He's been here for two years now and there has been zero sign of him being able to challenge for a place so far. The opportunities he has had through injury have been flat out failures. I guess the coaches that see him day in day out when given a choice between him and Davies have always chosen Davies that tells us something to always lose a 50/50. I cannot read the future of course. One day Townend may play for Real Madrid. We cannot know. Just looking at the balance of probabilities it seems exceedingly unlikely that he will displace or even compete with Davies any time soon. Sent from my iPad using Barnsley FC BBS Fan Forum mobile app
I thought something might happen last week and apart from the recruitment of the Development squad lad it didn't. The Liverpool Echo is confirming what we were told earlier to-day , re-Everton prospect Joe Williams is closing in on a six month loan. I've got the feeling that a foreign striker could also be on his way together with another full back. Hopefully the loans involving McBurnie and Fletcher could still happen so five or six incomings is not beyond the realms of possibility.!
So if they sign me up as a full back despite having no football skills whatsoever that's a strong tick ✅ for having 4 full backs regardless of quality is it?
No obviously not I was using the idea that roughly 2 players per position is about right for squad depth with a few more added for depth. Thus we need 4 more with 1 or 2 on top of that probably Anyone we'd sign would obviously be good enough for us in the view of our head coach and that's good enough for me
Too many imo. Ask yourself this. Davies gets sent off/injured. Townsend comes on and is set to play the next game or two. Are you confident in him - or nervous? I know what I think. The coaching staff think different apparently. Fair enough. He didn't play at all last season - but he played a few games the season before, when the poison dwarf felt fit to drop Davies initially, and I was never confident in him whatsoever. Not just the chance of error - all keepers make them here and there, especially young ones. But he looks small, (though apparently he's only a couple of inches shorter than Davies), and never seems to make a save you'd call anything but routine. Nothing to make you sit up and think he had something. If and when he's in the side I support him - as I do anyone who pulls the shirt on - but I honestly don't think he'd get a game for most of league one and two long term. Hope I'm wrong. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I dont know wether I would be confident or nervous, I dont know if he will become an established goalkeeper or not, but I just think goalies mature at a slower rate than outfield players & the slagging he gets on here is over the top, but hey, what do I know, I thought Mannone was very poor when he was here, yet he has gone on to make many premier league appearances !
Vito Mannone was awful at Barnsley. But he was 18 at the time. He's only 29 now - still probably improving. My point with Townsend is that I've not seen any raw ingredients. Dropping a cross, making a ruck here and there I accept is part of being a keeper, but at any age they should show the core abilities at least - catching high balls under pressure, making a good save, full stretch or whatever. I've seen him do neither so far. As I say I hope he proves me wrong. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dunno but based on what I have seen the only 'keeper worse than him was David Preece. Thankfully he was only called on as a last resort and hopefully it will be the same for Townsend. I'm not convinced by Davies as yet but he knows he is guaranteed to play 46 games this season if Townsend is his only threat.
He's played 10 games for us when Little Lee was on his mission to belittle every regular first team squad member. As he couldn't play Davies out of position like everyone else, he dropped him for a guy he brought in loan, who performed poorly, and then very swiftly after signed him on a 3 year deal and he's not gotten close to challenging in that time. The main way we can therefore assess his prowess is on warm ups. If his job is to let the ball in easily to boost the confidence of strikers in shooting practice, he's very good at his job. Like others have said, i'd be keen to let him go and either bring in someone else, or open up the opportunity for Walton if the powers that be judge him ready.
I think an Amazonian tribesman who had never heard of football, Real Madrid or Nick Townsend could comfortably predict the outcome of that one.
Well if the lad reads this, at least he will know to go to the job centre, as you have written him off despite having limited experience.
Some people in Barnsley are far too quick to write players off.Nick was brought here with a glowing reputation as a talented young goal keeper.He's still very young for a goalie and unfortunately for him he has a very consistent Adam Davis in front of him.If the coaching staff who see him every day think he's good enough who are we to dispute this.
1. He shouldn't be reading this 2. If he is, he should not be affected by anything he reads on here. Nor should any other player. The opinions on here are simply that. They have no baring on anything that happens at the club.
We've seen so little of Townsend, I have no idea if he's any good or not. Do you remember Davies' early appearances? He had an absolute shocker early on (vs MK Dons maybe?) and I thought he'd never cut it, but look at him now. Hecky seems to trust him enough anyway. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Players will read the message boards, you can be sure & you are right they should not be affected by things as long as they are put in a constructive way, but no player should be insulted the way they are by some keyboard warriors, courtesy costs nothing.
Over the years, there have been many personal insults typed on message boards & I am sure you are aware of that.