Lisbie Still Set to Return
Monday, 7th Dec 2009 11:34
Boss Roy Keane says he still intends to recall Kevin Lisbie from his season-long loan spell at Colchester in January. The U’s have said they want to sign the 31-year-old on a permanent basis when the transfer window opens, but Keane is yet to hear from the League One club’s manager Aidy Boothroyd.
Keane said: “They need to pick the phone up. At this moment in time Kevin will be coming back in January. I said that two months ago and that still stands.
“As I’ve said with any of our players, not just Kevin, if clubs are interested, then pick up the phone. That’s what I do when I’m interested in players.”
The Blues boss is pleased with Lisbie’s progress with the Essex side, which has seen him net 10 goals so far this season: “Kevin is a good player, I think he had his disappointments when we first came to the club.
“We gave one or two players opportunities to go and speak to other clubs, Kevin took that and he’s doing really well. But we also had the option that we’d take him back in January.
“He’s gone away, he’s got that sharpness, he’s scored goals. He’ll come back to us, a team who are lacking goals, and we look forward to getting him back.”
Lisbie himself says he would prefer to remain at the Weston Homes Community Stadium: “I would love to sign in January — whether it will be done is another matter.
“A lot has been said for no reason and so early on as well. I came here for a year and everyone knew the situation.
“I want to be at Colchester — I didn’t really get the chance at Ipswich and it would be hard for me to go back there and start all over again. There are players there I don’t know and I’d rather stay here and finish the season.
“We’re in a great position to be promoted and I feel like I’ve been a major part of that and I want that to carry on.”
Lisbie and Ben Thatcher were understood to have alienated Keane in the summer by refusing to move their family homes to Suffolk, but the Blues boss says the situation isn’t quite as clear-cut as that: “I’ll insist that he [Lisbie] has a base here in terms of the night before matches. It’s not up to me to tell people where to move their wives and children.
“For any players we sign in the future we’ll be setting certain distances in terms of their contracts. I know Middlesbrough have set it at 45 minutes as a lot of their players live in Harrogate and that type of area because of the schools. I think if you’re committing to a club it’s the least you’ve got to do.
“It’s players commuting every day that’s my issue. When players are commuting every day, that’s when they get injured."
The Blues boss will probably set Town's limit nearer to the club than Boro's: “I wouldn’t even think it should be 45 minutes, I’d think a lot less than that. There are a lot of good areas and schools around here, so it wouldn’t necessarily be 45 minutes.
“But let’s not get bogged down by that, my point is that you cannot be commuting for two hours every day and there are one or two players who are doing that and that’s why they haven’t been taking part.”
Lisbie and Thatcher both live in the London area, although the striker is understood to have rented a flat more locally last season.
Keane says his own experiences as a Celtic player have led to his policy: “I was getting a flight at six ‘o clock in the morning and hiring a car at Edinburgh airport and driving to Glasgow. I tore my hamstring twice at Celtic. It’s not the best preparation.”
The Blues boss says that contrary to popular belief, he’s not one to lay down the law to members of his squad: “I don’t go around putting a load of rules onto the players. You ask them and they’ll tell you that I’m quite easy going and I’ll adapt to certain players, such as the older ones. I did it with Yorky at Sunderland and Stern with his situation here.
“I’m quite happy to give and take, but this idea of sitting in your car in the morning for two hours, at least two hours, coming training and then driving home for another two hours, you don’t have to be a sports scientist to see that that’s not good for the body. Travelling’s tiring anyway, never mind if your job depends on how physically fit you are.”
Keane stresses that the situation only applies to a couple of squad members: “You’re only talking about one or two players and I discussed it with Kevin and Ben at the end of last season, I’m not hiding behind anything with that.”
Asked if Thatcher’s absence from all first team and reserve football this season is down to his refusal to move, Keane wouldn’t be drawn into giving too much detail: “Ben’s injured anyway. I won’t go into certain things with certain players, but the same players are injured.
“Sitting in your car for two hours — and sometimes that’s three or four hours - isn’t going to help a knee injury.”
Meanwhile, Alan Quinn took a kick at Bristol City on Saturday but is expected to be fine to face Peterborough tomorrow, while Lee Martin missed the trip to Ashton Gate with a heel injury he picked up in training.
Alex Bruce is unlikely to be back before the Scunthorpe game due to his groin injury, while David Norris is expected to return later in the month and Luciano Civelli won’t be back in contention until at least the end of January.
Photo: Action Images
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Lightningboy added 11:44 - Dec 7
Shame it's not Rhodes we're calling back in january.
Can't wait to get Norris back in the team - I'd keep Garvan & Leadbitter as a holding 2 allowing Norris to join the attack ala Gerrard. |  | |
1RWR added 11:54 - Dec 7
Lisbie hasn't the conviction to play for us, so if Colchester come up with the bunce then take it & run! |  | |
kerryblue added 12:00 - Dec 7
At the end of the day Lisbie is a Town player and who is he to think that in this case the tail will wag the dog. |  | |
fifeblue added 12:05 - Dec 7
If a player doesn't want to play for Town then there is no point in keeping him. Negotiate a price and sell him. |  | |
bleedblue added 12:13 - Dec 7
I think its the fact Keano laid down the law at the start, and he wasn't happy, hence why he wanted out, he would have scored goals for us this season with some of the chances we have missed!! |  | |
hadleighboyblue added 12:29 - Dec 7
Keane is dead right .....if Colchester want him and he wants to stay there , it's up to them to make an offer that would suit everyone . | | |
IpswichKev added 13:07 - Dec 7
Sell him to the highest bidder Keano! |  | |
brockleyblueboy added 13:23 - Dec 7
If he wants to go, then I feel we should let him. We need players that are going to give 110% for the rest of the season to help get us into the play-offs. |  | |
jas0999 added 13:46 - Dec 7
Agree we should sell him if he wants to go and from memory, believe that's the plan. Think Lisbie mouthed off a little about Roy, who promptly reminded him that he's still an Ipswich player!
