Academy stars need more of a chance in first team

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TOO MANY PROMISING young players have left the club in recent seasons despite Town being in the perfect position to further their development. Why? Because Ipswich don’t want them.

To be clear – it’s not the Connor Wickhams and Darren Bents of this world that I’m talking about, because I understand that if a Premier League team is prepared to offer what has become known as ‘silly’ money for one of our players (i.e. millions and millions of pounds), those at the top of the club have a duty to protect the wellbeing of Ipswich Town FC.

It’s the players that weren’t given enough of an opportunity to show what they can do in the first team.

Ipswich could do with someone like Liam Trotter in midfield. He’s a player with a physical presence that can sit in front of the back four and win the ball, then start an attack. He played out of position on Saturday but has grown and developed as a footballer playing in the middle and has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs. He left Ipswich in 2010 after being offered only a one-year deal when Millwall were prepared to offer him two. Now the 23-year-old has established himself as a good Championship player and Town have nothing to show for their investment in him.

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He said that it wasn’t a hard decision to leave despite coming through the Town academy, because the club never really showed that they wanted him enough. Trotter is one of an increasingly long list that have left Ipswich and gone on to prove themselves elsewhere – something that frustrates fans as much as anything.

These are players that we, as a club, have nurtured from a young age and then let go for next to nothing. 18 months down the line and they are worth ten times what they were. Jordan Rhodes has to be the prime example. Owen Garvan, Lewis Price and Trotter have all proved themselves in the Championship.

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Jordan Rhodes is having another outstanding season in League 1. The Scottish centre forward has scored 36 goals in 39 starts and has had just about every club in the country watching him. He was recently named ‘League 1 Player of the Year’ and looks set to endure speculation about his future all summer. It’s not known exactly how much Rhodes was sold for but it is thought to be less £100,000. He is now expected to fetch upwards of £5 million if he leaves Huddersfield.

Trotter shines on return to Suffolk

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FORMER BLUES MIDFIELDER Liam Trotter scored one and created one as Millwall overpowered a poor Ipswich team 3-0 at Portman Road.

What can possibly have gone wrong in four days for such a positive performance against Birmingham to turn into a horror show against Millwall?

Credit to the Lions, they came and put in a good performance but if Town had produced anything like the showing on Tuesday their opponents would surely not have gone back to London with their fifth successive win.

Ryan Stevenson and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas were the only changes from midweek, hardly a step back – particularly after the impact made by Emmanuel-Thomas from the bench on Tuesday. Lee Martin sat out through injury and Jason Scotland was due a rest after starting three games in eight days.

We’ve talked about timing before, knowing when to push and when to sit. Keep it tight early on and build a platform from which to play from. We know that we have quality on the ball and players that can hurt teams at this level so there’s no need to force it.

Three minutes on the clock and already 1-0 down. A few neat passes from the opposition and we don’t track the runners – always one step behind. We’re defending with such a high line that as soon as a ball is played through we’re running towards our own goal.

When every single defender is facing the wrong way, a decent ball across the box and nine times out of ten it will result in a goal. Andy Keogh poked past Arran Lee-Barrett and Aaron Cresswell couldn’t turn his body in time to make a clearance off the line.

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So, a goal down early on but there’s no need to panic – we know there’ll be chances at the other end. And so it proved, Andy Drury with a guilt-edged chance to level the scores but he blasts wide. He really should have scored and, failing that, at least made the keeper work. Chopra hits the outside of the post with a header and we go into the break a goal behind.

Second half and Chopra makes an intelligent run into the left channel, suddenly its Millwall’s turn to face their own goal and Chopra’s ball across the six yard box is turned onto the post by a defender. The rebound drops to Scotland but by now there are eight players between him and the goal, the chance has gone.

Millwall are back on the attack and Town, again, are chasing shadows. It’s all one and two touch play – too quick for us and the ball falls loose to the edge of the area. Trotter reacts quickest and drills the ball into the corner of the net.

A major criticism in recent weeks is that we haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal. Spot on. And Grant Leadbitter had the chance to reduce the deficit from 12 yards. His penalty was saved, though, as it was against Middlesbrough a few weeks ago.

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For me, Leadbitter is too hit and miss from the spot to be the team’s first choice penalty taker. He doesn’t exude the confidence to find the net at big moments in matches and the quality of his penalties reflect that. I get the feeling that other fans are nervous when he steps up too. It surprises me that Chopra isn’t top of the list because, if you look through the leagues, the vast majority of penalty takers will be strikers. They possess that natural instinct to find the net and their goal tally can easily be boosted by five to ten goals per season if they’re on penalty duty. Whether Leadbitter is here or not still remains to be seen, but I think that Jewell would be wise to select a new penalty taker regardless.

