Andros Townsend’s clash with the Spurs fitness trainer Nathan Gardiner has seen him miss out on a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for tomorrow’s match against Anderlecht.
In his pre-match press conference today, Pochettino confirmed that Townsend had been punished for his actions.
“He did not train with the group. He is not available to be selected.
“It’s because of Monday. If you behave the wrong way you always need to pay.
“I can understand because I was a player and when you don’t play you’re unhappy and sometimes your expectation is bigger than the manager provides you.
“But it was not normal behaviour. He is young and you need to understand that it isn’t the way to impress the manager.”
Townsend’s future at the club was already up for debate and looks set to intensify with the January window looming. Here’s how Twitter reacted to the news.
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Andros Townsend has been banished from the squad after clashing with a coach. #THFC pic.twitter.com/HWLSyeietU
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) November 4, 2015
WAIT! Does that mean I won't get a chance to watch Townsend dribble aimlessly, cut inside, shoot, and hitting row z? #THFC #COYS
— Andrew Labib (@Andrew_Labib) November 4, 2015
Pochettino's most poignant quote on Townsend says it all, "needs to learn the game on & off the pitch", both points very much a fact.
#THFC
— Ricky Sacks (@GlobalSpur) November 4, 2015
Hope Townsend gets his head down now and learns from his mistakes. He needs to be patient and take his chance when it comes. #coys #thfc
— Ian Ayers (@ayers79) November 4, 2015
This might be the end for Townsend – a shame to see someone from the ranks dropped, but unprofessional of him to have a row with a coach.
— Spurs In The Blood (@SpursInTheBlood) November 4, 2015
As I've met Andros Townsend I know he loves the club and he wants to succeed at Spurs but he is clearly frustrated with lack of starts #COYS
— Harry Charalambous (@TransitionTHFC) November 4, 2015
Andros Townsend best performances in the PL was on loan at QPR. Squad player at best for Spurs both him & club need to move on #THFC #COYS
— Jamie Collins (@J_Collins1987) November 4, 2015
December spoiler alert: Sherwood takes over at QPR with Ramsey moving to assistant manager and they buy Andros Townsend for £10m in January.
— Raj Bains (@BainsXIII) November 4, 2015
Townsend was obviously pissed off that Onomah was used as the sub not him. But thats the managers decision. And Townsend is falling down the pecking order…..behind Lamela, Chadli, Clinton, and probably Pritchard and now Onomah too…..with Oduwa due back next season too. Do we need Townsend? Doubtful and will we miss him? Occasionally but not enough.