough. Scoring goals consistently means he doesn't need to rush a move in January.

“If he does move, I hope he goes to a club where he will actually play, perhaps a team in the bottom eight of the Premier League.

“His goals have been invaluable for Middlesbrough, and they're right at the top end of the table. Birmingham got a win at the weekend to sit top, but things change very quickly in the Championship.

“You can be top, lose two games, and suddenly drop to fifth. There's a long way to go, but Will is doing everything right so far.”

Was Scott Parker going in at West Ham a no-brainer given his connection to the club and record in the division?

AT: “I've always liked how Scott Parker goes about his managerial work. When it was announced he got the West Ham job, people debated candidates like Eddie Howe, but Scott as a respected former West Ham player with a record of Championship promotions made him hard to look past.

“Some fans argued that his style isn't strictly the ‘West Ham way’, but the main goal for fans right now is getting out of the division. Scott has done that with Fulham, Burnley, and Bournemouth, so fans should back him.

“The players need to absorb his ideas quickly. West Ham have the squad depth to be right in the thick of promotion by February if they string wins together.

“In the Championship, consistent wins move you up the table fast. Scott won't just be aiming for top eight, he'll target automatic promotion in the top two.

“I wouldn't be surprised if West Ham go on a strong winning run soon to push into the top three or four.”

How good is it for Welsh football that Swansea, Wrexham and Cardiff are all on the up at the moment?

AT: “It's great for Welsh football. I like what Brian Barry Murphy is doing at Cardiff, they're very entertaining. Coming back from 4-1 down with twenty minutes left to win at the weekend was incredible.

“Seeing Birmingham top of the Championship and Coventry in the mix means we could soon see four Midlands teams back in the Premier League alongside Villa and Wolves.

“But it's exciting for Welsh fans to see Swansea starting so strongly as well. Wrexham are also a great story in mid-table alongside Cardiff, hoping to make a push towards the top eight by Christmas. It's a very exciting time for Welsh football overall.”

Jack Moylan is absolutely flying for Cardiff with 10 goals in 15 games, can he be the man to share Troy Parrott’s burden?

AT: “Jack Moylan has been terrific. I've been so impressed with him. The last few games were a difficult window on a number of fronts, but Jack handled it in his stride. He brings great energy and work rate.

“He's come up through the ranks and is playing very well for Cardiff. He looks completely settled in international football and has every chance to be a regular under Hallgrimsson. He has goals in him at club level, which I'm sure will carry over to Ireland.

“His all-round game is strong, he's got an aggressive edge where he keeps coming back if knocked down. He can link play, drift inside, and make intelligent runs without losing possession in tight spots.

“He looks confident in his execution. The front three combination of him, Troy Parrott, and Adam Idah is as good an attacking setup as Ireland have had for some time.”

Do you see a question mark over Hallgrimsson with Ireland?

AT: “I agree that Hallgrimsson's team has turned a corner in the last calendar year, but when things aren't clicking, they struggle.

“When they play well, they look dangerous. They can play through teams or go direct to big targets in the box, Troy Parrott's goal against Austria in Dublin was outstanding.

“The issue is that when it's not working or the key forward players aren't firing, Ireland tend to lose. That has to stop.

“The team needs to develop another way of grinding out results when they're not playing well. There is enough experience and leadership in key areas, including a striker performing regularly in La Liga.

“They've got leaders in the team, I think, that are growing and becoming more influential. I think we've got a striker now that is playing at the, right at the top of La Liga on a consistent basis and has shown in recent times for Ireland that he can absolutely be the man to provide a big moment when we need it.

“We have to start picking up points in off-games. The Kosovo game away was a classic example, playing poorly and losing 1-0 needs to become a 0-0 draw instead. If Hallgrimsson can instill that resilience to avoid defeat on bad days, Ireland will have a great chance of qualifying.”

What do we need to see against Austria and Kosovo?

AT: “There wasn't much in the Austria game, but in the Kosovo match, too many players underperformed, so I expect a vastly improved performance. Third in the group with two games left means we have to win at home.

“We're going to have to get a result in Austria as well, both on five points. We have to expect Kosovo will win their match against Israel.

“We still have a chance to top the group if we win both remaining games, which should be the mindset.

The team needs to be defensively ruthless and intelligent in possession, be brave playing out from the back without being reckless or giving away soft goals.

“Keep the front three of Idah, Moylan, and Parrott heavily involved because they offer great balance. Taking four points from the two games gives us a real chance, but aiming for six is the goal.”

Do you still think Adam Idah has more to give for club and country after seeing glimpses of his ability?

AT: “Adam Idah is always going to be a player whose position is under threat. Celtic was perhaps a bit too much responsibility leading the line at that stage of his career, but he's now at the right profile of club to develop.