Town kept pushing for a goal and, inevitably, Millwall countered. The ball was lost high up the pitch and a simple pass played between the Ipswich centre backs left them stranded on the half way. Lee-Barrett was slow off his line and presented Keogh with the simple task of poking the ball round him and passing into the empty net. Game over.

The draw with Birmingham City on Tuesday evening left Ipswich fans with the familiar feeling of ‘what might have been’

TOWN DOMINATED AGAINST a Birmingham side looking to guarantee a play off place but, once again, failed to take their chances and ended up sharing the points.

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Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ equaliser 15 minutes from full time cancelled out Chris Burke’s strike at Portman Road.

The Tractor Boys mustered 20 shots (13 on target) throughout the evening compared to just 8 (5 on target) from the Championship’s fourth placed team. Ipswich had much the better of the play, particularly in the first half, but again failed to find the back of the net when on top.

It’s a situation that we have become far too accustomed with throughout the course of yet another disappointing season. Paul Jewell said so himself after the game, Ipswich can match anyone at any time.

We have seen, albeit in glimpses, that the team can challenge with the best in this league but we always fail to score at the right time. The timing of goals is crucial in football – just look at how many goals Norwich scored in injury time last season. Just look at how many we conceded.

It’s a problem that we haven’t managed to solve this campaign either and we were caught out again on Tuesday.

We have quality through midfield and a centre forward that has pedigree at this level. Sadly that pedigree was missing again against Birmingham, as it has been for much of the time since that night out with Jimmy Bullard in Newcastle. A solitary goal in 11 games is nothing for a striker of Chopra’s calibre to be proud of and he must work hard over the summer to get himself back in shape.

What has kept Chopra in the manager’s thoughts over the last couple of months is the massive investment made in him by the club. £250,000 was loaned to the self-confessed gambling addict in December, with chief executive Simon Clegg admitting that the club knew about his gambling problems, even before they signed him.

Only time will tell whether the risk taken by the club will pay off, and clearly they felt they had to back their player in December or cut him loose because of the desperate situation that he had got himself in to.

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The hard-working Jason Scotland has been the only other player challenging for the centre forward role this season and Town are already being linked with other strikers for 2012/13. We shouldn’t forget that a goal for Chopra in either of the two remaining games and he will be the first man in an Ipswich shirt to score 15 goals in a league campaign since Alan Lee five years ago.

Of course, the defence were heavily criticised for some horrific displays and it is, without doubt, the ‘goals against’ column that has cost us so dear. At one point, we conceded 22 goals in 7 games before Christmas. Now the defence have been playing better and the goals at the other end have dried up.

There are few players that can hold their heads up and feel that they have achieved a level of acceptable consistency throughout the course of the entire season. For too long we have gone into each campaign thinking that the quality of our squad is enough to mount a serious challenge.

The first match of the season at Bristol City promised so much. A 3-0 win and a brace for the new striker, but four defeats on the bounce, including defeat at home to Northampton in the Carling Cup, and we found ourselves fighting at the wrong end of the table from then on. The 5-1 demolishing of West Ham at the end of January sparked a run of seven wins in ten but by then the play offs were always going to be a long shot.

More realism required for next season.

Back to back clean sheets but lack of spark in front of goal must be a concern

TOWN’S SLENDER 1-0 win over Barnsley at Portman Road, followed by the goalless draw at Pride Park has highlighted the improvement of the defence in recent months.

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Neither Barnsley nor Derby had much to offer in attack, but the stability of the back four, particularly the pairing of Tommy Smith and Damien Delaney at centre back, continues to grow and provide much needed confidence heading into the next campaign.

Aaron Cresswell, at left back, has been excellent in his first foray at Championship level and looks certain to win the club’s ‘Player of the Season’ award.

In stark contrast, Carlos Edwards has looked out of place and out of his depth at right back. The Trinidadian, 33, still possesses all the instincts of a winger and, despite his obvious benefits to the team going forward, has been caught out far too many times defensively this year. Paul Jewell has made no secret of his attempts to sign Portsmouth’s Joel Ward during the last two transfer windows and is certain to go back again over the summer.

There isn’t an obvious replacement for Edwards within the club at the moment, which is why he continues to figure in defence week after week. The former Sunderland man is also the team captain at the moment, mainly because he is the most senior player in the starting line up. There’s a need for leaders in the Town dressing room, something that Jewell must also address over the summer if the Tractor Boys are to make a serious push for promotion next term.

The goalkeeper position is also a pressing matter, with two loan signings having come and gone this season. Arran Lee-Barratt has proven himself to be an able deputy but doesn’t command his area like a number one needs to and Richard Wright’s best years are behind him. So Jewell must, once again, delve into the transfer market. The manager is looking to build a team that can consistently challenge at the top of the division for years to come and would prefer not to rely on loans from other clubs again. There aren’t too many notable keepers within the Premier League or Championship that would be looking for a move during the off-season though, so it’s possible that Jewell could look further down the leagues or abroad.

