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McLoughlin Set to Join Wimbledon
Wednesday, 30th Jan 2019 14:14

TWTD understands AFC Wimbledon are closing in on the permanent signing of Blues youngster Shane McLoughlin. The 21-year-old Irishman is set to agree an 18-month deal with the League One club.

McLoughlin, who has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at U16 and U18 levels, joined the Blues academy at 16 and made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup tie at Crystal Palace in August 2017, his only start for the club.

Primarily a central midfielder but having also operated wide, up front and as a full-back for the U23s, McLoughlin made his one and only Championship appearance as a sub in the 2-2 home draw with Middlesbrough in last season’s final home match, winning the Blues a penalty which was converted by Martyn Waghorn.

While at Portman Road, McLoughlin, who we understand had also interested Luton Town in recent months, also had two spells on loan with Vanarama National League Bromley.


Photo: ITFC



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Northstander_Blue added 14:18 - Jan 30
Huge shame liked what I seen of him
3

RobTheMonk added 14:24 - Jan 30
Same. I'm sure he'll do well there and I reckon this may be one that comes back to bite us.
4

Smithy added 14:34 - Jan 30
Good luck to him
6

Cakeman added 14:41 - Jan 30
Haven't seen him play so don't know if he will be missed or not.
I have to say again what is the point of our academy? How many of the vast amount of players that have gone through the academy over the years actually pull on the first team shirt on a regular basis. Not many at all. They end up on loan either in the lower full time leagues or even in the non-league game. Any that are really worth their salt are sold.
All very disappointing.


-3

dirtydingusmagee added 15:09 - Jan 30
i agree Cakeman, we have a good academy, good youth teams , and rarely really benefit from them when it comes to first team . If they are good we lose them , if they have to improve a bit we loan them ,then lose them . Given the state we are in at present it does make you wonder.
-2

leftie1972 added 15:38 - Jan 30
we'll play against him next season:(
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Terry_Nutkins added 15:48 - Jan 30
Whilst this was does seem a shame Cakeman, when you say what is the point of our academy well we currently have: Lankester, Bishop, Kenlock, Dozzell, Downes all representing the first team this season. Name me 2-3 teams in the champ bettering that. We also numerous others e.g. Nydam, Folami, Morris, Wolfenden who we would hope to give game time.to next season. You have to have a balance of youth and experience and so sometimes difficult decisions have to be made and you have to be fair to lads like this. He will only bite us on the ass because he's getting the opportunity. If he rots in our u23 or not a priority at a loan club (like Nydam) it doesnt help him or us. As much as people don't like it he could be a Marriott. Marriott would never have gotnin ahead of Waghorn, Garner, Moore, Mcgoldrick, Murphy and co. He went out and improved himself elsewhere.
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jackson added 15:56 - Jan 30
This has that horrible, familiar ring to it of selling off the family jewels ......I guarantee this will come back to bite us on the a-s
-3

Pilgrimblue added 16:00 - Jan 30
Well said Terry, you have to have a enough youth in order to see who rises to the top. Some do like the ones you have listed while others need longer or never make it.
I think that the current lot are the best we've had for years. The alternative is signing from other clubs but that's expensive plus we wouldn't have enough for U23.
6

midastouch added 16:14 - Jan 30
Better than some of the regulars in my humble opinion. Lambert's call though and have to trust his judgement but a part of me does suspect that either Shane or McKendry are going to show us what we're missing in the not too distant future. Good luck to them both...
1

rugbytomc added 16:37 - Jan 30
Terry lot's of good points well made.

This season and our league position aren't the time for too much experimentation or thrusting youth into the limelight etc etc.

However, I sometimes feel the club hasn't given certain youngsters a chance and you mentioned Marriott and who he wouldn't have got in the team ahead of. He, like Rhodes before him and like Bowditch and Billy Clark before him, was banging in the goals at every youth level yet never got a real first team chance. I know each case is individual and you don't know what the managers see behind closed doors in terms of attitude and application, but it feels like those players didn't get a chance and we didn't manage to arrange decent loans for them. Same now with Ben Morris. Downes got to go on loan to a high flying Luton team, wouldn't it be great if we could find a high flying team in a lower league for him to go to and get game time to aid his development.