“At 25, he has plenty of experience across Norwich, Celtic, and the national squad.

Playing slightly behind Troy Parrott suits him really well. Taking him out of the main number nine role allows him to use his raw power and speed facing the goal rather than playing with his back to it.

“He strikes a great ball, and coming onto play fits his strengths better. He's experienced enough now to know it's time to consistently deliver.

“The balance of that front three, Moylan's streetwise style, Parrott's goal instinct, and Idah's power, is the best setup Ireland currently have.”

Has Thomas Tuchel done the right thing in showing Cole Palmer that he can’t pick and choose when to play for his country?

AT: “Thomas Tuchel is blessed with options in Cole Palmer's position. I think he’s laying down the gauntlet to Palmer to show what he's made of rather than accommodating him.

“It sends a strong message to Palmer and the rest of the squad about standards and commitment under his tenure. Tuchel is asserting his authority.

“Having said that, players pulling out of international duty isn't new, it has happened for decades across many countries.

“The ball is in Palmer's court to respond with performances and goals that make him impossible to leave out because whatever his reasons were for missing squads, competition is fierce in those positions, and he needs to do a bit more to secure his spot.”

Should Rangers fans write off Martin O’Neill at their peril? Is he up there with Celtic’s greatest ever managers?

AT: “It’s wrong to write off Martin O’Neill, I totally agree. I think Martin knows now that for experienced managers, criticism is water off a duck's back. Every now and again, a question gets their back up and they get a bit spiky. I've seen that a couple of times with Martin this season, with Unai Emery, and with Jose Mourinho.

“All of these guys have been around the block. Nothing that's said or written is really going to phase Martin or change what he does, the way he thinks, or what he feels is right.

“Martin is in that category where, as an experienced manager who has been around a long time, when it's going well, he's just what we needed because of his experience and everything he's achieved.

“The minute you lose a couple of games, all of a sudden you're past it, past your best, and it's time for the club to move on. Martin is in that bracket where it's one or the other every week, but he won't care about any of that.

“He'll just continue to do what he does. I don't think Celtic have been at their absolute best when I've seen them, including in one of those two Rangers defeats.

“There has been a lot of criticism about some of the performances, but they're still top of the league. Of course, the league has a very different look about it this year, it will be just about the top two. Last year, we had Hearts making it really interesting and feeling very different.

“This is just about the top two this year, and we'll see how they get on. Either way, I think this is going to be Martin's last season. It won't be long before people look back at Martin's recent reign alongside what he's done previously and put him up there with some of the very best Celtic managers, no doubt.”

How do you see Ireland’s Nations League prospects?

AT: “I still think the team is very capable of getting in one of those top two positions. I don't think there's any doubt about that. I've definitely seen an improvement in the team recently.

“The only thing I look at is when we play well, we're more than capable of beating absolutely anybody. It's just that when we're struggling a little bit and don't perform, then we don't seem to get results.

“I think that's a bridge you have to cross as a group of players and a team. It doesn't happen automatically or overnight. But you need to be able to win matches at international level without playing well.

“I think that's the one thing with the current group of players that they're not particularly good at. I think they've played some of the games recently really well, playing some really good stuff.

“I think they've got a nice balance to the team. I like the forward line and the way that they play, I think they look dangerous.

“But we've got to be able to find that grinding out mentality that you need. Because over the course of a campaign, whether it's six games, or eight or ten, you are not going to play well in a lot of the games.

“I think that's the main thing the boys need to try to do, win a few more matches when they're not at their best, because that is a really good thing to have in your locker.”

What did your team have back in the day to get over the line in games?

AT: “I won lots of times for Ireland not playing particularly well. We had a very experienced squad and a way of going about things which really worked at the time for us as a group. But we did always have that to fall back on.

“If we were not playing that great, or if it wasn't really happening, we still knew we could nick a 1-0 or a 2-1 and get it done. So I just feel that the current group of players are going in the right direction for sure.

“I like a fair bit of what I see. I think there have been a lot of positives in most of the games recently. Probably the only one, the Kosovo game, I thought they didn't play very well.

“That's a classic example of not playing well, but trying to get something out of it. I think if they start doing that, then all of a sudden I could see them doing very well. I really could.”

Is finding a way to win a question of mentality?

AT: “Finding a way to win, I don't think that's coached. I think that's time together, momentum, and developing a winning mentality. Again, there have been other teams between my era and the current group that have had those periods, and I think this current group now has got to try and find that. It's important that you do.

“Whether you're watching World Cups or qualifying campaigns, you just can't guarantee that you're going to rock up and perform at your best.

