Matthew Lowton

[old man villa fan]

I noticed his mrs commented on him having to leave his one hour old baby last week to join up with the squad and then be on the bench .

Commented where? She needs to remember Villa pay for them to lead a good fucking life, footballers wives should be seen but not heard

What a ridiculous attitude. I don't care how much you earn, I think it's entirely understandable that a woman who has just given birth would be upset to see the father of her child have to disappear to go and sit on the bench and do nothing. 

Isn't it part of the deal, though?

They have to put up with being played or not played from one week to the next. They have to do stuff like train on Christmas Day, too. Stuff you or I don't have to do.

It doesn't strike me as that bad a deal in return for a million pound salary.

It isn't even that big a deal in the context of football - you often hear about players missing the births of their children because they're off playing in some tournament or other.

At the end of the day, it's a job. An exceptionally well paid one which is almost entirely about positives. They get a remarkably good life in return for what they put in.

It's her having her husband by her side immediately after giving birth not her missing out on a shopping trip. It's really not that hard to understand she's likely to be a tad emotional.

If Lowts chose to go to the match then she should take it up with him. If he asked for time off, had that request denied, and then ended up sitting on the bench I can understand why she/he is pissed off. Some things are worth more than money and it wouldn't have been that hard for the club to show a bit of common sense.

At some point in life many people have to make a choice between work and family. Usually, putting work before the family is for the future greater good of the family. In the past I have worked as an expat overseas and missed the birth of both of my kids by 6 hours and 1 day respectively.  My wife wanted to be with her family for the births and moved back to her village for a month prior to the births. Both times I took 10 days off work to be with her but was unable to stay on and went back to work. The future of our family depended on me working and my wife would not have had it any other way.

In no way did my wages get anywhere near Lowton's but he made a choice about his career, just as I did.  He has a short career to set himself and his family up for life. It is necessary for him to make sacrifices and his wife should be tactful with her comments.

[Drummond]

There's a difference with being an ex-pat overseas and an hour away.

He doesn't need to be away, that's the whole point, it's a stupid club rule. Imagine how much more motivated he might be if he gets to spend time with his wife and child and is happy and content.

[Ad@m]

There's a difference with being an ex-pat overseas and an hour away.

He doesn't need to be away, that's the whole point, it's a stupid club rule. Imagine how much more motivated he might be if he gets to spend time with his wife and child and is happy and content.

Exactly.  And it's a different matter if he was a 1st team regular or even ended up coming off the bench.

A bit of common sense on both sides would've avoided it completely.

[Clampy]

What game did this all stem from anyway?

[pauliewalnuts]

There's a difference with being an ex-pat overseas and an hour away.

He doesn't need to be away, that's the whole point, it's a stupid club rule. Imagine how much more motivated he might be if he gets to spend time with his wife and child and is happy and content.

I don't understand, what's the hour away thing?

He was on the bench, we were playing a match. It makes every bit of difference that he might have had to come on. He didn't, but there's no knowing what might have happened in the match - what if Bacuna had gone off injured?

People who do very highly paid jobs often have to put up with certain ways of working which will seem over-the-top to most people. I don't think expecting a player to be present at the match and on the bench if he's in the match day squad is that extreme a thing to ask.

It's not as if he was forced to miss the birth, is it?

It sounds like his Mrs was annoyed he had to go to work but wasn't called off the bench. The thing is, Lambert might not have used him, but couldn't have said he wasn't needed prior to the match, because he didn't know if that was going to be the case.

[Clampy]

Could'nt agree more with any of that Paulie. Earning a small fortune comes with it's sacrifices.

[Toronto Villa]

You wonder if Mrs Lowton has a stopwatch as she's watching the games to see how many minutes her little lad gets and how many touches of the ball Lambert gives him. If it's under a certain amount she calls for a meeting.

[Damo70]

I've heard she is taking driving lessons from Shaun Teale's wife.

[dekko]

According to Mr Kendrick he was left on the bench today for 'disciplinary reasons'.

*BASELESS SPECULATION* Probably still trying to live in Sheffield against orders from the management*BASELESS SPECULATION*

If true he needs to get his head in gear, he keeps up with this then Lambert will sell him, and to be honest he'd deserve it.

[aj2k77]

If it is disciplinary then it's crazy of lowton. Second division player given a chance at a historic giant playing in front of a Big crowd each week, you could make your name. I'd make my missus move into an airing cupboard at the villa for that opportunity.

[Irish villain]

Silly boy if that is the case.

[ozzjim]

Very silly if true, and a quick way to find yourself out. Naughton rumours might gather pace.

[OCD]

He's not good enough defensively anyway. If he's going to mess around then he won't be around for long.

[Ian.]

He's not been right all season, even if this business does not end with him leaving getting another fullback can only add to competition for that position.

[kippaxvilla2]

Not even on the bench tonight.