At the other end of the pitch, Lee Martin is having a breakout season – showing that he has the quality and maturity to be Town’s most influential player. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas certainly has the skill to be a force in the Championship and just needs to be a bit more consistent. Daryl Murphy may be signed permanently from Celtic if he is deemed surplus to requirements in Scotland. Murphy’s ability in the air has given Town another dimension and he has looked comfortable on the left side of Town’s attacking three behind Michael Chopra.

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Chopra has made more headlines for his actions off the pitch rather than on it during his debut season at Portman Road. The troubled striker has scored 14 goals but should’ve had so many more. The creativity of Martin, Emmanuel-Thomas and Murphy has ensured a steady supply of opportunities throughout the season but the body and, more importantly, the mindset of the striker have been inadequate.

Chopra looks over weight and a yard off the pace but there’s no doubt that, when fully fit, he can be the difference between another mid-table finish and a push for the play offs.

Dropped points end slim chance of play-off place

DEFEAT AT WATFORD and then a draw at home to Middlesbrough appear to have extinguished Town’s faint hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs.

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Ipswich went down 2-1 at Vicarage Road and then were held 1-1 at Portman Road on Tuesday evening.

Grant Leadbitter’s spectacular strike from 25 yards cancelled out Lukas Jutkiewicz’s opener, but the Tractor Boys’ midfielder also missed a penalty.

A dull first half was replaced by a more attacking second after the break. Middlesbrough should have taken the lead when Alex McCarthy parried Barry Robson’s shot into the path of Jutkiewicz but the former Coventry man blazed over from close range.

Town were handed the opportunity to go in front when Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was tripped in the area but Leadbitter’s poor penalty was pushed away by Luke Steele.

Boro took full advantage on 63 minutes when Ipswich failed to clear their lines and it was Jutkiewicz who made them pay by converting from six yards.

But 10 minutes later it was Leadbitter’s turn to make amends with a searing strike from distance.

On Saturday, Emmanuel-Thomas’ strike gave The Blues a first half lead but two goals in the last 20 minutes ensured it was Watford who took all three points and continued their climb up the Championship table.

Watford pose tough test

IPSWICH TRAVEL TO Hertfordshire tomorrow in hope rather than expectation of extending their five match unbeaten sequence that has included credible draws at Southampton and Hull.

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A run of 14 matches in league and cup without a win over the Hornets doesn’t exactly bode well for Town but the team have shown a stubborn streak in recent weeks that gives, at least some, cause for optimism.

The two clubs sit level on points in 14^th and 15^th ahead of play, with the Tractor Boys possessing a better goal difference and having a game in hand. Both have outside chances of reaching the NPower Championship play-offs,  though Paul Jewell is reluctant to discuss any chance of sneaking inside the top six.  The manager has emphasised the need to “take each game as it comes.”

Watford have won four in a row against Town, including December’s 2-1 victory at Portman Road but a major turnaround has seen Town lose just one game in their last 10.

Grant Leadbitter is suspended after his late dismissal on Wednesday so Luke Hyam and Andy Drury will be vying for a place in Jewell’s starting line up. Ryan Stevenson could be given his first start in a blue shirt while Lee Bowyer played the full 90 minutes against Burnley so may drop to the bench. Also, Jimmy Bullard is back in contention after returning from his two-week ban.

Watford manager Sean Dyche will have to do without defender Adrian Mariappa- once linked with a move to Town, and midfielder Ross Jenkins. Meanwhile, highly rated youngster Troy Deeney will start in attack.

2000 Play-Off Final: Ipswich Town 4-2 Barnsley

This is a video of the Ipswich goals from the final at Wembley. One of the greatest moments in the club’s history and something that brings back a lot of happy memories for ITFC fans. If you haven’t seen it in a while it’s an absolute must!

Jewell still searching for dominant centre back

PAUL JEWELL REMAINS committed to finding the ‘right player’ to lead his back four despite the Tractor Boys keeping four clean sheets in their last eight games.

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The manager will continue to look elsewhere, as he did in January with Town’s well-documented pursuit of Portsmouth’s Jason Pearce.

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Jewell met with one Portsmouth player on Sunday evening, likely to have been either Pearce (right) or fellow defender Joel Ward, in the hope of making a signing before the end of the loan window, which closed yesterday.

Ward, 22, has featured in all but two of Pompey’s 37 league matches so far this season and is renowned for his versatility. He has played in every position across the back four and in midfield over the course of the current campaign. Ward (below) and goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, now on loan at West Ham, rejected the chance to join Town in January despite their club’s financial difficulties.