“I just look at the team sometimes, when we're not quite clicking, firing, or performing, we sometimes go under in those games. I think that's something that needs addressing.”

Do you see a weakness in the midfield area?

AT: “In any midfield, yes, you'd like to have that superstar quality of a number ten, but we don't appear to have that at the moment. We've got talented boys, but there's a lot of hard-working boys in there which are the fundamentals and basis of any good team.

“You've got to have honest endeavour, commitment, and reliable people playing in those positions. I think we have that. It's a little bit why we're seeing Adam Idah, Moylan, and Troy Parrott now.

“That's the stardust in our team, that's the area of the field that Hallgrimsson is looking to go and win us matches. But the boys we have in the middle of the park are quite similar.

“Jason Molumby and all those boys do a good, solid job, but they're never going to be spectacular. But maybe they don't need to be. They just need to be reliable, which they are.

“I mean, they're always available. Josh Cullen's been unlucky injury-wise, but the rest of the boys are always pretty consistent, I feel. They give you a seven out of ten.

“None of them are going to get a nine out of ten too often, but it's not what they do. They're just bread-and-butter players, solid and reliable.

“The stardust in our team at the moment is some of those boys in those forward positions, and getting the balance right of that is key.”

How important will it be to have Josh Cullen back when he’s ready?

AT: “It's horrible when you get a bad injury. I broke my leg and was out for six months as a younger kid, and maybe from that moment onwards I made sure I looked after myself a bit better.

“When injuries come along, it's a tough period, a period where you reflect and appreciate things, because when you're playing and bouncing from game to game, when you're winning everything's good, and when you're losing you start pointing fingers.

“When you're injured, it's just you, and you reflect a lot on your own game, where you want to go, and how important football is to you.

“Josh Cullen is the sort of boy that now he's coming back, we'll see a very committed player as we always have, and hopefully he'll be able to find even more than we've seen from him up to now.

“Sometimes you can use that period to reassess exactly what you want to be. The modern-day player is better at that than we were because the competition is greater, so you've got to focus quickly, get back in your stride, look after yourself, and give yourself every chance to be the best you can be.

“That's modern-day football, if you're not living and breathing it every single minute of the day nowadays, somebody else will take your place.”

How do you see Ireland’s attacking options?

AT: “Jack Moylan, I think, is terrific. I love watching him play, and I was really impressed with him in the last international window. I'm hoping he'll keep it up, and I don't see any reason why he won't.

“He plays for a very attack-minded Cardiff team who really want to create chances. He's been amongst the goals himself, he's a great runner with the ball, and he carries the ball like a young Jack Grealish.

“He carries the ball comfortably like Jack did when he was at Villa in his younger days. But he's also got Ray Houghton's kind of engine and work ethic as well.

“I think he's got a really nice combination of quality and tenacity. If he keeps playing like he is, then he won't be at Cardiff for that much longer, that's for sure. As someone who had made that journey myself, non league and then gradually finding their way forward, I admire his journey.

“I was always in a rush to try and get somewhere once I got going. It took a while to get going, but once I did, I was frantic to try to get to the best levels I could reach.

“I think Jack's got that gene in him as well. He really wants to prove to the world how good he can be every time he plays. I think he's a real find. The balance with him and Adam Idah, with Adam withdrawing a little bit, playing just behind or off Troy, is working well.”

How good will it be to have Evan Ferguson back with Ireland next year?

AT: “Evan Ferguson’s return? Coming back to what I said about Josh Cullen, you can multiply that for Evan. It's been a really difficult period for him. I don't think we should set too many targets for someone like Evan at the moment. Just get back, enjoy playing, stay fit if he can, and then the rest will take care of itself.”

What have you made of Aston Villa in recent weeks?

AT: “I was there on Sunday. It was a crazy game, very watchable, and there was so much about it that many would enjoy.

“From a Villa point of view, having gone 2-0 up, I didn't think they had a particularly good half-hour in the first half. They didn't really control the game, and then in the last twenty odd minutes they did exactly the same and ended up throwing two points away, really.

‘Unai and a lot of the lads will wake up this morning thinking, ‘What on earth went on there?’ Because it was that sort of crazy game.

“But there's a lot to like about Unai's second Villa team. There's a lot of pace in the team. There are a few players that need a bit more experience and game time, which they'll start to get over the weeks and months ahead.

“I think they're in a good place. What they did in the summer, lots of teams might have taken two windows to do what Aston Villa did in one.

“They cashed in, did it all in one window, and decided to get on with it that way. They trust their recruitment, which was good. I think they're in a healthy place, though a top four or five finish is going to be tough for Villa this year.

“I see them in the top seven, and they're going to be competitive. They started well in the Champions League, and they'll have learned a lot from the Barcelona game.”