The other point i'd make is about physicality. The English leagues get more physical as you move down them. Some of England's youngsters (from all clubs) would be better suited to a foreign loan due to their physical stature. For example, Dozzell will naturally get stronger as he gets a bit older. He probably isn't physical enough to cope with the demands of League 1. His quality of football is (in my opinion) good enough for the Prem. I'd prefer he continued to develop his skills and let the physical side come in time. If he went on loan to say Spain, he would flourish there. We might not lose so many youngsters from all teams if they did as such. Just a thought. Bowditch was always exceptional but not physical enough for the championship. If he had come through when we were in the prem where it's a bit less physical, he might have gone on to flourish
7

Bergholtblue added 17:00 - Jan 30
The cut backs are starting now ready for the reduced income next season.
-1

Mingochutney added 17:11 - Jan 30
Well said Terry and Rugby, all I would add is that I agree with the players mentioned by rugby let go without given a chance were a mistake, as they were not holding back younger players coming through beneath them whilst clearly being too good for the u23s. The lads that we are looking at offloading have looked decent in a very poor youth league but are not head and shoulders above anyone else in that team and staying would hold back the development of players like El Mizouni and Bailey Clements coming through from the next generation of youngsters
1

Bluearmy_81 added 17:11 - Jan 30
Same old. We never learn.
1

dubblue added 17:14 - Jan 30
Best of luck Shane with your move. Hope you don't score against us next season!

Interesting comment above where we loan out our players too. Probably does make sense to loan our young players out to clubs in Spain, France or Holland rather than the lower English divisions.
2

happybeingblue added 17:23 - Jan 30
i think the norwich boys jamal lewis todd cantwell and max aarons seem to be better than our boys although it hurts to say it,they play more often and have that creative impact that ours dont seem to be able to provide ,we certainly cant rely on bishop playing regularly and dozzell has to go again,downes yet to provide any threat in the final third which any midfielder worth his salt should be able to provide
2

nysully added 17:46 - Jan 30
Dylan Connolly went back to Ireland, played League of Ireland for a couple of years and has now signed for AFC Wimbledon. Anthony Wordsworth there as well so there is life after Town.
1

Saxonblue74 added 18:56 - Jan 30
Happybeingblue - I don't see that the Norwich lads you named are any more talented than our youth. The vast difference is which end of the league table they are playing at. Youthful exuberance coupled with confidence and of course talent is a potent cocktail. Our youth system has been and continues to be something to be proud of. We have a great crop of youth, as individuals they would shine in a team playing with confidence. Lets hope we don't disband them before we get to reap the rewards.
0

Saxonblue74 added 19:01 - Jan 30
Rugbytomc - meant to add that I agree entirely that the physical demands of the championship can prove too much for the young guys. Might even go as far as to say more physical than the prem?
0

BartonBluee added 19:23 - Jan 30
People fail to mention the number of youth players we have let go that have gone on to do nothing. Hindsight is a great thing, and the reality is players bite teams on the backside all the time. It happens at the very top... De Bruyne and Lukaku leaving Chelsea and going on to play for top teams. Football is very much momentary, is the player fit for purpose at the moment? If the answer is no, then unfortunately they have to move on as otherwise it is a drain on our already tight budget. No one can pretend to know what goes on behind closed doors. It definitely isn't the right time to start blooding youngsters, we need experienced heads to get us out of the current predicament. Until it is mathematically impossible I keep the faith! COYB!
2

cat added 20:05 - Jan 30
In Lambert and our very experienced youth management set up we must trust. If the kids are good enough or better than what we have then they will play. No if, buts or maybe's, that's the way it is, end of.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 20:07 - Jan 30
fair comment about our current predicament BartonBluee , but we should have sorted that out at start ,,Hurst screwed everything and now we are stuffed .
1

LWNR2013 added 20:09 - Jan 30
Move on. Next one. Who said that?

How much?
0

Skip73 added 20:43 - Jan 30
Reading all this talk of our academy going to waste is all well and good, but correct me if I'm wrong, I thought McLoughlin was signed from Waterford so wasn't a product of the academy, so that argument is irrelevant in this case.
1

BrettenhamBlue added 21:08 - Jan 30
Good player, but Folami, Drinan and Morris are all ahead of him in the pecking order. Good luck to him, always looked good.
0


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