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The fact that 65 goals have been conceded, the worst record in the league, is of major concern and Jewell has been clear about his intentions for next season. “We’re aware that we need to improve in a lot of areas and we are off scouting at a lot of games every night. We’re looking to improve the squad for next season and beyond” he told The East Anglian Daily Times.

Carlos Edwards, Ibrahima Sonko and Damien Delaney are all in their thirties, so it’s of little surprise that Jewell wants to inject some more youth into the back line as well. Pearce, 24, has been a key player for Portsmouth this season and would fit the bill perfectly.

“I’m not going to tell you who it is but we chatted for a couple of hours. I think he liked what he saw, but at the same time I don’t think the player is short of offers either.”

Town, of course, are not the only club interested in the former Bournemouth captain. Promotion chasers Southampton and West Ham are also rumored to be weighing up a move for the defender.

Whether Pearce would be open to a move to Pompey’s fierce south coast rivals is debatable even if the Saints do reach the Premier League. He has shown incredible loyalty to his club and was even reduced to tears when his side lost 3-1 at home to Middlesbrough at the start of this month. Meanwhile West Ham signed Danny Collins on loan for the rest of the season.

The Stoke City player did a decent job when he came out on loan earlier in the season and provided a genuine threat at set pieces- which Town have been craving for a while now. Three goals in his 16 appearances was a great return for a centre back and it’s no surprise that he now finds himself at a club pushing for automatic promotion- where he has already managed to get on the score sheet.

Ipswich Town 1-0 Burnley

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MICHAEL CHOPRA’S SECOND half strike earned Ipswich a fifth successive home win at the expense of Burnley.

The striker lashed home from inside the six-yard box when the ball fell to him after Lee Martin’s shot rebounded. It was the only goal of the game, though Town dominated throughout- with Burnley failing to register a single shot on target.

Clarets goalkeeper Lee Grant made several fantastic saves to keep Town at bay, while Grant Leadbitter was sent off late on for a second bookable offence.

On 54 minutes good closing down from Martin in midfield pressured Burnley skipper Chris McCann into a mistake and allowed the forward to run through on goal. Grant made a good save low to his left but was powerless to stop Chopra’s follow up from close range.

Chopra then teed up Leadbitter for a rasping 30-yard strike that fizzed just wide before Aaron Cresswell’s long range strike tested Grant again. The full-back’s strike was too hot to handle as the keeper fumbled but then reacted brilliantly to deny Chopra with his legs from point blank range.

Leadbitter picked up a booking in the 90^th minute for a foul on Marvin Bartley before earning himself a second yellow two minutes later for needlessly kicking the ball away. He’ll now be suspended for the trip to Watford, who beat Bristol City 2-0 at Ashton Gate on Tuesday.

The manager was again pleased with the way that Chopra, Martin and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas linked up to cause havoc for the opposition.

“We told them to be braver on the ball, believe in themselves and Jet epitomises that, he was a real danger for us throughout the second-half” he told the club website.

“Chops took his goal well and his movement was very good but the whole team deserve a lot of credit.

“Burnley are a good team but they didn’t really cause us too many problems in the second-half and we definitely deserved the win and it should have been by more.”

Martin and Smith look different players seven months on from London Road thrashing

IPSWICH TOWN’S DRAMATIC 3-2 victory over Peterborough on Saturday marked a notable upturn in the fortunes of Lee Martin and Tommy Smith since the away fixture in August.

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Straight red cards for Martin and Smith five minutes either side of half-time, 4-1 down at Peterborough and live on Sky Sports led to a 7-1 humiliation for Town but seven months on and the pair have been realising their potential.

Martin, 25, was banished to the reserves after his sending off but Paul Jewell has been full of praise for the former Manchester United man after his improved performances and maturity on the pitch in recent months.

The winger was signed by Roy Keane in 2009 for a fee thought to be around £1.5 million but has reveled playing in a more central position just behind the main striker this season. Team mate Jay Emmanuel Thomas has said how envious of Martin’s free role he is, but how good a job he is doing for the team there.

Smith turns 22 at the end of the month but played every minute of New Zealand’s 2010 World Cup campaign, as they were knocked out in the group stages despite avoiding defeat in all three of their games.

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The Ipswich academy graduate has found it difficult to hold down a place in the club side though and has endured a few dismal games at centre back in the past. None of the central defenders at the club have really established themselves as a natural leader though, and Smith has improved throughout the season.

Smith has started the last 12 games at centre back, partnering either Damien Delaney or Ibrahima Sonko. The 6’ 2” kiwi has managed to get on the scoresheet twice as well, with goals against Blackpool and Bristol City at Portman Road.

Martin has made 26 appearances for the Tractor Boys so far this season, scoring five goals. He was also shortlisted for the Championship Player of the Month Award for February, which eventually went to Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici.