Former Premier League boss Neil Warnock has attempted to explain why Roy Hodgson is loyal to Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend.
Former Premier League boss Neil Warnock suggested on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show for talkSPORT that England manager Roy Hodgson has an underlying loyalty to Tottenham midfielder Andros Townsend.
Warnock was quizzed over Townsend’s situation with Tottenham and his career with England, suggesting that he finds it difficult, based on the player’s England performances, to work out why the winger can’t force his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s team.
At the moment, there’s no real reason for Townsend to try and force a move away from Spurs because there’s no evidence that his international career is being affected by the role he’s currently playing with his club side.
“The one player who has got Roy (Hodgson) out of the cart over the last couple of years has been Townsend, I think he’s been fantastic for England but he can’t get into Pochettino’s team – I think that’s why Roy has been loyal to him,” he told talkSPORT.
Hodgson and Pochettino coach differently
Roy Hodgson and Mauricio Pochettino are very different managers, which helps to explain why Townsend has performed so differently for club and country.
Hodgson is a manager who encourages his players to focus on what they’re good at while Pochettino is more tactical and demands more discipline from all of his midfield men.
It may well be the case that Townsend lacks that discipline but he has done well when he’s been let off the leash at international level.
Townsend’s future
It’s unclear as to what may happen with regard to Townsend’s Tottenham future but there’s nothing concrete which suggests that he’s about to leave.
All the time he is getting a fair amount of games with Tottenham, while having an impact at England level, he’s got no reason to force a move anywhere, as long as Pochettino is happy to keep him where he is.
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