Conor Townsend out on loan...

Obviously L1 & L2 teams either don't want or don't need him, I just saw something about Grimboys having a few injuries so maybe a favour & they feel it's still a step up from the U21's.
Overall though I agree it's a shame we can't get any higher teams interested in the kids!

 

Townsend is better than the league that Grimsby Town play in. But he needs games and first team football games.

 

Townsend is 22, Akpom is 20.
Three years ago Akpom was an unused substitute in one of Arsenal's Champion's League games which says a lot about the way Wenger demonstrates to his youth players that they can go all the way if they're good enough.

By now Townsend should have been a regular face on our bench getting whatever first team playing time /experience was possible. The fact he hasn't been suggests two reasons; A) He just isn't good enough and therefore should be released. Or B) There's a ceiling in place at City preventing youth players progressing into the senior squad.
We've seen a few younger players feature in early games this season, but it's worrying that these players could see their only real chance of regular first team football happening away from the KC.
Greg Luer is a prime example, the kid is pushing as hard as he can for recognition (including his cup goals) and he deserves to be rewarded.

 

Completely agree. Young players like Townsend and Luer who are showing real potential in the U-21s playing against strong teams like QPR, with four first team players in their 6-2 loss to us last week, should surely be getting more first team chances or at least better loan deals than Grimsby and Stevenage apparently. I cant believe Pennock is happy with Townsends loan...how is he going to improve playing non-league football!!

 

A team like Scunthorpe Utd should be looking to take both Townsend and Luer on loan ffs.

 

Not great, particularly since he would be an alternative to an under-par (so far) Robertson.

BUT in that 1 month the under 21s only have 1 game (at Sheff Utd) so maybe it's not so bad as he will play more games at Grimsby. If he plays well and maybe a loan higher up will come.

 

Adds "could manage development team players better than the people employed to do that" to the list which also includes:

• Can run a company better
• Can run a football club better
• Could manage a football team better
• Could make more money, if could be arsed

Ever think you chose the wrong profession Lambo?

 

It's been obvious for a long while that Townsend will never make it for us.

Happy to eat my words...

 

I might go tomorrow to see how well he plays Grimsby at home to Halifax

 

He has been on loan to Chesterfield (League Two), Carlisle (League One), Dundee Utd (Scot Prem), Scunthorpe (League One) and I am certain every time he went on loan he was well thought of. Why on earth are we now loaning him to some Conference side? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

What a joke he should be in our first team.

Grimsby ffs.

 

Or why someone isnt buying him??
I'm reading The Nowhere Men about the work scouts do.
Townsend will have been watched numerous times by loads of different scouts. Why arent Dundee back in for him?
Why arent Div 1 2 or Championship teams taking him?
I'm not saying there's owt wrong with him but the scouts arent recommending him are they, thats nothing to do with Bruce or Pennock.

 

To be clear, are you arguing that City 'manage development tean players' well? Seriously

Or just being contrary for the sake of it? Surely not.

 

He played well at Dundee last season, the same club that after performing well at Robertson essentially walked into our PL side. Townsend should really be at a L1 side minimum.

 

This is a weird loan, but it does mean that he's not having to travel far and he knows the club. As has been said though, he's gone backwards and should really be in League 1 or 2. It must pain him to see the likes of Liam Cooper, Jamie Devitt and Sonny Bradley playing well in League teams. In fact Bradley is now the captain of Crawley and Cooper is vice captain (although he was captain until they signed Sol Bamba) at Leeds.

He did start really well at Dundee Utd, but he faded and due to Utd signing players in that position he returned to us then went to Scunthorpe. He obviously didn't impress them that much or they wouldn't have bothered signing another LB.

That said, you'd have thought Margetts would've got a better club than Tranmere. Maybe our youth players aren't as good as we thought they were.

 

Or maybe we aren't evaluating them correctly, and prior to Pennock the coaching they were getting wasn't up to snuff.? Also wasn't Townsends problem at Dundee due to an injury after he was very well regarded when he was playing.? The Margett's release I've never understood as he's been banging in goals since he left, and he did with us. Cooper, Devitt, Bradley as well as Cullen and Donaldson all seem to be doing well...with Donaldson prolific in a strong Birmingham squad.

And although not a youth alumnus even Simpson is leading Div2 in scoring at Leyton....seems to have recaptured his Millwall form?