Wasn't very good for us, so suspect he'll be moved on permanently. | | |
Back_The_Boss added 13:54 - Dec 7
Any decent offer should be accepted, not good enough for the CCC. He has found his level at Colchester. |  | |
ITFC1985 added 13:55 - Dec 7
He didnt give anywhere 100% last season when he was playing, a truly awful signing, lets hope Colchester cough up the cash |  | |
SomershamBlue added 14:21 - Dec 7
Never any point in having a player who doesn't want to play for the club. If Colchester can make a decent offer in January, then sell him.
From what he's said (or is supposed to have said), he won't be happy back here. |  | |
finidigeorge88 added 14:29 - Dec 7
Get rid of Lisbie, horrible footballer, I would've like to have seen rhodes given a chance but obviously that isn't going to happen so town fans we are going to hve to deal with it.. |  | |
itfc1981 added 15:10 - Dec 7
5 quid for misbie seems fair enough, poor didems doesnt know anyone at Ipswich. |  | |
pippaine added 15:31 - Dec 7
Hi Guys
A lot off of talk about Strikers we have let go, I have watched Rhodes, Lisbe, Bowditch over the past few week's at MK Dons where I live, None of them are better than we allready have and would not take us to another level, forget about them and let's get in Players that that can raise there Game,Those mentioned will do OK where they are but will never be what we are looking for. Trust Me | | |
welshtractorboy added 15:38 - Dec 7
Forwards----Paz ---- Parkin-----Priskin---- le Penn anything in common? yes all joined and never(havent) lived up to expectations ---------forgot!!!! surname all start with the letter P Keano do not sign or consider signing any forward if surname starts with a "P" Please------ | | |
Bergholtblue added 15:40 - Dec 7
Lisbie's comments say it all. Clearly does not want to play for us. What is the point of bringing him back? With that attitude he clearly won't be trying.
It is a shame because this is a good example of want you want from a load situation. To give players that are not performing well, match practice, get into shape, find some form and come back all the better.
If the lad wants to stay at Col U let him. Don't go asking silly money for him, because he is not wanted here with an attitude like that. |  | |
Redmond added 16:05 - Dec 7
although he has not scored many for town he is the TYPE of forward we need small and quick becuase all are forwards are mostly around 6ft and not that quick, so give him a few games in jan and see were it goes from there. Unless col u offer a decent amount of money for him |  | |
Berts_chin added 16:11 - Dec 7
Recall him and play him. He IS a proven goalscorer in the Championship, the only one we have on our books at the moment. His biggest problem last season was a lack of confidence with so many getting on his back, maybe because of his previous time with Norwich?
If everyone gets behind him I'm convinced he'll do the business for us. |  | |
8ashblue added 16:21 - Dec 7
im sure he'll be gone in January sales. Better propect would be Holt maybe |  | |
LowerNorth added 16:23 - Dec 7
I think Keano's got the right idea saying he will be re-called... It's putting us in a good position to sell him in Jan... Keane's just giving himself a bit of bartering power with his statements... I dont think he wants him back at all! ... Well done Keano!
Blue Army | | |
KIWI78 added 18:08 - Dec 7
Welsh Tractor boy... you are seriously basing an agrument on not signing player begining with P? what a load of barlicks! "le pen" erm, thats an l for a start and wasnt a striker or forward. If you meant any player begining with P, then i take it you never heard of Sixto Peralta....? |  | |
Happy2bBlue added 18:22 - Dec 7
What a T**t, probably the Town's worst ever signing and that includes Paz and Parkin. Who does he think he is saying he's not coming back, we paid 600k for him or some ridiculus amount and like a spoilt child is crying that he doesn't know anyone here. Is this the sort of character you need in your team? just goes to show Keano did the right thing to ship him out on loan and at least cover some of his wages. Sell him to the highest bidder, or if Colchester want him they must stump up the cash, they were quick enough to take it. Failing this a loan elsewhere or it's garden leave for Lazibe | | |
slowerball added 19:07 - Dec 7
He had his chance and was poor. He, like Priskin, was the "main" player in a poor side, everything went through that one player - which explains to some degree their good scoring records in poor sides. To get up or in the play-offs - you cannot rely on one man. Loads of examples of this... Bent, Kuqi & Miller scored nearly 70 goals between them with others chipping in. Lisbie nor Priskin can play in a side which needs to be and operates on multi-dynamic basis. (Sorry for sounding all Mark Lawrenson...). |  | |
BlueBoots added 20:09 - Dec 7
A problem we'll have when we come to sell is that everyone now knows that he won't move his family out of London - bound to narrow the number of clubs that come calling.
I predict a Lisbie / Stern John swap deal with Palace in January - at least Stern is keen to play for us... |  | |
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