I am home sick. Is this a legitimate reason for a well paid, modern day footballer, who is still trying to find his way in the game, to request a return to his parent club ?? I am referring to the situation with Andros Townsend, who has allegedly quit Leeds United, where he had been om loan since Janusry 1st, because according to his agent, he is struggling to settle in the North. Rumour has it he prefers to consider an offer from Chrissie Hughton, who he grew up with when Hughton was at Spurs. And he leaves Leeds with Warnock's words of "good riddance" ringing in his ears. Townsend is a useful asset for us. Nowhere near good enough to make it as a LB, where Harry has been known to play him, but certainly worth a squad place for back up as LM/LW. As always in these situations, talk of a "big time charlie" attitude appear, but in my knowledge of the player, this isn't the case. So, is it wise to maybe put your uncertain career in the game in jeopardy by being "homesick" ??
He seemed perfectly happy there til Warnock turned up SC, despite frequently being played on the right. Perhaps something that the new manager said or did made him reconsider where he wanted to be?
Possibly so PNP, possibly so. I just find it a bit disappointing that Townsend has made this decision when he was getting regular football. On the face of it, he had Adam Smith up there with him at leeds and John Bostock down the road at Wednesday, so "homesickness" doesn't stick with me somehow.
I haven't read anything about homesickness, to be honest, SC. Warnock's been mouthing off about him not being settled and wanting to move, but that might be because he's only played one of the last 4 games. If he's not playing often enough, then there's not much point in him being out on loan. If he'll get more games at Birmingham, then I don't blame him for wanting to move, especially as Hughton's their manager.
I will sound like a grumpy old git now but is this not typical of todays youngsters, spoon fed, spoilt, overpaid, little gits, who expect everything on a plate. My reaction! Grow up and smell the flowers, and start to appreciate how bloody lucky you are to have the talent to be a pro footballer.
Whereas the professionals of yesteryear used to get pissed up and then go out and play 90 minutes. Swings and roundabouts, for me.
Well put Spurf, because that was where I was coming from in my article. I do take on board PNP's comments, but my gut feeling is that the player should man up a bit more, otherwise a career in the game will pass him by.
If he was really unhappy there then you've got to let him come back, I guess. It's disappointing to see but I hope he's put a lot of thought into this and felt that he simply couldn't continue there, rather than doing a "Bostock" and just not taking the whole thing seriously. He's the only one that will know, which of those is true but he won't last long if it's his attitude at fault. Overall I'd have said he should've stuck it out regardless but since he's back I'd rather he stayed, I can't help but feel he'll atleast make a few more benches before the end of the season now Pienaar's gone.
Warnock seems to be under the impression that he'll go back out on loan, but to Birmingham, YV. Might be different if he wasn't cup tied.
Not ALL of them PNP not all Many more used to graft for their £20 a week. I am just reading a biography of Alan Gilzean he just wanted to play football ANYWHERE never sought the limelight (still doesn't) and to this day remains a vastly underrated player IMO.
And not all of today's players are total twats, Spurf. Scholes has gone through his career shunning the celebrity lifestyle, not even having an agent and just getting on with it. His team-mates were out pretending to be models or shagging their brother's wives at the time, too.
Would that be Dundee United FC or Dundee FC? Why is it that people from some places are so unoriginal in coming up with names for football clubs?